The invention is directed to new plastisols with improved qualities, as well as to the use of advantageous (meth)acrylate resin masses for the production of these new plastisols.
Plastisols are generally found as a two-phase system having one component as a plastic (binding material) and the second as a suitable softening agent. As a matter of principle, a large variety of different plastics are usable as binding materials. However, from a technical point of view, only rather few plastics are actually utilized. By far, the most important class of polymers that is utilized for this purpose are derived from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). However, from the point of view of environment considerations, the utilization of PVC is undesirable. The danger of dioxin formation in the case of fire and the corresponding contamination of the surroundings militates against the utilization of PVC.
For this reason, attempts have been made to create plastisols based on poly(meth)acrylates. See for example, DE-PS 934 498, FR-A 2,291,248 and EP 0 774 483 A2. As used herein, the terminology (meth)acrylates includes both acrylates and methacrylates.
A fundamental problem associated with the use of poly(meth)acrylate plastisols in comparison to PVC plastisols rests in their insufficient shelf-life and mechanical properties. The use of spray-dried emulsion polymerisates based on PMMA in accordance with the state of the art, leads in combination with commercially available softening agents to good gelation and film properties, but also to reduced storage stabilityxe2x80x94the products already gel after comparatively short time at room temperature which can be recognized by an increase in viscosity.
The problem of storage capacity was attempted to be solved as disclosed in EP 0 774 483, by raising the amount of the middle sized particles by providing milled-suspension polymerisates to the usual emulsion polymerisates. The disadvantage of this procedure is in the circumstance that the higher particle size leads to impeded gelling of the plastisols, since under certain circumstances, the larger suspension polymerisates no longer gel completely which this technology demands. The inhomogeneity of the films caused by the incomplete gelation gives rise to insufficient mechanical properties with respect to tensile strength (resistance to tearing) in the corresponding films. Furthermore, one must not ignore the optical disadvantage of these inhomogeneous films in the formation of smooth surfaces. In order to achieve the production and reduction in size of the suspension polymerisates, additional procedural steps are required which lead to increase in cost of the product.
Furthermore, the art similarly requires the lowest possible viscosity level for the plastisol. On the one hand, it is desirable to cover the broadest possible spectrum of processing techniques and thus cover the widest possible area of usage. On the other hand, plastisols should desirably be processable at the lowest possible temperature and only after warming and subsequently cooling, should the plastisol gel to a solid uniform film.
The state of the art describes the use of emulsion polymerisates up to a molecular weight of 2,000,000 g/mol (EP 0 539 031 A1). For technically usual PMMA plastisols, there are utilized emulsion polymerisates of a substantially lower (less than 500,000 g/mol) molecular weight.
Heretofore, the state of the art does not describe polymerisates and/or copolymerisates of the utilized (meth)acrylate with such high chain lengths for the formation of plastisols. Thus, there is no suggestion to one skilled in the art that by utilizing polymerisates and/or copolymerisates of (meth)acrylates of such high molecular weight, one could obtain the above-described advantageous plastisols. On the contrary, one skilled in the art would be under the impression that by raising the molecular weight and therewith chain length polymers, there would be obtained an increase in the viscosity of the plastisols. In fact, as is shown in Table 1 hereof, what occurs is the exact reverse.
The task of the present invention is to find a plastisol that combines good film qualities and gel formability which lead to good tensile strength and break/extension properties of the product with acceptable storage stability and low viscosity. These and further named tasks, which will be clear to one skilled in the art from the state of the art, are solved by plastisol defined by claim 1 hereof.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in claims relating back to claim 1. Uses of plastisols in accordance with the present invention are described in the corresponding claims.
These plastisols show:
1. Polymerisates and/or copolymerisates of (meth)acrylates obtainable by the polymerization of mixtures containing, as polymerizable components:
(A) 20 to 100 wt. % methylmethacrylate.
(B) 0 to 80 wt. % of (meth)acrylates different from methylmethacrylate, having formula I: 
xe2x80x83wherein
R1 is hydrogen or methyl, and
R2 is a linear or branched (C1-C18) alkyl residue.
(C) 0 to 40 wt. % of further monomers different from (A) and (B),
(D) 0 to 40 wt. % of adhesion causing monomer, wherein (A) through (D) yield 100 wt. % of the polymerizable components.
II. A compatible softening agent in the proportion of 5 to 400 parts by weight, relative to 100 wt. % of polymerisate and/or copolymerisate I.
III. Inorganic fillers in the amount of 9 to 700 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of component I, characterized thereby that the mean molecular weight Mw of the poly-merisate and/or copolymerisate of the (meth)acrylate is greater than 3,500,000 g/mol, enables one to provide, a particularly advantageous and yet surprisingly stable plastisol having low viscosity which, because of homogeneous film formation on gelation, show excellent mechanical as well as optical properties. The polymerisate and/or copolymerisates are preferably obtained through emulsion polymerization.
Under normal circumstances, a rise in molecular weight, that is to say chain length, in solutions or emulsions of polymer, leads to a faster separation of mixtures and thus a poorer storage life. However, contrary to expectations, the storage stability of plastisols improves with the increase in chain length. In the plastisols of the present invention, one observes a far lower level of mixture separation than with plastisols formed with polymerisates of the state of the art.
Especially preferred in the plastisols of the present invention based on (meth)acrylate, are those wherein the residue R2 of the (meth)acrylate of formula I is a linear or branch chained (C1-C8) alkyl residue.
It is particularly advantageous if the mean molecular weight Mw of polymerisate and/or copolymerisate of the charged (meth)acrylate in the plastisols is greater than 3,500,000 g/mol., suitably greater than 3,900,000 g/mol.
Particularly desirable for the formation of plastisols is the use of polymerisate and/or copolymerisate of the (meth)acrylate with a mean molecular weight Mw of greater than 3,500,000 g/mol, preferably greater than 3,900,000 g/mol.
The term xe2x80x9c(meth)acrylatexe2x80x9d within the scope of the present invention includes both acrylates and methacrylates.
The chain length of the polymerisates and/or copolymerisates of the methacrylates are limited by a synthetically achievable chain lengths. Chain lengths having a mean molecular weight of Mw of about 12,000,000 g/mol are achievable.
The mean molecular weight Mw of polymers for use of the present invention are determined by means of SEC or GPC (size exclusion chromatography or gel permeation chromatography) relative to polystyrene standards. Those skilled in the art are familiar with SEC or GPC analysis methods for the determination of the mean molecular weight.
Within the scope of the invention, a further quantity for the characterization of the molecular mass of the charge polymerisate and/or copolymerisate is the viscosity number VZ. This viscosity number is determined by the standard set forth in DIN 51 562 Parts 1 and 3 (Revision of January 1983 and May 1985).
The polymerisates and/or copolymerisates used in the plastisols of the present invention have a VZ value equal to, or greater than 600, desirably greater than 600, preferably greater than 900, and especially preferably greater than 1200.
By the term xe2x80x9clinearxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cbranch chain (C1-C18) alkyl residuexe2x80x9d, one understands a group of alkyl residues commencing with methyl via ethyl, up to an 18 carbon atoms containing radical. Included in this group are several bonding isomers which are conceivable within the group.
Included in the different monomers of (A) and (B) are styrene and its derivatives, vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl esters of higher alkyl acids, maleic acid anhydride, itaconic acid and its esters, and olefins such as ethylene, propylene, isobutylene, etc.
As adhesion improving monomers (HM) may be included radically polymerizable monomers which contain functional groups, which can enter into interactions with materials that are to be coated. Such interactions can occur by, for example, hydrogen bonding, complexing, dipole forces and the rest, in which, generally speaking, hetero atoms such as oxygen or nitrogen take part. There may be mentioned as functional groups amino, in particular dialkyl amino, (cyclic)amido- imido- hydroxy- oxy- carboxyl- and cyano groups. Such monomers are, generally speaking, known (see H. Rauch Puntigam, Th. Volker, (translated) Acryl- and Methacryl-compounds, Springer-Verlag, 1967; Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd. Ed., Vol. 1, pp. 394-400, J. Wiley 1978; DE-A 25 56 080; DE-A 26 34 003).
Preferably, the adhesion improving monomers HM belong to a nitrogen containing class of vinyl heterocycles, suitably having 5 or 6 rings and/or copolymerizable vinyl carboxylic acids and/or hydroxyalkyl-, alkoxy-alkyl-, and aminoalkyl-substituted esters or amides of acrylic and methacrylic acids.
As nitrogen containing heterocyclic monomers of the HM group, particularly desirable are the class of vinyl imidozoles, vinyl lactams, vinyl carbazoles and vinyl pyridines. As examples, which no way should be considered to be limiting for these monomeric imidazole compounds may be mentioned N-vinyl-imidazole, (also called vinyl-1-imidazole), N-vinyl-methyl-2-imidazole. N-vinyl-ethyl-2-imidazole, N-vinyl-phenyl-2-imidazole, N-vinyl-dimethyl-2,4-imidazole, N-vinyl-benzimidazole, N-vinylimidazoline (also called vinyl-1-imidazoline), N-vinyl-methyl-2-imidazoline, N-vinyl-phenyl-2-imidazoline and vinyl-2-imidazole.
As examples of monomers which are obtained from lactams, there may be mentioned in particular N-Vinylpyrrolidone, N-Vinylmethyl-5-pyrrolidone, N-Vinylmethyl-3-pyrrolidone, N-Vinylethyl-5-pyrrolidone, N-Vinyldimethyl-5,5-pyrrolidone, N-Vinylphenyl-5-pyrrolidone, N-Allyl-pyrrolidone, N-Vinylthiopyrrolidone, N-Vinylpiperidone, N-Vinyldiethyl-6,6-piperidone, N-Vinylcaprolactam, N-Vinylmethyl-7-caprolactam, N-Vinyl-ethyl-7-caprolactam, N-Vinyl-dimethyl-7,7-caprolactam, N-Allylcaprolactame, N-Vinylcapryllactam.
Under monomers which may be derived from carbazole, there may be particular mentioned N-Vinylcarbazole, N-Allylcarbazole, N-Butenylcarbazole, N-Hexenylcarbazol and N-(Methyl-1-ethylene)carbazole. As copolymerizable vinylcarboxylic acids, there may be mentioned as particularly suitable acrylic and methacrylic acids as well as suitable salts thereof.
Further, there may be utilized as the following oxy, as well as alkoxy substituted alkyl esters of (meth)acrylic acids, in particular 2-Hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, Hydroxypropyl(meth)acrylate, 2-Methoxy-ethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-Ethoxyethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-Butoxyethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethylmethacrylate, 2-(Ethoxyethyloxy)ethyl(meth)acrylate, 4-Hydroxybutyl(meth)acrylate, 2-[2-(2-Ethoxy-ethoxy)ethoxy]-ethyl(meth)acrylate, 3-Methoxybutyl-1-(meth)acrylate, 2-Alkoxymethylethyl(meth)acrylate, and 2-Hexoxyethyl(meth)acrylate.
Furthermore, the following amino substituted alkyl esters (meth)acrylic acids, may be mentioned 2-Dimethylamino-ethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-Diethylaminoethyl-(meth)acrylate, 3-Dimethylamino-2,2-dimethylpropyl-1-(meth)acrylate, 3-Dimethylamino-2,2-dimethylpropyl-1-(meth)acrylate, 2-Morpholinoethyl(meth)-acrylate, 2-tert.-Butylamino-ethyl(meth)acrylate, 3-(Dimethylamino)propyl-(meth)acrylate, 2-(Dimethyl-aminoethoxyethyl)-(meth)acrylate.
As examples of (meth)acrylamide, the following monomers may be mentioned N-Methyl(meth)acrylamide, N-Dimethylaminoethyl(meth)-acryl amide, N-Dimethylaminopropyl(meth)acrylamide, N-Isopropyl(meth)-acryl amide, N-tert.-Butyl(meth)acrylamide, N-Isobutyl(meth)acrylamide, N-Decyl(meth)acrylamide, N-Cyclohexyl(meth)acrylamide, N-[3-(Dimethyl-amino)2,2-dimethylpropyl]-methacrylamide, N-[2-Hydroxyethyl](meth)-acrylamide.
The plastisols of this application contain generally known softeners W in the usual amounts, for example for PMMA plastisols (but also for PVC plastisols), in particular phthalic acid esters, adipic acid and/or sebacic acid esters, chlorinated paraffins, trialkyl phosphates, aliphatic or araliphatic polyesters, as well as various other polymeric softening agents such as urea soft resin (see H. K. Felger (Trans.), Plastics-Handbook Vol. 1/1C, Kanset-Verlag 1985 as well as in H. F. Mark, et al., Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Supplemental Volume, pg. 568-647, J. Wiley 1989). A selection of suitable softening agents can also be found in DE-C 25 43 542. Similarly, there may be used softening agents suitably softening agent combinations which, during a storage of the prepared plastisols for 3 weeks at 30xc2x0 C., limit a rise in viscosity to 10 times, suitably only 5 times the initial viscosity. Particularly may be mentioned dioctylphthalate, diisodecyl-phthalate, diethylhexylphthalate, Di-C7C11-n-alkylphathlate, tricresylphos-phate, dibenzyltoluene (LIPINOL?T, Product of Fa. Huls AG), 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentandioldibenzoate (Benzoflex 354, Product of Velsicol) and benzyl-octytphtalate.
Furthermore, the plastisols may contain generally speaking, well known inorganic fillers in amounts in amounts up to 700 parts by weight (per 100 parts by weight of plastisol). There may be mentioned for example, calcium carbonate (chalk) titanium dioxide, calcium oxide, Perlite, precipitated and coated chalks as rheologically active additives, further similarly thixotroping agents such as, for example, pyrogenic silica acid. The particle size generally lies in the range of 5 to 25 m and furthermore the plastisols according to the intended use, may contain known active agents such as adhesive agents, cross-linking agents, stabilizers, lubricating agents, blowing agents in amounts of 0-5 wt. % (relative to the plastisols). There may also be utilized calcium stearate as a lubricating agent.
The plastisols of the present invention may be utilized for a variety of purposes such as those designated for PVC or PMMA plastisols. In particular, there may be considered walking surfaces for floor coverings, free transparent folios, KFZ underlayment protection, corrosion protection for metals, intermediate coverings for floor coverings (foamed), wallpaper, plastic sheets, car roof windows, instrument panel, coverings, crown corks.
Basically, the above-identified monomers, in particular methylmeth-acrylate as well as the monomers of Group B are useful for the core-shell polymerisates.
The construction of the polymerisate and/or copolymerisate from a core material and a shell material proceeds in a generally known manner in a particular procedure by emulsion polymerization. In this process, the monomers forming the core material are polymerized in aqueous emulsion in a first procedural step. When the monomers of the first step are substantially fully polymerized, the monomeric components of the shell material are added under such conditions to the emulsion polymerisate that formation of new particles is avoided. Thus, during the second step the thus formed polymerisate forms a shell around the core material.
In the first polymerization step in which the core material is formed, between 0.01 to 3 wt. % (relative to the monomer) of an anionic cationic or nonionic emulsifier such as sodium lauryl sulfate, alkyl benzyl sulfonate, oxy ethylation products of alkylated phenols or their neutralized sulfonation products are utilized. The polymerization suitably proceeds between 60xc2x0 and 100xc2x0 C. with the help of a water soluble radical source such as potassium or ammonium persulfate or hydrogen peroxide. Before the commencement of the second polymerization step, further initiator may be added. However, very mall amounts or in fact no additional emulsifier is used in the second step.