Stabilization of cross-linked silane group containing polymers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for cross-linking and stabilization of a polymer containing hydrolysable silane groups comprising a sulphonic acid as a silanol condensation catalyst characterized in that it comprises a stabilizer which is neutral or acidic, does not contain ester groups and is a compound according to formula (I): wherein R is an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbyl radical which may comprise heteroatoms, R′ is a hydrocarbyl radical, R″ is a hydrocarbyl radical and R′ and/or R″ being a bulky radical, X 1 , X 2 or X 3 is the same or different H or OH, whereby at least X 1 , X 2 or X 3 is OH, and n is 1 to 4; or a compound according to formula (II): R′″—(S) p —R′″  (II) wherein R′″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical and p is 1 to 6; or a mixture of any of such compounds, to a stabilized polymer comprising the above stabilizers and to a process for cross-linking and stabilization of silane group containing polymers in the presence of the above mentioned stabilizers.

Having thus described the invention, we hereby claim as follows:  
     
         1 . Use of a composition for cross-linking and stabilization of a polymer containing hydrolysable silane groups wherein the composition comprises a sulphonic acid as a silanol condensation catalyst characterized in that it comprises a stabilizer which is neutral or acidic, does not contain ester groups and is a compound according to formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 R is an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbyl radical which may comprise heteroatoms,  
 R′ is a hydrocarbyl radical,  
 R″ is a hydrocarbyl radical and R′ and/or R′″ being a bulky radical,  
 X 1 , X 2  or X 3  is the same or different H or OH, whereby at least X 1 , X 2  or X 3  is OH,  
 and n is 1 to 4;  
 or a compound according to formula (II):  
 R′″—(S) p —R′″  (II)  
 wherein  
 R′″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical and  
 p is 1 to 6;  
 or a mixture of any of such compounds.  
 
     
     
         2 . Use according to  claim 1  characterized in that the stabilizer is a compound according to formula (I) wherein 
 R is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical which may comprise hydroxyl groups,  
 X 1  is OH, X 2 and X 3  is H,  
 R′ is a bulky aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical,  
 R″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical and  
 n is 2;  
 or a compound according to formula (II) wherein  
 R″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical from C 12  to C 20  and  
 p is 1 or 2.  
 
     
     
         3 . Use according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the stabilizer is a compound according to formula (I) wherein 
 R is CH 2      R′ is 1-methylcyclohexyl or tert.-butyl and    R″ is CH 3 ;    or a compound according to formula (II) wherein    R′″ is octadecyl, and p is 2.    
     
     
         4 . Use according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the stabilizer is a compound according to formula (I) wherein 
 R′ is 1-methylcyclohexyl or tert.-butyl and    R″ is CH 3 .    
     
     
         5 . Stabilized polymer containing cross-linked silane groups wherein the cross-linking has been performed by the use of a sulphonic acid as a silanol condensation catalyst, characterized in that it contains a stabilizer which is neutral or acidic, does not contain ester groups and is a compound according to formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 R is an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbyl radical which may comprise heteroatoms,  
 R′ is a hydrocarbyl radical,  
 R″ is a hydrocarbyl radical  
 and R′ and/or R″ being a bulky radical,  
 X 1 , X 2  or X 3  is the same or different H or OH, whereby at least X 1 , X 2  or X 3  is OH,  
 and n is 1 to 4;  
 or a compound according to formula (II):  
 R′″—(S) p —R′″  (II)  
 wherein  
 R′″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical and  
 p is 1 to 6;  
 or a mixture of any of such compounds.  
 
     
     
         6 . Polymer according to  claim 5  characterized in that the stabilizer is a compound according to formula (I) wherein 
 R is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical which may comprise hydroxy groups  
 X 1  is OH, X 2  and X 3  is H,  
 R′ is a bulky aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical,  
 R″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical,  
 n is 2;  
 or a compound according to formula (II) wherein  
 R′″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical from C 12  to C 20  and  
 p is 1 or2.  
 
     
     
         7 . Polymer according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the stabilizer is a compound according to formula (I) wherein 
 R is CH 2      R′ is 1-methylcyclohexyl or tert.butyl and    R″ is CH 3 ;    or a compound according to formula (II) wherein    R′″ is octadecyl    and p is 2.    
     
     
         8 . Polymer according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the stabilizer is a compound according to formula (I) wherein 
 R′ is 1-methylcyclohexyl or tert.butyl and    R″ is CH 3 .    
     
     
         9 . Process for cross-linking and stabilization of silane group containing polymers by the use of a sulphonic acid as a silanol condensation catalyst characterized that the process is carried out in the presence of a stabilizer which is neutral or acidic, does not contain ester groups and is a compound according to formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 R is an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbyl radical which may comprise heteroatoms,  
 R′ is a hydrocarbyl radical,  
 R″ is a hydrocarbyl radical,  
 and R′ and/or R′″ being a bulky radical,  
 X 1 , X 2  or X 3  is the same or different H or OH, whereby at least X 1 , X 2  or X 3  is OH,  
 and n is 1 to 4;  
 or a compound according to formula (II):  
 R′″(S) p R′″(II)  
 wherein  
 R′″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical and  
 p is 1 to 6;  
 or a mixture of any of such compounds.  
 
     
     
         10 . Process according to  claim 9  characterized in that the stabilizer is a compound according to formula (I) wherein 
 R is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical which may comprise hydroxy groups,  
 X 1  is OH, X 2  and X 3 is H,  
 R′ is a bulky aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical,  
 R″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical,  
 n is 2;  
 or a compound according to formula (II) wherein  
 R′″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical from C 12  to C 20  and  
 p is 1 or2.  
 
     
     
         11 . Process according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the stabilizer is a compound according to formula (I) wherein 
 R is CH 2 ,    R′ is 1-methylcyclohexyl or tert.butyl and    R″ is CH 3 ;    or a compound according to formula (II) wherein    R′″ is octadecyl    and p is 2.    
     
     
         12 . Process according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the stabilizer is a compound according to formula (I) wherein 
 R′ is 1-methylcyclohexyl or tert.butyl and    R″ is CH 3