Novel elastomeric graft copolymers

Abstract

6-Nylons and 12-nylons having primary amino end-groups and an average degree of polymerization of about 5-60 are grafted onto elastomeric trunk polymers having anhydride groups, vicinal carboxylic groups, or carboxylic groups adjacent to alkoxycarbonyl groups by heating a mixture of the nylon and the trunk polymer, preferably under high shear conditions for about 1 minute or less to 30 minutes or more above the melting temperature of the nylon. The resulting elastomeric graft polymers are suitable for fabricating into a variety of articles, such as, for example, wire jacketing, hose, belts, seals, gaskets, and low pressure tires.

We claim: 
     
       1. An elastomeric, thermoplastic graft copolymer consisting essentially of A. an elastomeric trunk copolymer derived from at least two monomers, at least one of said monomers providing amine-reactive sites selected from the class consisting of an anhydride group, a vicinal pair of carboxylic groups, and a carboxylic group adjacent to an alkoxy-, phenoxy-, napthoxy-, substituted phenoxy-, or substituted naphthoxycarbonyl group, where the alkyl of the alkoxycarbonyl group has 1-10 carbon atoms, and the substituents of substituted phenoxycarbonyl and naphthoxycarbonyl groups can be a C 1  -C 10  alkyl, halogen, or a C 1  -C 10  alkoxy group; at least one of said monomers containing no amine-reactive sites and none of said monomers containing hydroxyl or amino groups; and   B. a side chain polymer derived from a short chain polyamide represented by the formula ##STR8## where Z is ##STR9## R 1  and R 2  being independently selected from hydrogen, a C 1  -C 18  alkyl, benzyl, and C 5  -C 6  cycloalkyl; or taken together, being --(CH 2 ) 4  --, --(CH 2 ) 5  --, --(CH 2 ) 2  --O--(CH 2 ) 2  --, or ##STR10## where R 3  is a C 1  -C 6  alkyl; with the proviso that only one of R 1  or R 2  can be hydrogen;   m is 5 and 11; and   x is a positive number having an average value of 5-60;   said side chain polymer being attached to said trunk copolymer through amide or imide linkages resulting from a reaction of the terminal primary amino group of said short chain polyamide with the amine-reactive sites of said trunk copolymer;   the proportion of said elastomeric trunk copolymer in the graft copolymer being about 45-85 weight percent.   
     
     
       2. A graft copolymer of claim 1 wherein m is 5. 
     
     
       3. A graft copolymer of claim 2 wherein R 1  is hydrogen and R 2  is octadecyl. 
     
     
       4. A graft copolymer of claim 2 wherein R 1  is hydrogen and R 2  is octyl. 
     
     
       5. A graft copolymer of claim 1 wherein m is 11. 
     
     
       6. A graft copolymer of claim 5 wherein R 1  is hydrogen and R 2  is octyl. 
     
     
       7. A graft copolymer of claim 1 wherein the weight proportion of the trunk copolymer is about 64.5-74%. 
     
     
       8. A graft copolymer of claim 1 wherein the weight proportion of the trunk polymer is about 52.5-67%. 
     
     
       9. A graft copolymer of claim 1 wherein the trunk polymer is a copolymer of an active site monomer selected from maleic anhydride, maleic acid, fumaric acid, and monoesters of maleic or fumaric acids with alcohols having up to about 20 carbon atoms with at least one monomer selected from α-olefins; conjugated or nonconjugated dienes; styrene, and its ring-substituted derivatives; acrylic and methacrylic acids, esters, and nitriles; vinyl esters; and vinyl ethers. 
     
     
       10. A graft copolymer of claim 9 wherein the trunk polymer is a copolymer of ethylene, methyl acrylate, and monoethylmaleate. 
     
     
       11. A graft copolymer of claim 9 wherein the trunk polymer is a copolymer of ethylene, vinyl acetate and maleic anhydride. 
     
     
       12. A graft copolymer of claim 9 wherein the trunk polymer is a copolymer of ethylene, ethyl acrylate, allyl acrylate, and maleic anhydride. 
     
     
       13. A graft copolymer of claim 1 wherein the trunk polymer is an ethylene/α-olefin/diene monomer (EODM) polymer, having grafted thereon at least one of maleic anhydride and ethyl hydrogen maleate active sites. 
     
     
       14. A graft copolymer of claim 12 wherein the EODM polymer is an ethylene/propylene/diene monomer (EPDM) polymer. 
     
     
       15. A graft copolymer of claim 13 wherein the EPDM polymer is an ethylene/propylene/1,4-hexadiene polymer.