METATHESIS POLYMERIZATION - COPOLYMERS OF METHYLTETRACYCLODODECENE AND NORBORNENE NITRILE

A RIM polymerization process for nonpolar cycloolefins is described. WCl6 catalyst was modified with the diethyl acetal of acetaldehyde to increase its solubility and activity, thereby reducing residual volatiles in the RIM polymerization. The catalyst was activated with aluminum alkyls, and norbornene nitrile (NN) was used to control polymerization rates. Methyltetracyclododecene (MTD) copolymerizes easily with NN, but at high MTD levels there appears to be phase separation, indicating block copolymer formation. NN controls polymerization rate and participates in the polymerization, yielding copolymers with high T(g). Polymer properties were analyzed by dynamic mechanical analysis and DSC. The monomer and polymer compositions were analysed by NMR spectroscopy. Two-dimensional NMR determined that MTD was a mixture of two isomers, and high resolution C-13 NMR of the copolymers showed high conversions in all cases.