The Geon Company

Philip I Bak

Ross James Cozens

Paul R Klich

Gregory P Bidinger

Lance A Mayer

The present invention to a method of synthesizing poly(vinyl halide) by means of a free radical polymerization which mimics a 'living' radical polymerization in the presence of an iodine containing chain transfer agent containing at least one iodine atom bonded to a primary carbon atom and having the formula:

Process for polymerizing vinyl chloride polymers with iodinated chain

The present invention relates to a method of synthesizing 1-chloro-1-iodoethane by reacting hydrogen iodide with vinyl chloride monomer in the presence of an iodine containing catalyst under certain specified conditions. The resulting product of the reaction is a high yield, high purity 1-chloro-1-iodoethane which is useful as a chain transfer agent in the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer. The 1-chloro-1-iodoethane formed by the instant invention can be made separately in a conventional synthesis apparatus or the compound can be synthesized in situ in the reaction vessel used for polymerization of vinyl chloride. The in situ process comprises reacting substantially anhydrous hydrogen iodide with an excess of vinyl chloride monomer in the reactor in the presence of an iodine containing catalyst, preferably removing any catalyst and iodine, optionally charging additional vinyl chloride monomer with other polymerization auxiliaries, and initiating the polymerization thereof to form polyvinyl chloride by conventional methods.

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Amherst, OH, United States of America

Philip I Bak