The British Petroleum Company, P.l.c.

Bp Chemicals Limited

Sidney G Fogg

Frank C Robertson

Werner A Lidy

Douglas Wilson

John G Dolden

Alan C Aldred

Alan Fernyhough

A process for producing a thermoplastic elastomer comprising dynamically curing with a peroxy curing agent (A) nitrile rubber and (B) homopolymer or copolymer of ethylene, which is curable with the peroxy curing agent but excluding copolymers comprising ethylene and an acrylic or methacrylic ester. The thermoplastic elastomer composition produced by the process is suitable for use in sealant or adhesive compositions, particularly when blended with a tackifying resin.

Process for the production of a thermoplastic elastomer composition

A water soluble copolymer of polymerizable esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids having the hydrazide group as a substituent comprises a major proportion of monomer units which are methyl acrylate and/or methyl methacrylate and a minor proportion of co-monomer units which are one or more alkyl esters of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid wherein the alkyl group comprises at least four carbon atoms. The copolymer has film forming properties which make it useful for use in protective coatings. The invention includes a film forming composition comprising the copolymer and a cross-linking agent which cross-linking agent is an aldehyde or an organic thermosetting resin containing methylol or methoxy groups, the copolymer and cross-linking agent being dissolved in an aqueous medium in amounts such that they will form a film when applied to a surface. The composition is applied to a surface and heated at 120.degree. to 180.degree. C. for from 5 mins to 4 hours to produce a water insoluble coating from a water based composition containing the water soluble copolymer.

Copolymer, a film forming composition and a method of coating a surface

A water soluble copolymer of polymerizable esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids having the hydrazide group as a substituent comprises a major proportion of monomer units which are methyl acrylate and/or methyl methacrylate and a minor proportion of co-monomer units which are one or more alkyl esters of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid wherein the alkyl group comprises at least four carbon atoms. The copolymer has film forming properties which make it useful for use in protective coatings. The invention includes a film forming composition comprising the copolymer and a cross-linking agent which cross-linking agent is an aldehyde or an organic thermosetting resin containing methylol or methoxy groups, the copolymer and cross-linking agent being dissolved in an aqueous medium in amounts such that they will form a film when applied to a surface. The composition is applied to a surface and heated at 120.degree. to 180.degree. C. for from 5 mins. to 4 hours to produce a water insoluble coating from a water based composition containing the water soluble copolymer.

A process for producing a thermoplastic elastomer comprising curing a blend of nitrile rubber and a thermoplastic under dynamic curing conditions. The thermoplastic comprises a copolymer of ethylene and an acrylic or methacrylic ester, e.g. ethylene-ethyl acrylate, and the curing agent is a peroxy curing agent. The compositions are cured by mixing at a temperature above the activation temperature of the curing agent and above the melting point of the thermoplastic copolymer.

Thermoplastic elastomer composition

A curable phenolic resin composition comprising (A) a major proportion of an aqueous phenolic resole resin and (B) a minor proportion of a poly(1,2-alkylene oxide) having terminating groups selected from the group comprising --NH.sub.2, --CONH.sub.2, --CH.CO.NH.sub.2 and --OCONH.sub.2 groups. The compositions are preferably cured with an acid catalyst and post cured at an elevated temperature.

Phenolic resin composition

A method of treating salt water-in-oil dispersions comprises mixing with the dispersion a latex of a rubber having a high wet gel strength. The incorporation of the latex into the dispersion causes exudation of water from the dispersion with resulting thickening. If sufficient latex is used the dispersion may be transformed into a solid. Suitable rubbers include natural rubber, polychloroprene rubber, butadiene acrylonitrile rubber, styrene butadiene rubber and poly (methyl methacrylate) graft natural rubber. The tackiness of solids formed using for example a natural rubber latex can be reduced by using in addition to the natural rubber latex, a latex of a low or zero wet gel strength polymer e.g. PVC, poly (vinyl acetate) or polystyrene. The effectiveness of the method of treatment may be improved by the use of a suitable compatible solvent e.g. toluene or a filler such as a clay filler.

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Ashtead, United Kingdom

Sidney G Fogg