Process for preparing functionalized polymer compositions

Abstract

Functionalized polymeric compositions are prepared by polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated functional monomer in a solvent including a reactive compound. The functional groups of the reactive compound and the functional monomer react during or subsequent to the polymerization of the functional monomer to provide functionalized polymeric composition. The reactive compound can be a hydroxy-terminated, poly(ethleneoxy)ated hydrophobe-bearing compound and the functional monomer can be a polymerizable carboxylated monomer, the functionalization in this case being a condensation. Removal of the water of condensation by azeotropic distillation drives the reaction to completion. The resulting high solids functionalized polymeric composition is soluble or dispersible in an appropriate solvent, and can be used as is, diluted with a solvent, or isolated. Polymeric compositions prepared according to the process can be used as builders in detergent compositions, as pigment dispersants in coating compositions, as tanning agents for leather, as associative thickeners and rheology modifiers for coatings compositions, and in a variety of other applications.