Process for preparing vinylphenol polymers and stabilized compositions

Abstract

Vinylphenol polymers are useful materials having many applications, vinylphenol polymers possessing an appropriate molecular weight corresponding to each of the applications are desired. However, it is very difficult to control the molecular weight of vinylphenol polymers, because vinylphenol monomer exhibits a very high reaction rate in the presence of a radical initiator, and it is very difficult to obtain vinylphenol polymers having molecular weight of from eight thousand to one hundred thousand. Further, vinylphenol monomer is very difficult to store, because it is rapidly polymerized even at room temperature. A simple process for preparing vinylphenol polymers having the molecular weight range mentioned above by simply adding methanol to the polymerization system is disclosed. A stabilized composition of vinylphenol suitable for use to prepare vinylphenol polymers, comprising vinylphenol-containing polymerization raw material and methanol as the indispensable constituents is also disclosed.