PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF OXIDATION PRODUCTS OF ETHYLENE POLYMERS

1339360 Oxidizing ethylene polymers FARBWERKE HOECHST AG 16 July 1971 [18 July 1970] 33485/71 Heading C3P Polymers of ethylene, optionally with one or more C 3-8 α-olefins or cycloolefins, are oxidized by a process which comprises dispersing the polymer in a molten state in water, in the presence of a gas containing oxygen while intimately mixing the components. The medium may contain wetting agents, e.g. ethoxylated alcohols and phenols, and oxidation may be effected with air or ozone or in the presence of an oxygen transferrer that acts catalytically, e.g. nitrogen oxides. Catalysts, e.g. peroxide, heavy metal compounds and alkali and alkaline earth metal compounds, may also be present. The reaction may be accelerated by the presence of oxidized polyolefin and/or previously used reaction medium. The products may be used in moulding, coating, polishes, cosmetics and as substitutes for industrial fatty acids, and may be hardened with metal hydroxides, further oxidized, esterified or saponified. Many examples are given in which polyethylene, and ethylene/ propylene and ethylene/butene copolymers are oxidized in water in the presence of t. butyl hydroperoxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, cobalt stearate and/or sodium stearate, potassium permanganate or benzoyl peroxide and sodium stearate, with air, ozonized air or oxygen.