METAL-CONTAINING,ORGANIC HIGH MOLECULAR COMPOUND REINFORCED WITH PARTICULATE INORGANIC MATERIAL

1381280 Metal-containing polymeric compounds; moulding materials MITSUBISHI RAYON CO Ltd 23 Dec 1971 [24 Dec 1970] 60090/71 Heading C3P Metal-containing, organic polymeric compounds comprise the reaction product obtained by the application of heat and pressure to (1) a copolymer of 45-97% by weight of acrylonitrile and/or methacrylonitrile with 55-3% by weight of at least monomer selected from ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and esters and amides thereof, ethylenically unsaturated aldehydes, ethylenically unsaturated halohydrocarbons, vinyl acetate and styrene, and (2) at least one compound of a metal which is a transition metal of the 4th Period of the Periodic Table or a metal of Group II of the Periodic Table, the metal : nitrile molar ratio being from 1 : 32 to 32 : 32. The metal compound may be pre-heated before being mixed with the copolymer, and heating of the reactants may be effected during or after compression moulding of the mixture. Comonomers for the (meth)- acrylonitrile include acrylic, methacylic, itaconic, fumaric, crotonic and maleic acids and esters and amides thereof, acrolein, methacrolein, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl acetate and styrene. The metal compound reactant may be a compound of iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper or zinc, e.g. a borate, chloride, carbonate, acetate, sulphate, nitrate or acetylacetonate. A particulate or fibrous inorganic filler may optionally be incorporated in the metal-containing polymer, e.g. aluminium, copper, iron, zinc, graphite, silica, alumina, molybdenum disulphide, boron nitride, silicon carbide, glass beads; or asbestos, carbon fibres, glass fibres, or stainless steel or silicon carbide whiskers. The filler may be incorporated in the copolymer before or after the latter is reacted with the metal compound. The products of the invention are useful for the production of structural materials for buildings, furniture etc., bearings, gears, cams, insulating materials, brake linings etc.