Intellectual Property Office

Non-Confidential Disclosures

"Copolymerization of Acrylates with Norbornenes"

PSU Inv. Disc. No. 97-1772

Field of the Invention:

Novel copolymers useful for high temperature applications.

Inventors:

A. Sen, S. Kacker, A.D. Hennis , J.D. Polley

Background:

Acrylic resins have high hardness properties and are used to produce commercial products such as Lucite ® and Plexiglass ®. Polynorbornenes have high temperature resistance and have been useful in producing high temperature resistant rubbers. The beneficial properties of both of these compounds make it desirable to form copolymers of these two monomers. Despite these potential advantages, the successful copolymerizations have involved norbornenes with functional groups as substituents and cationically polymerizable monomers only. The different types polymerization systems used for acrylates and norbornenes has prevented the synthesis of copolymers containing both these monomers. The inventors have discovered a process which efficiently catalyzes the reaction of acrylates with norbornenes. This opens up a range of polymer properties making these novel materials excellent candidates for use as high-melting functional polymers. Furthermore, the copolymer composition can be easily controlled by simply varying the ratio of the monomers in the reaction mixture.

Invention description:

The inventors have also prepared copolymers of methyl methacrylate and norbornene derivatives bearing alcohol and ester functionalities. Additionally, a terpolymerization of ethylene, methyl methacrylate and norbornene has been accomplished. 

Invention status:

U.S. Issued Patent Nos. 6,111,041, 6,300,440 and 6,593,440

Contact:

Mr. Matthew Smith
Sr. Technology Licensing Officer
Intellectual Property Office
113 Technology Center
The Pennsylvania State Univ.
University Park, PA 16802-7000
Phone: (814) 863-1122
Fax: (814) 865-3591
E-mail: mds126@psu.edu