Polymers containing anhydride groups

摘要

A polymer containing cyclic carboxylic acid anhydride groups is prepared by copolymerising an olefinically unsaturated polycarboxylic acid with at least one olefinically unsaturated comonomer, which is in solution in an organic solvent, at elevated temperature to form a copolymer solution. The solution is heated during and/or after polymerisation under conditions such that water is removed from the reaction medium. The polycarboxylic acid contains two carboxylic acid groups which are in such a configuration that the acid is capable of forming a cyclic anhydride and is preferably a dicarboxylic acid, for example itaconic acid.