STYRENE TERPOLYMER AND PROCESS FOR MODIFYING HYDROCARBON POLYMERS

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for converting an initial hydrocarbon polymer into a modified polymer with a molecular mass different from that of the initial polymer and especially with a different molecular mass distribution width and/or a different degree of branching, preferably lower than those of the initial polymer. The process comprises placing a supported metal catalyst capable of cleaving at least one single or multiple carbon-carbon bond in contact with the initial polymer in the form of a solution in a solvent. The choice of solvent is generally such that under the conditions of placing in contact, the initial polymer is soluble in the solvent or miscible in the melt in the solvent. The initial polymer may be chosen from homopolymers and copolymers of monomer(s) containing an ethylenic, conjugated or non-conjugated diene, or vinyl group. The catalyst may be chosen from supported metal catalysts for the cracking or hydrocracking of hydrocarbons, in particular from catalysts comprising a metal linked to at least one hydrogen atom and/or to at least one hydrocarbon radical, and preferably chosen from metal catalysts supported on and grafted to a solid support. The invention also relates to a terpolymer of styrene, ethylene and vinylcyclohexane, which preferably obtainable by the process described above.