Process for making vinyl aromatic/allyl alcohol copolymers

摘要

An improved process for making vinyl aromatic/allylic alcohol copolymers is disclosed. Gradual addition of a free-radical initiator during the course of the polymerization results in a substantial increase in the polymer yield obtained compared with the yield from conventional processes in which all of the free-radical initiator is charged initially. High yields are obtained when the monomer mole ratios are adjusted to produce styrene-allyl alcohol copolymers having a hydroxyl number in the 50-150 mg KOH/g range. Copolymers made by the process are valuable coating resins.