S,S′-bis-(α, α′—disubstituted—α″—acetic acid)—trithiocarbonates and polymers thereof for toughening thermosetting resins

1. A composition comprising:

a polymer having the formula

wherein R 1 and R 2 , independently, is a linear or branched alkyl having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted C 1 to about C 6 alkyl having one or more substituents, or aryl, or a substituted aryl having from 1 to 6 substituents on the aryl ring; wherein said one or more substituents, independently, represent an alkyl having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or an aryl, or a halogen which can be the same different, or a cyano, or an ether having a total of from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, or a nitro; or wherein R 1 and R 2 are part of a ring having from about 5 to about 12 total carbon atoms;

wherein said (polymer), independently, is derived from a conjugated diene monomer containing from 4 to about 12 carbon atoms, or is derived from a vinyl monomer having the formula

wherein R 3 is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C 1 to C 4 alkyl, or substituted C 1 -C 4 alkyl wherein the substituents, independently, comprise one or more hydroxy, alkoxy, arloxy(OR 5 ), carboxy, acyloxy, aryloxy(O 2 CR 5 ), alkoxy-carbonyl(CO 2 R 5 ), or aryloxy-carbonyl; wherein R 4 is selected from hydrogen, R 5 , CO 2 H, CO 2 R 5 , COR 5 , CN CONH 2 , CONHR 5 , O 2 CR 5 , OR 5 , or halogen; wherein R 5 is selected from C 1 -C 18 alkyl, substituted C 1 -C 18 alkyl, C 2 -C 18 alkenyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, or alkaryl, wherein the substituents independently are selected from one or more epoxy, hydroxy, alkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, carboxy (and salts), sulfonic acid (and salts), alkoxy- or aryloxy-carbonyl, dicyanato, cyano, silyl, halo and dialkylamino; or wherein said (polymer), independently, is derived from maleic anhydride, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, N-alkylmaleimide, N-arylmaleimide, dialkyl fumarate a cyclo- polymerizable monomer; styrene, α-methyl styrene, C 1 -C 12 alkyl styrene with substituent groups both either on the chain or on the ring, N,N-alkylacrylamide, or combinations thereof;

wherein said EPOXY is derived from glycidyl ethers of novolac resins; glycidyl ethers of mononuclear di- and trihydric phenols; glycidyl ethers of bisphenols; glycidyl ethers of polynuelear phenols; epoxy resin from diphenolic acid; glycidyl ethers of aliphatic polyols; glycidyl esters; glycidyl epoxies containing nitrogen; glycidyl derivatives of cyanuric acid; glycidyl amines; thioglycidyl resins; silicon-glycidyl resins; fluorine glycidyl resins; epoxy resins where are synthesized from monoepoxies other than epihalohydrins including epoxy resins from unsaturated monoepoxies; epoxy resins from monoepoxy alcohols; epoxy resins from monoepoxies by ester interchange; epoxy resins from glycidaldehyde; polyglycidyl compounds containing unsaturation; epoxy resins which are synthesized from olefins and chloroacetyls; or epoxy-resin adducts of the above, or combinations thereof.

2. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the number of repeat units in said (polymer) is from about 5 to about 10,000.

3. A composition according to claim 2 , wherein said (polymer) is derived from ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, or ethyl-hexyl acrylate, or combinations thereof.

4. A composition according to claim 3 , wherein the number of repeat units in said (polymer) is from about 5 to about 500.

5. A composition according to claim 2 , wherein said (polymer) is a polyacrylate, and wherein the number of repeat units in said (polymer) is from about 10 to about 200.

6. A composition according to claim 5 , wherein EPOXY is derived from

wherein n is an integer from 0 to about 18,

and wherein the number of said terminal EPOXY groups is 2.

7. A composition according to claim 6 , wherein said (polymer) is derived from ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, or ethyl-hexyl acrylate, or combinations thereof.

8. A composition, comprising:

the reaction product of a polymer with an epoxy resin in the presence of an acid anhydride curing agent, wherein said polymer is represented by the formula

wherein R 1 and R 2 , independently, is a linear or branched alkyl having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted C 1 to about C 6 alkyl having one or more substituents, or aryl, or a substituted aryl having from 1 to 6 substituents on the aryl ring; wherein said one or more substituents, independently, represent an alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an aryl, or a halogen which can be the same or different, or a cyano, or an ether having a total of from 2 to about 20 carbon atom, or a nitro; or wherein R 1 and R 2 are part of a ring having from about 5 to about 12 total carbon atoms; and

wherein said (polymer), independently, is derived from a conjugated diene monomer containing from 4 to about 12 carbon atoms, or is derived from a vinyl monomer having the formula

where R 3 is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C 1 to C 4 alkyl, or substituted C 1 -C 4 alkyl wherein the substituents, independently, comprise one or more hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy(OR 5 ), carboxy, acyloxy, aryloxy(O 2 CR 5 ), alkoxy-carbonyl(CO 2 R 5 ), or aryloxy-carbonyl; wherein R 4 is selected from hydrogen, R 5 , CO 2 H, CO 2 R 5 , COR 5 , CN, CONH 2 , CONHR 5 , O 2 CR 5 , OR 5 , or halogen; wherein R 5 is selected from C 1 -C 18 alkyl, substituted C 1 -C 18 alkyl, C 2 -C 18 alkenyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, or alkaryl, wherein the substituents independently are selected from one or more epoxy, hydroxy, alkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, carboxy (and salts), sulfonic acid (and salts), alkoxy- or aryloxy-carbonyl, dicyanato, cyano, silyl, halo and dialkylamino; or wherein said polymer is derived from maleic anhydride, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, N-alkylmaleimide, N-arylmaleimide, dialkyl fumarate a cyclo-polymerizable monomer, styrene, α-methyl styrene, C 1 -C 12 alkyl styrene with substituent groups both either on the chain or on the ring, N,N-alkylacrylamide, or combinations thereof.

9. A composition according to claim 8 , wherein the number of repeat units in said (polymer) is from about 5 to about 500 and wherein said (polymer) is a polyacrylate.

10. A composition according to claim 9 , wherein said polyacrylate is derived from ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, or ethyl-hexyl acrylate, or combinations thereof, and wherein the amount of said polymer is from about 1 to about 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said epoxy resin.

11. A composition according to claim 10 , wherein the number of repeat units in said (polymer) is from about 5 to about 500.

12. A composition comprising:

the reaction product of a polymer with an epoxy resin in the presence of a curing agent, wherein said polymer is represented the formula

wherein R 1 and R 2 , independently, is a linear or branched alkyl having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted C 1 to about C 6 alkyl having one or more substituents, or aryl, or a substituted aryl having from 1 to 6 substituents on the aryl ring; wherein said one or more substituents, independently, represent an alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an aryl, or a halogen which can be the same or different, or a cyano, or an ether having a total of from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, or a nitro, or wherein R 1 and R 2 are part of a ring having from about 5 to about 12 total carbon atoms;

wherein said (polymer), independently, is derived from a conjugated diene monomer containing from 4 to about 12 carbon atoms, or is derived from a vinyl monomer having the formula

where R 3 is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C 1 to C 4 alkyl, or substituted C 1 -C 4 alkyl wherein the substituents, independently, comprise one or more hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy(OR 5 ), carboxy, acyloxy, aryloxy(O 2 CR 5 ), alkoxy-carbonyl(CO 2 R 5 ), or aryloxy-carbonyl; wherein R 4 is selected from hydrogen, R 5 , CO 2 H, CO 2 R 5 , COR 5 , CN, CONH 2 , CONHR 5 , O 2 CR 5 , OR 5 , or halogen; wherein R 5 is selected from C 1 -C 18 alkyl, substituted C 1 -C 18 alkyl, C 2 -C 18 alkenyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, or alkaryl, wherein the substituents independently are selected from one or more epoxy, hydroxy, alkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, carboxy (and salts), sulfonic acid (and salts), alkoxy- or aryloxy-carbonyl, dicyanato, cyano, silyl, halo and dialkylamnino; or wherein said (polymer), independently, is derived from maleic anhydride, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, N-alkylmaleimide, N-arylmaleimide, dialkyl fumarate a cyclo-polymerizable monomer; styrene, α-methyl styrene, C 1 -C 12 alkyl styrene with substituent groups both either on the chain or on the ring, N,N-alkylacrylamide, or combinations thereof;

wherein said EPOXY is derived from glycidyl ethers of novolae resins; glycidyl ethers of mononuclear di- and trihydric phenols; glycidyl ethers of bisphenols; glycidyl ethers of polynuclear phenols; epoxy resin from diphenolic acid; glycidyl ethers of aliphatic polyols; glycidyl esters; glycidyl epoxies containing nitrogen; glycidyl derivatives of cyanuric acid; glycidyl amines; thioglycidyl resins; silicon-glycidyl resins; fluorine glycidyl resins; epoxy resins where are synthesized from monoepoxies other than epihalohydrins including epoxy resins from unsaturated monoepoxies; epoxy resins from monoepoxy alcohols; epoxy resins from monoepoxies by ester interchange; epoxy resins from glycidaldehyde; polyglycidyl compounds containing unsaturation epoxy resins which are synthesized from olefins and chloroacetyls; or epoxy-resin adducts of the above, or combinations thereof.

13. A composition according to claim 12 , wherein said curing agent is an amine, an amide, an acid, an acid-anhydride, a nitrogen containing compound, or a latent curing catalyst, or an amine terminated polyether, or combinations thereof, and wherein the amount of said polymer is from about 1 to about 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said epoxy resin.

14. A composition according to claim 13 , wherein the equivalent weight of said curing agent is from about 0.25 to about 5.0 based on the equivalent weight of said polymer and said epoxy resin, and wherein said (polymer) is a polyacrylate.

15. A composition according to claim 14 , wherein said epoxy resin is

wherein n is an integer from 0 to about 18,

and wherein said polyacrylate is derived from ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, or ethyl-hexyl acrylate, or combinations thereof.

16. A composition according to claim 15 , wherein the amount of said polymer is from about 5 to about 15 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said epoxy resin.

17. A process for forming a thermoset composition, comprising the steps of:

mixing a polymer and an epoxy resin, said polymer having the formula

wherein R 1 and R 2 , independently, is a linear or branched alkyl having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted C 1 to about C 6 alkyl having one or more substituents, or aryl, or a substituted aryl having from 1 to 6 substituents on the aryl ring; wherein said one or more substituents, independently, represent an alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an aryl, or a halogen which can be the same or different, or a cyano, or an ether having a total of from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, or a nitro, or wherein R 1 and R 2 are part of a ring having from about 5 to about 12 total carbon atoms;

wherein said (polymer), independently, is derived from a conjugated diene monomer containing from 4 to about 12 carbon atoms, or is derived from a vinyl monomer having the formula

where R 3 is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C 1 to C 4 alkyl, or substituted C 1 -C 4 alkyl wherein the substituents, independently, comprise one or more hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy(OR 5 ), carboxy, acyloxy, aryloxy(O 2 CR 5 ), alkoxy-carbonyl(CO 2 R 5 ), or aryloxy-carbonyl; wherein R 4 is selected from hydrogen, R 5 , CO 2 H, CO 2 R 5 , COR 5 , CN, CONH 2 , CONHR 5 , O 2 CR 5 , OR 5 , or halogen; wherein R 5 is selected from C 1 -C 18 alkyl, substituted C 1 -C 18 alkyl, C 2 -C 18 alkenyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, or alkaryl, wherein the substituents independently are selected from one or more epoxy, hydroxy, alkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, carboxy (and salts), sulfonic acid (and salts), alkoxy- or aryloxy-carbonyl, dicyanato, cyano, silyl, halo and dialkylamino; or wherein said (polymer), independently, is derived from maleic anhydride, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, N-alkylmaleimide, N-arylmaleimide, dialkyl fumarate a cyclo- polymerizable monomer; styrene, α-methyl styrene, C 1 -C 12 alkyl styrene with substitute groups both either on the chain or on the ring, N,N-alkylacrylamide, or combinations thereof;

wherein said EPOXY is derived from glycidyl ethers of novolac resins; glycidyl ethers of mononuclear di- and trihydric phenols; glycidyl ethers of bisphenols; glycidyl ethers of polynuclear phenols; epoxy resin from diphenolic acid; glycidyl ethers of aliphatic polyols; glycidyl esters; glycidyl epoxies containing nitrogen; glycidyl derivatives of cyanuric acid; glycidyl amines; thioglycidyl resins; silicon-glycidyl resins; fluorine glycidyl resins; epoxy resins where are synthesized from monoepoxies other than epihalohydrins including epoxy resins from unsaturated monoepoxies; epoxy resins from monoepoxy alcohols; epoxy resins from monoepoxies by ester interchange; epoxy resins from glycidaldehyde; polyglycidyl compounds containing unsaturation; epoxy resins which are synthesized from olefins and chloroacetyls; or epoxy-resin adducts of the above, or combinations thereof.

18. A process according to claim 17 , wherein said (polymer) is a polyacrylate, wherein said polyacrylate is derived from ethyl acrylate, buryl acrylate, or ethyl-hexyl acrylate, or combinations thereof; and wherein the amount of said polymer is from about 5 to about 15 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said epoxy resin.

19. A process according to claim 17 , wherein said polymer end group is said H.

20. A process according to claim 18 , wherein said polymer end group is said H.

21. A process according to claim 18 , wherein said curing agent is an amine, an amide, an acid, an acid-anhydride, a nitrogen containing compound, or a latent curing catalyst, or an amine terminated polyether, or combinations thereof.

22. A process according to claim 21 , wherein said epoxy resin, is

wherein n is an integer from 0 to about 18.