Polymer preparation
The invention provides a retarded acid-curing pre-polymeric composition wherein the composition comprises an acid, a pre-polymer and hydroxylamine; use of hydroxylamine as a retarder for an acid-curing pre-polymer composition; a method of retarding the curing of an acid-curing pre-polymeric composition which method comprises the step of adding hydroxylamine to the pre-polymer to form a pre-polymer mixture; and a method of curing a retarded acid-curing pre-polymeric composition wherein the method comprises the step of heating the composition to an elevated temperature for use in improving processing and controlling reactivity in a wide range of industrial applications.
1. A method of curing a retarded acid-curing pre-polymeric composition wherein the method comprises the steps of:
initially providing an acid-curing pre-polymeric composition comprising an acid, a pre-polymer and hydroxylamine, wherein the reaction of the composition is retarded by the hydroxylamine and wherein the molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid is at least 1:1;
curing the composition by heating the composition.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the hydroxylamine is present in a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid which is selected from one of the following molar ratios: a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 1.3:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 1.4:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 1.7:1, a molar ration of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 1.9:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 2.5:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 3:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 5:1.
3. A method of curing a retarded acid-curing pre-polymeric composition wherein the method comprises the steps of:
initially providing an acid-curing pre-polymeric composition comprising an acid, a pre-polymer and hydroxylamine wherein the reaction of the composition is retarded by the hydroxylamine; and
curing the composition by heating the composition.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the hydroxylamine is present in a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid which is selected from one of the following molar ratios: a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 1:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 1.3:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 1.4:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 1.7:1, a molar ration of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 1.9:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 2.5:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 3:1, a molar ratio of hydroxylamine to acid of at least 5:1.