Thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer, resin composition comprising same, and molded products thereof

• US 9,353,200 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lotte Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. (Lotte Chemical Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Chung, Jin Hwa, Kwon, Kee Hae, Jang, Joo Hyun, Kang, Yong Hee, Goo, Ja Kwan, Kim, Man Suk, Park, Kwang Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): PENG, KUO LIANG
• Application Number:
  US14/365,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20140371344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 22/10 Esters
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/14 Methyl esters , e.g. methyl (meth)acrylate
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/18 with acrylic or methacrylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/1806 C6-(meth)acrylate, e.g. (cyclo)hexyl (meth)acrylate or phenyl (meth)acrylate
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/1807 C7-(meth)acrylate, e.g. heptyl (meth)acrylate or benzyl (meth)acrylate
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/1812 C12-(meth)acrylate, e.g. lauryl (meth)acrylate
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/10 Homopolymers or copolymers of methacrylic acid esters

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer, which includes a derivative unit obtained from a monomer mixture including: (A) an aromatic (meth)acrylate having an index of refraction from about 1.580 to about 1.700; and (B) a monofunctional unsaturated monomer.

Claims

1. A thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer, comprising:

a derivative unit obtained from a monomer mixture comprising;

(A) an aromatic (meth)acrylate having an index of refraction from about 1.580 to about 1.700; and

(B) a monofunctional unsaturated monomer,

wherein the thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 41,000 g/mol to about 300,000 g/mol,

wherein the thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer has a Vicat softening temperature (VST) of about 100°

C. to about 140°

C. as measured under conditions of a load of 5 kg at 50°

C./hr in accordance with ASTM D1525.

2. The thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 1, wherein the monomer mixture comprises:

about 1 wt % to about 50 wt % of the (A) aromatic (meth)acrylate having an index of refraction from about 1.580 to about 1.700; and

about 50 wt % to about 99 wt % of the (B) the monofunctional unsaturated monomer.

3. The thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 1, further comprising:

about 49 wt % or less of a derivative unit obtained from (C) an alicyclic or aromatic (meth)acrylate having an index of refraction from about 1.490 to about 1.579.

4. The thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer has a non-crosslinked structure.

5. The thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer has a glass transition temperature from about 90°

C. to about 150°

C., and permits extrusion or injection molding at a temperature higher than or equal to the glass transition temperature.

6. The thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer has an index of refraction at a thickness of 2.5 mm from about 1.495 to about 1.640, and a transmittance of about 85% or higher, as measured in accordance with ASTM D1003.

7. The thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 1, wherein the (A) aromatic (meth)acrylate having an index of refraction from about 1.580 to about 1.700 comprises a biphenyl structure.

8. The thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 1, wherein the (A) aromatic (meth)acrylate comprises a structure represented by Formula 1:

9. The thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 1, wherein the (B) monofunctional unsaturated monomer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a C₁ to C₈ alkyl(meth)acrylate;

an unsaturated carboxylic acid including methacrylic acid;

an acid anhydride including maleic anhydride;

a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate;

(meth)acrylamide;

unsaturated nitrile;

allyl glycidyl ether;

glycidyl methacrylate; and

styrene monomers.

10. The thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 3, wherein the (C) alicyclic or aromatic (meth)acrylate having an index of refraction from about 1.490 to about 1.579 comprises a structure represented by Formula 2 or Formula 3:

11. The thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one selected from the group consisting of flame retardants, surfactants, nucleating agents, coupling agents, fillers, plasticizers, impact modifiers, lubricants, antibacterial agents, release agents, heat stabilizers, antioxidants, light stabilizers, compatibilizers, inorganic additives, colorants, stabilizers, lubricating agents, antistatic agents, pigments, dyes, and flame-proofing agents.

12. A molded product formed through extrusion or injection molding of a resin composition comprising the thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer according to claim 1.

13. The molded product according to claim 12, wherein the resin composition further comprises a polycarbonate resin.

14. A method of preparing a thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer, comprising:

suspension polymerization by adding a radical polymerization initiator to a monomer mixture comprising (A) an aromatic (meth)acrylate having an index of refraction from about 1.580 to about 1.700, and (B) a monofunctional unsaturated monomer, wherein the thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 41,000 g/mol to about 300,000 g/mol, and wherein the thermoplastic (meth)acrylate copolymer has a Vicat softening temperature (VST) of about 100°

C. to about 140°

C. as measured under conditions of a load of 5 kg at 50°

C./hr in accordance with ASTM D1525.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the polymerization is performed in the presence of a suspension stabilizer and a chain-transfer agent.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

adding at least one additive to the monomer mixture, the at least one additive being selected from the group consisting of flame retardants, surfactants, nucleating agents, coupling agents, fillers, plasticizers, impact modifiers, lubricants, antibacterial agents, release agents, heat stabilizers, antioxidants, light stabilizers, compatibilizers, inorganic additives, colorants, stabilizers, lubricating agents, antistatic agents, pigments, dyes, and flame-proofing agents.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the monomer mixture further comprises an alicyclic or aromatic (meth)acrylate having an index of refraction from about 1.490 to about 1.579.