Polymeric compositions and method of making and articles thereof

Abstract

Described herein is a mixture comprising: (a) a non-self-crosslinking polymer; and (b) a modifying compound comprising: (i) a first functional group capable of reacting with the reaction sites of the non-self-crosslinking polymer; and (ii) a second functional group capable of crosslinking with a curing agent, wherein the first functional group is different than the second functional group. Also, described are curable polymeric compositions, and methods of making cured polymeric compositions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mixture comprising:
 (a) a non-self-crosslinking polymer; and   (b) a modifying compound comprising:
 (i) a first functional group capable of reacting with the reaction sites of the non-self-crosslinking polymer; and 
 (ii) a second functional group capable of crosslinking with a curing agent, 
   wherein the first functional group is different than the second functional group.   
     
     
         2 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the first functional group is selected from: an aziridine amide, an aziridine urea, an isocyanate, an alcohol, an epoxy, an amine, a sulfhydryl, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the second functional group is selected from: an alkyne or an azide. 
     
     
         4 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the modifying compound is selected from at least one of: CH3C2H3NC(O)NHC6H7(CH3)3CH2HNCOOCH2C≡CH, CH3C2H3NC(O)NHC6H7(CH3)3CH2HNCOOCH2CH2N3, OCNC6H7(CH3)3CH2NHCOOCH2C≡CH, OCNC6H7(CH3)3CH2NHCOOCH2CH2N3, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the modifying compound is selected from
   X—R—(Z) n  
   wherein X is selected from: an aziridine amide, an aziridine urea, an isocyanate, an alcohol, an amine, an epoxy, or a sulfhydryl, R is a multifunctional organic group, and Z is selected from —N 3  or —C≡C—R′, wherein R′ is a hydrogen or a monofunctional organic group and n is from one to about 10.   
     
     
         6 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the non-self-crosslinking polymer comprises a reaction site selected from at least one of a hydroxyl, an amino, a carboxy, an epoxy, a double bond, a ketone, an aldehyde, or non-self-reactive combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the non-self-crosslinking polymer is selected from at least one of: (meth)acrylates, polyurethanes, polyesters, polysiloxanes, polyolefins, polyethers, polyamides, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The mixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a curing agent, wherein the curing agent comprises a third functional group, wherein the third functional group may react with the second functional group to crosslink the curable polymer composition. 
     
     
         9 . The mixture of  claim 8 , wherein the second functional group and third functional group form an azide-alkyne crosslink. 
     
     
         10 . The mixture of  claim 8 , wherein the curing agent has a molecular weight of less than 1,000. 
     
     
         11 . The mixture of  claim 8 , wherein the curing agent is a second polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The mixture of  claim 11 , wherein the second polymer is different than the non-self-crosslinking polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The mixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a compound selected from a dye, a polarizer, a photoinitiator, a photostabilizer, an antioxidant, a free-radical initiator, a hydrophilic compound, a hydrophobic compound, an electric field absorber, an electric field emitter, a magnetic field absorber, a magnetic field emitter, or an adhesion modifier, wherein the compound comprises a functional entity and at least one pendant alkyne group or azide group. 
     
     
         14 . A curable polymeric composition comprising: a reaction product of the mixture according to  claim 1  and a curing agent. 
     
     
         15 . The curable polymeric composition of  claim 14 , wherein the curable polymeric composition is at least one of an adhesive and a coating. 
     
     
         16 . An article comprising the curable polymeric composition as described in  claim 14 , wherein the article is a filled polymer, a reinforced composite, a primer, or a structural article. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 (a) providing the mixture according to  claim 1 ;   (b) reacting the non-self-crosslinking polymer and the modifying compound to obtain a functionalized polymer; and   (c) crosslinking the functionalized polymer with the curing agent.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reacting and crosslinking are thermally activated. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reacting temperature is lower than the crosslinking temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reacting temperature is about 0° C. to 100° C.