| abstract |
PROCESS FOR THE ALCOHOLYSIS OF ETHYLENE-VINYL ACETATE AND OTHER ETHYLENE-VINYL ESTER INTERPOLYMERS IN THE SOLID PHASE, WHEREIN THE HYDROLYSIS IS CARRIED OUT IN A REACTION MEDIUM COMPRISING A MIXTURE OF A LOW-BOILING ALCOHOL, A HYDROCARBON SOLVENT, AND AN APROTIC DIPOLAR SOLVENT. USE OF A REACTION MEDIUM INCORPORATING A DIPOLAR APROTIC SOLVENT PROVIDES MARKEDLY INCREASED ALCOHOLYSIS RATES AS COMPARED WITH PROCESSES UTILIZING REACTION MEDIA ABSENT SUCH CONSTITUENT. APROTIC DIPOLAR SOLVENTS WHICH MAY BE USED IN THE ALCOHOLYSIS MEDIUM INCLUDE DIMETHYLFORMAMIDE, DIMETHYLACETAMIDE, DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE, TETRAHYDROTHIOPHENE DIOXIDE, N-METHYLPYRROLIDONE, HEXAMETHYLPHOSPHORIC TRIAMIDE, TETRAMETHYLUREA, AND ACETONITRILE. |