| abstract |
Rubber-modified copolymers comprising 5 to 40 weight percent of an elastomer and 95 to 60 weight percent of a copolymer containing 1 to 50 mole percent of an imide derivative of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monomer and 99 to 50 mole percent of one or more monomers copolymerizable therewith are prepared by the reaction of aqueous ammonia or amines with an aqueous suspension of a rubber-modified copolymer of the copolymerizable monomers and an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, anhydride, or half acid derivative. The reaction is carried out at a temperature between 125° and 200° C. at autogenous pressure for between 0.5 and 48 hours. The imide products can be recovered in the form of discrete particles, such as beads or pellets, if desired. |