Abstract: An improved process for reacting a mercaptanterminated aliphatic polysulfide resin with excess epichlorohydrin in the presence of alkali to form an expoxidized polysulfide is disclosed. The reaction takes place in the absence of a solvent such as ethyl alcohol or ether, which will form an inseparable azeotrope with epichlorohydrin and water. The reaction is carried out at a temperature and pressure sufficient to distill away epichlorohydrin and by-product water. The water and epichlorohydrin are separated and the epichlorohydrin is returned to the pot during the reaction. After the reaction is complete, the epichlorohydrin is stripped, leaving an epoxidized polysulfide, by-product sodium chloride, and residual alkali. The epoxidized polysulfide is dissolved in a work-up solvent and filtered to remove sodium chloride and alkali. Then the work-up solvent is stripped, leaving a purified product.

Abstract: Half-ester reaction products possessing unique adhesive properties are obtained by reacting maleated alpha-olefins with hydrocarbylpolyoxyalkylenealkanols. The half-ester in combination with other thermoplastic materials provide improved hot-melt formulations. Paper stocks contaminated with these hot-melt formulations can be recycled into a high grade paper pulp by conventional alkaline repulping processes. The half-ester products are also useful as a solvent in thermoplastic polymerization processes.