SPECIFIC PHENOMENA DURING THE COPOLYMERIZATION OF TRIOXANE AND ETHYLENE-OXIDE

We, at Asahi Chemical in Japan, have industrialized three types of pol yacetal resins, that is, the acetal homopolymer, copolymer and block c opolymer using anionic, cationic and anionic polymerization techniques , respectively. During this industrialization, we observed various phe nomena, which were not previously reported. First, the authors outline the three technologies for producing each type of polyoxymethylene fr om an industrial viewpoint. Next, the authors discuss a newly found re action during the induction period of the trioxane and ethylene oxide copolymerization. Experimental proof of direct ring expansion between the reaction of trioxane and ethylene oxide is discussed and various n ovel cyclic compounds are also shown. To the best of our knowledge, th is reaction may be the world's first experimental proof of direct ring expansion of the reaction of a cyclic monomer. Third, the authors als o discuss the newly founded morphospecific polymer from the copolymeri zation of trioxane and ethylene oxide using boron trifluoride dibutyl ether as an initiator.