PURPOSE: To obtain the titled copolymer having excellent moldability, degradable with light and microorganism and capable of accepting functional groups utilizing various polymer reactions, by copolymerizing ethylene and a specific comonomer in the presence of a radical polymerization initiator.
CONSTITUTION: The objective copolymer is composed of recurring units of formula III, formula IV and formula V, containing 50W99.8mol% of the unit of formula III, 0.1W40mol% each of the units of formula IV and formula V and 0.2W50mol% of the units of formula IV and formula V in total and having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.04W1.2 in decalin at 135°C. The copolymer can be produced by copolymerizing ethylene with a comonomer of formula I [X and Y are 1W7C alkyl, group of formula II (R is H, cyano, etc.) or 2-naphthyl] in the presence of a radical polymerization initiator preferably under 30W3,500atm. pressure at 50W350°C. The comonomer of formula I is e.g. 2,2- diphenyl-4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane.
KOJIMA SHINJI
SUGA KATSUFUMI
ENDO TAKESHI
