Process for producing a grafted thermoplastic resin having a multiple constituent

A process for producing a thermoplastic graft copolymer having a multiple constituent is provided to obtain a stable, weather-proof resin with high impact strength by irradiating with high energy radiations an aqueous solution composed of: (1) a polymer or copolymer of isobutylene or a mixture thereof, (2) at least one aromatic vinyl monomer, (3) at least one acrylic monomer having no carboxylic radicals, and (4) at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid. The preferable proportions of the abovesaid materials are: (1) 10% to 40%, (2) 25% to 65%, (3) 10% to 45% and (4) 3% to 20%. The resin is suitable for high impact resistant materials for use in vehicles business machines, electric appliances, housing, pipes and the like. The concentration of monomers or polymers in the total emulsified solution may generally be 10% to 80%, but 30% to 60% is preferable. The concentration of the emulsifying agent may be 0.1% to 10%, preferably 1% to 5%. The range of the radiation doses is 1 x 104 to 5 x 107 rad. A dose rate of 1 x 103 to 1 x 108 rad/hr is preferred. The irradiation temperature may be 00 to about 1000C, preferably room temperature to 800C. The irradiation time is several minutes to some ten minutes. In one of the examples, a graft copolymer thus produced had the following composition: 27% of isobutylene, 54% of styrene, 13% of acrylonitrile and 6% of maleic acid; and it showed a tensile strength of 293 kg/cm2, a hardness of 93R and an impact strength of 0.572 kg.m/cm2. (Iwakiri, K.)