Copolymers of so.sub.2 and ethene

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Novel copolymers of sulphur dioxide with ethene and optionally also carbon monoxide and/or one or more olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbons with less than 20 carbon atoms (A) and a process for producing them are disclosed. The copolymers have a linear structure and consist of units -Z-(C2H4)- and optionally also of units -Z-(A), the latter occurring in random distribution . over the copolymer chain wherein Z represents an SO2 or CO group with the proviso that at least part of the units Z are SO2 groups. Known copolymers of sulphur dioxide with ethene prepared in the presence of radical catalysts are branched polymers having monomer units distributed randomly within the polymer.