C08F - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Homopolymers and copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated radicals, each having one or more carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds and optionally other functional groups such as aromatic rings, triple bonds, halogens, carboxylic acid, ester or anhydride groups, nitrogen or other heteroatoms such as Si, S, B or P. These polymers are also known as addition polymers.
The above polymers include polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polymers of vinyl chloride, acetate or pyrrolidone, styrene or divinylbenzene polymers, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, butadiene or isoprene polymers, allyl polymers, acrylonitrile polymers, maleic anhydride polymers, vinylidene polymers, tetrafluoroethylene polymers and many others including those in the "Synonyms/Keywords" section below.
Other specific polymers such as copolymers of hydrocarbons and mineral oils, petroleum resins, terpene resins, copolymers of drying oils with other monomers or coumarone-indene copolymers.
Graft polymers.
Block polymers.
Other types of polymer formed via carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. by inter-reacting polymers in the absence of non-macromolecular monomers.
Polymerisation processes, in bulk, in solution, in suspension, in emulsion, in gaseous or solid state, using regulators (e.g. chain terminators, retarders or short-stopping agents), in presence of compounding ingredients, or initiated by wave energy, particle radiation or electric current; including processes of polymerisation characterised by special features of the polymerisation apparatus used.
Polymerisation initiators or catalysts, e.g. Ziegler, anionic, cationic, redox or transition metal initiators or initiators for radiation polymerisation.
Post-polymerisation treatments of the above types of polymer (but not of rubbers) including purification, catalyst removal and separating polymers from non-polymers; but see "Relationships" section below for overlaps with subclass C08J.
Chemical modification of the above types of polymer (but not of rubbers) by after-treatment, e.g. oxidation, reduction, epoxidation, hydrolysis, halogenation or dehalogenation, sulfonation, cyclisation or partial depolymerisation.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
Relationship with other subclasses of classes C08 and C09
Polysaccharides and their derivatives are classified in subclass C08B.
Treatment and chemical modification of rubbers, including conjugated diene rubbers, are classified in subclass C08C however synthesis of rubbers and treatment or chemical modification of non-rubbers covered per se in subclass C08F are classified in subclass C08F.
Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds (usually known as condensation polymers) are classified in subclass C08G. This includes unsaturated polyesters, polyamides or polyurethanes, silicone-type polymers with unsaturated groups and block polymers formed by interreacting polymers in the absence of monomers, as long as the mechanism for reaction is of C08G type.
Derivatives of natural macromolecular polymers, e.g. derived from proteins or vulcanised oils, are classified in subclass C08H.
Working-up, general processes of compounding and after-treatment not covered by this subclass are classified in subclass C08J. These include making solutions, dispersions etc., plasticising, compounding with additives, e.g. colouring or masterbatching, crosslinking, manufacture of articles or shaped materials, chemical treatment or coating of such articles, making porous, cellular or foamed materials, and recovery or working up of waste materials.
Use or choice of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic materials as compounding agents are classified in subclass C08K.
Compositions of macromolecular compounds, either with other macromolecular compounds or with other ingredients, including compositions of polysaccharides, rubbers or natural macromolecular compounds, are classified in subclass C08L.
Coating compositions and other polymer compositions for similar uses, e.g. paints, inks, woodstains and printing pastes, are classified in subclass C09D.
Adhesives and adhesive processes are classified in subclass C09J.
Materials for applications not otherwise provided for, or applications of materials not otherwise provided for, are classified in subclass C09K. These include sealing or anti-slip materials, heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, drilling compositions, luminescent or tenebrescent materials, etching, surface-brightening or pickling materials, antioxidant materials, soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials, liquid crystal or fireproofing materials.
Subclasses C08B-C08L are generally function-oriented subclasses in relation to the polymers they cover, while C09D-C09K are application-oriented subclasses in relation to the said polymers.
Multiple classification
Biocidal, pest-repellant, pest-attractant or plant growth regulatory activity of compounds or preparations is further classified in subclass A01P.
Therapeutic activity of compounds is further classified in subclass A61P.
The use of cosmetics or similar toilet preparations is further classified in subclass A61Q.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from lower carbon number hydrocarbons, e.g. by oligomerisation | C10G 50/00 |
Production of polymers using enzymes | C12P |
Graft polymerisation of monomers on to fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials | D06M 14/00 |
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Catalysts in general (other than polymerisation catalysts) | B01J |
Chemical apparatus | B01J, B01L |
Layered products | B32B |
Special rules of classification
In this subclass, boron or silicon are considered as metals.
In this subclass, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, a catalyst or polymer is classified in the last appropriate place.
This subclass also covers compositions based on monomers which form macromolecular compounds classifiable in this subclass (paints C09D 4/00, adhesives C09J 4/00). In this subclass:
- if the monomers are defined, classification is made according to the polymer to be formed in groups C08F 10/00-C08F 246/00 if no preformed polymer is present; or in groups C08F 251/00-C08F 291/00 if a preformed polymer is present, considering the reaction to take place as a graft or cross-linking reaction;
- if the presence of compounding ingredients is of interest, classification is made in group C08F 2/44 (sensitising agents C08F 2/50, catalysts C08F 4/00);
- if the compounding ingredients are of interest per se, classification is also made in subclass C08K.
Macromolecular compounds and their preparation are classified in the groups for the type of compound prepared.
General processes for the preparation of macromolecular compounds according to more than one main group are classified in the groups for the processes employed (C08F 2/00-C08F 8/00).
Processes for the preparation of macromolecular compounds are also classified in the groups for the types of reactions employed, if of interest.
Subject matter relating to both homopolymers and copolymers is classified in groups C08F 10/00-C08F 38/00.
Subject matter limited to homopolymers is classified only in groups C08F 110/00-C08F 138/00.
Subject matter limited to copolymers is classified only in groups C08F 210/00-C08F 246/00.
In groups C08F 210/00-C08F 238/00, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, a copolymer is classified according to the major monomeric component.
Multiple classification
The following multiple classification rules apply in this subclass:
- When classifying in groups C08F 210/00-C08F 297/00, any monomeric components not identified by the classification according to note (4) after the title of subclass C08F within this classification range, and where the use of such monomeric components is determined to be novel and non-obvious, must also be classified in the last appropriate place in groups C08F 210/00-C08F 238/00.
- Any monomeric components not identified by the classification according to Note (4) after the title of subclass C08F or the note above, and where the use of such monomeric components is considered to represent information of interest for search, may also be classified in the last appropriate place in groups C08F 210/00-C08F 238/00. This can for example be the case when it is considered of interest to enable searching of copolymers using a combination of classification symbols. Such non-obligatory classifications should be given as "additional information".
Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
| Addition polymers | Polymers in which unsaturated monomer molecules join together to form a polymer in which the molecular formula of the repeat unit is identical (except for the double bond) with that of the monomer. |
| Aliphatic radical | Means an acyclic or non-aromatic carbocyclic carbon skeleton which is considered to be terminated by every bond to: an element other than carbon;a carbon atom having a double bond to one atom other than carbon;an aromatic carbocyclic ring or a heterocyclic ring.CH2=CH-O-CH2-CH2-NH-COO-CH2-CH2-OH are classified in group C08F 16/28;CH2=CH-CO-CH=CH2 are classified in group C08F 16/36;CH2=CH-C6H4-Cl are classified in group C08F 12/18.Examples: Polymers of |
| Block polymers | Polymers formed by polymerisation of monomers on to a macromolecule having groups capable of inducing the formation of new polymer chains bound at one or both ends of the starting macromolecule, or by polymerisation using successively different catalyst types or successively different monomer systems without deactivating the intermediate polymer. |
| Condensation polymers | Polymers in which water or some other simple molecule is eliminated from two or more monomer molecules as they combine to form the polymer or crosslinks between polymer chains. These polymers are generally in subclass C08G. |
| Copolymers | Usually denotes polymers of two chemically distinct monomers, and sometimes denotes terpolymers containing more than two types of monomer unit. |
| Graft polymers | Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to preformed polymers or on to inorganic materials. Such preformed polymers could be rubbers, polysaccharides, condensation polymers, homopolymers or copolymers of the addition polymer type. |
| Homopolymers | Polymers resulting from the polymerisation of a single monomer or polymer with a single type of repeating unit. |
| Repeat(ing) unit | The unit in an addition polymer which is repeated throughout the molecule; for example in polyethylene the repeat unit is: CH2-CH2-. |
Synonyms and Keywords
In patent documents the following abbreviations are often used:
| ABS | Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer |
| AIBN | Azoisobutyronitrile (initiator) |
| AMMA | Acrylonitrile-methyl-methacrylate copolymer |
| AMPS | Acrylamidomethylpropanesulfonic acid |
| BR | Butadiene rubber |
| CTFE | Chloro-trifluoroethylene |
| DVB | Divinyl benzene |
| EAA | Ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer |
| EPDM | Ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer |
| EPR | Ethylene-propylene rubber |
| EVOH | Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer |
| HDPE | High-density polyethylene |
| HEMA | Hydroxyethyl methacrylate |
| LDPE | Low-density polyethylene |
| LLDPE | Linear low-density polyethylene |
| PAN | Polyacrylonitrile |
| PE | Polyethylene |
| PMMA | Polymethyl methacrylate |
| PP | Polypropylene |
| PS | Polystyrene |
| PTFE | Polytetrafluoroethylene |
| PVA | Polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl acetate |
| PVAC | Polyvinyl acetate |
| PVC | Polyvinyl chloride |
| PVOH | Polyvinyl alcohol |
| PVP | Polyvinyl pyrrolidone |
| SAN | Styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer |
| SBR | Styrene-butadiene rubber |
| SBS | Styrene-butadiene-styrene block terpolymer |
| TAC | Triallyl cyanurate |