Abstract: Disclosed is a compressed, evacuated, open-cell polymer foam, the foam having an open cell content of about 70 percent or more prior to compression, the foam having a thickness of about 40 to about 90 percent of the initial thickness of the foam prior to compression, the foam having an absolute cell gas pressure of about 10 torr or less in its open cells, the foam having a density of about 16 to about 250 kilograms per cubic meter. Further disclosed is an evacuated insulation panel employing the foam.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of enhancing open cell formation in making extruded alkenyl aromatic polymer foams of about 30 percent or more open cell content. Open cell formation is enhanced by incorporating into the foam an ethylene copolymer having a Vicat softening point of about 85.degree. C. or less. The ethylene copolymer is incorporated at from about 0.1 to about 7 percent based upon the weight of the alkenyl aromatic polymer material comprising the foam.

Abstract: A supported catalyst component comprising (a) a support material, an organometal compound, and (b) an activator compound comprising b.1) a cation which is capable of reacting with a transition metal metallocene compound to form a catalytically active transition metal complex, and b.2) a compatible anion having up to 100 nonhydrogen atoms and containing at least one substituent comprising an active hydrogen moiety; a supported catalyst comprising the supported catalyst component and a transition metal compound; process for making the same; an addition polymerization process using the supported catalyst; complex compounds, and a method for preparing the same.

Abstract: A non-supported solid catalyst comprising (a) an ionic compound comprising a.1) a cation and a.2) an anion having up to 100 nonhydrogen atoms and said anion containing at least one substituent comprising an active hydrogen moiety, (b) a transition metal compound, and (c) an organometal compound wherein the metal is selected from the Groups 1-14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; a supported solid catalyst comprising (a), (b), (c), and (d) a support material, obtainable by combining components (a), (b), (c), and (d) in any order, and wherein during at least one step in the preparation of the solid catalyst, component (a) dissolved in a diluent in which (a) is soluble, is converted into solid form; a method for preparing the solid catalysts; and a process of polymerization using these solid catalysts.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a surface-crosslinked water-absorbent polymer having improved properties. The subject invention further pertains to a process for preparing such a polymer. Through the use of a preferred primary crosslinking agent coupled with surface crosslinking, desirable absorptive properties are achieved. Suitable primary crosslinking agents include methylenebisacrylamide, bis(acrylamido)acetic acid and its salts, allyl acrylate, allyl methacrylate and esters or amides having both a vinyl and an allyl functionality.

Abstract: Clusters of water-swellable polymer particles, having high rates of absorbency without gel-blocking are prepared by suspending water-swellable polymer particles in an inert hydrophobic liquid, such as hydrocarbon, and slowly adding to the particles a suspension of an aqueous solution optionally containing an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated monomer in an inert hydrophobic liquid.

Abstract: Multifunctional cyclobutarene peroxide polymerization initiators comprising at least one cyclobutarene moiety linked through the aromatic ring to at least one peroxide containing group which catalyze free radical polymerizations, as well as participate in cyclobutarene initiated ring opening polymerizations. The cyclobutarene peroxides of this invention are useful for the production of cross-linked, branched and graft polymeric compositions.