Abstract: The present invention provides a curable fluoroelastomer composition comprising: (a) a fluoroelastomer comprising a cure site component having a halogen capable of participation in a peroxide cure reaction; (b) an organic peroxide; and (c) a siloxane or silazane comprising one or more —SiH groups. The curable fluoroelastomer compositions generally show improved processing and the resulting cured fluoroelastomers generally have improved mechanical and physical properties.

Abstract: New ligands having a backbone comprised of NCCX can be combined with a metal or metal precursor compound or formed into a metal-ligand complex to catalyze a number of different chemical transformations, including polymerization.

Abstract: Thermally cured undercoat for use in lithography of a thermally cured composition comprising a hydroxyl-containing polymer, an amino cross-linking agent and a thermal acid generator, wherein the hydroxyl containing polymer is a polymer comprising units m, n and o of the following formula: wherein R1 is H or methyl; R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C6-C14 aryl acrylate or C6-C14 aryl methacrylate group wherein the substituted groups may be phenyl, C1-4 alkyl or C1-4 alkoxy; R3 is a hydroxyl functionalized C1-C8 alkyl acrylate, methacrylate or C6-C14 aryl group, R4 is a C1-C10 linear or branched alkylene; p is an integer of from 1 to 5 with the proviso that there are no more than thirty carbon atoms in the [—R4O—]p; R5 is a C1-C10 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C14 aryl, or substituted or unsubstituted C7-C15 alicyclic hydrocarbon; and m is about 40 to 70, n is about 15 to 35 and o is about 15 to 25.

Abstract: A process for olefin polymerization in a reaction vessel, said process comprising polymerizing at least one &agr;-olefin in a polymerization stage employing a catalyst feed comprising 1) a first catalyst composition having at least two active catalytic sites capable of producing a first set of polymer components; 2) a second catalyst composition having at least two active catalytic sites capable of giving essentially the same set of polymer components as produced by the catalyst in feed (1) under the same polymerization conditions but these components in a different ratio to those produced by the catalyst composition of feed (1); wherein the amounts of catalyst compositions (1 and 2) fed into the reaction vessel are independently controlled.

Abstract: A novel process for the polymerization of olefins is provided. The process involves contacting at least one olefin with a Ziegler-Natta type catalyst in the presence of a specified compound that results in the production of polymeric products having a narrower molecular weight distribution. Also provide is a process for narrowing the molecular weight distribution of a polyolefin comprising contacting an olefin, a Ziegler-Natta catalyst and a compound specified herein. Further provided are novel polyethylenes, and films and articles produced therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides cured, compositions of matter that are non-swellable in water after curing. In general, the compositions comprise a water soluble copolymers comprising vinylpyrrolidone and glycidyl acrylate and a water soluble secondary aromatic amine or aliphatic ring diamine. The present invention further provides a cured composition of matter that is non-swellable in water after curing, comprising a water soluble copolymer comprising acrylamide and glycidyl methacrylate; and a water soluble secondary aromatic amine. The present invention also provides methods of preparation of the compositions and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer obtained by polymerizing a mixture composed of a methacrylic ester monomer having an electron-donating group bonded to a specific site of its ester-forming residue (its alcohol moiety) and optionally a lactone or lactide, while using an alkali metal alcoholate as a polymerization initiator. Moreover, it also provides a process for preparing the polymer and polymer micelles formed from the polymer. Since the polymer has a functional group corresponding to the polymerization initiator and the aforesaid electron-donating groups (functional groups), it can perform a great variety of functions by taking advantage of these functional groups.

Abstract: A fiber composition which comprises a blend of modified polypropylene and modified poly(ethylene oxide). This fiber composition can be melt-processed to make fibers useful in flushable personal care products. A process for making this fiber composition is also provided.

Abstract: A single-site olefin polymerization catalyst and method of making it are disclosed. The catalyst comprises an activator and an organometallic complex. The complex comprises a Group 3 to 10 transition metal, M, and at least one anionic heterocyclobutenyl ligand that is bonded to M. Molecular modeling results indicate that single-site catalysts based on anionic heterocyclobutenyl ligands will have advantages compared with the performance of catalysts based on cyclopentadienyl and substituted cyclopentadienyl ligands.

Abstract: Polyolefins, especially branched polyethylenes, can be made by combining a catalyst that can oligomerize ethylene to one or more alpha-olefins and a polymerization catalyst which can copolymerize ethylene and &agr;-olefins, by first carrying out the process in, for example, a continuous stirred tank reactor or its equivalent, and then in a plug flow reactor or its equivalent. The process minimizes the occurrence of (unreacted) &agr;-olefins in the final polymer product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a substantially amorphous poly-&agr;-olefin, which includes: a) preforming a solid catalyst and, optionally, a first amount of a trialkylaluminum cocatalyst, by contacting the catalyst and optionally the cocatalyst with at least one selected from the group including oxygen and a compound which includes active oxygen, to form a preformed catalyst, wherein the solid catalyst includes magnesium, aluminum and titanium, and wherein said trialkylaluminum cocatalyst includes 1 to 9 carbon atoms in each alkyl group; b) contacting the preformed catalyst with a second amount of the cocatalyst, wherein a molar ratio of trialkylaluminum to the titanium ranges from 40:1 to 700:1, to form a catalyst mixture; c) polymerizing, in the liquid phase, with the catalyst mixture, an olefin or an olefin mixture at a temperature between 30 and 160° C., to produce the poly-&agr;-olefin.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to crystalline propylene polymers, to methods for their production and to methods for their use in film applications. Specifically, this invention relates to crystalline propylene polymers comprising both propylene homopolymer and propylene copolymer. The compositions are prepared using metallocene catalyst systems comprising at least two metallocenes in a polymerization process that involves the sequential or parallel polymerization of propylene homopolymer and copolymer using propylene with a small amount of comonomer, preferably ethylene. The polymerization is catalyzed by a dual metallocene catalyst system. The resulting polymers have a broad, bimodal molecular weight distribution. The resulting polymers are excellent for use in the production of biaxially oriented films or non-oriented films.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to crystalline propylene polymers, to methods for their production and to methods for their use in film applications. Specifically, this invention relates to crystalline propylene polymers comprising both propylene homopolymer and propylene copolymer. The compositions are prepared using metallocene catalyst systems comprising at least two metallocenes in a polymerization process that involves the sequential or parallel polymerization of propylene homopolymer and copolymer using propylene with a small amount of comonomer, preferably ethylene. The polymerization is catalyzed by a dual metallocene catalyst system. The resulting polymers have a broad, bimodal molecular weight distribution. The resulting polymers are excellent for use in the production of biaxially oriented films or non-oriented films.

Abstract: A continuous process for oligomers which do not contain, as polymerized units, carboxylic acid-containing monomers and their salts, including the steps of: (1) forming a reaction mixture, substantially free of carboxylic acid-containing monomers and their salts, containing: (i) 0.5 to 99.95% by weight of the reaction mixture of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer; and (ii) 0.05 to 25% by weight, based on the weight of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer, of at least one free-radical initiator; and (2) continuously passing the reaction mixture through a heated zone wherein the reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 30 bars for from 0.1 seconds to 4 minutes to form terminally-unsaturated oligomers. In addition, processes for forming oligomers of vinyl acetate and oligomers of vinyl alcohol are disclosed. Mixtures of fully saturated and terminally unsaturated oligomers are also disclosed.

Abstract: In the present invention, vinylimidazole and [3-(methacryloxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane are copolymerized to form a modified polyvinylimidazole, which then undergoes hydrolysis and condensation reactions with water and tetramethoxysilane to prepare a hybrid of polyvinylimidazole and silica. Experimental analyses show that covalent bondings exist between the modified polyvinylimidazole and silica in the hybrid.

Abstract: A new process of interpolymerizing ethylene interpolymer products having improved properties, such as increased onset of crystallization temperature, is disclosed. Preferably, the process comprises interpolymerizing a first homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer and at least one second homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer using at least two constrained geometry catalysts having different reactivities such that the first ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a narrow molecular weight distribution (NMWD) with a very high comonomer content and relatively high molecular weight and the second ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a NMWD with a low comonomer content and a molecular weight lower than that of the first interpolymer. The resultant first homogeneous interpolymer is combined with the resultant second homogeneous interpolymer in appropriate weight ratios resulting in the desired finished polymer structure.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides curable fluoropolymer compositions comprising fluoropolymer, onium, and alkyl or aryl oxalate-blocked compound and carbonate-blocked compound as crosslinking agents. In other aspects, the invention provides methods of making curable fluoropolymer compositions and provides alkyl or aryl oxalate-blocked and carbonate-blocked compounds.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides curable fluoropolymer compositions comprising fluoropolymer, onium, and alkyl or aryl oxalate-blocked compound as a crosslinking agent. In other aspects, the invention provides methods of making curable fluoropolymer compositions and provides alkyl or aryl oxalate-blocked compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a powdered water-soluble polymer comprising hydrolyzing a copolymer comprising an N-vinylamide unit and a vinyl acetate unit while dispersed in water under a basic condition and then washing the resulting powdered water-soluble polymer with at least one washing liquid selected from an alcohol, water at 20° C. or lower, and salt water.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a saponified vinyl acetate polymer (a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer in particular) which features a minimum of coloration of molding pellets, a well-inhibited emanation of an odor in melt-molding, a high transparency of the product film and a low incidence of fish-eyes in the film, and a process for producing a vinyl acetate polymer (particularly an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) for use as the starting material for said saponified vinyl acetate polymer having said favorable properties. In accordance with the invention, either vinyl acetate alone or vinyl acetate and one or more other monomers are polymerized in the presence of a hydroxylactone compound and a polymerization catalyst. The resulting vinyl acetate polymer (particularly the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) is then saponified.