Abstract: Polymer and process of polymerizing a monomer charge containing at least 85% of an olefinically unsaturated carboxyl monomer of 3 to 5 carbon atoms at up to 15% of a copolymerizable comonomer, in the presence of a mixed reaction medium containing an organic solvent and a hydrocarbon solvent in respective weight ratio of 95/5 to 1/99, said organic solvent is selected from ketones, esters, ethers, and alcohols having solubility parameter in the range of 8 to 15 and said hydrocarbon solvent is selected from aliphatic and cyclic aliphatic alkanes containing 4 to 12 carbon atoms and non-benzene aromatics of 7 to 9 carbon atoms. Said organic solvent and said hydrocarbon solvent are preferably liquid at room temperature. Viscosity of the 0.2% by weight polymer is in excess of 15,000 cps, preferably in excess of 20,000 cps, and its clarity is at least 80%, preferably 85% transmittance. Viscosity of 1% mucilages containing 1% sodium chloride salt is greater than 5,000 cps, preferably greater than 8,000 cps.

Abstract: Polymer and process of polymerizing a monomer charge containing at least 85% of an olefinically unsaturated carboxyl monomer of 3 to 5 carbon atoms at up to 15% of a copolymerizable comonomer, in the presence of a mixed reaction medium containing an organic solvent and a hydrocarbon solvent in respective weight ratio of 95/5 to 1/99, said organic solvent is selected from ketones, esters, ethers, and alcohols having solubility parameter in the range of 8 to 15 and said hydrocarbon solvent is selected from aliphatic and cyclic aliphatic alkanes containing 4 to 12 carbon atoms and non-benzene aromatics of 7 to 9 carbon atoms. Said organic solvent and said hydrocarbon solvent are preferably liquid at room temperature. Viscosity of the 0.2% by weight polymer is in excess of 15,000 cps, preferably in excess of 20,000 cps, and its clarity is at least 80%, preferably 85% transmittance. Viscosity of 1% mucilages containing 1% sodium chloride salt is greater than 5,000 cps, preferably greater than 8,000 cps.

Abstract: A polymer of an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid containing 3 to 5 carbon atoms is prepared which contains less than 0.2% by weight unreacted monomer in a solvent selected from acetone and lower alkyl acetates also in the presence with less than 5% of a crosslinker selected from polyalkenyl polyethers of polyhydric alcohols containing more than one alkenyl group per molecule wherein the polyhydric alcohol contains at least 4 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups and initiator selected from peroxides and peroxydicarbonates. Polymerization temperature is 40.degree. to 85.degree. C. and viscosity of the mixture after completing polymerization is less than 1000 cps. About 1 to 10% of the carboxyl groups on the polymer are neutralized.

Abstract: A process for polymerizing olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids containing at least one activated carbon-to-carbon olefinic double bond and at least one carboxyl group in benzene in the presence of block copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxides having molecular weights in the range of greater than about 1600 to about 20,000, resulting in improved yields of carboxyl-containing polymers, such as cross-linked polyacrylic acid as shown by an increase in total solids of the benzene slurry of about 50 percent, the polymers obtained at this higher total solids having increased bulk density.

Abstract: A process is taught in which a flexible, reinforcing travelling web may be uniformly, thinly transfer-coated, on both sides of the web simultaneously, with a low-viscosity liquid or mixture of monomers which may or may not wet the web, but does not wet the surface of a substrate on which the web and mixture are deposited. The liquid or mixture is first curtain-coated on an applicator curtain against which the web moves in controlled contact. An apparatus is provided for transfer-coating a travelling web with a low-viscosity liquid which is first curtain-coated on an applicator curtain.

Abstract: Terminally unsaturated liquid epihalohydrin polymers are produced by polymerizing at least one epihalohydrin using hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylates as a modifier. The polymerization is conducted in the presence of a catalytic amount of a trialkyl oxonium salt of an HMF.sub.6 acid wherein M is an element selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony. The polymers are useful as tougheners for unsaturated polyester resin systems.

Abstract: An improved process for the manufacture of levulinic acid which comprises esterification of furfuryl alcohol in the presence of a different alcohol selected from unsubstituted primary and secondary carbon-chain or carbon-ring alcohols containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the presence of a small amount of acid as a catalyst, purification of the resulting levulinate ester by vacuum distillation of a mixture of the levulinate ester and a high boiling solvent and hydrolysis of the purified levulinate ester in the presence of water and a small amount of strong acid catalyst to yield levulinic acid-water mixture. The improvement resides in the purification being carried out prior to hydrolysis and in using a high boiling solvent in the purification step to prevent the formation of a solid resin.

Abstract: Terminally unsaturated liquid epihalohydrin polymers are produced by polymerizing at least one epihalohydrin using hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylates as a modifier. The polymerization is conducted in the presence of a catalytic amount of a trialkyl oxonium salt of an HMF.sub.6 acid wherein M is an element selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, arsenic and antimony. The polymers are useful as tougheners for unsaturated polyester resin systems.