Abstract: A composition comprising: one or more polycarbonates; one or more vinylidene aromatic substituted polymers; and a buffer system that controls the pH in water at 25° C. at a value of about 6.0 to about 8.0. The composition may comprise the buffer system that has a pKa between about 4 and about 10. The composition may comprise: from about 10 or 50 to about 95 percent by weight of the one or more polycarbonates; from about 0.5 or about 10 to about 50 or about 90 percent by weight of the one or more vinylidene aromatic substituted monomers; and from about 0.005 percent to about 0.050 percent by weight of the buffer system; wherein weight is based on the total weight of the composition. The buffer system may be present in an amount from about 0.010 percent to about 0.040 percent by weight.

Abstract: A composition comprising: one or more polycarbonates; one or more vinylidene aromatic substituted polymers; and a buffer system that controls the pH in water at 25° C. at a value of about 6.0 to about 8.0. The composition may comprise the buffer system that has a pKa between about 4 and about 10. The composition may comprise: from about 10 or 50 to about 95 percent by weight of the one or more polycarbonates; from about 0.5 or about 10 to about 50 or about 90 percent by weight of the one or more vinylidene aromatic substituted monomers; and from about 0.005 percent to about 0.050 percent by weight of the buffer system; wherein weight is based on the total weight of the composition. The buffer system may be present in an amount from about 0.010 percent to about 0.040 percent by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising a) one or more cyclic (meth)acrylate esters; b) one or more alkyl (meth)acrylates; and c) one or more of i to iv; i) the one or more alkyl (meth)acrylates have two or more carbons in the alkyl group; ii) the one or more alkyl (meth)acrylates contain one or more alkyl methacrylates and one or more C2-8 alkyl acrylates; iii) one or more unsaturated compounds containing nucleophilic groups or electrophilic groups; iv) one or more impact modifiers, colorants, mold release agents, flow modifiers, UV absorbers, light stabilizers, fillers, fibers, anti-oxidants, and heat stabilizers. Disclosed are copolymers prepared therefrom having a weight average molecular weight of about 50,000 g/mole or greater and a glass transition temperature of about 100° C. or greater. Disclosed are methods for preparing such copolymers. Disclosed are articles prepared from the compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are such co-polymers of vinylidene substituted aromatic monomers and unsaturated compounds containing nucleophilic groups chain extended by a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated compounds having pendant electrophilic groups which copolymerize with the one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers. Disclosed are compositions comprising vinylidene substituted aromatic monomers and unsaturated compounds containing nucleophilic groups and a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated compounds having pendant electrophilic groups, which may optionally, contain salts of alkaline earth metals, alkali metals, transition metals, post transition metals or metalloids. Disclosed are methods of preparing such chain-extended and/or branched copolymers.

Abstract: Disclosed are nitrile-vinylidene substituted aromatic polymers which include less than about 250 ppm of vinylidene substituted aromatic monomer. Also disclosed is a method of minimizing nitrile migration in nitrile-vinylidene substituted aromatic polymers where the amount of residual vinylidene substituted aromatic monomer in the nitrile-vinylidene substituted aromatic polymer is reduced. Also disclosed is a method of making nitrile-vinylidene substituted aromatic polymers which includes less than about 250 ppm of styrene monomer.

Abstract: Disclosed are ionomers of co-polymers of vinylidene substituted aromatic monomers and unsaturated compounds containing acid groups crosslinked by the residue of one or more metal salts and/or metal oxides of a metal having a valence of 2 or greater. The crosslinks are reversible and the weight average molecular weight of the copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated acids may be substantially the same after the crosslinking is reversed as it is before crosslinking. A portion of the chains of the copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated acids are crosslinked with other chains of the copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated acids.

Abstract: A foaming composition useful to make an extruded foam is comprised of comprising a plurality of chains of a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated acids, the copolymer having about 0.01 to about 15.0 percent by weight of the one or more unsaturated acids wherein the acid groups are pendant from the copolymer a metal salt, metal oxide or combination thereof, the metal having a valence of at least 2; and one or more blowing agents. The foaming composition may be made into a foam by heating the foaming composition to a temperature sufficient to melt and ionically crosslink said copolymer which is then extruded through a die forming a foam. The foam is comprised of an ionically crosslinked aforementioned copolymer, wherein the copolymer is crosslinked through ionic bonds between the unsaturated acids and the metal of the metal salt or metal oxide.

Abstract: A foaming composition useful to make an extruded foam is comprised of: a copolymer of a vinylidene aromatic monomer and an unsaturated compound containing nucleophilic groups, a copolymer of vinylidene aromatic monomer and an unsaturated compound having electrophilic groups; and a blowing agent. The foaming composition may be made into a foam by heating the foaming composition to a temperature sufficient to melt and react said copolymers to form a chain extended/branched copolymer and extruding the foaming composition from a higher pressure to a lower pressure to form an extruded foam comprised of the chain extended/branched copolymer. The foam is comprised of a chain extended/branched copolymer that is the reaction product of (i) a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated compounds containing nucleophilic groups, and (ii) a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated compounds having electrophilic groups.

Abstract: Disclosed are such co-polymers of vinylidene substituted aromatic monomers and unsaturated compounds containing nucleophilic groups chain extended by a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated compounds having pendant electrophilic groups which copolymerize with the one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers. Disclosed are compositions comprising vinylidene substituted aromatic monomers and unsaturated compounds containing nucleophilic groups and a copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated compounds having pendant electrophilic groups, which may optionally, contain salts of alkaline earth metals, alkali metals, transition metals, post transition metals or metalloids. Disclosed are methods of preparing such chain-extended and/or branched copolymers.

Abstract: Disclosed are laminate composition comprising one or more layers of a fiber structure and two or more layers of a polymeric composition wherein each layer of the fiber structure is disposed between two layers of the polymeric composition wherein the polymeric composition comprises one or more branched polycarbonates and one or more crosslinked phosphazenes; wherein the laminate composition exhibits a UL 94 rating of V-0 with a ? (T1-T2) of 50 or less. The polymeric film composition may contain one or more linear polycarbonates. The polymeric film composition may contain one or more recycled branched polycarbonates or one or more recycled linear polycarbonates. The polymeric film composition may contain one or more salts of a perflourohydrocarbyl sulfur N compounds or aromatic sulfur compounds.

Abstract: A composition comprising a blend of: a) one or more polycarbonates; b) one or more polyesters; c) one or more core shell rubbers having glycidyl groups on the surface of the core; and d) one or more halogenated fire retardant agent; wherein the polycarbonates and polyesters form separate phases and the core shell rubber is located in the polyester phase. The compositions may further comprise a fluoropolymer capable of functioning as an anti-drip agent. The compositions exhibit a flame retardant rating according to UL-94 at V-0 of 3.0 mm or less; a notched Izod impact strength of about 8 foot pounds per inch or greater (0.90 joules) and chemical resistance to one or more of the common cleaning compositions selected from bleach, polyethylene glycol, a mixture of aryl substituted phenols and aryl substituted chlorophenols, a mixture of an alkanol and a monoalkyl ether of ethylene glycol, and one or more ammonium chlorides.

Abstract: A composition comprising a blend of: a) one or more polycarbonates; b) one or more polyesters; c) one or more core shell rubbers having glycidyl groups on the surface of the core; and d) one or more halogenated fire retardant agent; wherein the polycarbonates and polyesters form separate phases and the core shell rubber is located in the polyester phase. The compositions may further comprise a fluoropolymer capable of functioning as an anti-drip agent. The compositions exhibit a flame retardant rating according to UL-94 at V-0 of 3.0 mm or less; a notched Izod impact strength of about 8 foot pounds per inch or greater (0.90 joules) and chemical resistance to one or more of the common cleaning compositions selected from bleach, polyethylene glycol, a mixture of aryl substituted phenols and aryl substituted chlorophenols, a mixture of an alkanol and a monoalkyl ether of ethylene glycol, and one or more ammonium chlorides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transparent multilayer article comprising a core layer comprising a thermoplastic carbonate polymer; a first layer comprising a carbonate thermoplastic polymer and an infrared (IR) absorbing additive; and a second layer comprising a thermoplastic carbonate polymer and a ultraviolet (UV) absorbing stabilizer, wherein the first layer does not contain an UV absorbing additive and the second layer does not contain an IR absorbing additive.

Abstract: Improved polycarbonate resins are prepared comprising specific amounts of a cyanacrylic acid ester type UV absorber in combination with a synergistic phosphite type stabilizer and, optionally, a hindered phenol type stabilizer and/or a lactone type stabilizer. The polycarbonate compositions according to the invention can be used to prepare molded, shaped or otherwise fabricated articles having improved combinations of protection against UV radiation, color and color stability with reduced plate-out behavior during processing. The compositions are especially suitable for use in extrusion, blow molding, thermoforming, injection molding, injection blow molding, injection compression molding, film blow molding and foaming processes and provide improved parts or articles.

Abstract: Improved carbonate polymer compositions are prepared comprising specific amounts of one or more UV absorbing compounds selected from two or more of the following groups: a hydroxybenzotriazole derivative, a hydroxyphenyltriazine derivative, or a cyanoacrylic acid ester compound wherein all UV absorbing compounds have a molecular weight of at least 400 g/mol. The carbonate polymer compositions according to the invention can be used to prepare molded, shaped or otherwise fabricated articles having improved combinations of protection against UV radiation, color and color stability with reduced plate-out behavior during processing. The compositions are especially suitable for use in extrusion, blow molding, thermoforming, and injection molding.

Abstract: Improved branched carbonate polymer blend compositions are prepared comprising a branched carbonate polymer component and a different linear carbonate polymer component. The branched carbonate polymers according to the invention are especially suitable for use in extrusion, blow molding, thermoforming and foaming processes and provide improved parts or articles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of a rubber-reinforced polymer composition having a bimodal particle size distribution using parallel, substantially plug flow reactors to separately polymerize the same or different solutions of a rubber in a monovinylidene aromatic monomer and optionally at least one other monomer. After separate partial polymerizations, first and second prepolymer compositions are produced containing rubber particles having average particle sizes of from 0.05 to 1.5 micrometer and from 0.7 to 10 micrometer, respectively, with the average rubber particle size of the second prepolymer composition being at least 1.3 times the average rubber particle size of the first prepolymer composition.

Abstract: The flow properties of styrenic polymer resins derived from at least one monovinylidene aromatic compound and, optionally, other copolymerizable monomers, are improved by copolymerizing from 0.1 to 15 weight percent of an ester of acrylic acid, e.g., n-butylacrylate, with the monovinylidene aromatic compound and any other copolymerizable monomers employed in preparing the styrenic polymer resin.