Abstract: In an improved continuous process for the production of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon by contacting the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon under polymerization conditions in the presence of a reaction diluent and a catalytic quantity of a catalyst composition formed from a compound of palladium, the anion of a strong non-hydrohalogenic acid and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus, an improved start-up procedure is employed in which the catalyst composition concentration in the reaction diluent is increased until steady state polymerization is reached.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon by contacting the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon under polymerization conditions in the presence of a catalyst composition formed from a palladium compound, a strong non-hydrohalogenic acid and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus, nitrogen or sulfur comprises conducting the polymerization in a continuous manner in two or more reactors connected in series.

Abstract: Linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon are produced in a continous flow reactor under conditions that result in a bulk density greater than 0.2 g/ml. The polymers are produced by polymerizing carbon monoxide and one or more olefinically unsaturated compounds in a continuous flow reactor in the presence of a palladium catalyst composition, the polymerization occuring in a liquid diluent in which the polymer product is almost or entirely insoluble, and by maintaining the polymerization at steady state wherein the ratio of the quantity of the polymer product formed per hour to the quantity of the polymer product in the reactor is less than 0.2.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polyketone wherein sulfidic sulfur and iron carbonyls present in carbon monoxide are removed therefrom before the carbon monoxide is used as feed for the preparation of novel polyketone polymers as well as shaped articles prepared therefrom.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of polyketone polymers in the presence of a catalyst composition formed from a palladium compound, the anion of certain strong acids and certain bidentate ligands comprises the provision of a controlled proportion of the catalyst composition at the outset of polymerization and providing the remainder of the catalyst composition only when the polymer concentration in the product-containing suspension has reached a minimum value.

Abstract: The invention is a process for working up a linear alternating copolymer of carbon monoxide, ethylene and optionally at least one olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon, which process comprises contacting the copolymer with an organic solvent in the absence of molecular oxygen and under conditions effective to reduce the amount of impurities in the copolymer, and drying the copolymer in the absence of molecular oxygen.