Abstract: A process for making a high molecular weight poly(hydroxy acid) polymer having good thermal stability and a weight average molecular weight of >100,000 by GPC. The process includes mixing glycolic acid and/or lactic acid, and a diol or di-acid initiator, and at least one multifunctional initiator to form a liquid monomer mixture in an agitated polycondensation reactor. Polycondensing to form a liquid reaction mixture comprising a pre-polymer having a weight average molecular weight of >10,000 by GPC, and greater than 80% by mole hydroxyl or carboxyl end-group termination, then crystallizing to form a first solid reaction mixture. Then solid state polycondensing the solid reaction mixture to form a solid reaction mixture having a moisture level less than 50 ppm by weight. Then mixing the solid reaction mixture with an appropriate reactive coupling agent in a melting and mixing extruder to couple and form the reaction mixture and form the poly(hydroxy acid) polymer.

Abstract: A process for making a high molecular weight poly(hydroxy acid) polymer having good thermal stability and a weight average molecular weight of >100,000 by GPC. The process includes mixing glycolic acid and/or lactic acid, and a diol or di-acid initiator, and at least one multifunctional initiator to form a liquid monomer mixture in an agitated polycondensation reactor. Polycondensing to form a liquid reaction mixture comprising a pre-polymer having a weight average molecular weight of >10,000 by GPC, and greater than 80% by mole hydroxyl or carboxyl end-group termination, then crystallizing to form a first solid reaction mixture. Then solid state polycondensing the solid reaction mixture to form a solid reaction mixture having a moisture level less than 50 ppm by weight. Then mixing the solid reaction mixture with an appropriate reactive coupling agent in a melting and mixing extruder to couple and form the reaction mixture and form the poly(hydroxy acid) polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparation a glycolide polyester by ring opening polymerization characterized in that glycolide monomer with optional co-monomer(s) of cyclic ester(s) is/are subjected to ring opening polymerization in the presence of a dispersion stabilizer and a catalyst, said catalyst being selected for precipitating glycolide homopolymer or copolymer from solvent, said solvent being selected so that the glycolide monomer and the optional co-monomer(s), the dispersion stabilizer and the catalyst are soluble therein but said glycolide homopolymer or copolymer is non-soluble. The present invention further relates to an in situ ring opening polymerizing process product, and to use of said glycolide polyester, and to further processing of said glycolide polyester.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparation a glycolide polyester by ring opening polymerization characterized in that glycolide monomer with optional co-monomer(s) of cyclic ester(s) is/are subjected to ring opening polymerization in the presence of a dispersion stabilizer and a catalyst, said catalyst being selected for precipitating glycolide homopolymer or copolymer from solvent, said solvent being selected so that the glycolide monomer and the optional co-monomer(s), the dispersion stabilizer and the catalyst are soluble therein but said glycolide homopolymer or copolymer is non-soluble. The present invention further relates to an in situ ring opening polymerizing process product, and to use of said glycolide polyester, and to further processing of said glycolide polyester.

Abstract: The invention provides a syringe barrel formed by injection moulding of a polypropylene composition, characterised in that said polypropylene composition contains a polyethylene wax. The invention further provides a syringe having a barrel formed by injection moulding of a polypropylene composition, characterised in that said polypropylene composition contains a polyethylene wax and a polypropylene composition suitable for such moulding.

Abstract: The invention relates to polyolefin compositions with good impact strength and transparency comprising a) 85-98 wt % based on the total weight of the composition of a heterophasic propylene/?-olefin copolymer comprising a polymer or copolymer of propylene and an ?-olefin with 0-15 mol % of the ?-olefin as matrix polymer and a propylene/?-olefin rubber copolymer comprising 20-80 mol % of the ?-olefin and b) 15-2 wt % based on the total weight of the composition of an ethylene homopolymer or an ethylene/?-olefin copolymer, the ?-olefin in the ethylene copolymer having 4-10 carbon atoms, the ethylene homo- or copolymer having a density lower than 0.925 g/m3. processes for producing these compositions and their use. The compositions are particularly useful for food packaging, especially for deep freezing applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to polyolefin compositions with good impact strength and transparency comprising

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producing a propylene polymer nucleated with a polymeric nucleating agent containing vinyl compound units. The method comprises modifying a catalyst by polymerizing a vinyl compound in the presence of said catalyst in a medium, which does not essentially dissolve the polymerized vinyl compound, and by continuing the polymerization of the vinyl compound until the concentration of unreacted vinyl compounds is less than about 0.5 wt-%. The thus obtained modified catalyst composition is used for polymerizing propylene optionally together with comonomers to produce in the presence of said modified catalyst composition. Modification of the catalyst according to the present invention will reduce production costs and provide highly reliable catalyst activity.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a multilayered polymer film structure, which comprises at least one first layer (1) containing a thermoplastic polymer and at least one second layer (2), arranged adjacent to said first layer, containing a liquid crystalline polymer. According to the invention, the second layer (2) consists essentially of a compounded polymer blend formed by the liquid crystalline polymer and a thermoplastic polymer, the liquid crystalline polymer of the second layer forms a continuous phase, and the first and the second layers (1, 2) contain the same thermoplastic polymer. The oxygen transmission rate of the second layer is less than about 150 cm3/(m2·d·bar), determined according to the standard ASTM D 3985-81, and the water vapour transmission rate of the integral film structure is less than 10 g/(m2·24·h) at RH 80% 23° C., determined according to ASTM F 1249-90. The present structure can be used as a barrier layer in packages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a creep-resistant polypropylene by means of the following steps: (a) copolymerizing propylene and ethylene into a random copolymer at 40 to 110° C. using: a catalyst system of the above-mentioned type; a portion of ethylene or C4-C10-&agr;-olefin leading to 1.0 to 10.0% by weight of ethylene repeating units in said random copolymer; and no or a minimal amount of hydrogen leading to a MFR10 value of between 0.01 and 5.0 g/10 min for said random copolymer, if this step is performed first, or to a MFR2 value for said polypropylene of between 0.05 and 0.40 g/10 min, if this step is performed after step (b); the proportion of random copolymer of this step being from 20 to 80% by weight of said polypropylene, (b) polymerizing propylene at 40 to 110° C. using: a catalyst system of the above-mentioned type; no or a minimal portion of ethylene leading to 0.0 to 1.