Abstract: Superabsorbent articles in the form of soft, nonwoven fibrous webs are produced from aqueous fiber-forming polymer solutions by forming the polymer into water soluble filaments, contacting the filaments with a primary air stream having a velocity effective to attenuate and to partially dry the filaments, contacting the attenuated filaments with a secondary air stream having a velocity effective to fragment the filaments into fibers and to transport the fibers to a web-forming zone while also further attenuating and drying the fibers, collecting the fibers in reticulated web-form in the web-forming zone and curing the web to a water insoluble state. The temperature and air stream velocities are controlled with respect to ambient humidity and water content of the fiber during the fiber and web formation such that the fibers are collected without sticking. Collection is preferably on a wire belt followed by transport through a curing oven to compacting rolls and web take-up.

Abstract: Multi-bladed disc cutter for cutting into pellets thermoplastic material extruded from a die plate of an underwater pelletizer, wherein the blades of the cutter are integrally formed on the periphery of a backplate and radially project therefrom, the sidewalls of the blades being integrally connected by shroud members to provide added strength against bending and twisting of the blades under load. Perforations are provided in the shroud members and backplate to permit passage of water to cool and flush away the cut pellets. Additionally, integrally formed blades may be arranged in concentric circles inwardly of the periphery of the backplate. The integral of the disc cutters avoids weakening and misalignment of the blades, saves space and permits a greater number of cutting edges than is possible in disc cutters wherein the blades are fastened to a hole by bolts. Casting the cutter integrally with its blades permits off-line grinding for final alignment purposes.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing star-block copolymer of a monovinyl aromatic monomer and a conjugated diene by continuously forming a vinyl aromatic polymer having a low weight average molecular weight to number average molecular weight ratio in a first reactor by anionic initiation in a solution of inert solvent; discharging a solution of polymer from the first reactor and passing the solution to a second sealed, cylindrical, pressurized, vertical reactor having a bottom zone, top zone and a plurality of intermediate zones separated by separation plates, each having a central aperture and mixing shaft passing therethrough, with the mixture passing to successive zones through an annular space formed between the shaft and each separation plate.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous polymerization of monovinyl aromatic monomers, such as styrene, to produce a substantially monodisperse polymer, wherein a solution of monomer in an inert solvent and a hydrocarbyllithium initiator are fed to the bottom zone of a sealed, cylindrical, pressurized, vertical reactor having a plurality of zones, with separation plates separating the reactor into a bottom, a plurality of intermediate, and top zones, the separation plates each having a central aperture, and a mixing means for each zone has a shaft extending through the apertures to provide an annular space for flow of fluid through the zones, the annular space between each separation plate and the shaft of the mixing means being of a size to provide a pressure differential between adjacent zones of less than about one pound per square inch, a substantially monodisperse polymer in solution discharged from the top zone of the reactor.