Abstract: A process for producing an impact-resistant polyacetal resin composition, which comprises a first step of mixing with shear a polyacetal resin (A), a thermoplastic polyurethane (B) and a polyhydric alcohol (C) having at least three hydroxyl groups in the molecule at a temperature of 180.degree. to 250.degree. C. and at a temperature at which said polyacetal resin (A) and said thermoplastic polyurethane (B) melt; and a second step of mixing with shear the resulting mixture obtained in the first step, in the presence of at least one compound (D) selected from the group consisting of a polyisocyanate (d.sub.1) and a compound (d.sub.2) which generates a polyisocyanate under heat, at a temperature of 180.degree. to 250.degree. C. and at a temperature at which said polyacetal resin (A) and said thermoplastic polyurethane (B) melt.

Abstract: A post inversion metastable syrup comprising a continuous or co-continuous rubber like composite phase and a discontinuous or co-continuous resin phase may be particulated by the application of a shear field to yield a stable syrup comprising a dispersed rubber-like composite phase and a continuous resin phase. The application of a uniform shear field to the post inversion metastable syrup is particularly desirable since it results in a high degree of control over the size and distribution of the dispersed rubber-like composite phase. As a result it is possible to optimize the particle size distribution in an impact modified thermoplastic and obtain better or a better balance of properties. The present invention also provides in cooperating arrangement reactors or devices to produce a post inversion metastable syrup, a device to subject the roetastable syrup to a shear field and a polymerization plant.

Abstract: Synthetic organic fibers containing finely divided, inorganic particles that have certain organic polymeric coatings have significantly less abrasiveness than do identical fibers containing such particles without any such polymeric coatings.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing bimodal olefin polymers and copolymers having a ratio between low molecular weight fractions within the range of 40:60-70:30, by mixing under shear conditions 5-50 percent by weight of a low molecular weight unimodal polyolefin having a molecular weight (Mw) between 15,000-30,000, and 95-50 percent by weight of a bimodal polyolefin having a ratio between low molecular weight fractions and high molecular weight fractions within the range of 30:70-55:45. According to a preferred embodiment, there is used a multi-phase process including a loop reactor followed by a gas-phase reactor, wherein a part of the product coming out from the loop reactor is separated and combined with the bimodal product coming out from the gas-phase reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) resins having excellent impact resistance, low-gloss properties and superior heat resistance, and to a process for preparing them. In particular, between 5 wt % and 20 wt % butadiene rubber having double bonds is dissolved in between 30 wt % and 70 wt % graft-copolymerizing aromatic vinyl monomer and between 10 wt % and 50 wt % cyanized vinyl monomer. Polymerization controller and radical initiator are added to the above, and the mixture polymerized in a first step of bulk polymerization at a temperature of 80.degree.-120.degree. C. while stirring until polymerization proceeds to between 20 and 50% of completion. Between 40% and 70% .alpha.-methyl styrene monomer, between 10 wt % and 40 wt % unsaturated nitrile and between 5 wt % and 15 wt % butadiene rubber are then added to the polymerized mixture and the resulting mixture stirred for 30-60 minutes in a second step of bulk polymerization.

Abstract: A method is provided for continuous mass polymerization of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene type thermoplastics. The method involves charging a liquid feed comprising a vinylidene aromatic monomer, an unsaturated vinyl nitrile monomer and a synthetic butadiene polymer dissolved therein into a grafting reactor to prereact the liquid mass to form grafted rubber continuous phase polymeric product. The product from the grafting reactor is then charged to a phase inversion reactor where free rigid copolymer in monomer is the only continuous phase, and where dispersed particles of grafted rubber with occluded rigid copolymer and monomer are immediately formed from the product of the grafting reactor. The second polymerization product, which is coming out from the phase inversion reactor, is then charged to a finishing reactor wherein the material is further polymerized to form a third polymerization product which then can be devolatilized to provide a final thermoplastic composition.

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of high-impact polystyrene-acrylonitrile (ABS) by free radical-initiated polymerization of a mixture of from 60 to 90% by weight of at least one vinylaromatic monomer and from 10 to 40% by weight of least one further ethylenically unsaturated monomer, in the presence of from 5 to 30% by weight, based on the sum of the monomers, of polybutadiene having a solution viscosity (5% strength by weight in styrene at 25.degree. C.) from 25 to 95 mPa.s and in the presence or absence of a solvent, in at least three consecutive reactors operated essentially without back-mixing, at from 50.degree. to 170.degree. C., phase inversion taking place in one of the reactors, involves carrying out the polymerization as far as phase inversion at 90.degree. C. or below and initiating the polymerization by free radicals from the decomposition of tert-butyl peresters whose half life period at 90.degree. C.

Abstract: Rubber-modified styrene resins with excellent impact resistance are prepared by formulating a feed from a styrene-based monomer, or a mixture thereof with comonomers and high-viscosity rubber, an organic peroxide, and, if necessary, all inert organic solvent, preheating and continuously supplying the feed to one end of a plug flow type reactor equipped with an agitator, performing the preliminary polymerization to a conversion sufficiently high for the transformation of the rubber in the feed into particles while controlling the weight average particle diameter of the rubber particles to 0.8 to 5 .mu.m, withdrawing the prepolymerized feed from the other end of the reactor, and supplying it to a following plug flow type reactor for continuous enhancement of tile conversion.

Abstract: Novel addition polymers and copolymers derived from carbamate-functionalized vinyl monomers, and optionally one or more conventional vinyl monomers such as acrylonitrile and/or styrene, are disclosed. When the addition polymers or copolymers are melt processed with an elastomer containing moieties reactive with amines, novel addition polymer-rubber copolymers are formed which are useful as compatibilizers and impact modifiers in plastic blends, such as AES.

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of ABS polymers by free-radical-initiated polymerization of, in particular, styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene, in the presence or absence of a solvent, in a reactor cascade comprising at least 3 stirred reactors operating essentially without back-mixing, at least some of which contain internal cooling tubes for dissipating the heat of polymerization, at from 50 to 180.degree. C., phase inversion taking place in one of the reactors which contains means for generating a high shear force, and an apparatus for carrying out the process comprising an essentially cylindrical/tubular vessel jacket and a cylindrical internal element connected to a stirrer shaft by rotational force and having an external diameter which is slightly less than the internal diameter of the vessel jacket.

Abstract: Graft copolymers and processes for the preparation thereof are provided. The copolymers comprise a base polymer having grafted thereto a monomeric 2-alkenyl azlactone. The surface properties of the graft copolymers can be modified by binding thereto nucleophilic reagents comprising further functional groups with desired properties. Further, the amount of azlactone available at the surface of a graft copolymer for binding to such nucleophilic reagents can be controlled by selecting a surface against which the graft copolymer is formed. The graft copolymers exhibit desirable thermoplastic, melt flow, and adhesion properties and are particularly useful for immobilizing proteins. Methods of immunoassay based on the immobilization of proteins are also disclosed. Another utility of the graft copolymers involves the compatibilizing of immiscible polymer blends.

Abstract: An impact resistant styrene resin is prepared by the continuous bulk polymerization of a styrene monomer in the presence of a second component having a 5 wt % styrene solution viscosity which may be polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymerization rubber, or mixtures thereof. Preliminary polymerization is carried out in a reactor having a dynamic mixing structure and which is integrated between and connected to the material feed line and the initial-stage polymerization line.

Abstract: Impact-resistant polystyrene acrylonitrile (ABS) is prepared by free radical polymernation of monomeric styrene and acrylonitrile or equivalents thereof in the presence of preformed, dissolved polbutadiene as a grafting base, the solvents used being in particular ethylbenzene and, at least from time to time, the monomers, and phase inversion taking place when the process has progressed to a certain point, in two or more reaction zones, by a continuous process in which the first reaction zone is present at least in duplicate and is in the form of a stirred kettle in each case, so that one stirred kettle is operated batchwise and alternately with the other in such a way that the reaction mixture is polymerized until phase inversion is complete or the initiator has been consumed, and the particular kettle content is then fed continuously to a second reaction zone in the form of a tube reactor.

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: A process for making a blend of high-density polyethylene polymers containing one or more C3 to C12 .alpha.-olefin comonomers. The process begins in two parallel streams. In one stream ethylene is polymerized alone, and in the second stream ethylene is polymerized with the comonomer(s). The two streams are combined in a subsequent reactor where the polymerization process is completed. The polymerization produces a polymer wherein the comonomer is concentrated in the higher molecular weight fractions.

Abstract: An improved process for the anionic extruder polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated compounds in the presence of an organoalkali metal compound initiator employs relatively high reaction temperatures but relatively short residence times in the extruder.

Abstract: Composition of matter useful as a multifunctional viscosity index improver for lubricating oils comprising reaction product of:(i) (a) copolymer of ethylene and at least one other alpha-olefin monomer, said copolymer comprising intramolecularly heterogeneous copolymer chains containing at least one crystallizable segment of methylene units and at least one low crystallinity ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer segment, wherein said at least one crystallizable segment comprises at least about 10 weight percent of said copolymer chain and contains at least about 57 weight percent of said copolymer chain and contains at least about 57 weight percent ethylene, wherein said low crystalliity segment contains not greater, than about 53 weight percent ethylene, and wherein said copolymer has a molecular weight distribution characterized by at least one of a ratio of M.sub.w /M.sub.n of less than 2 and ratio of M.sub.z /M.sub.w of less than 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for producing a rubber-modified styrene resin, and a rubber-modified styrene resin composition resulting therefrom, such resin having improved mechanical strength, impact resistance and high gloss, such being accomplished by producing a rubber-modified styrene resin containing substantially no rubber particle having a density of not higher than 0.96 gm/cm.sup.3 at 25.degree. C.

Abstract: Process for the continuous bulk production of high impact vinylaromatic copolymers in which the vinylaromatic monomer, and if present, a comonomer selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and their alkyl- or cyclo-alkyl-esters containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, the rubber, a part of the diluent solvent and the catalyst are premixed in a premixer at a temperature under 100.degree. C. and fed to a plug-flow agitated tubular reactor, which is divided into several stages or zones. The excess mixture is recycled to the premixer and the remaining part of the diluent solvent is injected into the top of the reactor to prevent the formation of incrustations. In the first zone of the reactor, the temperature and the residence time of the mixture are regulated so to have the halving the catalyst life.

Abstract: Propylene-ethylene copolymers are prepared in an agitated bed of solids by first polymerizing propylene from the gas phase in a first polymerization zone at 20-40 bar and 60.degree.-90.degree. C. by addition of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system, and copolymerizing in a second polymerization zone at 7-35 bar and 40.degree.-70.degree. C. the finely divided polymer from the first polymerization zone with a mixture of olefins a process which comprises copolymerizing in the second polymerization zone with a mixture of propylene, ethylene and a further .alpha.-olefin of from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, setting the ratio of the partial pressures between propylene and ethylene within the range from 100:20 to 100:120 and that of the partial pressures between propylene and the further .alpha.

Abstract: In the gas phase, two stage process for the production of polypropylene impact copolymer, the fouling of the second stage recycle loop and the heat exchange unit incorporated therein is reduced by the addition to the substantially gaseous material passing through the loop of a small amount of alkylene compound selected from alkylene glycol compounds, alkylene glycol derivatives of alkylene diamines or ethers or esters thereof.

Abstract: A blend of an ethylene-alpha olefin linear copolymer having a density of about 0.890 to about 0.914, a tubular low-density polyethylene, and optionally a copolymer of ethylene with at least one copolymerized vinyl alkanoate, alkyl acrylate, or alkyl methacrylate and a linear low density polyethylene provides a shrink film particularly useful for packaging e.g. fish or poultry.

Abstract: A graft copolymer is provided. The copolymer comprises a poly-alpha-olefin base polymer that does not undergo substantial crosslinking under polymer melt conditions in the presence of a free radical initiator, having grafted thereto a monomeric 2-alkenyl azlactone. The graft copolymers exhibit desirable thermoplastic, melt flow, and adhesion properties and are particularly useful for immobilizing proteins.

Abstract: Polymer having a polymodal MWD ethylene copolymer are prepared by conducting the polymerization in a substantially mix free reactor using an essentially transfer agent free reaction mixture, the reaction being carried out in a manner such that the propagation of essentially all copolymer chains is initiated simultaneously. In carrying out the process of this invention, the catalyst components are premixed and aged prior to introduction into the reactor. The process is preferably carried out in a tubular reactor using VCl.sub.4 and aluminum sesquichloride as the catalyst system.

Abstract: In a process for producing a high impact styrene resin by continuously polymerizing a styrene monomer in bulk in the presence of a rubbery polymer, the improvement whereina polymerization line is used which is comprised of an initial-stage polymerization line (II) following a material feed line (I) and consisting of one or more tubular reactors having fixedly set therein a plurality of mixing elements having no moving parts, a main polymerization line (III) following the initial-stage polymerization line (II) and consisting of one or more tubular reactors having fixedly set therein a plurality of mixing elements having no moving parts, and a recycle line (IV) which branches between the initial-stage polymerization line (II) and the main polymerization line (III) and returns to the initial-stage polymerization line (II), anda minor part or a major part of a flow of the initial-stage polymer solution leaving the initial-stage polymerization line (II) is recycled through the recycle line (IV) while the remaining

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric composition of a first copolymer which includes at least one copolymer having at least one of Mw/Mn less than 2 and Mz/Mw less than 1.8; and a second copolymer having Mw/Mn greater than or equal to 2. The composition can be produced by preparing the first and second copolymers in different reactors and blending them. The blend can also be produced in a single reactor by initiating the reaction to prepare one copolymer, and adding additional reactants, or recycling the reaction mixture, during the reaction to produce the other copolymer.

Abstract: A composition comprising:(a) at least one copolymer having at least one of M.sub.w /M.sub.n less than 2 and M.sub.z /M.sub.w less than 1.8; and(b) at least one plastic composition.The composition can be produced by preparing the elastomer and then blending it with the plastic. The composition can be subjected to an additional step of curing.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymodal MWD ethylene-alpha olefin copolymer using at least two catalysts to initiate growth of polymer chains that attain different average molecular weights. The polymodal MWD ethylene copolymer comprises at least two different molecular weight modes each mode having a narrow MWD and at least one of two characteristics (1) an Mw/Mn of less than 2 and (2) Mz/Mw of less than 1.8.

Abstract: Polymodal MWD ethylene copolymer comprising at least two modes of differing molecular weights. Each mode has at least one of M.sub.w /M.sub.n of less than 2.0, and a M.sub.z /M.sub.w of less than 1.8. The polymodal character of the copolymer is achieved by either (1) withdrawing polymer modes from the reactor from at least one takeoff port, and blending such modes with the reactor effluent, or (2) utilizing at least two catalyst species in the reaction to produce modes of differing molecular weights.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multistage, continuous process for the preparation of propylene-ethylene impact copolymers comprising the use of a recirculating pipe-loop reactor for homopolymerizing propylene, a cyclone separator for removing fines, a gas-phase fluidized bed reactor for additional propylene homopolymerization, and a gas-phase fluidized bed reactor for propylene/ethylene copolymerization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multistage, continuous process for the preparation of propylene-ethylene impact copolymers comprising the use of a plug flow pipeline reactor for homopolymerizing propylene, a gas-phase fluidized bed reactor for additional propylene homopolymerization, and a gas-phase fluidized bed reactor for propylene/ethylene copolymerization.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for controlling the liquid-steam interface in a continuous vulcanization system which includes the steps of selecting a preferred water-steam interface position within a curing tube, detecting the elevation of water in the tube by a water sensitive sensing means, converting the detected elevation data into a signal, and controlling the position of the interface according to the signal.

Abstract: A continuous anionic solution process for preparing star-block copolymers of monovinylaromatic compounds and conjugated dienes having either monomodal or bimodal arm structure is described. The process utilizes a continuous tubular reactor made up of a sequence of four static mixer zones followed by a pressure control valve.

Abstract: A method for continuous production of block copolymers having a block of propylene homopolymer and blocks of polymer of ethylene. The block copolymers produced thereby. In a first stage a first reaction mixture containing a polymer of ethylene is produced with continuous transfer of a portion of this reaction mixture along with propylene monomer and a catalyst modifier into a second stage in which a block copolymer having a block of propylene homopolymer and blocks of polymer of ethylene is produced. In preferred embodiments the polymer of ethylene is ethylene homopolymer and/or ethylene-propylene random copolymer.

Abstract: Novel compositions are disclosed which include a polyphenylene ether resin, a rubber-modified alkenyl aromatic resin, and aluminum silicate. Also included within the scope of this invention are flame-retardant compositions of said polyphenylene ether resin, said rubber-modified alkenyl aromatic resin, and said aluminum silicate.