Abstract: Biodegradable anionic polymers are disclosed which include recurring polymeric subunits preferably made up of dicarboxylic monomers such as maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride or citraconic anhydride. Free radical polymerization is used in the synthesis of the polymers. The polymers may be complexed with ions and/or mixed with fertilizers or seeds to yield agriculturally useful compositions. The preferred products of the invention may be applied foliarly or to the earth adjacent growing plants in order to enhance nutrient uptake by the plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high temperature continuous polymerization and condensation process for preparing a polymeric product. The process includes continuously charging into a reaction zone: at least one radically-polymerizable monomer having a radically polymerizable group and at least one condensation reactive functionality; and at least one modifying agent having a functional group capable of reacting with the condensation reactive functionality. The reaction zone includes at least one primary reactor, but may, and preferably does, contain a secondary reactor. The process further includes maintaining an effective temperature in the primary reactor to cause polymerization of the monomer and to allow at least a portion of the condensation reactive functionality to react with the functional group of the modifying agent.

Abstract: Initiators for nitroxide-mediated radical polymerizations are described. The initiators have an azlactone or ring-opened azlactone moiety to provide telechelic (co)polymers.

Abstract: Initiators for nitroxide-mediated radical polymerizations are described. The initiators have an azlactone or ring-opened azlactone moiety to provide telechelic (co)polymers.

Abstract: Hot melt adhesives are prepared using thermoplastic polyamides derived from polymerized fatty acid components. The adhesives are particularly useful for bonding nonpolar substrates such as poly-&agr;-olefins.

Abstract: A reshapable hair styling composition comprising heterogeneous (meth)acrylic copolymer particles, said particles being the same or different and comprising at least one (meth)acrylic copolymer comprising: (a) units derived from at least one monomer chosen from (meth)acrylate esters of branched and straight chain alkyl alcohols, (b) units derived from at least one monomer chosen from (meth)acrylate esters of saturated and unsaturated cyclic alcohols containing 6 to 20 carbon atoms, (c) optionally units derived from at least one monomer chosen from hydrophilic monomers, and (d) optionally units derived from at least one monomer other than (a), (b), and (c) monomers, wherein said composition provides a reshapable effect.

Abstract: Polymer for antifouling coatings which comprises units corresponding to the following monomers: A) 5 to 100 mol. % of one or more compounds of general formula (I) in which R=H or CH3; X=O or S; R1=Ph(R2)m, —C(H)3−(p+q)(CO—R)3p(COOR3)q, —(CH2)n−(CO)t—COOR3 or optionally substituted thiadiazolyl and thiazolylsulfamyl groups; Ph=phenyl; m=1-3; p=0-3; q=0-3; p+q=1-3; s=0 or 1; t=0 or 1; R2=each independently selected from halogen, —C(O)H, —COOR3, —CH2—COOR3, —O—R3 , —NH COOR3, —NH—CO—R3 and —NH2; R3=II or optionally halogen substituted alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl groups with 1-10 C atoms; and B) 0 to 95 mol. % of one or more other ethylenically unsaturated compound.

Abstract: A composition for plastic lenses having a viscosity suitable for application to plastic lens materials and other optical materials and capable of giving a cured material having a relatively high refractive index and a low specific gravity, a plastic lens obtained by curing the composition, and a process for producing the plastic lens. A specific dicarboxylic acid component and a specific diol component are employed and the ratio of the components is adjusted to provide the composition for plastic lenses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer composition capable of being cured or crosslinked in the absence or without the use of conventional sulfur and accelerator cure systems. The polymer is formed from olefinically unsaturated monomers and includes at least one conjugated diene monomer. Such polymer includes additional functionality provided by a chelating monomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for synthesis of polymer compositions with reduced catalyst content, wherein ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing less than 0.5 wt % of ethylenically unsaturated monomers with at least one carboxylic group, sulfonic acid group and/or at least one phosphonic acid group relative to the total weight of the ethylenically unsaturated monomers are polymerized by means of initiators containing a transferable group of atoms and of one or more catalysts comprising at least one transition metal in the presence of ligands which can form a coordination compound with the metal catalyst or catalysts and, after the polymerization, the catalyst contained in the polymer is at least partly separated. For this purpose, the polymer composition is filtered, after the polymerization, in the presence of at least one filter aid which contains at least 0.

Abstract: This polymeric, acrylamide-free water retention agent, intended inter alia for drilling fluids in the high-temperature range and based on vinylic sulfonic acids, may be composed of the two principal components A and B, component A being selected from the group a) consisting of vinylic substituted sulfonic acid of the series 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), vinylsulfonic acid, methallylsulfonic acid or styrenesulfonic acid, salts thereof with a valence of at least 1, or mixtures thereof, or b) a divalent salt of homopolymers or copolymers of a vinylic substituted sulfonic acid of the series 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), vinylsulfonic acid, methallylsulfonic acid or styrenesultonic acid or mixtures thereof. In the case where component A comprises group a), the polymer further comprises component B) composed of a) from 4.99 to 60 mol % of an unsaturated, polybasic, cis-positioned carboxylic acid monomer and b) from 0.

Abstract: Biodegradable anionic polymers are disclosed which include recurring polymeric subunits preferably made up of vinylic and dicarboxylic monomers such as vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol and maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride or citraconic anhydride, or combinations thereof. Free radical polymerization is used in the synthesis of the polymers, which are then hydrolyzed to replace ester groups with alcohol groups. The polymers may be complexed with ions and/or mixed with fertilizers or seed to yield agriculturally useful compositions. The preferred products of the invention may be applied foliarly, to seeds, to fertilizer, or to the earth adjacent growing plants in order to enhance nutrient uptake by the plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a copolymer for cement admixtures which displays high dispersibility with a small adding amount and excellent dispersibility particularly even in a high water reducing ratio area, a cement admixture utilizing the copolymer, and a cement composition, and further, a production process for the copolymer. The copolymer for cement admixtures comprises: constitutional unit (I) derived from unsaturated polyalkylene glycol ether monomer (a) having an alkenyl group having 5 carbon atoms and an oxyalkylene group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms with an average addition number of moles of the oxyalkylene groups to be in the range of 10 to 300; and constitutional unit (II) derived from unsaturated monocarboxylic acid monomer (b). The cement admixture includes the copolymer for cement admixtures as an essential component, and may further include a defoaming agent. The cement composition includes the copolymer for cement admixtures, and cement as essential components.

Abstract: A curable resin composition containing (A) an aromatic diallyl compound, (B) an acid derivative or an aliphatic group-containing compound having at least 4 (meth)acryl groups in one molecule, (C) divinylbenzene, and (D) a polythiol compound having at least two mercapto groups in one molecule provides an optical material having a desirable refractive index, Abbe number and transparency, and excellent heat resistance.

Abstract: Polymer compositions derived from selected monoethylenically unsaturated (C3-C6)carboxylic acid monomers, (C1-C4)alkyl (meth)acrylate ester monomers and alkoxylated (meth)acrylate monomers used in certain weight ratios to provide enhanced detergent and cleaning performance are disclosed. Polymer compositions containing from 5 to 40% of monoethylenically unsaturated (C3-C6)carboxylic acid monomer, from 35 to 65% of (C1-C4)alkyl (meth)acrylate ester monomer and from 20 to 60% of alkoxylated (meth)acrylate monomer provide improved cleaning performance in laundry detergent formulations relative to conventional polymer compositions.

Abstract: This invention provides the multifunctional coagents of the metallic salt of unsaturated carboxylic acid that obtained by the reaction from two mols of mono-basic acid and two mols of di-basic acid as an unsaturated carboxylic acid, and three mols of divalent metal oxide. For making these multifunctional coagents of metallic salt of unsaturated carboxylic acid, one kind or two kinds of mono-basic acid can be used among acrylic acid and methacrylic acid as an unsaturated carboxylic acid. As a di-basic acid, only one kind can be used among maleic acid and fumaric acid. And, as a metal complex for making this multifunctional metallic coagents, the divalent metal oxide such as zinc oxide, magnesium oxide and calcium oxide that can be used. One kind or two and over kinds of metal oxide can be used.

Abstract: What is described herein is a terpolymer of maleic acid (MAA)/maleic anhydride (MAN)/alkylvinylether (AVE), made by partial cyclization, e.g. 1-99%, of a maleic acid/alkylvinylether copolymer, preferably comprising, in mole %, 1-49% MAA/1-49% MAN/50% AVE, and derivatized terpolymers thereof.

Abstract: Process that is capable of synthesizing a metal-containing resin having a good antifouling property in a short period of time without having such problems associated with the synthesis as gelation. The process for producing a metal-containing resin by conducting a copolymerization reaction of a monomer mixture (A) comprising 1 to 50% by weight of a carboxyl group-containing polymerizable unsaturated monomer (a) and 50 to 99% by weight of other polymerizable unsaturated monomer (b) in an organic solvent in the presence of water and an oxide or hydroxide of a metal having a valency of at least 2, wherein the amount of water is 1 to 30 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the monomer mixture (A), and the formation of a metal carboxylate bond occurs together with the copolymerization of the monomer mixture (A); and an antifouling coating composition containing, as an active constituent, a metal-containing resin obtained by the production process.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for a continuous, high temperature polymerization process for preparing a gel free polymeric product. The process comprises continuously charging into a reactor at least one monomer such that the reactor is filled to 100 percent of its usable volume. The reactor is maintained at an effective temperature for an effective period of time to cause polymerization of the monomers into a polymeric product, such that the polymeric product is formed substantially free of gel particles.

Abstract: A compound and a method of forming a photopolymerizable acrylated glycidyl acrylic terpolymer resin compound is disclosed. The polymeric resin may be formed in a two-step process. A photopolymerizable acrylic hybrid polymer is suitable for forming films having glass transition temperatures from about −55 degrees C. to about 110 degrees C. A non-aromatic photopolymerizable acrylate polymer may be formed by combining, in a first step, a reactive source of epoxide ion groups. In a second step, the glycidyl acrylic terpolymer formed in the first step is reacted with a catalyst and a source of unsaturated acid or anhydride to form an acrylate polymer. A ring opening reaction is employed such that an acid or an anhydride containing a conjugated double bond forms an acrylated acrylic, an acrylated fluorinated acrylic, an acrylated silonted acrylic, or an acrylated halogenated grafted acrylic. The cure process is initiated with specific UV or visible light promotors and/or with a UV or visible light source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a carbon-containing catalyst support that includes at least a carbonaceous material nd a thermosetting or sinterable polymer. The components are mixed and the polymer sintered or thermoset to provide a non-crushable, non-friable, and non-breakable composite. A catalytically active metal can be supported on the carbonaceous material prior to mixing, or on the composite after mixing and heating the mixture to sinter or thermoset the polymer.

Abstract: Polymerization of a fatty acid or fatty acid derivatives containing conjugated double bonds and alkenes or alkynes containing electron acceptor substituents provides compositions useful as coatings, adhesives, sealants, fillers and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel bicyclic photoresist monomers, and photoresist copolymer derived from the same. The bicyclic photoresist monomers of the present invention comprise both amine functional group and acid labile protecting group, and are represented by the formula: where m, n, R, V and B are those defined herein. The photoresist composition comprising the photoresist copolymer of the present invention has excellent etching resistance and heat resistance, and remarkably enhanced PED stability (post exposure delay stability).

Abstract: Biodegradable anionic polymers are disclosed which include recurring polymeric subunits preferably made up of vinylic and dicarboxylic monomers such as vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol and maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride or citraconic anhydride, or combinations thereof. Free radical polymerization is used in the synthesis of the polymers, which are then hydrolyzed to replace ester groups with alcohol groups. The polymers may be complexed with ions and/or mixed with fertilizers or seed to yield agriculturally useful compositions. The preferred products of the invention may be applied foliarly, to seeds, to fertilizer, or to the earth adjacent growing plants in order to enhance nutrient uptake by the plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a production process that enables to keep foaming state within a constant level and to obtain a polymer with good productivity and reproducibility with a practical plant by defining an appropriate vapor velocity from a weight-average molecular weight of the polymer that is finally intended to obtain; and a polymerization apparatus therefor. A production apparatus for producing a polymer, which comprises a reactor 1 in order to produce the polymer, a stirrer 2 in order to stir a reaction solution in the reactor 1, and a condenser 3 so that a vaporized reaction solution can be cooled and returned to the reactor 1, and further comprises a vapor velocity measuring means of monitoring a vapor velocity in the condenser, and an vapor velocity adjusting means of adjusting the vapor velocity, is used. Then, the vapor velocity is adjusted in the range of 0.001 to 0.

Abstract: Biodegradable anionic polymers are disclosed which include recurring polymeric subunits preferably made up of vinylic and dicarboxylic monomers such as vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol and maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride or citraconic anhydride, or combinations thereof. Free radical polymerization is used in the synthesis of the polymers, which are then hydrolyzed to replace ester groups with alcohol groups. The polymers may be complexed with ions and/or mixed with fertilizers or seed to yield agriculturally useful compositions. The preferred products of the invention may be applied foliarly, to seeds, to fertilizer, or to the earth adjacent growing plants in order to enhance nutrient uptake by the plants.

Abstract: Biodegradable anionic polymers are disclosed which include recurring polymeric subunits preferably made up of vinylic and dicarboxylic monomers such as vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol and maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride or citraconic anhydride, or combinations thereof. Free radical polymerization is used in the synthesis of the polymers, which are then hydrolyzed to replace ester groups with alcohol groups. The polymers may be complexed with ions and/or mixed with fertilizers or seed to yield agriculturally useful compositions. The preferred products of the invention may be applied foliarly, to seeds, to fertilizer, or to the earth adjacent growing plants in order to enhance nutrient uptake by the plants.

Abstract: Biodegradable anionic polymers are disclosed which include recurring polymeric subunits preferably made up of vinylic and dicarboxylic monomers such as vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol and maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride or citraconic anhydride, or combinations thereof. Free radical polymerization is used in the synthesis of the polymers, which are then hydrolyzed to replace ester groups with alcohol groups. The polymers may be complexed with ions and/or mixed with fertilizers or seed to yield agriculturally useful compositions. The preferred products of the invention may be applied foliarly, to seeds, to fertilizer, or to the earth adjacent growing plants in order to enhance nutrient uptake by the plants.

Abstract: Provided are a method, upon radical copolymerization of a vinyl-containing porphyrin compound and a radically polymerizable monomer, thereby obtaining a porphyrin-nucleus introduced polymer, of controlling reactivity of the porphyrin-nucleus introduced polymer with a metal by selecting the radically polymerizable monomer; and a method for measuring a trace metal by measuring a change in absorbance caused by a complex forming reaction between a porphyrin-nucleus introduced polymer, which has been obtained by radical copolymerization of a vinyl-containing porphyrin compound and a radically polymerizable monomer, and a heavy metal ion, the radically polymerizable monomer being selected so as to heighten reaction selectivity of the porphyrin-nucleus introduced polymer to a metal to be measured.

Abstract: Biodegradable anionic polymers are disclosed which include recurring polymeric subunits preferably made up of vinylic and dicarboxylic monomers such as vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol and maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride or citraconic anhydride, or combinations thereof. Free radical polymerization is used in the synthesis of the polymers, which are then hydrolyzed to replace ester groups with alcohol groups. The polymers may be complexed with ions and/or mixed with fertilizers or seed to yield agriculturally useful compositions. The preferred products of the invention may be applied foliarly, to seeds, to fertilizer, or to the earth adjacent growing plants in order to enhance nutrient uptake by the plants.

Abstract: Provided are a substantially transparent adhesive composition for hard tissue, and a method for producing it; the adhesive composition exhibits good adhesiveness to hard tissue, especially to both enamel and dentin, and has the advantage of improved bonding durability especially in water; this contains (a) a substantially water-insoluble, acid group-containing polymerizable monomer which has, in the molecule, at least one hydrocarbon group selected from an alkylene group having from 8 to 25 carbon atoms, an alkyl group having from 8 to 25 carbon atoms and an aromatic group, and/or its salt, and (b) water, and has pH of from 1.0 to 6.0.

Abstract: A new and novel linear, regio-regular vicinal functionalized polymer methods of forming the same are described. The polymer has a linear hydrocarbon polymer backbone with vicinal functional groups having oxygen and/or nitrogen atom containing groups, such as hydroxy, carboxylic acid or ester, carbonyl acetate, amide, nitrile and the like, pendent from the polymer backbone chain in a regio-regular manner.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the living free radical addition polymerization of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers using at least one free-radical polymerization initiator and in the presence of one or more stable N-oxyl radicals, wherein at least one stable N-oxyl radical has polymerizable double bonds. The invention additionally provides polymers obtainable by this process, having a polydispersity index PDI of from 1.0 to 1.8, and provides for the use of stable N-oxyl radicals having polymerizable double bonds in the living free radical addition polymerization of one or more different ethylenically unsaturated monomers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a concrete admixture which is useful in the field of a highly strong concrete, which has a high flowability and which is excellent in an applicability of a concrete paste. That is, the present invention provides a concrete admixture comprising a copolymer-mixture obtained by copolymerizing a specific monomer (A) such as an ethylene-based unsaturated carboxylic acid-derivative having a polyoxyalkylene group and a specific monomer (B) such as a (meth)acrylic acid with changing the molar ratio of (A)/(B) at least one time in the polymerization course, as well as a concrete composition comprising the said concrete admixture.

Abstract: A polymer dispersant for pigments based on a random copolymer wherein the copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of at least 3000 and comprises a polymeric backbone of primarily acrylic monomers wherein the backbone contains multiple pigment anchoring groups attached thereto including at least one amide group and one or more additional pigment anchoring groups selected from the group consisting of aromatic esters, aromatic amines, and quaternary ammonium salts. These materials disperse a wide variety of pigments and are useful in solvent borne coatings where they can provide improved efficiency of pigment use, lower paint viscosity, and reduced emission of volatile organic solvent.

Abstract: The invention provides a biocompatible copolymer produced by polymerizing a mixture comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of itaconates, (meth)acrylates, fumarates and styrenics, at least one ethylenically unsaturated organosiloxane monomer and at least one monomer comprising a POSS compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel bicyclic photoresist monomers, and photoresist copolymer derived from the same. The bicyclic photoresist monomers of the present invention comprise both amine functional group and acid labile protecting group, and are represented by the formula: where m, n, R, V and B are those defined herein. The photoresist composition comprising the photoresist copolymer of the present invention has excellent etching resistance and heat resistance, and remarkably enhanced PED stability (post exposure delay stability).

Abstract: A low color or colorless polymaleate as determined by a Gardner color number of 8 or less, said polymaleate is prepared by aqueous solution polymerization of 70 to 99.9 weight percent of maleic acid, 0.1 to 30 weight percent of an allylic sulfonate monomer, and 0.5 to 50 &mgr;m, based on the moles of monomer, of a polyvalent transition metal ion selected from group consisting of Group IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA, VIIIA, IB, IIB, and combinations thereof, wherein the weight percents are based on the total weight of monomer, provided that 10 to 60 mole percent of the carboxylic acid groups on the maleic acid are neutralized prior to polymerization. The low color or colorless polymaleates provide permanent press properties to textiles treated therewith and increases the resistance of such textiles to laundering abrasion. The polymaleates also may be used in cleaning compositions to disperse and suspend soils.

Abstract: The present invention provides: an acrylic acid-maleic acid copolymer (or its salt) which is excellent in performances, such as Mg2+ scavengeability, clay dispersibility in the presence of Mg2+, inhibitability upon Mg(OH)2 scale, and inhibitability upon CaCO3 scale; and a production process for such a copolymer (or its salt). The present invention further provides a production process for an aqueous maleic salt solution with a low impurity content which has the advantage of easily giving the above copolymer (or its salt). The present invention still further provides uses of the above copolymer (or its salt) having the above excellent properties.

Abstract: Provided are porphyrin-nucleus introduced polymers obtained by radical copolymerization of a radically polymerizable monomer with a porphyrin compound represented by formula (1) or (2): where R represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group. Also provided are a trace metal measuring reagent and a trace metal removing agent, each containing the porphyrin-nucleus introduced polymer. The porphyrin-nucleus introduced polymer can be obtained as a compound having desired properties or reactivity by making use of easily available porphyrin compounds. The polymer is useful as a reagent for measuring or an agent for removing heavy metals.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for laminating textile sheet materials onto moldable particle foam or onto foamed moldings, using, as an adhesive, a polymer composition based on copolymers of one or more monomers selected from the group comprising vinyl esters, acrylates, methacrylates, vinylaromatics and vinyl chloride and from 0.01 to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the copolymer, of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing carboxyl groups.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aqueous styrene-butadiene polymer dispersion by free-radical aqueous emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture M comprising

Abstract: This invention concerns gradient copolymers, that are obtainable by polymerizing a mixture of olefinically unsaturated monomers that consist of a) 0 to 40% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (I) where R is hydrogen or methyl, R1 means a linear or branched alkyl residue with 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen or a group of the formula —COOR′, where R′ means hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1 to 5 carbon atoms, b) 10 to 98% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (II) where R is hydrogen or methyl, R4 means a linear or branched alkyl residue with 6 to 15 carbon atoms, R5 and R6 independently are hydrogen or a group of the formula —COOR″, where R″ means hydrogen or an alkyl group with 6 to 15 carbon atoms, c) 0 to 80% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (III) where R is hy

Abstract: An aqueous crosslinkable coating composition suitable for the provision of thick coatings without incurring carbon dioxide bubble formation comprising: (A) an aqueous dispersion of at least one hydroxyl- and acid-functional vinyl polymer having a hydroxyl value of 8 to 250 mg KOH/g of polymer and an acid value of 2 to 55 mg KOH/g of polymer, where the contribution of at least 30% of the acid value results from a monocarboxylic acid(s) of formula: CH2—CR1—Q—CO2H  (1) where R1 is H or lower alkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms and Q is a spacer group of formula: [—C(═O)—X—(CH2)m—]k  (2) where X is —O— or —NH—, m is at least 1, preferably 2 or 3, and k is at least 1, preferably 2, 3, 4 or 5; and (B) at least one organic polyisocyanate. The acid of formula (1) preferably comprises &bgr;-carboxyethyl acrylate.

Abstract: A copolymer of the monomers of the following components A to C and, if required, D, the total amount by weight of which is 100 mol %: a: from 20 to 80 mol % of at least one ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or of an anhydride, ester and/or amide thereof as component A, b: from 1 to 79 mol % of at least one diketene of the general formula (I)  where R1 and R2 independently are each hydrogen or C1-C30-alkyl, as component B, c: from 1 to 79 mol % of at least one vinyl ester, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylonitrile or mixtures thereof as component C and d: from 0 to less than 0.5 mol % or, if at least 20 mol % of component C are present, from 0 to 20 mol % of at least one further olefinically unsaturated monomer as component D, is used as a flow improver in mineral oil middle distillates.

Abstract: This invention concerns copolymers, which are obtainable by ATRP methods, where a mixture of ethylenically unsaturated monomers consisting of a) 0 to 40% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (I) where R is hydrogen or methyl, R1 means a linear or branched alkyl residue with 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen or a group of the formula —COOR′, where R′ means hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1 to 5 carbon atoms, b) 10 to 98% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (II) where R is hydrogen or methyl, R4 means a linear or branched alkyl residue with 6 to 15 carbon atoms, R5 and R6 independently are hydrogen or a group of the formula —COOR″, where R″ means hydrogen or an alkyl group with 6 to 15 carbon atoms, c) 0 to 80% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (III) where R is hydr

Abstract: The present invention provides: a novel water-soluble copolymer which is still more excellent in performance for uses, such as detergent builders, pigment dispersants, and scale inhibitors. In addition, the present invention provides: a novel liquid detergent builder which has extremely excellent compatibility, high transparency when a liquid detergent composition comprises it, and very excellent detergency; and a novel liquid detergent composition comprising the liquid detergent builder.

Abstract: The present invention provides: an acrylic acid-maleic acid copolymer (or its salt) which is excellent in performances, such as Mg2+ scavengeability, clay dispersibility in the presence of Mg2+, inhibitability upon Mg(OH)2 scale, and inhibitability upon CaCO3 scale; and a production process for such a copolymer (or its salt). The present invention further provides a production process for an aqueous maleic salt solution with a low impurity content which has the advantage of easily giving the above copolymer (or its salt). The present invention still further provides uses of the above copolymer (or its salt) having the above excellent properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high temperature continuous polymerization and condensation process for preparing a polymeric product. The process includes continuously charging into a reaction zone: at least one radically-polymerizable monomer having a radically polymerizable group and at least one condensation reactive functionality; and at least one modifying agent having a functional group capable of reacting with the condensation reactive functionality. The reaction zone includes at least one primary reactor, but may, and preferably does, contain a secondary reactor. The process further includes maintaining an effective temperature in the primary reactor to cause polymerization of the monomer and to allow at least a portion of the condensation reactive functionality to react with the functional group of the modifying agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high temperature continuous polymerization and condensation process for preparing a polymeric product. The process includes continuously charging into a reaction zone: at least one radically-polymerizable monomer having a radically polymerizable group and at least one condensation reactive functionality; and at least one modifying agent having a functional group capable of reacting with the condensation reactive functionality. The reaction zone includes at least one primary reactor, but may, and preferably does, contain a secondary reactor. The process further includes maintaining an effective temperature in the primary reactor to cause polymerization of the monomer and to allow at least a portion of the condensation reactive functionality to react with the functional group of the modifying agent.