Abstract: A highly branched polycondensate is described. The polycondensate is prepared by polycondensating (a) monomers capable of polycondensation in the presence of (b) branching agents, wherein the branching agents are selected from polymers, oligomers consisting of 2 to 100 monomer units and dendritic polymers. The branching agents contain residues of monomers represented by the general formulas, A—R—Bx or Ax—R—B wherein A represents a —C(O)X group, X being hydroxyl, halogen, alkoxy or aralkoxy, each having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, B represents one of (i) an —OY group, Y being hydrogen, trialkyl silyl, alkyl or acyl, each having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and (ii) an amino group, an ammonium halide or an alkyl carbamate having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R is an organic aromatic, aliphatic-aromatic or aliphatic radical containing 1 to 25 carbon atoms, and x≧2. Also described are molded articles prepared from the highly branched polycondensate of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polycarbonate-ABS moulding compositions provided with phosphonate amines, which moulding compositions exhibit excellent flame protection and very good processing properties, such as improved flow properties, improved modulus of elasticity and reduced formation of a coating on the tool, the graft polymer being prepared by means of mass, solution or mass-suspension polymerization processes.

Abstract: A thermoplastic molding composition which features improved dimensional stability and low gloss is disclosed. The composition which contains (A) a first grafted rubber having a weight average particle size of 0.05 to 0.30 microns, (B) a second grafted rubber having a weight average particle size of 0.31 to 1.00 microns, (C) vinyl chloride (co) polymer, and, optionally, (D) styrene copolymer, is especially suitable for extruding profiles. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the grafted rubbers is characterized in that its substrate features a core-shell structure, wherein the core contain at least one crosslinked vinylaromatic polymer, and the shell is elastomeric.

Abstract: A process for producing a thermoplastic polyurethane film by means of sintering a particulate thermoplastic polyurethane in a heated mold, is described. The thermoplastic polyurethane has: (i) a melt index of 20 to 100, measured at 190° C. and under an applied force of 21.2 N; (ii) a relative solution viscosity of 1.15 to 1.45, the relative solution viscosity being determined by, measuring the viscosity (a) of a solution of 0.4 grams of the thermoplastic polyurethane in 99.7 grams N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone containing 0.1% dibutylamine at 25° C., measuring the viscosity (b) of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone containing 0.1% dibutylamine at 25° C., and dividing viscosity (a) by viscosity (b); and (iii) a Shore hardness of 80 to 98.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition comprising aliphatic polyurethane is disclosed. The composition is charactrized in having a post weathering yellow value lower than 20 and good hardness and softening temperature values both before and after weatering for 504 hours in accordance with ISO 4892.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of high-viscosity polyesters with a reduced content of acid end groups, wherein a masterbatch of low-viscosity polyesters and oxazolines is prepared, this is then mixed with a higher-viscosity polyester and this mixture (dry blend) is further processed.

Abstract: An oil-in-water coating agent is described. The coating agent emulsion is prepared from a composition comprising: a) 5.0 to 50 wt. % of cellulose substance; b) 5.0 to 50 wt. % of at least one hydroxyl group-containing lacquer resin; c) 2.0 to 25 wt. % of at least one polyisocyanate having more than one free isocyanate group; d) 10.0 to 65 wt. % of water; e) 0.5 to 30 wt. % of plasticiser; f) 0.0 to 20 wt. % of emulsifier; and g) 0.0 to 45 wt. % of at least one organic solvent. The sum of components a) to g) of the composition is 100 wt. %, and the weight ratio of hydroxyl groups of the hydroxyl group-containing lacquer resin b) to NCO groups of the polyisocyanate c) is 1:0.05 to 1:5. Also described is a method of using the coating agent emulsion, and its application to the surface of materials, such as wood and metal.

Abstract: The invention provides antistatic, thermoplastic moulding compositions with improved properties based on optionally rubber-modified polymers of vinyl aromatics, e.g. styrene and/or &agr;-methyl styrene and acrylonitrile and/or acrylates, which contain a special acid-reacting polyether as the antistatic agent.

Abstract: The invention provides X-ray contrastable plastics materials with low-molecular weight iodine compounds, a process for preparing X-ray contrastable plastics materials with low molecular weight iodine compounds, the use of low molecular weight iodine compounds to improve the X-ray contrast in transparent plastics materials and toys with improved X-ray contrast containing low molecular weight iodine compounds.

Abstract: Process for hydrogenating aromatic polymers in the presence of catalysts, wherein a metal or mixture of metals from group VIII of the Periodic Table together with a support of silicon dioxide, aluminium dioxide or a mixture thereof is used as the catalyst, and the catalyst pore volume defined by pores of diameters between 100 and 1000 Å, measured by mercury porosimetry, is generally from 100 to 15%, in relation to the total pore volume, measured by mercury porosimetry.

Abstract: A process of evaporating a viscous polymer solution is described. The process includes: (a) providing a viscous polymer solution including at least 30 wt. % of solvents and monomers; (b) introducing the viscous polymer solution into a heated helix (5), the heated helix having a vapor exit velocity of 200 to 300 m/s, (a film flow including a two-phase mixture of polymer melt, and solvent vapors and monomer vapors being formed within the helix); (c) forwarding the film flow from helix (5) into a heated vapor separator (6); (d) expanding the two-phase mixture of polymer melt, and solvent vapors and monomer vapors of the film flow within vapor separator (6) at an absolute pressure of 10 mbar to 800 mbar, (a bottom product including a concentrated melt of the polymer is formed within the vapor separator); and (e) withdrawing the bottom product from vapor separator (6).

Abstract: A thermoplastic molding composition comprising, (A) an aromatic polycarbonate; (B) a single rubber-free copolymer, e.g., of styrene and acrylonitrile; (C) a first graft polymer; (D) a second graft polymer; and (E) a wax, is described. The single rubber-free copolymer (B), and first and second graft polymers (C) and (D) are prepared from a specific selection of graft phases and graft bases. The graft base of the first graft polymer (C) comprises a crosslinked, particulate elastomer having an average particle diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 microns. The second graft polymer (D) has an average particle diameter of 0.6 to 20 microns. The thermoplastic compositions of the present invention are well suited for the preparation of molded articles that may be metalized over at least a portion of their surface by means of an electroless plating process. Such electroless plated articles are characterized as having improved heat resistance and adhesion of the metal plating.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a blend of ABS polymers is disclosed. The invention comprises introducing a core/shell grafted rubber in the form of powder (crumb) to at least one stage of the continuous mass polymerization process for making an ABS polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to block copolymers which are predominantly based on vinylcyclohexane and to a process for producing them. The block copolymers can be processed to form mouldings by extrusion or injection moulding. The mouldings which result therefrom are distinguished by their high resistance to thermal deformation, good mechanical properties, high transparency in the visible and near UV range, and by their particularly low birefringence and water absorption.

Abstract: A regioselectively substituted member selected from the group consisting of oligo-saccharide ester and polysaccharide ester is disclosed. The ester has a partial average degree of substitution AS at the C2 position of its anhydroglucose unit of at least 90% relative to the total AS. Also disclosed is a method of producing the regioselectively substituted ester. The method entails reacting in the presence of a catalyst a dissolved or a highly swollen oligo-saccharide or polysaccharide with an esterification reagent.

Abstract: A multi-layered film that may be heat laminated to a substrate is described. The multi-layered film comprises a base layer comprising polypropylene, a first external layer comprising polypropylene, and a second external layer. The base layer is interposed between the first and second external layers. The second external layer comprises a mixture of first (i) and second (ii) ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, each having different vinyl acetate residue contents. The content of vinyl acetate residues in the first EVA copolymer (i) is 10 to 30 percent by weight, based on the weight of the first copolymer (i), the content of vinyl acetate residues in the second EVA copolymer (ii) is 1 to 10 percent by weight, based on the weight of the second copolymer (ii). The multi-layered film is heat laminated and oriented at least monoaxially.

Abstract: The invention provides thermoplastic molding compositions of the ABS type containing highly effective graft rubber components obtained by emulsion polymerization while using a special initiator system and maintaining defined reaction conditions.

Abstract: A continuous process for the drying and gel formation of solvent-containing gel-forming polymers, in particular polysaccharide derivatives, by flash cooling of suspensions of the polymers, and an apparatus for the drying of solvent-containing products are described. The process comprises the steps: metering the solvent-containing polymer having a solids content of 1 to 65% by weight and at a pressure of in particular ambient pressure to 6000 hPa, at a polymer temperature of 20 to 100° C. into an evaporation zone (1), the evaporation zone (1) having a pressure of 0.1 hPa to 800 hPa, cooling the polymer, in particular to a temperature of <93° C.

Abstract: A light-colored thermoplastic molding composition comprising a polyurethane elastomer is disclosed. The polyurethane which is the reaction product of at least one polyol, at least one organic diisocyanate and at least one polyol chain extender contains one or more pentaerythritol diphosphites color stabilizers conforming to a specific formula exhibits improved color stability and improved processability. The process for preparation entails introducing the stabilizer before the reaction has been completed.

Abstract: A method for removing volatile components from polymer solutions is disclosed. The method, yielding products having low content of residual volatile components and causing no thermal damage to the polymer, entails using apparatuses in which surfaces which come into contact with the product are made from materials which are low in iron content.