Abstract: Polyvinyl halide or polyvinyl graft copolymers intimately mixed with a polyester derived mainly from an halogenated bicycloheptene carboxylic acid or anhydride such as chlorendic acid or anhydride and an alkylene glycol or alkylene oxide such as ethylene oxide are provided. The graft copolymers of the invention are obtained by polymerizing a vinyl halide in bulk in contact with an olefin polymer. The graft copolymer compositions of the invention have good clarity and provide improved processing characteristics and increased impact strength without reduction in heat distortion resulting from the addition of the polyester. The improved impact strength polyvinyl halide compositions of the invention can include blends of the polyester of the invention with modifying compounds, such as alkyl methacrylate-butadiene/styrene graft polymer impact modifiers and halogenated polyvinyl chloride. Blends of vinyl halide polymers with the polyesters of the invention provide compositions having improved processability.

Abstract: Unsaturated polyester resins having improved fire retardant properties comprise a halogen-containing unsaturated polyester of a polycarboxylic compound and a polyhydric alcohol together with an additive mixture comprising iron or a compound of iron, copper or a compound of copper, and a compound of molybdenum. The unsaturated polyester resin may be copolymerized with an unsaturated monomer to prepare castings, laminated products, reinforced articles and the like having low burning rates, low smoke generations, and beneficial char formation in the presence of a flame.

Abstract: Polymers of excellent impact strength, reduced particle size, and enhanced proportions of fines are obtained in the bulk polymerization of a vinyl halide or mixture thereof with comonomer(s) in the presence of a high molecular weight polyolefin added to the polymerization mass upon conversion of 0 to about 20% by weight of monomer(s) to polymer, by removing from the polymerization mass during the thick paste state thereof sufficient vinyl halide to adjust the effective concentration of polyolefin to above about 3.5% based on vinyl halide. The resultant product which contains an enhanced proportion of fines and is devoid of massive agglomerates, requires less mechanical work in comminution or shorter heating in melting in subsequent conventional processing steps.

Abstract: Mixtures of vinyl halide-graft-polyolefin polymer compositions with a minor proportion of a monoalkenyl arene-hydrocarbon alkadiene block thermoplastic elastomer which are capable of being molded to impact-resistant articles exhibit enhancement of low temperature impact resistance on ageing.

Abstract: Polymer blends having improved hydrolytic stability comprise, in admixture, (1) a linear aromatic polyester prepared from an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a bisphenol, and (2) a cross-linked acrylate-methacrylate copolymer. The blends are useful in preparation of films and molded articles.

Abstract: An improved vinyl halide or vinyl halide copolymer containing up to 50 percent of a copolymer can be obtained by polymerizing in contact with an aliphatic hydrocarbon olefin homopolymer, copolymer or terpolymer in a process of bulk polymerizing comprising single stage or two-stage bulk polymerization wherein high speed agitation is used during the first stage and low speed agitation is used in the second stage. By polymerizing in the presence of the olefin polymer or copolymer, reduced particle size, reduced lump formation, and lower melt viscosity and improved impact strength can be obtained in the resin product. Small amounts of the olefin polymer or copolymer are effective in providing particle size control, reducing lump formation and eliminating scale build-up. Larger amounts of olefin polymer increase impact strength, reduce melt viscosity and provide excellent mold release properties in the final product.

Abstract: An improved vinyl halide or vinyl halide copolymer containing up to 50 percent of a comonomer can be obtained by polymerizing in contact with an aliphatic hydrocarbon olefin homopolymer, copolymer or terpolymer in a process of bulk polymerization comprising single stage or two-stage bulk polymerization wherein high speed agitation is used during the first stage and low speed agitation is used in the second stage. By polymerizing in the presence of the olefin polymer or copolymer, reduced particle size, reduced lump formation, and lower melt viscosity and improved impact strength can be obtained in the resin product. Small amounts of the olefin polymer or copolymer are effective in providing particle size control, reducing lump formation and eliminating scale build-up. Larger amounts of olefin polymer increase impact strength, reduce melt viscosity and provide excellent mold release properties in the final product.

Abstract: This invention relates to resin-coated sand compositions useful in the preparation of foundry sand cores and molds comprising sand, a solid novalac resin, a lubricant-containing solid resole resin, and optionally, hexamethylenetetramine in an amount of up to about 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of resin.

Abstract: Polyvinyl halide or polyvinyl halide graft copolymers intimately mixed with a polyester derived mainly from an halogenated bicycloheptene carboxylic acid or anhydride such as chlorendic acid or anhydride and an alkylene glycol or alkylene oxide such as ethylene glycol or ethylene oxide are provided. The graft copolymers of the invention are obtained by polymerizing a vinyl halide in bulk in contact with an olefin polymer. The graft copolymer compositions of the invention have good clarity and provide improved processing characteristics and increased impact strength without reduction in heat distortion resulting from the addition of the polyester. The improved impact strength polyvinyl halide compositions of the invention can include blends of the polyester of the invention with modifying compounds, such as alkyl methacrylate-butadiene/styrene graft polymer impact modifiers and halogenated polyvinyl chloride.

Abstract: An improved polyvinyl halide or a polyvinyl halide copolymer containing up to 50 percent of a comonomer can be obtained by post polymerizing in a single stage or two-stage bulk process in contact with a base polymer, the same or different monomer as the monomer used to form the base polymer. Compositions produced by the process of the invention are useful in making films, coated fabrics and molded objects. The liquid phase post polymerization process of the invention is applicable to base polymers in powder form prepared by emulsion, suspension and bulk polymerization processes. The base polymer can be present in a polymerization mixture in which only a partial amount of monomer has been converted to base polymer such as in a two-stage polymerization process or the base polymer can be used in dry, solid form. Polymers of the invention have improved bulk density and reduced plasticizer uptake and can be used to prepare fabric coatings.

Abstract: Unsaturated polyester resins having improved fire retardant properties comprise a halogen-containing unsaturated polyester of a polycarboxylic compound and a polyhydric alcohol together with an additive mixture comprising iron or a compound of iron and at least one member of the group consisting of copper, a compound of copper, antimony and a compound of antimony. The unsaturated polyester resin may be copolymerized with an unsaturated monomer to prepare castings, laminated products, reinforced articles and the like having low burning rates, low smoke generation, and beneficial char formation in the presence of a flame.

Abstract: Fire retardant polymer compositions having improved smoke-retardance are prepared from:(1) a copolymerizable mixture of:(a) from about 50 to 80 weight percent of an .alpha.-,.beta.-, ethylenically unsaturated halogen-containing polyester of a polycarboxylic compound and a polyhydric alcohol, the polyester containing halogen in a proportion of greater than about 4 weight percent said halogen having been introduced subsequent to preparation of the polyester by esterification; and(b) from about 20 to about 50 weight percent of a mixture of unsaturated monomers comprising a vinylbenzene compound and an acrylic compound selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and esters of these acids, the weight ratio of vinylbenzene compound to acrylic compound being about 1:4 to 4:1; and(2) an effective fire retardant proportion of about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent of a smoke inhibiting additive comprising at least 0.

Abstract: An improved polyvinyl halide or a vinyl halide copolymer containing up to 50 percent of a comonomer can be obtained by post polymerizing in a single stage or two-stage bulk process in contact with a base polymer, the same or different monomer as the monomer used to form the base polymer. Compositions produced by the process of the invention are useful in making films, coated fabrics and molded objects. The liquid phase post polymerization process of the invention is applicable to base polymers in powder form prepared by emulsion, suspension and bulk polymerization processes. The base polymer can be present in a polymerization mixture in which only a partial amount of monomer has been converted to base polymer such as in a two-stage polymerization process or the base polymer can be used in dry, solid form. Polymers of the invention have improved bulk density and reduced plasticizer uptake and can be used to prepare fabric coatings.

Abstract: Rubber cement compositions which consist of rubbers and multi- (three and more) functional phenol-aldehyde modified bifunctional phenol resins, which are made by first obtaining the bifunctional phenolic resin by condensing 1 mole of bifunctional phenol with 0.5 to 3.0 moles of aldehydes in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, and then co-condensing 0.05 to 2.5 moles of multifunctional (three and more) phenols against 1 mol of the bifunctional phenols in the above-mentioned resin in the presence of an acidic catalyst, said co-condensed resin having a number average molecular weight of 700 - 1900, a resin melting point of 80.degree. - 160.degree. C, being curable and also being soluble in aromatic hydrocarbon solvents.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer composition based upon an oxyalkylated novolac intermixed with a vinyl halide polymer. The compositions of the invention provide improved processing characteristics with reduced melt viscosity and improved physical and mechanical properties. Mixtures of (1) polyvinyl halide, oxyalkylated novolac and impact modifier, such as an acrylic polymer or (2) mixtures of oxyalkylated novolac and polyvinyl halide modified to provide improved impact strength by graft polymerization show improved compatibility of the rubbery polymer phase resulting in optimum impact strength for the composition.

Abstract: An improved process for curing sulfhydryl-terminated thioether polymers substantially devoid of aliphatic unsaturation having a sulfhydryl functionality of 2 to 3 to obtain thioether elastomers is disclosed wherein the liquid thioether is reacted with a curing amount of tertiary butyl perbenzoate. Preferably the curing reaction is carried out at about ambient temperature in the presence of a copper, especially a divalent copper, promoter for the reaction. The improved curing process shortens the curing time and extends the effective working life of the curing reaction mixture. The cured products are of enhanced thermal stability and are useful as elastomeric sealants such as architectural sealants.

Abstract: An improved vinyl halide or vinyl halide copolymer containing up to 50 percent of a copolymer can be obtained by polymerizing in contact with an aliphatic hydrocarbon olefin homopolymer, copolymer or terpolymer in a process of bulk polymerizing comprising single stage or two-stage bulk polymerization wherein high speed agitation is used during the first stage and low speed agitation is used in the second stage. By polymerizing in the presence of the olefin polymer or copolymer, reduced particle size, reduced lump formation, and lower melt viscosity and improved impact strength can be obtained in the resin product. Small amounts of the olefin polymer or copolymer are effective in providing particle size control, reducing lump formation and eliminating scale build-up. Larger amounts of olefin polymer increase impact strength, reduce melt viscosity and provide excellent mold release properties in the final product.

Abstract: Polymers of excellent impact strength, reduced particle size, and enhanced proportions of fines are obtained in the bulk polymerization of a vinyl halide or mixture thereof with comonomer(s) in the presence of a high molecular weight polyolefin added to the polymerization mass upon conversion of 0 to about 20% by weight of monomer(s) to polymer, by removing from the polymerization mass during the thick paste state thereof sufficient vinyl halide to adjust the effective concentration of polyolefin to above about 3.5% based on vinyl halide. The resultant product which contains an enhanced proportion of fines and is devoid of massive agglomerates, requires less mechanical work in comminution or shorter heating in melting in subsequent conventional processing steps.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for production of sulfhydryl-terminated compounds by reaction of an allene and hydrogen sulfide initiated with ultraviolet light of wavelength above about 2600 Angstroms to obtain a colorless product of improved purity. The invention also includes the polymerization of an unsaturated hydrocarbon with the sulfhydryl-terminated product to prepare a sulfhydryl-terminated polythioether. These compounds are useful as chemical intermediates and precursors of elastomeric sealants, such as architectural sealants.

Abstract: A polymeric composition containing more than 5% halogen can be improved in heat and light stability by the incorporation therein of small amounts of a novel stabilizer which is the metallic salt of the reaction product of an alpha-olefin with maleic anhydride.The stabilizers of the invention can be used either alone or in combination with conventional stabilizers for halogen containing polymeric materials.