Abstract: Cloudy material in organic diluent solutions of polymers prepared by anionic polymerization with a lithium initiator is removed by treating the polymer solutions resulting from the polymerization with boric acid, separating the solid material from the solutions, and isolating the polymer.

Abstract: The alkyllithium initiated preparation of terminally functional polymers in high yield is accomplished by first capping a macromolecular polymer with an alkylene sulfide prior to terminating the molecule with a halogenated compound containing a polymerizable moiety. The resulting macromolecular monomers are useful in the preparation of graft copolymers by copolymerizing the macromolecular monomers with monomers copolymerizable therewith.

Abstract: Acrylic pressure sensitive hot melt adhesives having improved creep resistance at ambient temperatures and desirable melt viscosity at elevated application temperatures are prepared by copolymerizing suitable acrylic and methacrylic acids and alkyl esters with 10-40 percent by weight of an acrylate or methacrylate terminated vinyl aromatic monomer based macromolecular monomer. The adhesives are coated onto flexible backing material to form labels, decals, tapes, and other sheet materials.

Abstract: The absorption of water by styrene/maleic anhydride copolymer particles during the impregnation of the particles in aqueous suspension is greatly reduced by the addition of salt to the impregnation system.This process produces expandable particles of non-equimolar copolymers of styrene and maleic anhydride having considerable less heterogeneity, finer cell structure, greater expandability, less heat sensitivity, less shrinkage, and lower density potential on molding.

Abstract: The alkyllithium initiated preparation of terminally functional polymers in high yield is accomplished by first capping a macromolecular polymer with an alkylene sulfide prior to terminating the molecule with a halogenated compound containing a polymerizable moiety. The resulting macromolecular monomers are useful in the preparation of graft copolymers by copolymerizing the macromolecular monomers with monomers copolymerizable therewith.

Abstract: The alkyllithium initiated preparation of terminally functional polymers in high yield is accomplished by first capping a macromolecular polymer with an alkylene sulfide prior to terminating the molecule with a halogenated compound containing a polymerizable moiety.

Abstract: A new class of multi-ester coupling agents has been disclosed which have the general formula, (CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH-CO.sub.2).sub.n X, where X is a radical from a polyhydroxy compound having 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, and n is an integer equal to the number of hydroxy groups in the polyhydroxy compound. These coupling agents undergo anionic polymerization through the acrylate unsaturation rather than anionic attack at the ester linkage.

Abstract: The production of polymer beads from vinyl aromatic monomers, using an inorganic phosphate aqueous suspension polymerization process is effected with the addition of 0.0001 to 0.004 percent by weight of a polystyrenesulfonate with the production of beads having a narrow bead size distribution. In addition to the improved bead size distribution, large beads can be produced which retain their sphericity.

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.

Abstract: Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers are produced, which exhibit anti-lumping properties and fast-cool properties upon formation of foamed articles therefrom, by polymerizing a vinyl aromatic monomer, in which is dissolved 0.5-4.0 percent, based on the monomer, of a graded diblock rubbery copolymer of 2-50 percent of polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer and 50-98 percent conjugated diene, the polymerization forming vinyl aromatic polymer containing the graded diblock rubbery copolymer, and impregnating the polymer so produced, with a blowing agent.

Abstract: Live polyethylene slurry is treated with small amounts of ethylene in the absence of hydrogen, for example in the drier. By using this procedure it is possible to prepare polymers with very high, controllable levels of swell. In contrast to previous procedures reported for dual stage polymerizations, the melt flow ratios are not appreciably altered.

Abstract: Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers are produced, which exhibit fast-cool properties upon formation of foamed articles therefrom, by polymerizing a vinyl aromatic monomer, in which is dissolved 1.0-10.0 percent, based on the monomer, of a thermoplastic, branched, block copolymer of 55-95 percent of polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer and 5-45 percent conjugated diene, the polymerization forming vinyl aromatic polymer containing the thermoplastic, branched, block copolymer, and impregnating the polymer so produced, with a blowing agent.

Abstract: Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers are produced, which exhibit fast-cool properties upon formation of foamed articles therefrom, by polymerizing a vinyl aromatic monomer, in which is dissolved 0.5-4.0 percent, based on the monomer, of a triblock copolymer rubber of 2-50 percent of polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer and 50-98 percent conjugated diene, the polymerization forming vinyl aromatic polymer containing the triblock copolymer rubber, and impregnating the polymer so produced, with a blowing agent.

Abstract: Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers are produced, which exhibit anti-lumping properties and fast-cool properties upon formation of foamed articles therefrom, by polymerizing a vinyl aromatic monomer, in which is dissolved 0.5-4.0 percent, based on the monomer, of a graded diblock rubbery copolymer of 2-50 percent of polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer and 50-98 percent conjugated diene, the polymerization forming vinyl aromatic polymer containing the graded diblock rubbery copolymer, and impregnating the polymer so produced, with a blowing agent.

Abstract: Star-block copolymers having functional groups associated with the nucleus of the copolymers have been prepared. The copolymers of from 10-90% by weight of a monovinyl aromatic compound and 10-90% by weight of a conjugated diene have at least 3 arms connected to a polyvinyl aromatic nucleus and up to the same number of polar functional groups attached to said nucleus as there are arms attached thereto.

Abstract: Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers are produced, which exhibit fast-cool properties upon formation of foamed articles therefrom, by polymerizing a vinyl aromatic monomer, in which is dissolved 0.5-4.0 percent, based on the monomer, of a triblock copolymer rubber of 2-50 percent of polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer and 50-98 percent conjugated diene, the polymerization forming vinyl aromatic polymer containing the triblock copolymer rubber, and impregnating the polymer so produced, with a blowing agent.

Abstract: Footwear compounds containing star-block copolymers having functional groups associated with the nucleus of the copolymers have been prepared. The copolymers of from 10-55% by weight of a monovinyl aromatic compound and 45-90% by weight of a conjugated diene have at least 3 arms connected to a polyvinyl aromatic nucleus and up to the same number of polar functional groups attached to said nucleus as there are arms attached thereto.

Abstract: Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers are produced, which exhibit fast-cool properties upon formation of foamed articles therefrom, by polymerizing a vinyl aromatic monomer, in which is dissolved 1.0-10.0 percent, based on the monomer, of a thermoplastic, branched, block copolymer of 55-95 percent of polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer and 5-45 percent conjugated diene, the polymerization forming vinyl aromatic polymer containing the thermoplastic, branched, block copolymer, and impregnating the polymer so produced, with a blowing agent.

Abstract: Star-block copolymers having functional groups associated with the nucleus of the copolymers have been prepared. The copolymers of from 10-90% by weight of a monovinyl aromatic compound and 10-90% by weight of a conjugated diene have at least 3 arms connected to a polyvinyl aromatic nucleus and up to the same number of polar functional groups attached to said nucleus as there are arms attached thereto.