Abstract: A novel chemical reactor: one particularly useful for the production of polymers, especially elastomers such as butyl rubber. The reactor contains (1) a two-tube pass system, constituted of an inner or center tube bundle through which a mixture or slurry of polymerizable monomers and catalyst is passed in one direction, and recycled via an outer tube bundle in the opposite direction in essentially even flow distribution, (2) while the tubes of the center and outer tubular bundles are maintained within a jacketed section, or sections of the reactor into which a coolant, or refrigerant, is injected and vaporized to remove the heat of reaction. The coolant, or refrigerant, in heat exchange relationship with the tubes removes the exothermic heats of reaction from the polymerization mixture, and maintains the polymerization mixture at uniformly low temperature.

Abstract: A compatibilized polymer blend composition is provided which comprises a uniform admixture of a halogenated copolymer of an isomonoolefin, such as polyisobutylene, and a para-alkylstyrene, such as para-methylstyrene blended with a carboxy-modified elastomer. Blends also containing an unmodified elastomer are provided wherein the carboxy-modified elastomer serves to compatibilize the unmodified elastomer and the halogenated copolymer.

Abstract: A process for reducing the loss of monomers from a polymerization recycle stream comprising steam treating a molecular sieve used to dry the recycle stream to remove acidic sites within the sieve. The steam treatment is conducted at a temperature of between 150.degree. C. and 300.degree. C. for 2 to 24 hours.

Abstract: A composition suitable for use in producing a tire innerliner is provided. The composition comprises a halogen-containing copolymer of a C.sub.4 to C.sub.7 isomonoolefin and a para-alkylstyrene; carbon black, and a plasticizer oil. A vulcanized tire comprising an innerliner made from the composition is also provided.

Abstract: Linear ethylene interpolymer blends are disclosed. The blends are made from components having a narrow molecular weight distribution (e.g. M.sub.w /M.sub.n .ltoreq.3) and a narrow composition distribution (e.g. CDBI>50%). The blend components in a blend can all have the same molecular weight but different comonomer contents, the same comonomer content but different molecular weights, or comonomer contents which increase with molecular weight. The blends have either M.sub.w /M.sub.n >3 or CDBI<50%, or both, and can be multimodal with respect to either or both molecular weight and/or comonomer content. The blends are generally free of blend components having both a higher average molecular weight and a lower average comonomer content than another blend component. The blends can have improved mechanical, physical and/or chemical properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to impact modifiers for polyamide compositions which improve the impact strength of the polyamides without adversely affecting the flexural modulus of the composition. The impact modifiers comprise blends of halogenated copolymers of a C.sub.4 to C.sub.7 isomonoolefin and an alkyl/styrene with a polyolefin.

Abstract: A grafted polymer of an isomonoolefin and an alkylstyrene, such as a maleic anhydride-grafted copolymer of isobutylene and para-methylstyrene, is provided. Processes for preparing the grafted polymer are also provided.

Abstract: Ethylene, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane, and optionally carbon monoxide are reacted in the presence of a free radical catalyst to form a biodegradable and optionally photodegradable polymer represented by the formulae: ##STR1## where x and y are integers or ##STR2## where x, y and z are integers.

Abstract: A process is provided for vulcanizing a halogen-containing copolymer of a C.sub.4 to C.sub.7 isomonoolefin and a para-alkylstyrene utilizing a vulcanization mixture comprising a basic zinc carbonate hydroxide.

Abstract: A water-curable hot melt adhesive system is disclosed. The system uses silane hydrolyzable functionality grafted onto an ethylene polymer component, and a tackifier compatible therewith. The ethylene polymer component is a copolymer of ethylene and a hydrocarbyl ester of an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and the tackifier component provides the adhesive with sufficient silanol condensation catalytic activity to accelerate water curing. The formulation is applied to a substrate surface as a hot melt at a moderate temperature, and subsequently cured by moisture or in a warm water bath. The invention also embodies structural compositions having glass, metallic or leather surfaces adhered with the adhesive and a method for making structural composites.

Abstract: Catalysts comprising (a) derivatives of mono, bi and tricyclopentadienyl coordination complexes with a transition metal and (b) and an alumoxane are employed in a process of producing polyolefins of controlled molecular weight.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive including syndiotactic polypropylene having a polymer chain of at least 80% racemic dyads and having a melting point of about 100.degree. C. to 180.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel compound, its use as an initiator in anionic polymerizations yielding norbornene-terminated homopolymers of block copolymers, and the further use of said norbornene-terminated polymers as macromonomers in the preparation of graft copolymers.

Abstract: Ethylene, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane, and optionally carbon monoxide are reacted in the presence of free radical catalyst to form a biodegradable and optionally photodegradable polymer represented by the formulae: ##STR1## where x and y are integers or ##STR2## where x, y and z are integers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, to a method for preparing such catalysts, to a method of using such catalysts and to polymeric products produced with such catalysts. The catalysts are particularly useful in the polymerization of - olefins, diolefins and acetylenically unsaturated monomers. The improved catalysts are prepared by combining at least one first compound which is a bis(cyclopentadienyl) derivative of a metal of Group IV-B of the Periodic Table of the Elements capable of forming a cation formally having a coordination number of 3 and a valence of +4 and at least one second compound comprising a cation capable of donating a proton and a compatible noncoordinating anion comprising a plurality of boron atoms, which anion is both bulky and labile, and capable of stabilizing the Group IV-B metal cation without interfering with said Group IV-B metal cation's or its decomposition product's ability to polymerize .alpha.-olefin, diolefins and/or acetylically unsaturated monomers.

Abstract: Syndiotactic polypropylene fibers from syndiotactic polypropylene having a melting point of from 100.degree. C. to 160.degree. C. and desirably a polymer having blocks of repeating racemic dyads connected predominantly by units having a meso triad or a meso dyad and methods of making such fibers. Fabrics, yarns and tows made from these fibers are useful in the production of diapers, hospital gowns, and the like.

Abstract: Compatibilized blends of polypropylene, linear low density polyethylene and a low molecular weight plastomer are disclosed. The blend preferably contains at least about 50 percent by weight of crystalline polypropylene, from about 10 to about 50 percent by weight of LLDPE dispersed in a matrix of the polypropylene, and a compatibilizing amount of an ethylene/alpha-olefin plastomer having a weight average molecular weight between about 5,000 to about 50,000, a density of less than about 0.90 g/cm.sup.3, and a melt index of at least about 50 dg/min. The blend is useful in the formation of melt spun and melt blown fibers. Also disclosed are spun bonded-melt blown-spun bonded fabrics made from the blends.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrically conductive and semiconductive devices utilizing polymers having resistance to water treeing and good dielectric properties. The polymer comprises ethylene polymerized with at least one C.sub.3 to C.sub.20 alpha-olefin and optionally at least one C.sub.3 to C.sub.20 polyene. The polymer utilized has a density in the range of about 0.86 g/cm.sup.3 to about 0.96 g/cm.sup.3, a melt index in the range of about 0.2 dg/min to about 100 dg/min, a molecular weight distribution in the range of about 1.5 to about 30, and a composition distribution breadth index greater than about 45 percent. For the polymer utilized, the tree rating is generally less than about 40, the power factor is in the range of about 0.0002 to about 0.0005, and the dielectric constant is in the range of about 1.8 to about 2.4.

Abstract: Acrylic copolymer compositions which contain a tackifying hydrocarbon resin and a polyfunctional crosslinking monomer and the use of such composition in pressure-sensitive adhesives are described. The tackifying hydrocarbon resin is dissolved, as is the polyfunctional monomer, in a solution of alkyl(meth)acrylate and (meth) acrylic acid monomers and is present during the polymerization of the monomers to form a tackified acrylic copolymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for producing a supported metallocene catalyst system useful for the polymerization and/or copolymerization of olefins, alpha-olefins, and/or diolefins which results in a catalyst product which during polymerization, produces minimal to no reactor fouling and polymer of controlled morphology. The invention is particularly useful for but not limited to polymerizing propylene or copolymerizing propylene with olefins having two or more carbon atoms. The novel support technique described herein results in a catalyst which will obtain polymer product having controlled, uniform particle size, narrow molecular weight distribution, high bulk density and depending upon the metallocene employed and monomers polymerized, stereoregularity.