Abstract: Processes for producing higher molecular weight ketones are disclosed that include the steps of feeding an aldol catalyst solution, a lower molecular weight aldehyde, and a lower molecular weight ketone, through a reactor provided with a solid hydrogenation catalyst and hydrogen gas; recovering a liquid reactor effluent containing the higher molecular weight ketone as a reaction product; and recycling a portion of the recovered liquid reactor effluent back through the reactor.

Abstract: This invention relates High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) films having improved barrier properties. More particularly, the invention relates to HDPE films containing hydrocarbon resins having improved moisture barrier. The invention also relates to masterbatches for use in producing High Density Polyethylene films having improved barrier properties.

Abstract: Processes for producing ?-hydroxy-ketones and ?,?-unsaturated ketones are disclosed which comprise the crossed condensation of an aldehyde with a ketone in the presence of a hydroxide or alkoxide of alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal as catalyst. The products of the process, ?-hydroxy-ketones and ?,?-unsaturated ketones, are useful for the preparation of many commercially important products in the chemical process industries including solvents, drug intermediates, flavors and fragrances, other specialty chemical intermediates.

Abstract: The invention relates to the inhibition of crystallization in rosin and rosin-based materials through the use of crystallization inhibitors. More specifically, the crystallization inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and the salts of carboxylic acids. The invention also relates to the process of inhibiting crystallization in rosin and rosin-based materials.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon resin is prepared by (1) thermally polymerizing a mixture consisting essentially of (a) about 5% to 25% by weight styrene or aliphatic or aromatic substituted styrene, and (b) about 95% to 75% by weight based on total monomer content of a cyclic diolefin component comprising at least about 50% by weight dicyclopentadiene. A method of producing an aromatic-modified resin having a Mz of less than 2000 through the addition of about 5% to 25% by weight styrene in combination with about 95% to about 75% DCPD monomer at a rate to consume styrene monomer at a the rate at which it is added. Hydrogenation of this resin produces light colored, thermally stable products that are useful as tackifiers in adhesives.

Abstract: A process is provided to produce an aqueous composition. The process comprises shearing a mixture to produce a mini-emulsion and polymerizing said mini-emulsion in the presence of an initiator to produce the aqueous composition; wherein said mixture comprises at least one tackifier, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, at least one surfactant, and water. The aqueous composition can be utilized to produced various articles including, but not limited to, adhesives, coatings, and laminates.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article of manufacture having a coating or is otherwise surrounded in large measure by a second polymer which has non-blocking characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the article possesses a core polymer which has a Tg of less than 25° C. which is coated with or otherwise surrounded by a second polymer which has a Tg of greater than 25° C., but less than 230° C. Further, preferred core polymers have a number average molecular weight of about 3000 to about 100,000. A further feature of the articles of the present invention is that when heated to temperatures of about 100 to 300° C., they undergo an ester exchange reaction to provide a substantially homogeneous polymer product useful in hot melt adhesive applications.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to an epoxy/alkylation-type hydrocarbon resin alloy comprising an epoxy resin, an alkylation-type hydrocarbon resin, and a curative. The alkylation-type hydrocarbon resin is characterized as a product formed by an alkylation reaction between a cyclic diolefin and aromatic solvent. A particularly effective alkylation-type hydrocarbon resin in this invention is the alkylation resin formed by the reaction of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) with alkylnaphthalene solvent. The alkylation-type hydrocarbon resin can be readily dissolved into various epoxy resins and easily processed into resin impregnated glass cloth prepreg for ultimate conversion into electronic laminate products. These epoxy/alkylation-type hydrocarbon resin alloys retain high Tg values with minimal increase in thermal expansion.

Abstract: Supported metal halides and metal halide solid acids are used as catalysts for the polymerization of a feed stream containing at least one of pure monomer, C5 monomers, and C9 monomers to produce hydrocarbon resins. Freely-associated water may be removed from the solid acid catalyst prior to use. Resins with softening points (Ring and Ball) in the range of about 5° C. to 170° C. can be prepared. These catalysts offer advantages over the traditional Friedel-Crafts polymerization catalysts since the acid sites are an integral part of the solid. The solid acid catalysts are relatively nonhazardous, reusable catalysts which eliminate or at least reduce contamination of the resulting resin products with acid residues or by-products.

Abstract: Low color, aromatic modified C5 hydrocarbon resins are disclosed. The resins are predominantly an aromatic modified piperylene resin. The resins are useful as tackifiers in hot melt adhesives and hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives.

Abstract: A block copolymer comprising at least three consecutive conjugated diene/monovinylarene tapered blocks is provided. Other aspects of this invention include a polymerization process for preparing the block copolymer and polymer blends comprising the block copolymer. The block copolymer and polymer blends exhibit excellent optical and mechanical properties.

Abstract: A process is provided for curing poly(arylene sulfide) polymers by achieving and maintaining curing conditions in a cure vessel, then intermittently adding uncured polymer to said cure vessel and intermittently removing polymer from the cure vessel wherein the removal of polymer from the cure vessel is performed at intervals such that the presence of uncured polymer is minimized or avoided.

Abstract: An olefin polymerization apparatus is disclosed wherein monomer, diluent and catalyst are circulated in a continuous pipe loop reactor and an intermediate product slurry is recovered by a continuous product take off means. The intermediate product slurry is passed to a hydrocyclone to stratify polymer particles based on size. A slurry containing predominantly fines is withdrawn overhead and returned to the reaction zone. The slurry containing predominantly fines is preferably returned to the polymerization zone just upstream of the circulation pump and in a preferred embodiment this pressure differential is the sole driving force for the hydrocyclone separation. In another embodiment the product slurry from the bottom of the hydrocyclone is passed to a solids-liquid separator where the solids settle to the bottom and essentially polymer free diluent is recycled. In another embodiment, the intermediate product slurry is withdrawn via a conical settling leg.

Abstract: A block copolymer comprising at least three consecutive conjugated diene/monovinylarene tapered blocks is provided. Other aspects of this invention include a polymerization process for preparing the block copolymer and polymer blends comprising the block copolymer. The block copolymer and polymer blends exhibit excellent optical and mechanical properties.

Abstract: This invention provides catalyst composition for polymerizing at least one monomer to produce a polymer, wherein said catalyst composition comprises as organometal compound, as organoaluminum compound, and a fluorided solid oxide compound.

Abstract: This invention provides catalyst compositions that are useful for polymerizing at least one monomer to produce a polymer. This invention also provides catalyst compositions that are useful for polymerizing at least one monomer to produce a polymer, wherein said catalyst composition comprises a post-contacted organometal compound, a post-contacted organoaluminum compound, and a post-contacted treated solid oxide compound. The post-contacted treated solid oxide compound has been treated with a vanadium compound, calcied, then treated with a halogen-containing compound.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a polymer composition. The process comprises contacting a narrow molecular weight distribution base polymer and a high molecular weight polymer component. The base polymer is an ethylene polymer having a Mw/Mn less than about 5 and a melt flow index from about 0.2 g/10 min to about 20 g/10 min. The high molecular weight polymer component has a molecular weight distribution such that at least a substantial portion of its molecules have a molecular weight of greater than one million. The high molecular weight polymer component being incorporated is in an amount to give about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer composition, of the molecules having a molecular weight greater than one million. The polymer composition has a higher bulk density than the base polymer. In addition, when the polymer composition is blown into film, the film has improved clarity over the base polymer.

Abstract: This invention provides catalyst compositions that are useful for polymerizing at least one monomer to produce a polymer. This invention also provides catalyst compositions that are useful for polymerizing at least one monomer to produce said polymer, wherein said catalyst composition comprises a post-contacted organometal compound, a post-contacted organoaluminum compound, and a post-contacted treated solid oxide compound.

Abstract: This invention provides catalyst compositions that are useful for polymerizing at least one monomer to produce a polymer. This invention also provides catalyst compositions that are useful for polymerizing at least one monomer to produce a polymer, wherein said catalyst composition comprises a post-contacted organometal compound, a post-contacted organoaluminum compound, and a post-contacted fluorided silica-alumina.

Abstract: A process is provided to recover at least one modifier compound and at least one polar organic compound from a reaction mixture comprising high molecular weight Poly(arylene sulfide) product, low molecular weight P(AS), cyclic and linear P(AS) oligomers, at least one POC, at least one modifier, an alkali metal halide by-product, and water.