Abstract: Apparatus and process is herein disclosed by which a polymerizable monomer or mixture thereof can be economically and efficiently converted to polymeric substances with a high yield catalyst and, optionally, co-catalyst by a vapor phase, essentially isobaric, polymerization process using a horizontal, stirred-bed, quench-cooled, essentially total reactor off-gas recycle reactor.

Abstract: A water-soluble polyester resin having a molecular weight of not more than about 4,000 and an acid number of at least 35 which comprises (1) a branched chain three-dimensional polyester core having an acid number less than about 25 comprising the reaction product of a polyhydroxyl compound, dicarboxylic acid compound, monocarboxylic acid compound and polycarboxylic acid compound having at least three acyl moieties, and (2) pendant carboxylic acid moieties comprising polycarboxylic acid compounds having at least three acyl moieties, wherein said polyester resin contains no non-benzenoid unsaturation and none of the hydroxyl compounds have secondary hydroxyl groups and compositions comprising an aminoplast suitable for use as polyester fabric bulking agents.