Abstract: Improved cold patching of pavements, drives, walks, or the like, is obtained by applying to or mixing with the patching material a solution of thermoplastic polymeric resin. When the solution has evaporated or the solvent is volatilized, the patch and the surrounding area are reinforced and more thoroughly bonded together. If the area requiring repair has appreciable depth, it is preferable that the margins of the repair area receive an application of the polymeric resin solution so that the bond between the patch and the adjacent area is reinforced and made more secure.

Abstract: A method for detecting impending failure of suspension during an aqueous suspension polymerization has been developed by continuous monitoring of the electrical conductivity of the suspension system. A sudden drop in conductance warns of failure of suspension in time to save the suspension by the addition of suspension stabilizers. A special conductivity cell has been developed to allow measurement of conductance during the course of the polymerization reaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to certain novel articles formed from polypropylene compositions, and more particularly to articles produced by forming polypropylene compositions into a predetermined configuration and plating with a coating of one or more metals. The novel plated articles prepared from polypropylene compositions of the present invention exhibit greatly improved bonding between the metal coating and the polypropylene surface. The polypropylene composition contains a polyhydroxy aromatic compound and a resinous material. The composition may optionally contain a nucleating agent.

Abstract: A cellular elastomeric product is prepared by the curing of a froth prepared by whipping air into an aqueous dispersion of colloidal elastomer, said aqueous dispersion containing a latex frothing agent consisting of an aqueous solution containing about 70% water and about 25% magnesium di(lauryl sulfate), about 2.5% polyalkoxyglycerol having about eight alkoxy groups per hydroxyl and about 2.5% of a quatenary dihydroimidazole derivative, there being a fatty acid carbon chain attached as the only carbon-carbon linkage for the carbon between the two nitrogens of the imidazole ring, the quatenary nitrogen partaking of the nature of a quatenary sodium glycinate having at such quatenary nitrogen both an alkhydroxy group and said dihydroimidazole ring.

Abstract: Expanded styrene polymer sheet material is produced by extruding expandable and/or general purpose styrene polymer with a conventional blowing agent, a nucleating system and small amounts of finely divided hydrophilic silicon dioxide and alkaline earth metal oxide. The resulting product has very fine, uniformly sized pores and improved flexibility.

Abstract: Expanded styrene polymer sheet material is produced by extruding expandable and/or general purpose styrene polymer with a conventional blowing agent, a nucleating system and a small amount of finely divided hydrophobic silicon dioxide. The resulting product has very fine, uniformly sized pores and improved flexibility.

Abstract: Fire-resistant foams having 1.2 to 2.5 pound per cubic foot density are prepared by coating 100 parts by weight of styrene polymer foam particles with at least 67 parts by weight of an intumescent paint and molding said coated prepuff into the desired end product foam.

Abstract: A method for bonding expanded polymeric parts without an adhesive. The method comprises wetting the surfaces to be bonded with water or water containing from about 1% to 2% wetting agent, positioning the surfaces to be bonded in a nonmovable abutting relationship, encapsulating the joint formed by the abutting surfaces with a mold, and, while encapsulated, passing high frequency electrical energy therethrough to effectuate a bond.

Abstract: Expandable styrene polymer particles having reduced flammability are made by incorporating from 0.1 to 15 weight per cent of organic halogen compounds into the polymer during impregnation of the polymer particles with a blowing agent in aqueous suspension. Temperatures greater than 90.degree. C., during the impregnation step, often cause degradation of the halogen compound and subsequent degradation of the polymer at the particle surface. The addition of certain thermal stabilizers, such as a mixture of a modified epoxidized soybean oil and a barium/cadmium organic complex, stabilizes the halogen compounds in the suspension system to temperatures up to 115.degree. C.

Abstract: Attempts to prepare polystyrene by peroxide-initiated suspension polymerization at 125.degree. C resulted in polymer having narrower molecular weight distribution than desired. The problem has been solved by copolymerizing the styrene with from 0.05 to 0.35 weight per cent, based on styrene, of a modifying comonomer consisting of a non-conjugated diolefinic compound having one very reactive olefinic group and one less reactive olefinic group such as, for example, allyl methacrylate.

Abstract: Expandable styrene polymer particles are surface-coated with calcium polysilicate to prevent the particles from lumping together during expansion. The coating is applied by adding 0.02-0.05 part of calcium polysilicate to an aqueous suspension containing 100 parts of polymer particles subsequent to impregnating the mixture with a blowing agent, or by dry-blending polymer particles with the polysilicate.

Abstract: The amount of brominated aliphatic compound required to render styrene polymer foams less flammable is reduced by the addition of 0.25 to 0.75% by weight of either allyl phenyl ether or tetraallyloxy propane as synergists for the decomposition of the bromine compound.

Abstract: Novel low molecular weight vinyl polymers with chain terminating reactive groups and methods for their preparation are disclosed in which the low molecular weight polymers may be represented by the formula ##STR1## in which Y is ##STR2## R.sub.1 is hydrogen, lower alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or halogen; R.sub.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or halogen;X is halogen or aryl, or alkyl groups free from ethylenic unsaturation and hydroxyl groups; andn is from 5 to 50.These low molecular weight vinyl polymers are useful as prepolymers or precursors in the formation of novel species of certain types of high polymers such as, for example, of the polyester, polyurethane, polyurea, polyepoxy or polyamide types. The low molecular weight vinyls of this invention also have utility, for example, as plasticizers and lubricants.

Abstract: The technique uses an extruder for delivering a supply of softened thermoplastic resin material containing a foaming or expanding agent, the resin material being under pressure and therefore unexpanded in the extruder, but being delivered into an unconfined zone of lower pressure for partial expansion. The partially expanded resin material is drawn by a puller mechanism through a chilled shaping or sizing die of a cross sectional dimension smaller than that of the material in the unconfined zone. The material drawn into the sizing die continues its expansion in the interior of the profile with resultant development of porosity in the core of the profile while the surface layer is cooled and hardens as a substantially unexpanded structural shell.

Abstract: A complex is formed by the reaction of an aluminum salt such as aluminum sulfate with a high molecular weight (for example, above 60,000 M.W.) collagen. Collagen-aluminum complex is dispersed in water and serves as suspension agent for suspending polystyrene beads during impregnation of a blowing agent, even when the concentration of the suspending agent is of the magnitude of 0.05% by weight of the beads. The aqueous system is drained from impregnated expandable beads, which are washed, but which retain adherent deposits of said collagen-aluminum complex in measurable amounts. The dried coated beads have minimized propensity toward lumping when pre-expanded. The prepuffed particles can pass tests concerned with resistance toward static electrical phenonomen better than corresponding prepuffed particles lacking such deposit of collagen-aluminum complex.

Abstract: The production of polymer beads by a suspension polymerization in which a vinyl aromatic monomer having a free-radical generating catalyst dissolved therein is suspended in an aqueous medium with the aid of from 0.2 to 1.0 per cent by weight, based on monomer, of a finely divided phosphate suspending agent and heated to cause the monomer to polymerize into polymer beads is improved by treated the aqueous medium containing the phosphate and any extender with ultrasound prior to adding the monomer and polymerizing. The resulting polymer bead size is thereby found to be smaller than would have been obtained without the use of ultrasound.

Abstract: Expandable styrene polymer particles which have fast cooling rates during molding are produced by suspending styrene polymer particles in an aqueous medium and impregnating a blowing agent into the particles in the presence of 0.05 to 0.4 parts of silicone surfactant per 100 parts of polymer particles. The silicone surfactant is selected from the siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymers having at least one polysiloxane block which contains mers of the general formula R.sub.2 SiO, where R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and halogenated alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and at least one polyoxyalkylene block containing mers of general formula C.sub.n H.sub.2n O, where n is 2, 3 or 4, attached to said polysiloxane block and terminated by hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: Expandable styrene polymer particles which have fast cooling rates during molding are produced by dry blending styrene polymer particles in the presence of 0.05 to 0.4 parts of silicone surfactant per 100 parts of polymer particles. The silicone surfactant is selected from the siloxane-oxyalkylene copolymers having at least one polysiloxane block which contains mers of the general formula R.sub.2 SiO, where R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and halogenated alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and at least one polyoxyalkylene block containing mers of general formula C.sub.n H.sub.2n O, where n is 2, 3 or 4, attached to said polysiloxane block and terminated by acetoxy or alkyl ether groups.

Abstract: High impact polymer having broad rubber particle size distribution is prepared by a bulk-bulk-suspension three step polymerization process. A portion of a rubber-in-monomer solution is bulk polymerized to form a small average rubber particle size. The remaining portion of the same or a different rubber solution having the same or a different concentration is added to the system and stirred or polymerized until the desired distribution of rubber particle size is attained in the system. The system is then polymerized in suspension to form the desired high impact product.

Abstract: A method for detecting impending failure of suspension during an aqueous suspension polymerization has been developed by continuous monitoring of the electrical conductivity of the suspension system. A sudden drop in conductance warns of failure of suspension in time to save the suspension by the addition of suspension stabilizers. A special conductivity cell has been developed to allow measurement of conductance during the course of the polymerization reaction.