Abstract: An acrylic material which is flame retardant comprises 4.9 to 94.9% by wt of an acrylic composition, 5-95% by wt of a halogen-containing polymer, especially PVC, and 0.1-25% by wt of an inorganic composition comprising at least one of an oxide, hydroxide, carbonate, borate, stearate, chloride or bromide, zinc, magnesium, molybdenum, antimony, aluminum, tin, copper, manganese, cobalt or iron.

Abstract: A method of preparing a (meth)acrylate functionalised polymer comprising the steps of mixing together a monofunctional vinylic monomer with from 0.3-100% w/w (based on monofunctional monomer) of a polyfunctional vinylic monomer and from 0.0001-50% w/w of a chain transfer agent, reacting said mixture to form a polymer and terminating the polymerisation reaction before 99% conversion. The resulting polymers are useful as components of surface coatings and inks, as moulding resins or in curable compounds, e.g. curable moulding resins or photoresists.

Abstract: An abrasion resistant acrylic composition comprises at least 70% w/w of the residues of at least one polmerisable acrylic monomer, 0.2-5% w/w of a finely divided compound comprising at least one oxide selected from silicon, titanium, zirconium and aluminum oxides, and 0.2-25% w/w of at least one linking compound which is miscible with said polymerisable acrylic monomer and which is capable of bonding to the surface of the oxide compound. The acrylic composition may be thermoformed while retaining its abrasion resistant surface properties.

Abstract: Branched polymers are prepared by mixing together monofunctional vinylic monomer with from 0.3 to 100% w/w of polyfunctional vinylic monomer and from 0.0001 to 50% w/w of chain transfer agent and thereafter reacting the mixture to form a polymer. The resulting branched polymers are soluble and may be used as component of surface coatings and inks as well as molding resins.

Abstract: A method of preparing a (meth)acrylate functionalised polymer comprising the steps of mixing together a monofunctional vinylic monomer with from 0.3-100% w/w (based on monofunctional monomer) of a polyfunctional vinylic monomer and from 0.0001-50% w/w of a chain transfer agent, reacting said mixture to form a polymer and terminating the polymerisation reaction before 99% conversion. The resulting polymers are useful as components of surface coatings and inks, as moulding resins or in curable compounds, e.g. curable moulding resins or photoresists.

Abstract: A polymeric material containing a halogen-containing polymer such as PVC, an inorganic hydroxide and, an acrylic material is described. The presence of the inorganic hydroxide provides a material of superior weathering resistance as compared to materials comprising halogen-containing polymers which do not contain hydroxide.

Abstract: A process for forming an acrylic sheet material comprises preparing a mixture comprising: (I) 20-89% wt of an acrylic polymer which is a copolymer containing 50-99% wt of methyl methacrylate unites and 1-50 wt % of a copolymerizable alkyl acrylate; (ii) 10-80 wt % of a mineral filler composition selected from the group comprising alumina trihydrate, magnesium hydroxide, talc and barium sulphate; and (iii) 1-40 wt % of decorative particles; and melt-moulding the mixture at a temperature above 150° C. to form a solid article. The process enables thermoformable acrylic articles which have the natural appearance of granite to be produced.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of methyl methacrylate includes a process for separating the methyl methacrylate from certain impurities, at least one of which has a freezing point of greater than −50° C., by a fractional crystallisation process.

Abstract: An acrylic material which is flame retardant comprises 4.9 to 94.9% by wt of an acrylic composition, 5-95% by wt of a halogen-containing polymer, especially PVC, and 0.1-25% by wt of an inorganic composition comprising at least one of an oxide, hydroxide, carbonate, borate, stearate, chloride or bromide, zinc, magnesium, molybdenum, antimony, aluminum, tin, copper, manganese, cobalt or iron.

Abstract: Branched polymers are prepared by mixing together monofunctional vinylic monomer with from 0.3 to 100% w/w of polyfunctional vinylic monomer and from 0.0001 to 50% w/w of chain transfer agent and thereafter reacting the mixture to form a polymer. The resulting branched polymers are soluble and may be used as component of surface coatings and inks as well as molding resins.

Abstract: A plastics material comprises an acrylic polymer containing 5-50% of a rubbery copolymer and a biocidal compound. The plastic material is useful as a component of a refrigerator, worktop etc. or as a building material. The material may be used as a coating for a substrate. Method of manufacturing laminate materials comprising the plastics material are also claimed.

Abstract: An edge-lit illumination system comprising a light transmitting sheet (10) which has a surface treatment, capable of reflecting or scattering light, on at least one of its opposing surfaces (11, 12), a light source (13) positioned in proximity to, and adjacent to, an edge of this sheet, and a reflective surface (14) positioned adjacent to an edge of the sheet, at an obtuse angle (18) to the plane of the sheet and extending away from one surface of the sheet. The reflective surface is preferably disposed adjacent to the edge of the light transmitting sheet having the light source adjacent to it. The obtuse angle preferably ranges from 100 to 145 degrees. This invention gives an increase in the area of illumination across the light transmitting sheet.

Abstract: The production of ethylenically unsaturated acids or esters by the catalytic reaction of an alkanoic acid or ester, especially methyl propionate, with formaldehyde, and a catalyst therefor wherein the catalyst comprises a porous high surface area silica containing 1-10% by weight of an alkali metal, especially cesium, (expressed as metal) and having compounds of at least one modifier element selected from boron, magnesium, aluminum, zirconium and hafnium dispersed in the pores of said silica in such amount that the catalyst contains a total of 0.25 to 2 gram atoms of primary modifier element per 100 moles of silica.

Abstract: A process for the liquid-phase carbonylation of ethylene, according to the equation C2H4+CO+ROH→C2H5CO2R, in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a Group VIII metal or compound thereof, a phosphine ligand and a source of anions, and in the presence of water or a source of organic hydroxyl groups, is carried out in conditions in which the molar ratio of ethylene to carbon monoxide in the gaseous phase of the reactor is greater than 1:1. The higher ratios of ethylene to carbon monoxide are beneficial in increasing the turnover number of the catalyst system.

Abstract: A formaldehyde-containing product is separated from a formalin solution containing formaldehyde, water and methanol by distilling the solution in the presence of a water entraining compound, especially methyl propionate or methyl methacrylate. The product contains substantially less water than in the solution and may be used, for example, in a further process which requires a source of formaldehyde containing a relatively low level of water, for example, the catalyzed reaction of methyl propionate with formaldehyde and methanol to produce methyl methacrylate.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of an alkyl ester of an aliphatic carboxylic acid comprises the steps of supplying a first feed stream comprising carbon monoxide and an alkene of formula CnH2n to a reactor, supplying a second feed stream comprising an alkyl alcohol, having a formula R—OH where R is an optionally substituted alkyl group, to the reactor, and reacting together said first and second feed streams in the reactor in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst, which catalyses the carbonylation reaction between carbon monoxide and the alkene, to form a product comprising an alkyl alkanoate having the formula CnH2n+1COOR, such that the ratio of alkyl alcohol to alkyl alkanoate present in the reactor is greater than the ratio of alkyl alcohol to alkyl alkanoate present in an azeotropic mixture of the alkyl alcohol and alkyl alkanoate. The process is particularly useful for the manufacture of methyl propionate by the methoxycarbonylation of ethylene.