Abstract: A polymer melt may be devolatilized to less than 500, preferably less than 150 ppm of residual volatile material by injecting into the melt an amount of a super critical fluid greater than the amount of residual volatile material in the melt, typically not more than about 10 weight %, and passing the melt through a flash chamber devolatilizer at a pressure of 12 mm of Hg or less at a temperature of from 200.degree. to 350.degree. C.

Abstract: A true solution of up to about 15 weight % of polyphenylene ether (PPO) in a styrenic polymer may be prepared by dissolving the PPO in one or more of the monomers polymerized to form the styrenic polymer and polymerizing the resulting solution in the presence of a free radical initiator. The resulting polymer has a higher Tg than crystal polystyrene and is suitable for use in hot drink containers.

Abstract: A solution process for the preparation of high molecular weight polymers of alpha-olefins selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of ethylene and copolymers of ethylene and C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 higher alpha-olefins is disclosed. Ethylene and/or mixtures of ethylene and C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 higher alpha-olefins are polymerized under non-isothermal conditions in a tubular reactor or in a system of reactors which operate under different conditions, in the presence of a catalytic amount of a titanium-containing coordination catalyst in an inert solvent at a temperature in excess of 105.degree. C. The improvement is characterized in that:(a) the catalyst is activated with a solution of a mixture of aluminum alkyl and alkoxy aluminum alkyl in inert solvent; and(b) the process is controlled by adjusting the ratio of aluminum alkyl to alkoxy aluminum alkyl in the mixture of (a). The aluminum alkyl is of the formula AlR.sub.n X.sub.3-n and the alkoxy aluminum alkyl is of the formula AlR'.sub.m OR".sub.

Abstract: The present invention provides in a bulk polymerization reactor chain suitable for polymerizing a syrup of one or more monomers having dissolved therein one or more rubbers the improvement comprising a uniform shear field device. During polymerization at least a portion of the syrup polymerized to from 4 to 95% conversion passes through the uniform shear field device to produce at least a portion of a syrup having a rubber particle size more closely controlled than currently possible using a conventional reactor chain without a uniform shear field device.

Abstract: The volume average diameter of relatively large rubber-like composite particles dispersed through out a continuous resin phase may be reduced by subjecting the syrup to a shear field. The application of a uniform shear field generator to the relatively large rubber-like composite particle syrup is particularly desirable since it gives a high degree of control over the size and distribution of the dispersed rubber-like composite phase. As a result it is possible to optimize the particle size distribution in an impact modified thermoplastic and obtain better or a better balance of properties.

Abstract: A post inversion metastable syrup comprising a continuous or co-continuous rubber like composite phase and a discontinuous or co-continuous resin phase may be particulated by the application of a shear field to yield a stable syrup comprising a dispersed rubber-like composite phase and a continuous resin phase. The application of a uniform shear field to the post inversion metastable syrup is particularly desirable since it results in a high degree of control over the size and distribution of the dispersed rubber-like composite phase. As a result it is possible to optimize the particle size distribution in an impact modified thermoplastic and obtain better or a better balance of properties. The present invention also provides in cooperating arrangement reactors or devices to produce a post inversion metastable syrup, a device to subject the roetastable syrup to a shear field and a polymerization plant.

Abstract: A solution process, and a catalyst therefor, for the preparation of high molecular weight polymers of alpha-olefins viz. homopolymers of ethylene and copolymers of ethylene and C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 alpha-olefins, is disclosed. The process is operated under solution polymerization conditions at 105.degree.-320.degree. C. The catalyst is obtained from titanium tetrahalides, vanadium oxytrihalides and organoaluminum compounds, in which an admixture of catalyst components is heat-treated at 180.degree.-250.degree. C. and subsequently cooled to a temperature of less than 150.degree. C. Additional vanadium oxytrihalide is then added. The resultant catalyst solution is activated with an aluminum compound. The catalyst has good activity, showing superior activity to catalysts in which additional vanadium oxytrihalide is not added or added at temperatures above 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A polymer melt may be devolatilized to less than 500, preferably less than 150 ppm of residual volatile material by injecting into the melt an amount of water greater than the amount of residual volatile material in the melt, typically not more than about 10 weight % and passing the melt through a flash chamber devolatilizer at a pressure of 8 mm of Hg or less at a temperature of from 200.degree. to 350.degree. C.

Abstract: A polymer melt may be devolatilized to less than 500, preferably less than 150 ppm of residual volatile material by injecting into the melt an amount of fluid which will condense but not freeze at pressures of less than about 20 mm Hg, in an amount greater than the amount of residual volatile material in the polymer melt, typically not more than about 10 weight % and passing the melt through a zone of pressure of 8 mm of Hg or less at a temperature of from 200.degree. to 350.degree. C.

Abstract: There is a demand for very clear tough polymers or polymer blends, particularly in the packaging industry. Crystal polystyrene is clear but lacks toughness. HIPS is tough but lacks the required clarity. Blends of styrene-ester polymers with a very small amount of HIPS do provide a very clear tough polymer alloy.

Abstract: The morphology of a polymer alloy displaying miscibility over some region of composition and temperature may be varied by thermodynamically altering the miscibility, such as raising the temperature for an LCST system, to phase separate the components then quenching the alloy below the glass transition temperature of the matrix phase. Such phase separated alloys have improved toughness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cleaning of recyclable plastic. More particularly the recyclable plastic is treated at a frequency from 20 to 60 KHz, optionally in the presence of an antiseptic agent and in the absence of a surfactant. This treatment cleans waste, and particularly waste containing protein, such as medical or food waste so it is suitable for recycling.

Abstract: Many cleaners, are extremely hard on many plastic products causing environmental stress cracking. Small household articles made from a polymer alloy of a clear brittle styrenic acrylate, a rubbery block styrene-diene copolymer, and a ductile styrene-diene polymer when exposed to such cleaners have significantly less environmental stress cracking.

Abstract: A tough polymer alloy is provided and comprises:(i) from 30 to 83 weight percent of a brittle polymer;(ii) from 3 to 50 weight percent of a rubbery polymer; and(iii) from 15 to 67 weight percent of a ductile polymer provided that the ductile polymer and the rubbery polymer are at least compatible.

Abstract: A tough transparent polymer alloy comprises from 98 to 85 weight % of a styrene acrylic polymer and from 2 to 15 weight % of a blend comprising from 70 to 90 weight % of a high styrene styrene-butadiene polymer and from 30 to 10 weight % of a high butadiene styrene-butadiene polymer. The resulting alloy has good clarity and impact properties.

Abstract: Foamable photodegradable suspension polymers of vinyl aromatic monomers may be prepared by dissolving a copolymer of a vinyl aromatic monomer and a vinyl ketone in the vinyl aromatic monomer and suspension polymerizing the resulting mixture. The resulting polymer may be foamed and used in the manufacture of food containers.

Abstract: Foamable photodegradable suspension polymers of vinyl aromatic monomers may be prepared by dissolving a copolymer of a vinyl aromatic monomer and a vinyl ketone in the vinyl aromatic monomer and suspension polymerizing the resulting mixture. The resulting polymer may be foamed and used in the manufacture of food containers.