Abstract: A method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said particulate material in a continuous liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said particulate material, and said continuous liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said particulate material.

Abstract: A method of polymerizing monomer to form polymer at the surface of particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said particulate material in a continuous liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a RAFT agent as a stabilizer for said particulate material, and said continuous liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerizing said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said particulate material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated particulate material, the method comprising: providing a dispersion of the particulate material in a continuous aqueous phase, the dispersion comprising ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a stabilizer for the particulate material; and polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated monomer by non-living free radical polymerization to form polymer that encapsulates the particulate material, thereby providing the aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated particulate material; wherein polymerization of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprises: (a) polymerizing a monomer composition that includes ionizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer so as to form a base responsive water swellable non-living polymer layer that encapsulates the particulate material; and (b) polymerizing a monomer composition that includes non-ionizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer so as to form an extensible, water and base permeab

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated particulate material, the method comprising: providing a dispersion of the particulate material in a continuous aqueous phase, the dispersion comprising ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a stabiliser for the particulate material; and polymerising the ethylenically unsaturated monomer by non-living free radical polymerisation to form polymer that encapsulates the particulate material, thereby providing the aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated particulate material; wherein polymerisation of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprises: (a) polymerising a monomer composition that includes ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomer so as to form a base responsive water swellable non-living polymer layer that encapsulates the particulate material; and (b) polymerising a monomer composition that includes non-ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomer so as to form an extensible, water and base permeab

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polymerizing monomer to form polymer at the surface of solid particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous hydrophilic liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a hydrophilic RAFT agent as a stabilizer for said solid particulate material, and said continuous hydrophilic liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerizing said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said hydrophilic RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of solid particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous hydrophilic liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a hydrophilic RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said solid particulate material, and said continuous hydrophilic liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said hydrophilic RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: The invention relates to solid polyester granules of the type used as matting agents in paints. In particular, the invention relates to a new redox initiating system for use in a suspension polymerization process that is used to manufacture the solid polyester granules, to a process for the preparation of the solid polyester granules, and to paint compositions containing the solid polyester granules.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing a crosslinked polymer, which method comprises polymerising branched polyunsaturated monomers by a metathesis polymerisation reaction, wherein the branched polyunsaturated monomers contain acyclic ethylenically unsaturated groups that are capable of undergoing polymerization by a metathesis reaction such that the metathesis polymerisation produces a crosslinked polymer and substantially no non-volatile ethylenically unsaturated by-products.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing a crosslinked polymer, which method comprises polymerising branched polyunsaturated monomers by a metathesis polymerisation reaction, wherein the branched polyunsaturated monomers contain acyclic ethylenically unsaturated groups that are capable of undergoing polymerization by a metathesis reaction such that the metathesis polymerisation produces a crosslinked polymer and substantially no non-volatile ethylenically unsaturated by-products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming polymer on the surface of polymer particles, the method comprising: (i) providing a dispersion comprising a continuous aqueous phase, a dispersed organic phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and a RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said organic phase; (ii) polymerising the one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of the RAFT agent to form an aqueous dispersion of seed polymer particles; (iii) crosslinking the seed polymer particles; (iv) swelling the crosslinked seed particles with one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers to form an aqueous dispersion of monomer swollen crosslinked seed polymer particles; (v) increasing the temperature of the monomer swollen crosslinked seed polymer particles to expel at least some of the monomer therein onto the surface of the particles; and polymerising at least the expelled monomer to form polymer on the surface of the particles.

Abstract: Compositions for hardening paint, particularly residual waste water-based paints are described. The compositions comprise at least one water soluble or water dispersible, natural or synthetic polymer and optionally an agent that increases the ionic strength of the paint. Methods of hardening waste water-based paint for environmentally responsible disposal are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of solid particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous hydrophilic liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a hydrophilic RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said solid particulate material, and said continuous hydrophilic liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said hydrophilic RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of water insoluble heteropolymeric particles comprising polymerising in an aqueous reaction medium ethylenically unsaturated monomers, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomers and non-ionisable hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated monomers, to form said heteropolymeric particles dispersed in said aqueous reaction medium, wherein the monomers in said reaction medium at any point in time comprise less than 5 weight % of ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, wherein for at least a part of the polymerisation the monomers in said reaction medium have a composition which is maintained with an ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomer content of from 0.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a dispersion having a continuous aqueous phase, a dispersed organic phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and an amphiphilic RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said organic phase, and (ii) polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said amphiphilic RAFT agent to form said aqueous dispersion of polymer particles, novel amphiphilic RAFT agents for use in this method, novel RAFT agents useful in making these amphiphilic RAFT agents and methods for their manufacture.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a dispersion having a continuous aqueous phase, a dispersed organic phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, and an amphiphilic RAFT agent as a stabilizer for said organic phase, and (ii) polymerizing said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said amphiphilic RAFT agent to form said aqueous dispersion of polymer particles, novel amphiphilic RAFT agents for use in this method, novel RAFT agents useful in making these amphiphilic RAFT agents and methods for their manufacture.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing an aqueous dispersion of vesiculated polymer particles, the method comprising: preparing a dispersion of polymerisable particles within a continuous aqueous phase, the polymerisable particles having a structure that is defined by an outer organic phase that comprises one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers and surrounds an inner aqueous phase, said inner aqueous phase defining a single void within the polymerisable particle, wherein a RAFT agent functions as a stabiliser for the outer organic phase within the continuous aqueous phase, and wherein a RAFT agent functions as a stabiliser for the inner aqueous phase within the outer organic phase; and polymerising the one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of a RAFT agent functioning as said stabiliser to form the aqueous dispersion of vesiculated polymer particles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of solid particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said solid particulate material in a continuous hydrophilic liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a hydrophilic RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said solid particulate material, and said continuous hydrophilic liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said hydrophilic RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said solid particulate material.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing a crosslinked polymer, which method comprises polymerising branched polyunsaturated monomers by a metathesis polymerisation reaction, wherein the branched polyunsaturated monomers contain acyclic ethylenically unsaturated groups that are capable of undergoing polymerization by a metathesis reaction such that the metathesis polymerisation produces a crosslinked polymer and substantially no non-volatile ethylenically unsaturated by-products.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to solid polyester granules of the type used as matting agents in paints. In particular, the invention relates to a new redox initiating system for use in a suspension polymerisation process used to manufacture the solid polyester granules, to a process for the preparation of the solid polyester granules, and to paint compositions comprising solid polyester granules.

Abstract: A method of polymerising monomer to form polymer at the surface of particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said particulate material in a continuous liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a RAFT agent as a stabiliser for said particulate material, and said continuous liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerising said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said particulate material.