Abstract: A mixing device (10) containing a housing (20) that defines a mixing chamber (30), an A-component feed channel entrance opening (40), a B-component feed channel entrance opening (50), and air feed channel entrance opening (60), and an exit opening (70) where the feed channel entrance openings and exit opening provide fluid communication into and/or out of the mixing chamber, and a static mixing element (80) housed within the mixing chamber between the three entrance feed channels and the exit opening, wherein the air feed channel entrance opening having a cross sectional area that is 0.7 square mm or greater and 7.7 square mm or less.

Abstract: Prepare nanofoam by: (a) providing a mold (10) with a mold cavity (12) defined by mold walls defining a sealable port (32); (b) providing a foamable polymer mixture containing a polymer and a blowing agent at a pressure at least 690 kilopascals above the saturation pressure for the polymer and blowing agent; (c) introducing the foamable polymer mixture into the mold cavity (12) while maintaining a temperature and pressure at least 690 kilopascals above the saturation pressure and controlling the pressure in the mold cavity (12) by expanding a wall of the mold; and (d) releasing pressure around the foamable mixture by moving a mold wall (20) at a rate of at least 45 centimeters per second, causing the foamable polymer mixture to expand into nanofoam having a porosity of at least 60 percent, a volume of at least 100 cubic centimeters and at least two orthogonal dimensions of four centimeter or more.

Abstract: Brominated styrene-butadiene copolymers are recovered from solution in an organic solvent. The copolymer solution is mixed with a liquid non-solvent in the presence of a suspension stabilizer to form a dispersion. The dispersion is heated to vaporize the organic solvent. This process produces precipitated copolymer particles having useful particle sizes, which can be easily used in downstream applications.

Abstract: Prepare nanofoam by: (a) providing a mold (10) with a mold cavity (12) defined by mold walls defining a sealable port (32); (b) providing a foamable polymer mixture containing a polymer and a blowing agent at a pressure at least 690 kilopascals above the saturation pressure for the polymer and blowing agent; (c) introducing the foamable polymer mixture into the mold cavity (12) while maintaining a temperature and pressure at least 690 kilopascals above the saturation pressure and controlling the pressure in the mold cavity (12) by expanding a wall of the mold; and (d) releasing pressure around the foamable mixture by moving a mold wall (20) at a rate of at least 45 centimeters per second, causing the foamable polymer mixture to expand into nanofoam having a porosity of at least 60 percent, a volume of at least 100 cubic centimeters and at least two orthogonal dimensions of four centimeter or more.

Abstract: Brominated styrene-butadiene copolymers are recovered from solution in an organic solvent. The copolymer solution is mixed with a liquid non-solvent in the presence of a suspension stabilizer to form a dispersion. The dispersion is heated to vaporize the organic solvent. This process produces precipitated copolymer particles having useful particle sizes, which can be easily used in downstream applications.

Abstract: Brominated organic polymer solutions from a bromination reaction are devolatilized in a devolatilizing extruder. A starting organic polymer is brominated in solution to form a brominated polymer solution. This solution is combined with a second thermoplastic polymer to form a concentrated solution. The solvent and other volatile compounds are removed from the concentrated solution in a devolatilizing extruder to form a devolatilized polymer blend.

Abstract: A mixing device (10) containing a housing (20) that defines a mixing chamber (30), an A-component feed channel entrance opening (40), a B-component feed channel entrance opening (50), and air feed channel entrance opening (60), and an exit opening (70) where the feed channel entrance openings and exit opening provide fluid communication into and/or out of the mixing chamber, and a static mixing element (80) housed within the mixing chamber between the three entrance feed channels and the exit opening, wherein the air feed channel entrance opening having a cross sectional area that is 0.7 square mm or greater and 7.7 square mm or less.

Abstract: Thermally sensitive polymers containing polymerizable carbon-carbon unsaturation and/or aliphatically bound halogen are devolatilized in a devolatilizing extruder. The thermally sensitive polymer is blended with a second polymer, which does not contain polymerizable carbon-carbon unsaturation or more than 5% by weight aliphatically bound halogen, and which has a molecular weight of from 25,000 to 175,000. The blend is then devolatilized in the extruder to produce a devolatilized polymer blend. Thermal degradation of the thermally sensitive polymer is minimized in this process.

Abstract: Prepare a polymeric nanofoam using a continuous extrusion process by providing a polymer melt of a polymer composition in an extruder, introducing carbon dioxide to a concentration above the solubility in the polymer melt, cooling the polymer melt without increasing the pressure to achieve conditions where all of the carbon dioxide is soluble in the polymer composition and then extruding the polymer composition and carbon dioxide mixture through an extrusion die so as to experience a pressure drop of at least five MegaPascals at a rate of at least ten MegaPascals per second and allowing the polymer composition to expand into a polymeric nanofoam.

Abstract: Brominated organic polymer solutions from a bromination reaction are devolatilized in a devolatilizing extruder. A starting organic polymer is brominated in solution to form a brominated polymer solution. This solution is combined with a second thermoplastic polymer to form a concentrated solution. The solvent and other volatile compounds are removed from the concentrated solution in a devolatilizing extruder to form a devolatilized polymer blend.

Abstract: Prepare a polymeric nanofoam using a continuous extrusion process by providing a polymer melt of a polymer composition in an extruder, introducing carbon dioxide to a concentration above the solubility in the polymer melt, cooling the polymer melt without increasing the pressure to achieve conditions where all of the carbon dioxide is soluble in the polymer composition and then extruding the polymer composition and carbon dioxide mixture through an extrusion die so as to experience a pressure drop of at least five MegaPascals at a rate of at least ten MegaPascals per second and allowing the polymer composition to expand into a polymeric nanofoam.

Abstract: Thermally sensitive polymers containing polymerizable carbon-carbon unsaturation and/or aliphatically bound halogen are devolatilized in a devolatilizing extruder. The thermally sensitive polymer is blended with a second polymer, which does not contain polymerizable carbon-carbon unsaturation or more than 5% by weight aliphatically bound halogen, and which has a molecular weight of from 25,000 to 175,000. The blend is then devolatilized in the extruder to produce a devolatilized polymer blend. Thermal degradation of the thermally sensitive polymer is minimized in this process.

Abstract: Prepare an extruded polymeric polymer foam containing one or more thermoplastic alkenyl-aromatic polymer and one or more filler, the one or more thermoplastic alkenyl-aromatic polymer accounting for 70 weight-percent or more of all polymer components in the polymer foam, containing less than 20 weight-percent covalently bound halogen based on halogenated polymer weight and having a water solubility at 130 degrees Celsius and 101 kilopascals that is greater than 0.09 moles per kilogram of polymer and having a plurality of cells defined therein wherein the polymer foam is closed-celled, 0.5 wt % or more filler, an average cell size of 0.15 millimeters or more, a density of less than 64 kilograms per cubic meter and a unimodal cell size distribution using a blowing agent containing water at a concentration up to the water solubility of the one or more thermoplastic alkenyl-aromatic polymer.

Abstract: A trailer hitch guide adapted to enable a vehicle operator to hitch a trailer to a vehicle without assistance and without leaving the confines of his cab. The guide assembly includes a mounting plate and a pivot plate adapted for attachment to a trailer tongue and two lateral guide plates pivotally attached to the pivot plate in a V-shaped configuration. A stop plate is disposed across the base of the V-shaped configuration. In use, the hitch guide pivots to an extended position beneath the hitch socket at the end of the trailer tongue to guide the ball under the socket, and pivots to a retracted position beneath the trailer tongue after alignment.

Abstract: A trailer hitch guide adapted to enable a vehicle operator to hitch a trailer to a vehicle without assistance and without leaving the confines of his cab. The guide assembly includes a mounting plate and a pivot plate adapted for attachment to a trailer tongue and two lateral guide plates pivotally attached to the pivot plate in a V-shaped configuration. A stop plate is disposed across the base of the V-shaped configuration. In use, the hitch guide pivots to an extended position beneath the hitch socket at the end of the trailer tongue to guide the ball under the socket, and pivots to a retracted position beneath the trailer tongue after alignment.

Abstract: A method for making a syndiotactic vinylaromatic polymer. The method includes mixing a first amount of a vinylaromatic monomer with a catalyst in a first back-mixed reaction zone under polymerization conditions such that the vinylaromatic monomer polymerizes to a conversion of from 60 to 85 percent to form a polymer-containing mixture. The polymer-containing mixture is passed to at least one other back-mixed reaction zone where it contacts a second amount of the vinylaromatic monomer under polymerization conditions such that the syndiotactic vinylaromatic polymer is formed.

Abstract: A liquid phase, powder bed polymerization process for preparing syndiotactic polymers of vinylaromatic monomers comprising:A) continuously introducing one or more vinylaromatic monomers and one or more catalyst systems to a horizontally disposed, continuously agitated, cylindrically shaped reactor containing a particulated solid, the contents of which are maintained in an agitated state at a Froude Number in the range from 0.1 to 10, andB) continuously removing polymerized product therefrom.

Abstract: Process for the polymerization of poly-2-alkyl-2-oxazoline characterized by employing ethylbenzene as the diluent. The ethylbenzene comprises from zero to about 40 percent by weight total polymer of the polymerization mixture. This process allows styrene polymerization equipment to be employed to polymerize poly-2-alkyl-2-oxazoline.