Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparing renewable and relatively high purity p-xylene from biomass. For example, biomass treated to provide a fermentation feedstock is fermented with a microorganism capable of producing a C4 alcohol such as isobutanol, then sequentially dehydrating the isobutanol in the presence of a dehydration catalyst to provide a C4 alkene such as isobutylene, dimerizing the C4 alkene to a form one or more C8 alkenes such as 2,4,4-trimethylpentenes or 2,5-dimethylhexene, then dehydrocyclizing the C8 alkenes in the presence of a dehydrocyclization catalyst to selectively form renewable p-xylene in high overall yield. The p-xylene can then be oxidized to form terephthalic acid or terephthalate esters.

Abstract: Isobutene, isoprene, and butadiene are obtained from mixtures of C4 and/or C5 olefins by dehydrogenation. The C4 and/or C5 olefins can be obtained by dehydration of C4 and C5 alcohols, for example, renewable C4 and C5 alcohols prepared from biomass by thermochemical or fermentation processes. Isoprene or butadiene can be polymerized to form polymers such as polyisoprene, polybutadiene, synthetic rubbers such as butyl rubber, etc. in addition, butadiene can be converted to monomers such as methyl methacrylate, adipic acid, adiponitrile, 1,4-butadiene, etc. which can then be polymerized to form nylons, polyesters, polymethylmethacrylate etc.

Abstract: A hybrid wax compositions that are suitable for use in manufacturing wax articles (e.g., candles) by compression molding. The combination of a hydrogenated natural oil-based wax and a paraffin wax having a select distribution of hydrocarbon chain lengths provides the hybrid wax compositions with improved properties, such as improved compressive strength and improved de-molding characteristics, for example, as evidenced by reducing scarring and/or flashing. The hybrid wax compositions comprise: (a) a wax comprising a hydrogenated natural oil; and (b) a paraffin wax, wherein the paraffin wax comprises less than about 50% by weight of the hybrid wax composition, and wherein about 52% or greater of hydrocarbons in the paraffin wax have carbon chain lengths ranging from C25 to C29.

Abstract: Polylactide resins are blended with core-shell rubber particles to improve impact strength. A good balance of impact strength and transparency is achieved when the rubber particles are distributed within the polymer matrix such that most of them exist as single particles or agglomerates having a diameter of 150 nanometers or more, and the number average size of the particles and agglomerates is not more than 210 nanometers.

Abstract: The subject invention provides water-swellable polymer compositions having reduced caking tendencies. Such polymer compositions can be produced by employing quaternary ammonium salts. In addition to having reduced caking tendencies such polymers have reduced dust and substantially maintain or increase the surface tension of an aqueous fluid in equilibrium with the polymer and air.

Abstract: The toughness of a thermoplastic, rigid polyurethane is markedly improved by incorporating a mass ABS resin such as styrene/butadiene rubber grafted with a copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile. This toughened polyurethane is particularly useful in making structural automotive body parts and housings for electrical appliances.

Abstract: A polymer blend composition comprising:(a) from 0.5 to 99 percent by weight, based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c), of an aliphatic .alpha.-olefin homopolymer or interpolymer, or an interpolymer of an .alpha.-olefin and a non-aromatic monomer interpolymerizable therewith;(b) from 0.5 to 99 percent by weight, based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c), of a homopolymer or interpolymer of monovinylidene aromatic monomers, or an interpolymer of monovinylidene aromatic monomer and a monomer interpolymerizable therewith other than an aliphatic .alpha.-olefin; and(c) from 0.5 to 99 percent by weight, based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c), of a substantially random interpolymer comprising an .alpha.-olefin and a vinylidene aromatic monomer.

Abstract: This invention is a thermoplastic blend based on polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane and an impact modifier. These resins have been found to be suitable for preparing molded or shaped articles having excellent combinations of processability, heat resistance, flexibility, solvent resistance and low temperature toughness. These resins comprise (a) about 35 to about 65 percent by weight of a thermoplastic aromatic polycarbonate; (b) about 35 to about 65 percent by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane; and (c) about 1 to about 20 percent by weight of an impact modifier, which weight percentages are based on the combined weights of the polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a thermoplastic automobile part, such as a bumper facia, prepared from such a thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: Polymer blend compositions having an advantageous combination of low temperature toughness, solvent resistance, scratch resistance, paintability and elevated temperature resistance comprise from about 20 to about 65 weight percent of a rubber modified monovinylidene aromatic/ethylenically unsaturated nitrile/N-arylmaleimide copolymer and from about 35 to about 80 weight percent of certain selected polyester-based elastomeric thermoplastic polyurethane ingredients. The resulting polymer blend compositions are especially well suited for use in the preparation of molded articles or thermoformed sheet materials intended for use in relatively low temperature environments including, for example, in various motor vehicle and/or recreational vehicle applications, as freezer and refrigerator liners, snow removal equipment housings or accessories, and the like.

Abstract: Polymeric blends of a styrene/acrylonitrile grafted elastomer, nylon, a compatibilizer resin particularly styrene/acrylonitrile/maleic anhydride copolymer, and a core/shell grafted elastomer having an acid functionalized shell have greatly improved notch sensitivity.

Abstract: Polymer blend compositions having an advantageous combination of low temperature toughness, solvent resistance, scratch resistance and paintability comprise from about 19 to about 64 weight percent of a mass, solution, mass/suspension or mass/solution polymerized rubber modified monovinylidene aromatic/ethylenically unsaturated nitrile polymer; from about 35 to about 80 weight percent of certain selected polyester-based elastomeric thermoplastic polyurethane ingredients; and from about 1 to about 30 weight percent of a relatively high rubber content emulsion polymerized rubber modified graft copolymer ingredient. The resulting polymer blend compositions are especially well suited for use in the preparation of molded articles intended for use in relatively low temperature environments including, for example, in various motor vehicle and/or recreational vehicle applications, as freezer and refrigerator liners, snow removal equipment housings or accessories, and the like.

Abstract: Rubber modified styrene-acrylonitrile (ABS) resins are provided which have three different types of rubber particles. One particle type is a small, emulsion-produced particle and another is a large emulsion-produced particle. The third particle type is a large, mass-polymerized graft copolymer particle which comprisees as its rubbery substrate a diene polymer ingredient containing at least about 80 weight percent of a polymerized diene monomer and which constitutes no more than about 30 weight percent of the total rubber components contained within the compositions of interest. The resulting compositions have very high gloss characteristics and reduced gloss sensitivity to molding condition variations.

Abstract: A functionalized polymeric composition, said polymeric composition comprising a first phase and a second phase. The first phase comprises a first copolymer of a monovinylidene monomer and a comonomer selected to have at least one reactive epoxide functionality. The second phase is dispersed with the first phase. The second phase comprises a copolymer of an olefin monomer and one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with the olefin monomer wherein at least one of the ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with the olefin monomer comprises a reactive functionality capable of reacting with one or more of the reactive epoxide functionalities of the first copolymer.

Abstract: Copolymers of .alpha.-methylstyrene and acrylonitrile having improved composition of uniformity are prepared by emulsion polymerizing a first monomer stream having a weight ratio of .alpha.-methylstyrene/acrylonitrile from about 75/25 to about 85/15 and thereafter polymerizing a second monomer feed stream comprising acrylonitrile.

Abstract: Rubber reinforced thermoplastic resins are provided comprising specific proportions of grafted EPDM terpolymer elastomers and grafted arcylate elastomers.

Abstract: Novel graft copolymer elastomers comprising a rubbery substrate polymer and a graft copolymer of a monomer capable of grafting to the rubbery substrate and a copolymerizable comonomer having pendant reactive groups capable of functionally reacting with reactive polar functionality of a copolymer of a monovinylidene aromatic monomer and a copolymerizable polar comonomer are disclosed.

Abstract: A new polymeric composition of matter comprises an intimate blend of an aromatic polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and a terpolymer of ethylene propylene-diene (EPDM) rubber-toughened styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN). The blend of the present invention has improved physical properties and excellent environmental stress crack resistance toward organic solvents.

Abstract: Overpolymer acrylate rubbers comprising a rubbery alkyl acrylate polymer, an overcoat of a cross-linked and grafted polymer having a Tg value of over about 20.degree. C. and a second overcoat of a grafted but uncross-linked polymer having a Tg value of over about 20.degree. C. provide an exceptional balance of properties when blended to prepare weatherable impact modified thermoplastic molding resins.

Abstract: A rubber modified interpolymer of a monovinylidene aromatic monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer. The rubber particles of the present invention have a trimodal particle size distribution. Said particles comprise an emulsion polymerized particle and two mass polymerized particles. The compositions exhibit good impact resistance over a broad range of impact speeds.

Abstract: Grafted rubber compounds are coagulated after emulsion polymerization through the combination of mechanical shear forces and a water soluble cationic surfactant.