Abstract: A water absorbing particulate polymer material wherein the polymer material when in dry powder form has a particle size of about 50 .mu.m to about 500 .mu.m and wherein the particles consist of internally bonded finer particles which finer particles have a size below 50 .mu.m. The process of using the water absorbing polymer, material to convert a wet sticky mass of inorganic particulate such as coal fines into a crumbly or flowable solid. A process using a water absorbing particulate polymer material to convert a wet sticky mass of organic particulate material into a crumbly or flowable solid wherein the organic matter can be, for example, food waste or sewage.

Abstract: Particulate water-soluble or water-swellable polymeric material is provided with a substantially uninterrupted continuous coating of crystalline material. Single particles or aggregates having a size below 1 mm in size can be made by mixing the polymeric particles with a substantially saturated or supersaturated aqueous solution of crystallizable material (optionally a melt of hydrate crystallizable material) and thereby depositing it as a continuous crystalline coating on the particles.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are stabilized against molecular weight degradation by the inclusion in the composition of an inhibitor which is preferably an ethylenically unsaturated compound. The invention is of particular value when the polymer is a polymer of (meth)acrylamide in which the amount of contamination of the polymer with free (meth)acrylamide monomer is extremely low and the inhibitor has LD.sub.50 above 400.

Abstract: High molecular weight polymer that can form a viscous aqueous solution is chemically modified by mixing the previously formed polymer (as a powder, reverse phase dispersion or oil-in-water emulsion) with water and the reagent for effecting the chemical modification so as to form a viscous aqueous mixture having a viscosity of at least 1OOO cps (Brookfield RVT) and then feeding this mixture as intermittent batches into one end of a tower through which it moves with substantially plug flow and from which it is withdrawn, at the end of the reaction, as intermittent batches. The apparatus for this purpose is also novel.

Abstract: A water absorbent water insoluble polymeric element, such as a fibre, film, coating, bonding layer or foam, is made by forming a substantially linear polymer by polymerisation of water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer blends comprising carboxylic and hydroxylic monomers and then reacting the carboxylic and hydroxylic monomers in the linear polymer to form internal cross links within the polymer.

Abstract: The use of very high molecular weight polymers which are substantially completely water soluble as flocculants in paper making improves drainage time without adversely affecting formation, even when used in high shear processes.

Abstract: A new process for producing allyl ethers, usually C.sub.8-30 alkyl (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.5-100 allyl ether, by forming a solution of an alcohol, usually a surfactant alcohol, in a solvent capable of forming an azeotrope with water, azeotroping the mixture to remove substantially all the water, adding an alkalimetal alkoxide, usually sodium methoxide, removing the alkanol formed, usually by azeotroping with the solvent, adding a halide, usually allyl chloride, and recovering the allyl ether. The ethers are useful as monomers, for example to produce polymers by copolymerising with copolymerisable ethylenically unsaturated comonomers for a wide range of applications.

Abstract: The use of very high molecular weight polymers which are substantially completely water soluble as flocculants in paper making improves drainage time without adversely affecting formation, even when used in high shear processes.

Abstract: Water absorbent particulate polymers and their uses are described. Friable aggregates may be made by bonding substantially dry polymer particles with an aqueous liquid and drying the aggregates. These aggregates can be broken down to the individual polymer particles upon mixing with an aqueous medium and thus can have the flow properties of relatively coarse particles and the performance properties of relatively fine particles. They may be soluble nd used as flocculants or viscosifiers or binders for, for instance, iron ore pelletisation. Alternatively they may be swellable and insoluble, for instance for converting a sticky particulate mass (such as coal fines filter cake) to a crumbly solid.

Abstract: This invention relates to fabric conditioning formulations containing as thickeners a cross-linked cationic polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer or blend of monomers, wherein the cross-linking agent is 5-45 ppm of a cross-linking agent comprising polyethylenic functions. An example of such a cross-linking agent is methylene bisacrylamide. Such thickeners do not contribute to the opacity of the formulations and have a relatively good viscosity stability.

Abstract: Novel polyvinyl alcohols include, in the polymeric backbone, vinyl units containing pendant hydrophobic groups. The polymers are made by hydrolysis of corresponding polyvinyl acylates under conditions are avoid hydrolysis of the pendant hydrophobic groups from the polymer. These groups are preferably bonded into the polymer as allyl ether units. The hydrophobic units act as internal plasticizers in films or other shaped articles formed from the polymers and, in particular, gives significant benefit in viscosity and other rheology characteristics of aqueous compositions formed from the polymer.

Abstract: This invention relates to aqueous acidic solutions which are thickened by cationic polymer, the polymer being added to the solution in the form of particles below 10 .mu.m in size. The useful cationic polymers are formed from a water soluble cationic ethylenically unsaturated monomer or blend of monomers comprising dialkylaminoalkylacrylics that includes a polyethylenically unsaturated cross-linking agent. A peak viscosity is achieved in the aqueous acidic solution at a particular cross-linker concentration.The concentration of cross-linking agent chosen is carefully controlled so that the viscosifying effect can be optimised whilst minimising the amount of polymer that has to be added. The amount of polymer in the aqueous acidic solution is typically in the range of from, 0.01% to 5% dry weight polymer.

Abstract: Film or fibre is made from a polymer of water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomeric material that includes ionic monomer by extrusion and stretching, and a counterionic lubricant compound is absorbed into the surface of the fibre or film before or during the stretching. The counterionic lubricant compound is also of use for providing a lubricated film on other extruded or comminuted elements of water swellable or water soluble polymeric material.

Abstract: The invention provides a substantially dry particulate composition comprising a polyacrylamide and an amidase. An aqueous composition made by dispersing this into water will then have a satisfactorily low content of residual acrylamide even if the initial polymer was contaminated with monomer. The composition is made by blending dry polyacrylamide particles with the amidase.

Abstract: The properties of absorptive synthetic polymer particles formed by polymerisation of water soluble monomers such as sodium acrylate or acrylamide with a cross linking agent are improved, especially as regards absorptive capacity for aqueous electrolytes, by copolymerising the monomers with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer that includes a pendant group --A.sub.m B.sub.n A.sub.p R where B is ethyleneoxy, n is at least 2, A is propyleneoxy or butyleneoxy, m and p are each less than n and are preferably zero, and R is a hydrophobic group.

Abstract: A water absorbent water insoluble polymeric element, such as fibre, film, coating, bonding layer or foam, is made by forming a substantially linear polymer by polymerization of water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer blends comprising carboxylic and hydroxylic monomers and then reacting the carboxylic and hydroxylic monomers in the linear polymer to form internal cross links within the polymer.

Abstract: When making an amide by hydrolysis of a nitrile in an aqueous medium containing a Raney copper or other black copper catalyst, the hydrolysis reaction can be improved if the catalyst has been contacted with an aqueous solution of a water soluble vanadium compound followed by thorough rinsing before introduction into the aqueous medium.

Abstract: An intimate water soluble or water swellable blend of microbial polysaccharide and synthetic polymer derived from water soluble monomer or monomer blend is made by forming an emulsion in non-aqueous liquid of an aqueous fermentation solution of the microbial polysaccharide and the monomer or monomer blend and then polymerizing the monomer or monomer blend to form a dispersion in non-aqueous liquid of aqueous particles of the water soluble or water swellable blend. This dispersion may then be dehydrated.

Abstract: When drying an aqueous polysaccharide solution, the viscosification properties are maintained, and often improved, by including a low molecular weight electrolyte in the solution before the drying is completed, and generally before the solution is heated above 50.degree. C.

Abstract: Polymer thickeners suitable for use as textile pigment print paste thickeners are particulate cross linked polymers having a particle size of below 20 .mu.m and have defined physical characterization that indicates an optimum degree of cross linking and molecular size within the polymer.