Abstract: Acrylic materials with antimicrobial activity are tumble blended, melted and extruded through an extruder. The resulting polymer compounds include an acrylic resin, such as methylmethacrylate polymers, copolymers and multipolymers, and blends thereof, silver-containing antimicrobial additives; and optional additives such as impact modifiers, flow promoters, stabilizers and coloring agents. The properties of the acrylic materials, especially the antimicrobial performance, are strongly dependent on the manufacturing process conditions, including feed resins pre-drying, residual moisture content, screw speed and melt temperature. The materials composition and manufacturing procedures are equally significant.

Abstract: Acrylic based multipolymer compositions having enhanced optical properties, comparable to impact modified PM resins, good sub-zero temperature impact strength similar to that of the Acrylic Based Multipolymer Compounds and improved weatherability, are disclosed. These compositions comprise a blend of an acrylic based multipolymer, comprising one or more of acrylonitrile, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and styrene; a methylmethacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS) copolymer modifier polymerized by a free radical process; UV stabilizers, including benzotriazole derivatives, triazine derivatives, and hindered amine light stabilizers, as single components or combinations thereof; and one or more antioxidants, dyes and plasticizing flow enhancers. Both the compositions and their method of preparation are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel method for preparing polymers (preferably (meth)acrylate polymers and copolymers) having a narrow molecular weight distribution by metal-free anionic polymerization in the presence of a phosphonium cation containing at least one annellated aromatic ring as substituent on the phosphorous atom.