Abstract: Toughened thermoplastic polymers having elastomeric domains in thermoplastic polymer may be recycled by a method comprising dissolving the thermoplastic polymer in a solvent to form a solution, wherein the elastomer is dispersed within the solution as elastomer particulates or droplets, applying a sufficient centrifugal force to the solution to separate the elastomeric particulates or droplets from the solution to form a separated system and (c) recovering the thermoplastic polymer and elastomeric polymer by removing one or both from the separated system. The recovered elastomer and thermoplastic polymer may then be reused in the same type, similar or differing plastics avoiding degradation typically found when recycling toughened thermoplastic polymers.

Abstract: A composition comprising: one or more polycarbonates; one or more vinylidene aromatic substituted polymers; and a buffer system that controls the pH in water at 25° C. at a value of about 6.0 to about 8.0. The composition may comprise the buffer system that has a pKa between about 4 and about 10. The composition may comprise: from about 10 or 50 to about 95 percent by weight of the one or more polycarbonates; from about 0.5 or about 10 to about 50 or about 90 percent by weight of the one or more vinylidene aromatic substituted monomers; and from about 0.005 percent to about 0.050 percent by weight of the buffer system; wherein weight is based on the total weight of the composition. The buffer system may be present in an amount from about 0.010 percent to about 0.040 percent by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed are styrenic polymers made by a mass or solution process, where the amount of trimer consisting of styrene and/or acrylonitrile is less than about 0.50 weight percent. Also disclosed is a method of minimizing the amount of trimer consisting of styrene and/or acrylonitrile in styrenic polymers made by a mass or solution process. The method includes the steps of lowering the temperature of the polymerization reaction mixture and including more than one initiator in the polymerization reaction mixture.

Abstract: A composition comprising: one or more polycarbonates; one or more vinylidene aromatic substituted polymers; and a buffer system that controls the pH in water at 25° C. at a value of about 6.0 to about 8.0. The composition may comprise the buffer system that has a pKa between about 4 and about 10. The composition may comprise: from about 10 or 50 to about 95 percent by weight of the one or more polycarbonates; from about 0.5 or about 10 to about 50 or about 90 percent by weight of the one or more vinylidene aromatic substituted monomers; and from about 0.005 percent to about 0.050 percent by weight of the buffer system; wherein weight is based on the total weight of the composition. The buffer system may be present in an amount from about 0.010 percent to about 0.040 percent by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising a) one or more cyclic (meth)acrylate esters; b) one or more alkyl (meth)acrylates; and c) one or more of i to iv; i) the one or more alkyl (meth)acrylates have two or more carbons in the alkyl group; ii) the one or more alkyl (meth)acrylates contain one or more alkyl methacrylates and one or more C2-8 alkyl acrylates; iii) one or more unsaturated compounds containing nucleophilic groups or electrophilic groups; iv) one or more impact modifiers, colorants, mold release agents, flow modifiers, UV absorbers, light stabilizers, fillers, fibers, anti-oxidants, and heat stabilizers. Disclosed are copolymers prepared therefrom having a weight average molecular weight of about 50,000 g/mole or greater and a glass transition temperature of about 100° C. or greater. Disclosed are methods for preparing such copolymers. Disclosed are articles prepared from the compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are styrenic polymers made by a mass or solution process, where the amount of trimer consisting of styrene and/or acrylonitrile is less than about 0.50 weight percent. Also disclosed is a method of minimizing the amount of trimer consisting of styrene and/or acrylonitrile in styrenic polymers made by a mass or solution process. The method includes the steps of lowering the temperature of the polymerization reaction mixture and including more than one initiator in the polymerization reaction mixture.

Abstract: Compositions comprising at least one copolymers comprising: a) from 20 to 90 percent by weight of one or more vinylidene substituted aromatic compounds; b) from 10 to 80 percent by weight of one or more cyclic (meth)acrylate esters; c) from 0 to 40 percent by weight of one or more unsaturated nitriles; and, d) from 0 to 60 percent by weight of an alkyl (meth)acrylate; wherein based on the weight of the copolymer and the copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of 120,000 g/Mole or greater and a glass transition temperature of 100° C. or greater. Disclosed are articles prepared from the compositions which may be fabricated in any known manner. The copolymers, compositions and articles disclosed contain reduced levels of the one or more free/residual/unreacted monomers, such as unsaturated nitriles; may be transparent or opaque; or have a biobased monomer content of 5 percent by weight or greater.

Abstract: Disclosed are ionomers of co-polymers of vinylidene substituted aromatic monomers and unsaturated compounds containing acid groups crosslinked by the residue of one or more metal salts and/or metal oxides of a metal having a valence of 2 or greater. The crosslinks are reversible and the weight average molecular weight of the copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated acids may be substantially the same after the crosslinking is reversed as it is before crosslinking. A portion of the chains of the copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated acids are crosslinked with other chains of the copolymer of one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers and one or more unsaturated acids.

Abstract: Compositions comprising at least one copolymers comprising: a) from 20 to 90 percent by weight of one or more vinylidene substituted aromatic compounds; b) from 10 to 80 percent by weight of one or more cyclic (meth)acrylate esters; c) from 0 to 40 percent by weight of one or more unsaturated nitriles; and, d) from 0 to 60 percent by weight of an alkyl (meth)acrylate; wherein based on the weight of the copolymer and the copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of 120,000 g/Mole or greater and a glass transition temperature of 100° C. or greater. Disclosed are articles prepared from the compositions which may be fabricated in any known manner. The copolymers, compositions and articles disclosed contain reduced levels of the one or more free/residual/unreacted monomers, such as unsaturated nitriles; may be transparent or opaque; or have a biobased monomer content of 5 percent by weight or greater.

Abstract: High impact polystyrenes and related monovinyl aromatic polymers generally have either a high modulus or good resistance to environmental stress cracking. The present invention is directed at polymeric materials having both a high modulus and good resistance to environmental stress cracking thus enabling the down gauging of parts, and or the use of the materials in new applications. The invention is predicated on the use of one or more, or even all of the following features: a high molecular weight matrix polymer, reduced concentration of elastomeric polymer, or methods that result in large rubber particle size.

Abstract: High impact polystyrenes and related monovinyl aromatic polymers generally have either a high modulus or good resistance to environmental stress cracking. The present invention is directed at polymeric materials having both a high modulus and good resistance to environmental stress cracking thus enabling the down gauging of parts, and or the use of the materials in new applications. The invention is predicated on the use of one or more, or even all of the following features: a high molecular weight matrix polymer, reduced concentration of elastomeric polymer, or methods that result in large rubber particle size.

Abstract: High impact polystyrenes and related monovinyl aromatic polymers generally have either a high modulus or good resistance to environmental stress cracking. The present invention is directed at polymeric materials having both a high modulus and good resistance to environmental stress cracking thus enabling the down gauging of parts, and or the use of the materials in new applications. The invention is predicated on the use of one or more, or even all of the following features: a high molecular weight matrix polymer, reduced concentration of elastomeric polymer, or methods that result in large rubber particle size.

Abstract: High impact polystyrenes and related monovinyl aromatic polymers generally have either a high modulus or good resistance to environmental stress cracking. The present invention is directed at polymeric materials having both a high modulus and good resistance to environmental stress cracking thus enabling the down gauging of parts, and or the use of the materials in new applications. The invention is predicated on the use of one or more, or even all of the following features: a high molecular weight matrix polymer, reduced concentration of elastomeric polymer, or methods that result in large rubber particle size.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing polystyrene having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) in the range of 120,000-160,000 g/mol, a polydispersity in the range of 4-6 and a melt flow rate of at least 40 g/10 minutes by feeding styrene into a reaction system through which the styrene passes as a component of a reaction mixture as it is polymerized, the reaction system including an initial reaction zone (100) and a downstream reaction zone (200), comprising the steps of: polymerizing styrene in the initial reaction zone to form polystyrene having a Mw of greater than 300,000 g/mol and a polydispersity in the range 1.5-2.5, 10-30 wt. % of the styrene fed to the initial reaction zone being polymerized there, —and polymerizing styrene remaining in the reaction mixture in the downstream reaction zone, a chain transfer agent being mixed with the reaction mixture at the commencement of this reaction zone and optionally at one or more additional locations within this reaction zone.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing polystyrene having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) in the range of 120,000- 160,000 gmol, a polydispersity in the range of 4-6 and a melt flow rate of at least 40 g/10 minutes by feeding styrene into a reaction system through which the styrene passes as a component of a reaction mixture as it is polymerized, the reaction system including an initial reaction zone (100) and a downstream reaction zone (200), comprising the steps of: polymerizing styrene in the initial reaction zone to form polystyrene having a Mw of greater than 300,000 gmol and a polydispersity in the range 1,5-2.5, 10-30 wt. % of the styrene fed to the initial reaction zone being polymerized there,—and polymerizing styrene remaining in the reaction mixture in the downstream reaction zone, a chain transfer agent being mixed with the reaction mixture at the commencement of this reaction zone and optionally at one or more additional locations within this reaction zone.

Abstract: Compositions comprising (a) a rubber-modified monovinylidene aromatic polymer, e.g., HIPS, and (b) a specified poly-alpha-olefin (PAO), e.g., an oligomer of hexene, octene, decene, dodecene and/or tetradecene, that has a dynamic viscosity value of from about 40 to about 500 centipoise (cP) at 40° C., exhibit improved combinations of environmental stress crack resistance, impact resistance and heat resistance as compared to compositions without such a PAO. The compositions are useful in the manufacture of articles, e.g., refrigerator liners and food packaging, which come in contact with the oils contained in various food stuffs.

Abstract: Compositions comprising (a) a monovinylidene aromatic polymer, e.g., HIPS, and (b) an ethylene/alpha-olefin (EAO) copolymer, e.g., an ethylene-propylene copolymer, that satisfies the mathematical relationship: y?20+2.35x in which y is the ethylene content in mole percent (mol %) of the EAO copolymer and x is the Brookfield viscosity in centipoise (cP) at 10O° C. of the EAO copolymer and the viscosity is at least 1 centipoise (cP), exhibit improved environmental stress crack resistance as compared to compositions containing monovinyiidene aromatic polymers but without such an EAO copolymer. The compositions are useful in the manufacture of articles, e.g., refrigerator liners and food packaging, which come in contact with the oils contained in various food stuffs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mass polymerized rubber-modified monovinylidene aromatic copolymer composition with an excellent balance of physical and mechanical properties especially low temperature impact, and methods for preparing such a composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mass polymerized rubber-modified monovinylidene aromatic copolymer composition with an excellent balance of physical and mechanical properties especially low temperature impact, and methods for preparing such a composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mass polymerized rubber-modified polymeric composition comprising a continuous matrix phase of a polymer of a monovinylidene aromatic monomer, and optionally, an ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer, and rubber particles produced from a functionalized diene rubber.