Abstract: The invention includes a process for facilitating the handling of tacky polymers (specifically amorphous polypropylene and amorphous ethylene propylene copolymers) during their polymerization comprising:a. preparing a mixture of a tacky polymeric material and a carrying phase for said polymeric material at a temperature and pressure sufficient to maintain said carrying phase as a liquid;b. flashing said mixture to a flash pressure low enough to effect vaporization of said carrying phase, as well as autorefrigeration of said polymeric material to its non-tacky, easy-handling temperature range; andc. separating the thus autorefrigerated polymeric product from its carrying phase wherein said carrying phase will dissolve sufficient polymer to form a liquid mixture.The invention also includes an apparatus for carrying out this process.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for preparing fibrils or microfibers of polypropylene which can be used in whole, or in part, as replacement for cellulose fibers in the manufacture of paper by conventional methods and which do not require cutting to adapt them to such use.