Abstract: This invention relates to a solubilizing agent for water insoluble vinyl pyrrolidone/acrylic acid copolymers which comprises a mixture of water and an aliphatic oxygen-containing compound having an oxygen to carbon ratio of between about 1:1 and about 0.1:1 combined in a weight ratio of between about 5:1 and about 1:3 water to aliphatic.

Abstract: The method of crosslinking polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) which comprises: copolymerizing vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) and an aminoalkene, a hydroxyalkene, or an aminoalkyl acrylamide or methacrylamide, to provide a crosslinkable, functional PVP copolymer as a starting material; then (a) condensing predetermined amounts of the starting material and a haloacetal under basic conditions to form a stable, crosslinkable PVP copolymer intermediate containing an acetal group as a functional appendant on the PVP polymer backbone; (b) acidifying the basic solution to hydrolyze the acetal group to an aldehyde group, and (c) crosslinking the aldehyde-functional PVP copolymer with the amine group of the amine-functional PVP copolymer, present on the polymer as free amine after step (a), or as added amine-functional copolymer to the reaction mixture, under basic conditions.

Abstract: Crosslinkable, functional polymers of vinylpyrrolidone and aminoalkyl acrylamides are provided herein. Such polymers are readily crosslinked with a crosslinking agent, e.g. a multi-aldehyde, such as a di-, tri- or tetra- aldehyde, preferably, glutaric dialdehyde, to form an aqueous gel of predetermined viscosity suitable for making hydrogels, adhesives and coatings.

Abstract: What is provided herein are copolymers of a vinyl lactam and a hydroxy or amino alkene monomers, which contain a hydroxy or amino functionality therein. These copolymers are prepared by reaction between a vinyl lactam, e.g. vinylpyrrolidone (VP) or vinyl caprolactam (VCL), a functional polymerizable monomer, e.g. .omega.-amino-1-alkene (AA) or .omega.-hydroxy-1-alkene (HA), in water solution in the presence of a free radical initiator under predetermined reaction conditions.

Abstract: What is described herein is a precipitation polymerization process in a reaction mixture of a vinyl lactam, e.g. vinyl pyrrolidone or vinyl caprolactam, and a polymerizable carboxylic acid, e.g. acrylic acid or methacylic acid, in the presence of a polymerization initiator, in a cosolvent mixture of an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, particularly, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 saturated hydrocarbon, which is branched or unbranched, cyclic or acylic, and preferably, is heptane or cyclohexane and a secondary alochol, preferably isopropanol. The copolymers obtained thereby have an advantageous low molecular weight of less than 20,000.

Abstract: What is provided herein is a gelled acidizer composition which comprises an aqueous acid solution and a gelling agent therein which is a strongly swellable, moderately crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers in the form of fine, white powders characterized by (a) an aqueous swelling parameter defined by its gel volume of about 15 to 150 ml/g of polymer and (b) a Brookfield viscosity in 5% aqueous solution of at least about 10,000 cps.

Abstract: This invention relates to an anhydrous, liquid phase process for entrapping droplets of a silicon compound in an organic polymer which involves precharging a reactor at between about 50.degree. and about 80.degree. C. with a polymerization initiator and a non-polar solvent in which the silicon compound is soluble; adding to the precharged reactor, silicon compound under vigorous agitation and gradually introducing from about 50 to about 99 wt. %, based on silicon compound, of a polymerizably precipitatable, aliphatically unsaturated monomer at a controlled rate; continuously polymerizing the monomer component, under vigorous agitation with the silicon compound, at between about 50.degree. and about 165.degree. C. while maintaining a desired monomer level of not more than 10% in the reactor and recovering a solid particulate product of silicon droplets entrapped in said polymerized monomer.

Abstract: What is provided herein are cosmetic compositions for the care of hair and skin containing about 0.2 to 10% by wt. of a strongly swellable, moderately crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers in the form of fine, white powders characterized by (a) an aqueous swelling parameter defined by its gel volume of about 15 to 150 ml/g, (b) a Brookfield viscosity in 5% aqueous solution of at least about 10,000 cps, and (c) being prepared directly by a precipitation polymerization process in an organic solvent, in the presence of about 0.2 to 1% by weight of vinylpyrrolidone of a multifunctional crosslinking agent, preferably about 0.25 to 0.6%, and optimally, about 0.35 to 0.6%.

Abstract: This invention relates to the polymerization of a monomer capable of forming a precipitate of polymerized particles which comprises reacting in the liquid phase said monomer in the presence of a high temperature, free radical initiator at a temperature within a critical range of between about 110.degree. and 150.degree. C. to produce a particulate polymeric product having a glass transition temperature. (Tg) in excess of the temperature at which polymerization is effected and having a residual monomer content less than 1,000 ppm.

Abstract: What is provided herein are strongly swellable, moderately crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers in the form of fine, white powders characterized by (a) an aqueous swelling parameter defined by its gel volume of about 15 to 150 ml/g, (b) a Brookfield viscosity in 5% aqueous solution of at least about 10,000 cps, and (c) being prepared directly by a precipitation polymerization process in an organic solvent, in the presence of about 0.2 to 1% by weight of vinylpyrrolidone of a multifunctional crosslinking agent, preferably about 0.25 to 0.6%, and optimally, about 0.35 to 0.6%.

Abstract: The terpolymers of the invention:(a) a vinyl lactam, such as vinyl pyrrolidone or vinyl caprolactam;(b) an amino alkyl acrylamide or acrylate, such as dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide or dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate; and(c) a polymerizable carboxylic acid, such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid.The zwitterion terpolymers of the invention are made from the terpolymers by internal transfer of the proton of the carboxylic acid to the amino group of the acrylamide or acrylate monomer.

Abstract: In this invention, at least two monomers are grafted onto hydroxy-containing cellulose polymer. The invention thus provides a polymer of a cellulose containing a hydroxy group on which is grafted, by replacement of the hydrogen atom of the hydroxy group, with a copolymer having a polymerized lactam-containing moiety and a polymerized quaternized ammonium-containing moiety. The ratio of the polymerized lactam group of the quaternized ammonium moiety in the grafted copolymer can be predetermined to provide polymers which are particularly useful in the hair treatment industry.

Abstract: What is described herein is a precipitation polymerization process and terpolymer products produced thereby. Polymerization is carried out in a reaction mixture of a vinyl lactam, e.g. vinyl pyrrolidone or vinyl caprolactam, a polymerizable carboxylic acid, e.g. acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, and a hydrophobic monomer, e.g. lauryl methacrylate, in a predetermined compositional range, in the presence of a polymerization initiator, and in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, particularly a C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 saturated hydrocarbon, which is branched or unbranched, cyclic or acylic, and, preferably, is heptane or cyclohexane. The terpolymers are obtained in high yield, as a white powder, which can be filtered and dried easily.

Abstract: What is described herein is an improved precipitation polymerization process and copolymer products produced thereby. The process herein is carried out by charging a reactor with a solvent in which the copolymer product is substantially insoluble over the entire compositional range of the copolymer, preferably heptane or cyclohexane, and a polymerization initiator, heating to 50.degree. to 150.degree. C., agitating, and then simultaneously feeding selected amounts of a vinyl lactam and a polymerizable carboxylic acid into said reactor below the surface of the solvent while continuing to agitate the mixture to precipitate the copolymer from solution as a fine, white powder, and recovering the copolymer of defined composition.

Abstract: What is described herein are polymerizable pyrrolidonyl 4,5-unsubstituted oxazoline monomers, homopolymers thereof, and copolymers with other monomers. A preferred polymerizable monomer compound is 2-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidon-4-yl)-2-oxazoline. The polymers herein have excellent hydrotropic properties thus increasing the water solubility of organic compounds previously considered as water insoluble, and exhibit complexation with water soluble cosolutes.

Abstract: The invention relates to 5-oxo-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid derivatives having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein X is selected from the group of ##STR2## R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each H or CH.sub.3, and R.sub.1 is H or a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which derivative compounds are suitable as monomers which can be homopolymerized or copolymerized to yield high molecular weight materials having many useful properties and applications, among which is their ability to form complexes with water insoluble molecules which are normally not complexible with similar type polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to 5-oxo-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid derivatives having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein X is selected from the group of ##STR2## R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each H or CH.sub.3, and R.sub.1 is H or a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which derivative compounds are suitable as monomers which can be homopolymerized or copolymerized to yield high molecular weight materials having many useful properties and applications, among which is their ability to form complexes with water insoluble molecules which are normally not complexible with similar type polymers.

Abstract: Zwitterion polymers are provided herein having the formula: ##STR1## where R is OR', where R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl or a lactam,X is oxygen or nitrogen,n is 2-10, andR.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl,and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: What is described herein are polymerizable pyrrolidonyl 4,5-unsubstituted oxazoline monomers, homopolymers thereof, and copolymers with other monomers. A preferred polymerizable monomer compound is 2-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidon-4-yl)-2- oxazoline. The polymers herein have excellent hydrotropic properties thus increasing the water solubility of organic compounds previously considered as water insoluble, and exhibit complexation with water soluble consolutes.

Abstract: The invention relates to 5-oxo-3-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid derivatives having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein X is selected from the group of ##STR2## R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each H or CH.sub.3, and R.sub.1 is H or a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which derivative compounds are suitable as monomers which can be homopolymerized or copolymerized to yield high molecular weight materials having many useful properties and applications, among which is their ability to form complexes with water insoluble molecules which are normally not complexible with similar type polymers.