Abstract: Provided is a method of suspension polymerization comprising (i) providing a suspension of liquid droplets in an aqueous medium, wherein said droplets comprise (a) one or more water-insoluble vinyl monomers, and (b) a polyelectrolyte (PED) having a polarity, (c) one or more initiators, and wherein said aqueous medium comprises a polyelectrolyte (PEW) having a polarity that is opposite to the polarity of said polyelectrolyte (PED), (ii) polymerizing said vinyl monomer or allowing said vinyl monomer to polymerize.

Abstract: Provided is a suspension comprising liquid droplets dispersed in an aqueous medium, wherein said droplets comprise (a) one or more water-insoluble compounds, and (b) a vinyl polyelectrolyte (PED) having a polarity, and wherein said aqueous medium comprises a polyelectrolyte (PEW) having a polarity that is opposite to the polarity of said polyelectrolyte (PED). Also provided are a method of making such a suspension and a method using such a suspension in a process of suspension polymerization.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a polymer, comprising (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising (i) one or more vinyl monomers, (ii) one or more pH-sensitive inhibition systems, (iii) one or more initiators, and (iv) water; (b) establishing conditions in said reaction mixture such that a free radical polymerization of said vinyl monomer occurs at a location, and (c) after steps (a) and (b) and prior to completion of said free radical polymerization, changing the pH of said reaction mixture to increase the rate of generation of said free radical polymerization at the location of said free radical polymerization.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a polymer, comprising (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising (i) one or more vinyl monomers, (ii) one or more pH-sensitive inhibition systems, (iii) one or more initiators, and (iv) water; (b) establishing conditions in said reaction mixture such that a free radical polymerization of said vinyl monomer occurs at a location, and (c) after steps (a) and (b) and prior to completion of said free radical polymerization, changing the pH of said reaction mixture to increase the rate of generation of said free radical polymerization at the location of said free radical polymerization.

Abstract: A method for preparing monodisperse crosslinked bead polymers by introducing droplets having a harmonic mean size from 50 to 1500 microns and comprising at least one monomer, at least one crosslinker and a free-radical polymerization initiator into an aqueous medium through orifices to produce an aqueous suspension of droplets having a volume fraction of droplets from 35 to 64%; wherein the droplets are not encapsulated; causing the aqueous suspension of droplets to flow in a downward direction in a pipe in which the temperature is maintained at least 20° C. below the temperature at which the polymerization initiator has a half-life of 1 hour; and polymerizing the droplets in a reactor.

Abstract: A method for preparing monodisperse crosslinked bead polymers by introducing droplets having a harmonic mean size from 50 to 1500 microns and comprising at least one monomer, at least one crosslinker and a free-radical polymerization initiator into an aqueous medium through orifices to produce an aqueous suspension of droplets having a volume fraction of droplets from 35 to 64%; wherein the droplets are not encapsulated; causing the aqueous suspension of droplets to flow in a downward direction in a pipe in which the temperature is maintained at least 20° C. below the temperature at which the polymerization initiator has a half-life of 1 hour; and polymerizing the droplets in a reactor.