Abstract: A composition is provided herein for preventing or retarding the formation of gas hydrates or for reducing the tendency of gas hydrates to agglomerate, during the transport of a fluid comprising water and a hydrocarbon, through a conduit. The composition is a homopolymer of vinyl caprolactam having the low molecular weight in the range of 500 to 2500, or copolymers thereof, in a defined solvent. Such homopolymers and copolymers preferably are made and applied in the defined solvent, which, most preferably, is a glycol ether such as 2-butoxyethanol.

Abstract: A controlled-release, drug-delivery, emulsion composition for topical application comprising (a) the reaction product of the non-aqueous, heterogeneous polymerization of a reaction mixture of about 5-70%, preferably 10-30%, by weight, of a vinyl monomer in an oil as solvent, and a free radical initiator, optionally in the presence of a crosslinking agent and/or a surfactant, wherein the oil solvent is present in an amount sufficient to keep the resultant polymer in a stirrable state throughout the polymerization, (b) water, (c) a surfactant and (d) a pharmaceutical medicament.

Abstract: An improved hydrocarbon tolerant, aerosol hair spray resin composition includes a fixative polymer which is a tetrapolymer consisting essentially of (1) vinyl acetate, (2) vinyl neodecanoate or vinyl neononanoate, (3) monoisobutyl maleate and (4) N-t-butyl acrylamide, N-t-octyl acrylamide, or isobornyl (meth)acrylate, in a molar ratio from 10:10:15:1 to 26:1:15:1, preferably in a molar ratio of 12.5:7.5:15:1, exhibits advantageous small spray particle size, short tack and drying times, and hydrolytic stability, which are the desired performance characteristics on hair.

Abstract: An improved hydrocarbon tolerant, aerosol hair spray resin composition includes a fixative polymer which is a tetrapolymer consisting essentially of (1) vinyl acetate, (2) vinyl neodecanoate or vinyl neononanoate, (3) monoisobutyl maleate and (4) N-t-butyl acrylamide, N-t-octyl acrylamide, or isobornyl (meth)acrylate, in a molar ratio from 10:10:15:1 to 26:1:15:1, preferably in a molar ratio of 12.5:7.5:15:1, exhibits advantageous small spray particle size, short tack and drying times, and hydrolytic stability, which are the desired performance characteristics on hair.

Abstract: This invention relates to a crosslinked N-vinyl lactam polymer in the form of a stable, clear, flowable homogenized hydrogel composed of microparticles which can be passed through a screen of between about 40 and about 350 mesh size. The invention also concerns a clear, colorless, hydrogel which is required as a carrier for a cosmetically or pharmaceutically active substance such as a hair or skin conditioner and cosmetic or pharmaceutical skin base.

Abstract: A process of making a mixed salt of a polymer containing an anhydride, acid or ester side groups therein which comprises:(a) forming a reaction mixture of the polymer, mixed salt compounds and water, in a predetermined proportion, as a paste or slurry,(b) reacting and extruding the paste or slurry at a predetermined temperature to form the mixed salt of the polymer, and(c) drying the resultant reaction product.

Abstract: This invention relates to a crosslinked N-vinyl lactam polymer in the form of a stable, homogenized flowable hydrogel having microparticles which can be passed through a screen of between about 40 and about 350 mesh size. The invention also concerns the process for the preparation of the homogenized gel and to its use as a hair and skin conditioner or as a carrier for a cosmetically or pharmaceutically active substance.

Abstract: This invention relates to an acidic non-irritating lotion, cream or ointment for rejuvenating skin and hair which comprises a micronized, homogenized hydrogel of a crosslinked N-vinyl lactam polymer and an organic rejuvenating agent selected from the group consisting of pyruvic acid, a mono- or poly-carboxylated C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 hydrocarbon optionally substituted with from 1 to 3 hydroxy groups and ammonium and alkali metal salts of said acids and mixtures thereof including mixtures of the acids and/or said salts.

Abstract: What is provided herein is a colorless, stabilized aqueous solution of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl vinyl ether and maleic acid copolymer which includes about 100 to 1,000 ppm of an additive mixture of (a) about 30-70% by weight of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or its salts, such as the disodium, trisodium, tetrasodium or disodium-calcium salts, and (b) about 30-70% by weight of a secondary additive which is an organic antioxidant and/or free radical scavenger selected from t-butylhydroquinone, propyl gallate, butylated hydroxy-anisole (BHA), butylated hydroxy-toluene (BHT), 4-hydroxymethyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, 2,4,5-trihydroxy-butyrophenone (THBP) and N,N-diethylhydroxylamine, said stabilized solution exhibiting a retention of at least about 85-90% of its original viscosity after 3 months. Preferably, the solution is prepared by hydrolyzing the corresponding anhydride in the presence of said additive mixture.

Abstract: A process for making a solution of PVP K-90 polymer having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about 630,000 to 750,000 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, where Mn is the number average molecular weight of the polymer, of 5 or less, which comprises free radical polymerizing about 5-30% by weight vinylpyrrolidone, preferably 10-20%, at about 40.degree.-100.degree. C., preferably 60.degree.-75.degree. C., in an aqueous-alcohol solvent selected from the group consisting of about (a) 5% isopropanol-95% water, (b) 10% ethanol-90% water and (c) 20% methanol-80% water.

Abstract: Crosslinkable copolymers of (a) 80-99% by wt. vinylpyrrolidone (VP) and 1-20% by wt. of a tertiary-amine-containing polymerizable monomer, e.g. vinylimidazole (VI) or 4-vinylpyridine (VPy), and (b) 80-99% by wt. VP and 1-20% by wt. of an epoxide-containing polymerizable monomer, e.g. allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) or glycidyl acrylate (GA), are reacted in solution, e.g. water, alcohol, or mixtures thereof, at a predetermined temperature, e.g. 50.degree.-70.degree. C., in a wt. ratio (solids basis) of (a):(b) of about 2:1 to 1:2, preferably about 1:1, in a solution concentration of about 10-30% of each, to provide a crosslinked PVP product, in gel form, suitable for use as an electrolead on a conductive foilbacking, or for bandages and wound dressings, and as a controlled release media for pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A free-flowing, fine white powder of a substantially aqueous stable complex of a strongly swellable, moderately crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) having an aqueous gel volume of about 15 to 150 ml/g of PVP and a Brookfield viscosity in 5% aqueous solution of at least about 10,000 cps, and H.sub.2 O.sub.2, in substantially a 1:1 molar ratio of said constituents.

Abstract: An emulsion polymerization composition comprises: (a) 1-45% by weight of an emulsion polymerizable monomer, (b) 0.1-5% by weight of an emulsifier and stabilizer which is a copolymer of a vinyl lactam and a polymerizable carboxylic acid, in a 99/1 to 1/99 weight ratio, (c) 1-10% of a surfactant based on monomer, preferably 2-6%, (d) 0.1-2%, preferably 0.2-1%, by weight of a polymerization initiator, and (e) the rest being water, in the form of an aqueous dispersion.

Abstract: Crosslinkable copolymers of (a) 80-99% by wt. vinylpyrrolidone (VP) and 1-20% by wt. of a tertiary-amine-containing polymerizable monomer, e.g. vinylimidazole (VI) or 4-vinylpyridine (VPy), and (b) 80-99% by wt. VP and 1-20% by wt. of an epoxide-containing polymerizable monomer, e.g. allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) or glycidyl acrylate (GA), are reacted in solution, e.g. water, alcohol, or mixtures thereof, at a predetermined temperature, e.g. 50.degree.-70.degree. C., in a wt. ratio (solids basis) of (a):(b) of about 2:1 to 1:2, preferably about 1:1, in a solution concentration of about 10-30% of each, to provide a crosslinked PVP product, in gel form, suitable for use as an electrolead on a conductive foilbacking, or for bandages and wound dressings, and as a controlled release media for pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: An emulsifier for an inverse emulsion polymerization to be produce a water-soluble polymer composed of a mixture of a non-ionic oil-soluble surfactant and an N-alkyl lactam or polymer of a N-vinyl lactam. The emulsifier is extremely useful in polymerizations wherein a water-in-oil polymeric product is obtained since the product is easily inverted to a stable oil-in-water emulsion. Methods for polymerization processes using the inventive emulsifier as well as emulsions obtained therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: What is provided herein is an improved hair spray resin composition including a terpolymer consisting essentially of a vinyl ester, preferably vinyl acetate, a water-insoluble or water-miscible alkyl maleate half-ester, preferably mono-N-butyl maleate and an N-substituted acrylamide, preferably N-t-butyl acrylamide, N-t-octyl acrylamide or N-[1-(2-pyrrolidonyl)ethyl]acrylamide, in the molar ratio of 1:0.6-0.8:0.08-0.12, respectively, and having a relative viscosity of about 1.2-2.0.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical tablet is provided herein having an effective dissolution rate. The tablet contains a pharmaceutically-active ingredient and a substantially linear, i.e. non-crosslinked K-30 to K-120 PVP as a binding agent. The PVP used herein is made by an initiated polymerization process in which vinyl pyrrolidone monomer is polymerized in the presence of an initiator which produces a linear PVP polymerization, i.e. is a poor hydrogen abstractor of PVP polymer backbones, which would produce a disadvantageous crosslinked PVP product. Suitable initiators include low energy peroxyester free radical initiators, such as t-amylperoxy pivalate, an azo initiator, or a redox initiator which can perform at low temperatures.Preferably the residual initiator level in the PVP is reduced to less than 500 ppm, thereby further precluding the possibility of crosslinking of the PVP polymer during the shelf-life of the tablet.

Abstract: What is described herein is a controlled release, drug-delivery composition which comprises a strongly swellable, moderately crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer in the form of fine white powders having a defined aqueous gel volume and Brookfield viscosity which is prepared by precipitation polymerization in the presence of a prescribed amount of crosslinking agent, and an effective amount of a pharmaceutical medicament.

Abstract: A method of crosslinking polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) at a predetermined pH which comprises (a) providing a tertiary amino-functional PVP as a starting material, (b) condensing said starting material with a predetermined amount of epichlorohydrin to form an epichlorohydrin-functional PVP copolymer, and, if less than an equivalent of epichlorohydrin in use, unreacted starting material, (c) acidifying the resultant copolymer to form a solution of a storage stable glycidyl quat intermediate, and (d) increasing the pH of the solution to above 7 to convert the glycidyl quat into a glycidyl epoxide, and (e) crosslinking the glycidyl epoxide with free amine group on the copolymer or as added amine functional PVP copolymer to form a crosslinked PVP polymer.

Abstract: A process is described for rendering amino-group polymer solutions substantially odorless. In one embodiment, a solution of the terpolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl caprolactam and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate is treated with 0.1-10% by weight of an acidic compound or an acidic ion-exchange resin to render the solution substantially odorless. Other vinyl pyrrolidone polymer solutions in water and alcohol are treated similarly with equally effective results.