Abstract: Described is a process for producing (meth)acrylates with Formula (I) ##STR1## with R.sub.1 is H or CH.sub.3, and A and B are each independently unbranched or branched alkylene groups with 2 to 5 C atoms, comprising the step of reacting a (meth)acrylate of the Formula (II), ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2 is alkyl especially with 1 to 4 C atoms and R.sub.1 is as defined above, with an alcohol of the Formula (III) ##STR3## wherein A and B are as defined above in the presence of an alkali earth catalyst or alkaline earth metal catalyst or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Powders of an emulsion polymer having reduced fines and exhibiting low dusting are made by spray drying an emulsion of a polymer having a Vicat softening temperature above 60.degree. C., said emulsion containing an external plasticizer having a boiling point of at least 150.degree. C.

Abstract: Polymer powders comprising aggregated polymer particles, said powders having a low content of fines and being suitable as processing aids in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride, are made by spray drying an aqueous dispersion (latex) of two emulsion polymers, one of which has a dynamic glass transition temperature above 90.degree. C. and the other of which has a dynamic glass transition below 105.degree. C., the latter being at least 10 K. degrees below the former.

Abstract: The formation of interfering polymer deposits in spary drying apparatus during the spray drying of aqueous dispersions or solutions of polymers in a stream of warm air is avoided if water is atomized together with the dispersion or solution.

Abstract: A method for making a thermoplastically processable polymer by emulsion polymerizing at least 80 percent by weight of methyl methacrylate monomer with up to 20 percent by weight of at least one other monomer in an aqueous phase at a temperature from 0.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. in the presence of a polymerization initiator and a chain transfer agent in a molar ratio from 1:2 to 1:100,000, said chain transfer agent being from 0.01 to 5 percent by weight of said monomers, and then separating said polymer and said aqueous phase.

Abstract: Data storage disks containing optically readable information made from a copolymer having low water absorption and good optical and mechanical properties, said copolymer being at least ternary and comprising(A) methyl methacrylate, and further comonomers selected from at least two of the groups(B) ##STR1## where R' is hydrogen or methyl and R" is hydrogen or alkyl, and (C) ##STR2## where R'" is aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon, and (D) styrene and/or alpha-methyl styrene.

Abstract: A method of preparing an ester of (meth)acrylic acid by transesterification with an alcohol, comprising, reacting a (meth)acrylic acid ester formed from an alcohol of 1 to 4 carbon atoms with a transesterifying alcohol, which is not a polybasic alcohol and which is different from the alcohol portion of said (meth)acrylic acid ester, in the presence of a catalyst system comprised of compounds A+B, wherein compound A is Li.sub.n Y, wherein Y is a halide, chlorate, carbonate, carboxylate of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxide of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxide or oxide, and n is 1 or 2, depending on the valence of Y; and compound B is CaX.sub.q, wherein X is oxide or chloride and q is 1 or 2, depending on the valence of X, with the provision that at least one of the two anionic components Y and X is oxygen-containing.

Abstract: Copolymers exhibiting low water absorption and having good optical and mechanical properties, suitable for use in making data storage disks containing optically readable information, said copolymer being at least ternary and comprising(A) methyl methacrylate, and further comonomers selected from at least two of the groups(B) ##STR1## where R' is hydrogen or methyl and R" is hydrogen or alkyl, and (C) ##STR2## where R'" is aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon, and (D) styrene and/or alpha-methyl styrene.

Abstract: A method for preparing an ester of (meth)acrylic acid with a polyhydric alcohol comprising, transesterifying a (meth)acrylic acid ester derived from an alcohol of 1-4 carbon atoms with a transesterifying polyhydric alcohol in the presence of at least one metal compound catalyst system, said catalyst system being comprised of compounds A or a combination of compounds A+B, wherein A represents at least one compound of the formula: Li.sub.n Y, wherein Y is halide, chlorate, carbonate, carboxylate of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxide of 1 to 4 carbon atom, hydroxide or oxide and n is 1 or 2, and wherein B is the compound: CaX.sub.q, wherein X is oxide or chloride, and q is 1 or 2; with the provision that at least one of the two anionic components Y and X is oxygen-containing.

Abstract: Homopolymers of para-methylstyrene and copolymers thereof with monomers such as methyl methacrylate, which polymers exhibit very low water absorption in combination with good optical and mechanical properties and are useful for making optically readable data storage disks.

Abstract: A method for isolating a vinyl salt compound in solid form from an aqueous solution thereof by spray drying such an aqueous salt solution.

Abstract: What are disclosed are a continuous emulsion polymerization method for making an aqueous dispersion of an impact resistant resin, adaptable to use as a component of impact resistant polymethacrylate forming masses, by first emulsion polymerizing a first monomer component onto core particles of a seed latex until a degree of polymerization of said monomers from 80 to 95 percent is attained, whereby an intermediate product comprising said core particles covered with a rubbery polymer phase is obtained, and then emulsion polymerizing a second monomer component onto the particles of said intermediate product to form a shell of harder polymer on the particles of said intermediate product, and impact resistant resin products made by this method.

Abstract: A method for making impact resistant molding compositions wherein a hard phase having a glass transition temperature above 25.degree. C. and consisting principally of methyl methacrylate is polymerized at least partially in a first stage, following which the monomers of a rubbery phase whose polymers have a glass transition temperature below 25.degree. C. are added in a second stage and the polymerization is carried to completion, polymerization of the hard phase in the first stage being performed in a presence of an oil soluble free radical initiator and of an organosulfur chain transfer agent having at least two thiol groups in the molecule, and polymerization of the monomers of the rubbery phase in the second stage being carried out with graft crosslinkers in the presence of the previously formed hard phase.

Abstract: Methacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride and similar quaternized aminoalkyl esters or aminoalkylamides of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid are purified by extraction of an aqueous solution thereof with dichloromethane to remove impurities, such as allyl methacrylamide, which may be formed by a Hofmann degradation of the compounds.

Abstract: An emulsion polymer comprising a hard nonelastomeric core, an elastomeric intermediate stage produced in the presence of the core and essentially composed of an acrylic ester and a crosslinking monomer which contains three or more acrylic or methacrylic groups in the molecule, and a hard nonelastomeric final stage produced in the presence of the elastomeric intermediate stage and crosslinked therewith, said polymer being useful as an impact strength modifying agent which, in admixture with a thermoplastic polymethyl methacrylate molding compound for example, yields molded articles exhibiting reduced susceptibility to stress whitening and improved impact strength.

Abstract: What are disclosed are a method for making non-blocking soft polymer beads by applying an adherent polymer deposit on the beads, said deposited polymer having a glass transition temperature at least 10.degree. C. higher than the glass transition temperature of the soft polymer beads, which latter temperature is below 70.degree. C., and non-blocking soft polymer beads made by this method.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for the transesterification of lower alkyl esters of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated acids such as acrylic and methacrylic acid, with an epoxy alcohol, such as glycidol, which uses 1,4-diazabicyclo(2,2,2)octane as a transesterification catalyst.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for making a water soluble polymer of low molecular weight which forms aqueous solutions of low viscosity, which method comprises polymerizing an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated water soluble monomer or a mixture of such monomers in a concentrated aqueous solution of said monomer or mixture in the presence of a free radical forming initiator and of formic acid or a water soluble salt thereof as a chain transfer agent.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for the quaternization of tertiary aminoalkyl esters or tertiary aminoalkyl amides of acrylic acid or of methacrylic acid in admixture with from 30 to 80 percent, by weight of the mixture, of acrylamide employing an alkylating agent in the absence of water to form, in high yield and in short reaction time, a mixture containing the corresponding quaternization products in the form of a fluid mixture which can be used directly for the preparation of copolymers of acrylamide.

Abstract: What is disclosed is the method for making an N-substituted acrylamide or an N-substituted methacrylamide which comprises reacting an alkyl ester of acrylic acid or of methacrylic acid with an aliphatic amine or with an aromatic amine at a temperature between 50.degree. C. and 180.degree. C. in the presence of a catalytic amount of a dialkyl tin oxide.