Abstract: A novel dry thinned starch produced by continuously feeding a mixture of a base starch and a chemical which hydrolyses the glycosidic linkage of starch to a plug flow reactor, passing the mixture through the reactor, recovering the mixture and neutralizing the mixture. The present invention also includes starches produced by the process and paper products produced from the starch and coated with the starch.

Abstract: A novel dry thinned starch produced by continuously feeding a mixture of a base starch and a chemical which hydrolyses the glycosidic linkage of starch to a plug flow reactor, passing the mixture through the reactor, recovering the mixture and neutralizing the mixture. The present invention also includes starches produced by the process and paper products produced from the starch and coated with the starch.

Abstract: Sizing agents are combined with a solid form with a size retention aid to more effectively deliver the size to a substrate.

Abstract: Water-absorbent starch products may be prepared by simultaneously drying and polymerizing an aqueous media containing starch, ethylenic unsaturated monomer and free-radical initiator. Without necessitating further refining or chemical modification, effective water-absorbent, drum-dried products essentially free from water-soluble salts and free-radical initiator contaminants and containing a high level of functional water-attractant groups may be directly manufactured. If desired, the water-absorbent starch products may be further refined to increase the water-absorbent properties of the starch polymer.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing starch copolymer compositions are provided. In one process, a modified starch is reacted with a hydrophilic vinyl monomer to produce a starch copolymer gel which is, in turn, divided in a plurality of gel fragments. The gel fragments are then dried with a stream of gel to produce a flowable, particulate starch copolymer composition. In another process, water is evaporated from the copolymer gel and further polymerization of vinyl monomers is inhibited during the evaporating by any of a variety of means such as reducing the level of residual vinyl monomer or avoiding conditions which initiate polymerization.