Abstract: Paper having improved properties, particularly tear strength, is prepared from a furnish containing at least 90 weight % of cellulose fibers and up to 10 weight % of olefin polymer fibrils. The fibrils are prepared by a differential temperature process of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,751, are refined in isopropanol, and are treated with an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol to sorb at least 1.0 weight % of polyvinyl alcohol on the fibrils. The fibrils are prepared from an olefin polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least one (1) million.

Abstract: Apparatus useful in the manufacture of thermoplastic Olefin polymer fibrils are prepared by a process carried out in a disc mill. A hot olefin polymer solution is fed into the working cavity defined by the discs. In passing through the working cavity, the hot polymer solution is broken up into a plurality of uniaxially-oriented liquid streams which follow tortuous liquid paths through the working cavity whereby each of the streams is attenuated to orient the solute polymer molecules in said streams. A coolant liquid is fed into the working cavity and cools the attenuated polymer streams to a temperature sufficiently low so that substantially all of the solute polymer is precipitated in the form of uniaxially-oriented polymer fibrils. The product recovered from the modified disc mill consists of a mixture of uniaxially-oriented polymer fibrils, polymer solvent, and coolant liquid. The fibrils are recovered and refined in subsequent downstream operations.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing phenols from dilute aqueous solutions thereof. The method consists of contacting the aqueous phenol solution with a mass of olefin polymer fibrils which absorb the phenol from the aqueous solution. Water treated by the method does not give a characteristic phenol color when tested with ferric chloride.