Abstract: Polymers of 98.9 to 95.5 weight percent of olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids containing at least one activated double bond, 1 to about 3.5 weight percent of an alkyl acrylate ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid wherein the alkyl group contains 10 to 30 carbon atoms and 0.1 to less than 1 weight percent of a crosslinking monomer, are efficient thickeners in many applications where high ionic environments are encountered and may be used at lower concentrations to obtain equivalent or better results than prior art thickeners, and have been found to be particularly effective in print paste applications wherein there are reactive dyes, direct dyes and disperse dyes with high and varying ionic content. Further, in screen printing, improved print pastes are provided when they contain the novel polymers of this invention that have better rheology with less bounce back on release of printing pressure, and textile prints so made have better penetration.

Abstract: A propylene oxide slurry polymerization process having high catalyst efficiency comprises (A) homopolymerizing or copolymerizing propylene oxide in isobutane in the presence of a catalyst substantially soluble in isobutane, (B) separating isobutane with catalyst dissolved therein from propylene oxide polymer, and (C) recycling isobutane and dissolved catalyst for further polymerization. The catalyst comprises (1) at least one trialkylaluminum compound wherein each alkyl group contains from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, (2) at least one diketone containing from 5 to 20 carbon atoms and (3) water. The catalyst may also contain (4) at least one dialkyl ether or cycloalkyl ether containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms and/or (5) at least one ether alcohol containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Improved copolymers of unsaturated copolymerizable carboxylic acid monomers and one or more alkyl acrylate esters containing 10 to 30 carbon atoms which serve as efficient thickeners of aqueous solutions, even in the presence of substantial amounts of inorganic salts such as sodium chloride are prepared by conducting the polymerization of the comonomers in a chlorofluoroethane.