Abstract: Described is a process for making acrylic resins suitable as polymeric surfactants used in emulsion polymerization, as pigment grinding resins and for preparing dispersions used as overprint varnishes. The feedstock is styrene, &agr;-methyl styrene, acrylic acid and a polymerization initiator and is preferably free of solvent. This mix is passed through a continuous tube reactor run at a controlled range of pressure and relatively low residence time and temperature. Optimally, when the polymer/unreacted monomers blend exits the reactor and is devolatilized, the recovered monomers are used to make up part of the feedstock.

Abstract: Described is a process for making acrylic resins suitable as polymeric surfactants used in emulsion polymerization, as pigment grinding resins and for preparing dispersions used as overprint varnishes. The feedstock is styrene, .alpha.-methyl styrene, acrylic acid and a polymerization initiator and is preferably free of solvent. This mix is passed through a continuous tube reactor run at a controlled range of pressure and relatively low residence time and temperature. Optimally, when the polymer/unreacted monomers blend exits the reactor and is devolatilized, the recovered monomers are used to make up part of the feedstock.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of polyamides comprising the steps of A) reacting a soybean oil condensate obtained from the deodorization of refined soybean oil and which contains less than 30% by weight of free and esterified oleic acid based on the total weight of free and esterified fatty acids in said condensate, with a C.sub.1-4 alkanol in the presence of a zinc oxide catalyst to convert free fatty acids and fatty acid glyceride esters to fatty acid C.sub.1-4 alkyl esters;B) removing excess C.sub.1-4 alkanol, volatile reaction by-products, water, and the zinc oxide catalyst from the resulting reaction mixture;C) heating the reaction mixture from step B) under vacuum to obtain a distillate of fatty acid C.sub.1-4 alkyl esters;D) separating the distillate from step C) into a fraction containing mostly C.sub.16-18 saturated fatty acid C.sub.1-4 alkyl esters and a second fraction containing mostly C.sub.16-18 unsaturated fatty acid C.sub.1-4 alkyl esters wherein the oleic acid C.sub.

Abstract: A flexible packaging printing ink is formulated from a resin binder (e.g. an alcohol soluble polyamide or a water-dispersible polyacrylate), pigment, solvent (e.g. a lower alkanol or water), and an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant. Related methods, compositions and articles are also provided. A method of preparing a polyamide resin by condensing a dibasic acid mixture with a diamine mixture and melt blending the resin with an alkyl polyglycoside is also provided. These polymers are particularly useful as the binder for a flexible packaging laminating ink composition.

Abstract: Polyamide adhesives for bonding fabrics which allow for a lower bonding temperature than had been possible with similar previously available polyamide fabric bonding resins. The polyamide adhesives of the present invention are particularly suitable for use as fusible interliners for fabrics which demonstrate excellent retention of adhesive properties even after repeated cleaning by laundering and/or dry cleaning. The polyamide adhesive is an amidification product of(a) caprolactam,(b) a diamine component which is 50-75 eq. % hexamethylene diamine, and 25-50 eq. % piperazine, or 2-methyl pentamethylene diamine, and(c) a mixture of a polymeric fat acid and an aliphatic straight chain co-dicarboxylic acid having 6-12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Fatty, segmented polyester elastomers are provided which are prepared from a mixture having a molar ratio of aromatic to fatty reactants of less than 4:1 and a molar ratio of short-chain diol to long-chain poly(ether) diol reactants of less than 49:1. These elastomers are useful as hot melt adhesives having excellent properties including resistance to embrittlement at low temperatures.