Abstract: The present invention provides a method of attaching a polymeric side chain differing in polarity and chemical structure from the backbone and forming a comb or star copolymer structure. In particular the process provides a method of polymerizing in a first step a polymer back bone from epoxy group containing monomers and in a second step polymerizing under controlled radical conditions a comb or star structure onto this back bone.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a composition of a thermoplastic polymer and a triblock-copolymer or grafted comb copolymer, with enhanced melt flow during processing. Further aspects of the invention are the triblock-copolymers or grafted comb polymers itself, a method for their production and their use as compatibilizers and meltflow enhancing additives. Yet another aspect of the invention are functional alkoxyamines, which are useful for the preparation of the triblock-copolymers or grafted comb polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and composition for the chain stopping of vinyl chloride polymerization or copolymerization in the presence of a stable free nitroxyl radical and a phenolic antioxidant. A further subject of the invention is the use of a stable free nitroxyl radical together with a phenolic antioxidant as a chain stopping mixture for the vinyl chloride polymerization or copolymerization. A further aspect of the invention is the use of higher sterically hindered nitroxyl radicals alone as chain stopping agents for the vinyl chloride polymerization.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for the preparation of grafted polymers wherein in a first step A) a oligomer or polymer is prepared by controlled radical polymerization in the presence of a stable free nitroxyl radical or a nitroxylether to obtain a nitroxyl terminated oligomer or polymer and in a second step B) the nitroxyl terminated oligomer or polymer is mixed and reacted with a thermoplastic or elastomeric polymer or copolymer in its molten state at a temperature at which cleavage of the nitroxyl-polymer/oligomer bond occurs, whereby the nitroxyl terminated oligomer or polymer is grafted onto the thermoplastic or elastomeric polymer. A further subject of the present invention is a grafted polymer prepared by said process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the molecular weight increase/crosslinking of non-halogen-containing thermoplastic polymers, in which process a composition comprising a) a non-halogen-containing thermoplastic polymer; b) a functional compound having at least two unsaturated carbon bonds; and c) an alkoxyamine having a structural unit (I), which forms free radicals at the melting temperature/processing temperature of the polymer, is mixed and heated above the melting point of the polymer in the case of crystalline polymers or the softening point in the case of amorphous polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the molecular weight increase/crosslinking of non-halogen-containing thermoplastic polymers, in which process a composition comprising a) a non-halogen-containing thermoplastic polymer; b) a functional compound having at least two free-radically reactive ethylenically unsaturated carbon bonds; and c) an alkoxyamine having a structural unit which forms free radicals at the melting temperature/processing temperature of the polymer, is mixed and heated above the melting point of the polymer in the case of crystalline polymers or the softening point in the case of amorphous polymers. The invention relates also to the composition itself, to the use thereof in increasing the molecular weight of polymers and to polymers having increased molecular weight or crosslinked polymers prepared in accordance with that process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of grafting unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives onto thermoplastic polymers, which comprises heating a mixture of thermoplastic polymer, unsaturated carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid derivative and a hydroxy-lamine ester having at least one structural unit of formula (I) or (I?) wherein X is hydrogen, C1-C36alkyl, C2-C36alkenyl, C2-C18alkynyl, C6-C10aryl, —O—C1-C18alkyl —O—C6-C10aryl, —NH—C1-C18alkyl, —NH—C6-C10aryl, —N(C1-C6alkyl)2; X? is a direct bond or C1-C36alkylene, C2-C36alkenylene, C2-C36alkynylene, —(C1-C6alkylene)-phenyl-(C1-C6alkylene) or a group in a processing apparatus for thermoplastic polymers, to above the softening point/melting point of the thermoplastic polymer and allowing the components of the mixture to react with one another

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for controlled free radical polymerization or copolymerization of vinyl chloride at a temperature between 40° C. and 95° C., at a pressure between 5 and 30 bar in the presence of a stable free nitroxyl radical.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for stabilising and at the same time phase compatibilising plastics or plastic compositions by incorporating polymeric compounds obtainable by reacting a compound selected from the group consisting of the sterically hindered phenols, sterically hindered amines, lactones, sulfides, phosphites, benzotriazoles, benzophenones and 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazines, which compounds contain at least one reactive group, with a compatibilisator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising, a) at least one oligomer, cooligomer, polymer or copolymer or blends thereof, containing a stable free nitroxyl radical (1); and b) a reducing agent; with the proviso that the composition is essentially free of a polymerizable monomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of grafting unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives onto thermoplastic polymers, which comprises heating a mixture of thermoplastic polymer, unsaturated carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid derivative and a hydroxy-lamine ester having at least one structural unit of formula (I) or (I′) wherein X is hydrogen, C1-C36alkyl, C2-C36alkenyl, C2-C18alkynyl, C6-C10aryl, —O—C1-C18alkyl —O—C6-C10aryl —NH—C1-C18alkyl, —NH—C6-C10aryl, —N(C1-C6alkyl)2; X′ is a direct bond or C1-C36alkylene, C2-C36alkenylene, C2-C36alkynylene, —(C1-C6alkylene)-phenyl-(C1-C6alkylene) or a group in a processing apparatus for thermoplastic polymers, to above the softening point/melting point of the thermoplastic polymer and allowing the components of the mixture to react with one another.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for controlled free radical polymerization or copolymerization of vinyl chloride at a temperature between 40° C. and 95° C., at a pressure between 5 and 30 bar in the presence of a stable free nitroxyl radical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerizable composition comprising a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and b1) at least one multifunctional triazinyl based 2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl and a free radical initiator or b2) at least one multifunctional triazinyl based 2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-ether. Further aspects of the present invention are a process for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers, the (co)polymers obtainable by this process and the use of multifunctional triazinyl based 2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyls in combination with a free radical initiator, or a multi-functional triazinyl based 2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-ethers for controlled polymerization. In a particularly preferred embodiment at least one additional heating step at a temperature from 140 to 280° C. is applied after polymerization is completed.

Abstract: By heating at above the melting point and/or glass transition point of the polycondensate and adding an aromatic dicyanate; or adding a mixture comprising an aromatic dicyanate and a polyfunctional compound selected from the class of sterically hindered hydroxyphenyl-alkyl-phosphonic esters and monoesters, diphosphonites and secondary aromatic amines; or adding a mixture comprising (i) an aromatic dicyanate, (ii) at least one polyfunctional compound selected from the class of sterically hindered hydroxyphenyl-alkyl-phosphonic esters and monoesters, diphosphonites and secondary amines, and (iii) a difunctional epoxide, it is possible to bring about an increase in the molecular weight and/or viscosity of virgin polycondensate and polycondensate recyclates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition and process for enhancing the controlled radical polymerization in the presence of nitroxyls and nitroxylethers by adding a chain transfer agent selected from the group consisting of mercaptanes, thioethers and disulfides to the polymerizable mixture. A further subject of the invention is the use of mercaptanes, thioethers and disulfides for increasing rate and yield of controlled radical polymerizations in the presence of a nitroxyl or a nitroxylether.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel cyclic and open-chain hydroxylamine esters and polymerizable compositions comprising these hydroxylamine esters and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer or oligomer. The invention also relates to use as polymerization initiators and to the use of known hydroxylamine esters selected from the group consisting of HALS compounds and the novel hydroxylamine esters for the controlled degradation of polypropylene and for achieving a controlled increase in the molecular weight of polyethylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerizable composition comprising a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and b1) at least one multifunctional triazinyl based 2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl and a free radical initiator or b2) at least one multifunctional triazinyl based 2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-ether. Further aspects of the present invention are a process for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers, the (co)polymers obtainable by this process and the use of multifunctional triazinyl based 2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyls in combination with a free radical initiator, or a multi-functional triazinyl based 2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-ethers for controlled polymerization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the molecular weight increase/crosslinking of non-halogen-containing thermoplastic polymers, in which process a composition comprising a) a non-halogen-containing thermoplastic polymer; b) a functional compound having at least two unsaturated carbon bonds; and c) an alkoxyamine having a structural unit (I), which forms free radicals at the melting temperature/processing temperature of the polymer, is mixed and heated above the melting point of the polymer in the case of crystalline polymers or the softening point in the case of amorphous polymers. The invention relates also to the composition itself, to the use thereof in increasing the molecular weight of polymers and to polymers having increased molecular weight or crosslinked polymers prepared in accordance with that process.

Abstract: The dispersion of additives selected from the group consisting of stabilizers, antistatic agents, nucleating agents, biocides and/or flame retardants in synthetic polymers is improved by the addition of at least one polymeric dispersing or solvating agent having amphiphilic properties. Synthetic polymers stabilized in this manner are distinguished by having excellent stability against oxidative, thermal or light-induced degradation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a) at least one polyolefin or vinyl polymer; b) at least one di- or poly-functional (co)polymer or (co)oligomer having a glass transition temperature of less than 10° C., wherein the functional group is a carbon-carbon double bond, an epoxy group, an amine group, a carboxylic acid group, a carboxylic acid ester group or a carboxylic anhydride group, an OH group, an SH group or an isocyanate group, and c) a multifunctional epoxide, which is different from the di- or poly-functional (co)polymer or (co)oligomer wherein the functional group is an epoxy group. The invention also relates to a method of improving the mechanical properties of polyolefins and to the polyolefin plastics articles produced thereby and to the use of di- or poly-functional (co)polymers or (co)oligomers having a glass transition temperature of less than 10° C. together with a multifunctional epoxy compound in improving the mechanical properties of polyolefins.