Abstract: The present invention relates to a process to make continuous strand polymer comprising the following steps: a) providing a monomer mixture comprising water, a monomer, a crosslinker and an initiator; b) transporting the monomer mixture of step a) into a confining means wherein the monomer mixture is confined in said confining means; c) initiating polymerization of the monomer mixture in the confining means to make a continuous strand polymer; and d) emitting the continuous strand polymer from the confining means wherein the continuous strand polymer has a defined cross-sectional profile comprising an initial cross sectional diameter of at least 0.1 mm. The present invention is further directed to a process of making a continuous strand superabsorbent polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process to make continuous strand polymer comprising the following steps: a) providing a monomer mixture comprising water, a monomer, a crosslinker and an initiator; b) transporting the monomer mixture of step a) into a confining means wherein the monomer mixture is confined in said confining means; c) initiating polymerization of the monomer mixture in the confining means to make a continuous strand polymer; and d) emitting the continuous strand polymer from the confining means wherein the continuous strand polymer has a defined cross-sectional profile comprising an initial cross sectional diameter of at least 0.1 mm The present invention is further directed to a process of making a continuous strand superabsorbent polymer.

Abstract: The present invention further relates to a particulate superabsorbent polymer composition comprising a crosslinker composition that is the reaction product selected from (i) saturated amines and/or saturated polyamines with ethylenically unsaturated glycidyl compounds and/or ethylenically unsaturated polyglycidyl compounds, (ii) ethylenically unsaturated amines and/or ethylenically unsaturated polyamines with saturated glycidyl compounds and/or saturated polyglycidyl compounds, or (iii) ethylenically unsaturated amines and/or ethylenically unsaturated polyamines with ethylenically unsaturated glycidyl compounds and/or ethylenically unsaturated polyglycidyl compounds; and a surface crosslinking agent applied to the particle surface. The present invention further relates to an absorbent article that includes such particulate superabsorbent polymer compositions.

Abstract: The present invention further relates to a particulate superabsorbent polymer composition comprising a crosslinker composition that is the reaction product selected from (i) saturated amines and/or saturated polyamines with ethylenically unsaturated glycidyl compounds and/or ethylenically unsaturated polyglycidyl compounds, (ii) ethylenically unsaturated amines and/or ethylenically unsaturated polyamines with saturated glycidyl compounds and/or saturated polyglycidyl compounds, or (iii) ethylenically unsaturated amines and/or ethylenically unsaturated polyamines with ethylenically unsaturated glycidyl compounds and/or ethylenically unsaturated polyglycidyl compounds; and a surface crosslinking agent applied to the particle surface. The present invention further relates to an absorbent article that includes such particulate superabsorbent polymer compositions.

Abstract: The present invention further relates to a process to make a superabsorbent polymer comprising the steps of a) preparing a neutralized monomer solution comprising a polymerizable monomer selected from unsaturated acid groups-containing monomers, ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride, salts, or derivatives thereof and a caustic agent selection from an alkali agent, wherein the polymerizable monomer is neutralized to from about 50 mol % to about 85 mol %; b) forming a crosslinker monomer mixture by adding an internal crosslinker composition to the neutralized monomer solution wherein the internal crosslinking composition is the reaction product of a stoichiometric excess of amine with a glycidyl compound, wherein the internal crosslinker composition has a residual amount of glycidyl compounds of less than about 500 ppm based on the mass of the internal crosslinker composition; and c) polymerizing the crosslinker monomer mixture to make a superabsorbent polymer.

Abstract: The present invention further relates to a process to make a superabsorbent polymer comprising the steps of a) preparing a neutralized monomer solution comprising a polymerizable monomer selected from unsaturated acid groups-containing monomers, ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride, salts, or derivatives thereof and a caustic agent selection from an alkali agent, wherein the polymerizable monomer is neutralized to from about 50 mol % to about 85 mol %; b) forming a crosslinker monomer mixture by adding an internal crosslinker composition to the neutralized monomer solution wherein the internal crosslinking composition is the reaction product of a stoichiometric excess of amine with a glycidyl compound, wherein the internal crosslinker composition has a residual amount of glycidyl compounds of less than about 500 ppm based on the mass of the internal crosslinker composition; and c) polymerizing the crosslinker monomer mixture to make a superabsorbent polymer.

Abstract: Concentrates and method of making concentrates are disclosed. The concentrates may be incorporated into thermoformable articles as a concentrate powder or as a paste. Thermoformable articles, such as fibers, containing the concentrates and methods of making the thermoformable articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ozone fade resistant dyed carpet made of dyed sheath/core face fibers has a sheath substantially or completely covering the core. The sheath is composed of a fiber-forming polymer which is inherently chemically compatible and is selected from polymers that are resistant to dye migration and yet inherently chemically compatible with the core polymer. The face fibers are dyed with at least one acid dye, basic dye or disperse dye and resist ozone fading as indicated by a CIEL*a*b* total color difference from the original unexposed sample after at least 3 cycles of ozone fading that is less than one-half of the CIEL*a*b* total color difference seen for a fiber composed substantially completely of said core polyamide component that is dyed with the same dyes. The fibers may be cabled and heatset in which case even more substantial improvement in the ozone fastness is observed.

Abstract: Concentrates and method of making concentrates are disclosed. The concentrates may be incorporated into thermoformable articles as a concentrate powder or as a paste. Thermoformable articles, such as fibers, containing the concentrates and methods of making the thermoformable articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ozone fade resistant dyed carpet made of dyed sheath/core face fibers has a sheath substantially or completely covering the core. The sheath is composed of a fiber-forming polymer which is inherently chemically compatible and is selected from polymers that are resistant to dye migration and yet inherently chemically compatible with the core polymer. The face fibers are dyed with at least one acid dye, basic dye or disperse dye and resist ozone fading as indicated by a CIEL*a*b* total color difference from the original unexposed sample after at least 3 cycles of ozone fading that is less than one-half of the CIEL*a*b* total color difference seen for a fiber composed substantially completely of said core polyamide component that is dyed with the same dyes. The fibers may be cabled and heatset in which case even more substantial improvement in the ozone fastness is observed.

Abstract: Dyeable and dyed filaments have a core and a sheath which entirely surrounds the core. The core is formed of a core polymer which is susceptible to dyeing by a dye bath chemical, while the sheath is formed of a sheath polymer which is resistant to dyeing by the dye bath chemical. When the filament is brought into contact with a dye bath containing the dye chemical, the dye chemical in the dye bath will physically diffuse or migrate through the sheath polymer to cause the core polymer to be dyed a color of the dye bath chemical, while the sheath polymer is substantially undyed thereby.

Abstract: Dyeable and dyed filaments have a core and a sheath which entirely surrounds the core. The core is formed of a core polymer which is susceptible to dyeing by a dye bath chemical, while the sheath is formed of a sheath polymer which is resistant to dyeing by the dye bath chemical. When the filament is brought into contact with a dye bath containing the dye chemical, the dye chemical in the dye bath will physically diffuse or migrate through the sheath polymer to cause the core polymer to be dyed a color of the dye bath chemical, while the sheath polymer is substantially undyed thereby.

Abstract: Dyeable and dyed filaments have a core and a sheath which entirely surrounds the core. The core is formed of a core polymer which is susceptible to dyeing by a dye bath chemical, while the sheath is formed of a sheath polymer which is resistant to dyeing by the dye bath chemical. When the filament is brought into contact with a dye bath containing the dye chemical, the dye chemical in the dye bath will physically diffuse or migrate through the sheath polymer to cause the core polymer to be dyed a color of the dye bath chemical, while the sheath polymer is substantially undyed thereby.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions include a nonaqueous additive system having dispersant-coated pigments physically dispersed in a liquid nonaqueous polymeric carrier which may be added directly to a melt flow of a polymeric host material. The additive system employed in the polymeric systems is most preferably in the form of a particulate paste which can be added in metered amounts (dosed) to a melt flow of the polymeric host material prior to being spun into filaments. By providing a number of additive systems having a number of different additive attributes, and controllably dosing one or more into the melt flow of host polymeric material, shaped objects of the polymeric material (e.g., melt-spun filaments) having different additive attributes may be produced on a continuous basis without shutting down the shaping operation.

Abstract: A concentrate containing titanium dioxide is made by employing a carrier that is a liquid below about 25° C. and which has ester functionality. The concentrate may be added directly to a host polymer to provide a high concentration of titanium dioxide without causing processing interruptions. Milling of the concentration is unnecessary.

Abstract: A concentrate containing titanium dioxide is made by employing a carrier that is a liquid below about 25° C. and which has ester functionality. The concentrate may be added directly to a host polymer to provide a high concentration of titanium dioxide without causing processing interruptions. Milling of the concentration is unnecessary.

Abstract: Stabilized solution-dyed fiber is made by melting a polyamide which is amide monomers polymerized in the presence of at least one hindered piperidine compound, coloring the melted polyamide, and spinning the colored polyamide into fibers that have about 40% or better retained tenacity after 2125 kJ exposure to xenon arc radiation as per AATCC Test Method 16-1993, “Colorfastness to Light,” Option E. Copper stabilizers are unnecesssary.

Abstract: Dyeable and dyed filaments have a core and a sheath which entirely surrounds the core. The core is formed of a core polymer which is susceptible to dyeing by a dye bath chemical, while the sheath is formed of a sheath polymer which is resistant to dyeing by the dye bath chemical. When the filament is brought into contact with a dye bath containing the dye chemical, the dye chemical in the dye bath will physically diffuse or migrate through the sheath polymer to cause the core polymer to be dyed a color of the dye bath chemical, while the sheath polymer is substantially undyed thereby.

Abstract: An acid-dye and coffee stain resistant carpet has sheath/core bicomponent face fibers affixed in a backing material and bound thereto. The face fibers have a core of a first polyamide component and a sheath which substantially or completely covers the core of a second polyamide component which is inherently chemically compatible with the first polyamide component. In an uncolored state, the carpet has a red drink staining depth of less than 15 CIE &Dgr;E units and a coffee staining depth of less than about 10 CIE &Dgr;E units.

Abstract: An ozone fade resistant dyed carpet made of dyed sheath/core face fibers has a sheath substantially or completely covering the core. The sheath is composed of a fiber-forming polymer which is inherently chemically compatible and is selected from polymers that are resistant to dye migration and yet inherently chemically compatible with the core polymer. The face fibers are dyed with at least one acid dye, basic dye or disperse dye and resist ozone fading as indicated by a CIEL*a*b* total color difference from the original unexposed sample after at least 3 cycles of ozone fading that is less than one-half of the CIEL*a*b* total color difference seen for a fiber composed substantially completely of said core polyamide component that is dyed with the same dyes. The fibers may be cabled and heatset in which case even more substantial improvement in the ozone fastness is observed.