Abstract: Oxygen barrier structures such as packages, laminated films, etc. are disclosed. The oxygen barrier has at least one layer comprising a polymer having oxamide units of the formula: ##STR1## and may further include amide units selected from the formulae: ##STR2## wherein R and R' are independently hydrocarbyl radicals of from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and R" is a hydrocarbyl radical of from 1 to 18 carbon atoms. The polyoxamide or copoly(amide-oxamide) layer has an oxygen permeability which, at a high relative humidity, is less than or about the same as the oxygen permeability at a low relative humidity. Also disclosed is a method of protecting an article such as a foodstuff against oxidation by packaging the article with the oxygen barrier structure.

Abstract: A polyketone having a molecular weight greater than 1,000 and containing 0.01 to 50 mole percent carbonyl groups is contacted directly with an organic peroxyacid to produce a polyester. The polyketone is in a single homogenous phase during the oxidation process and may be in either solid or liquid form.In a preferred embodiment, a molten polyketone is contacted with an organic peroxyacid in a reactive extrusion process to produce polyester pellets.

Abstract: Oxygen barrier structures such as packages, laminated films, etc. are disclosed. The oxygen barrier has at least one layer comprising a polymer having oxamide units of the formula: ##STR1## and may further include amide units selected from the formulae: ##STR2## wherein R and R' are independently hydrocarbyl radicals of from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and R" is a hydrocarbyl radical of from 1 to 18 carbon atoms. The polyoxamide or copoly(amide-oxamide) layer has an oxygen permeability which, at a high relative humidity, is less than or about the same as the oxygen permeability at a low relative humidity. Also disclosed is a method of protecting an article such as a foodstuff against oxidation by packaging the article with the oxygen barrrier structure.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition containing a first phase of a polar thermoplastic polymer, a second phase of non-polar polyolefin incompatible therewith, and a vinylpyrrolidone grafted polyolefin at least at an interface to compatibilize the different phases. A mixed phase monolayer of the composition containing ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer blended with vinylpyrrolidone grafted polypropylene as the first phase, and polypropylene as the second phase, has good oxygen and moisture barrier properties for food packaging applications. Also disclosed is a tieless multilayer laminate of the composition having an interlayer of a blend of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and vinylpyrrolidone grafted polypropylene and outer layers of polypropylene. The laminate has good oxygen and moisture barrier properties for food packaging applications.

Abstract: Normally intractable polymers of the structure: ##STR1## wherein X is O or NH, provided at least one X is O, such as poly(parabanic acids) are made extrudable by composition with greater than 15 to 60 weight percent of phosphate ester of the structure (R.sub.1 --O).sub.3 P=O wherein R.sub.1 is: ##STR2## and each R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is independently selected from H or --CH.sub.3 or (b) an alkyl radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Normally intractable polymers of the structure: ##STR1## wherein X is O or NH, provided at least one X is O, such as poly(parabanic acids) are made extrudable by composition with from 10 to 60 weight percent of diaryl ketone.

Abstract: Normally intractable polymers of the structure: ##STR1## wherein Y is 0 or NH, provided at least one X is 0, such as poly(parabanic acids) are made extrudable by composition with from 10 to 60 weight percent of an ester of aromatic (carboxylic acid).

Abstract: Normally intractable polymers of the structure: ##STR1## wherein X is O or NH, provided at least one X is O, such as poly(parabanic acids) are made extrudable by composition with from 10 to 60 weight percent of an aromatic nitrile.

Abstract: Organic amides, solutions of polymers thereof, which polymers are subject to hydrolysis and degradation in the presence of amines, and polymers isolated therefrom are stabilized by the presence of aromatic sulfonic acid esters of aliphatic, arylaliphatic and alicyclic alcohols and polyols.

Abstract: Organic amides, solutions of polymers thereof, which polymers are subject to hydrolysis and degradation in the presence of amines, and polymers isolated therefrom are stabilized by the presence of aromatic sulfonic acid esters of aliphatic, arylaliphatic and alicyclic alcohols and polyols.

Abstract: Normally intractable polymers of the structure: ##STR1## wherein X is O or NH, provided at least one X is O, such as poly (parabanic) acids are made extrudable by composition with from 10 to 60 weight percent of an N,N-dialkyl aromatic sulfonamide plasticizer.

Abstract: Organic amides, solutions of polymers thereof, which polymers are subject to hydrolysis and degradation in the presence of amines, and polymers isolated therefrom are stabilized by the presence of aromatic sulfonic acid esters of aliphatic, arylaliphatic and alicyclic alcohols and polyols.

Abstract: New solvents have been found for certain poly(parabanic acids) and poly(iminoimidazolidinediones). Epihalohydrins and glycidyl acrylate have been found to be solvents. Cellular films are produced by immersing films of the polymer solutions in aprotic anti-solvents such as aliphatic ketones, esters, hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons and ethers.

Abstract: The monoadduct of a diisocyanate and hydrogen cyanide, a cyanoformamidyl isocyanate, is produced by he reaction of 1 mole of a diisocyanate with 1 mole of hydrogen cyanide. Heterocyclic polymers are produced by the head-to-tail polymerization of cyanoformamidyl isocyanates in an appropriate solvent and in the presence of an effective catalyst.

Abstract: Processes for the efficient sulfuric acid hydrolysis of poly(iminoimidazolidinediones) (PIPA) to the corresponding polyparabanic acids (PPA) have been developed. Process conditions can be manipulated to favor the formation of large crystalline particles of ammonium sulfate, a byproduct of the reaction, so that they can be readily separated from the reaction solution.

Abstract: Dicyanoformamides having aromatic moieties as novel composition of matter are prepared by the reaction of a diisocyanate having an aromatic moiety with two (2) moles of hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a specially defined, hindered catalyst which will not promote further polymerization.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing imides comprises reacting acid anhydrides with organic isocyanate groups in the presence of cyanide ion as a catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes and techniques for forming either coatings or self-supporting films from polymeric powders which melt at high temperatures (>150.degree. C.) and cannot be made to fuse with the application of high temperatures. In particular, polyparabanic acid films and coatings are prepared from polyparabanic acid powders, utilizing vapors and mists of certain aprotic dipolar solvents.

Abstract: Polyolefins are selectively hydroperoxidized in an aqueous slurry with an ozone-oxygen mixture at temperatures between 65.degree. and 100.degree. C for a time which does not exceed one hour to introduce sufficient hydroperoxides for later graft copolymerization while minimizing formations of higher oxidation products of the polymer and limiting molecular weight degradation.

Abstract: Novel iminoimidazolidinedione polymers containing imide groups (hereinafter PIPA-IM) are prepared from mixtures of dianhydrides, hydrogen cyanide and diisocyanates in an appropriate solvent and with an appropriate catalyst. The cyanide ion is an effective catalyst for all of the reactions involved. Hydrolysis of these polymers produces novel parabanic acid polymers containing imide groups (hereinafter PPA-IM).