Abstract: A method for the preparation of a hydrophilic acrylonitrile-containing polymer comprising admixing a solution of said polymer in 47% to 75%, preferably 50 to 72% concentrated HNO.sub.3, with solid particles of a substance insoluble in said acid solution and soluble in water, aqueous solutions of said substance being operative to precipitate said polymer from said HNO.sub.3, shaping the mixture of the dissolved polymer with said solid substance to a desired physical shape, coagulating said shaped polymer in an aqueous medium and washing said solid particles out from the coagulated polymer, and articles made therefrom.The added solid substance either may react with nitric acid forming a water-soluble nitrate, or it may remain in the mixture unchanged.

Abstract: The tendon prosthesis of the invention consists of a core formed of from a synthetic, preferably hydrophilic linear polymer oriented substantially in the direction of the main longitudinal axis of the prosthesis, having a tensile strength exceeding 100 kg/cm.sup.2 and an elastic elongation of 8 - 50 percent, preferably 12 - 25 % of the resting length, and a sheath consisting of one or more layers of a hydrophilic, substantially non-oriented, physically or covalently crosslinked polymer with an equal or higher elastic elongation and an approximately equal or higher hydrophilicity than that of said core. The material of the core and particularly that of the sheath are permanently compatible with living tissue.

Abstract: A starting monomer mixture containing a minor amount of a cross linking agent is precipitation polymerized in a diluent/precipitant which is an unlimited solvent for the starting monomers but is neither a solvent or a substantial swelling agent for the resultant polymer. The amount of cross linking agent is maintained during polymerization at a critically low percent by volume relative to the entire polymerization mixture. The resultant product falling from the polymerization contains substantially only soluble hydrophilic polymers and copolymers.

Abstract: Solutions of polymers or copolymers containing up to 100% of acrylonitrile units and from 0 to 50 mol percent of units of one or more comonomers copolymerizable with acrylonitrile into nitric acid-soluble polymers is wet spun in a coagulating bath containing a constant surplus of neutralizing agents in an amount ranging from about 0.05 to about 5% by weight which neutralizing agents are sufficient to convert the nitric acid into nitrates and to make the filaments leaving the coagulating bath free of nitric acid. The coagulating bath is maintained at a temperature at least about 5.degree. C above the temperature at which the solution of the same concentration is saturated with respect to its nitrate content.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of preparing hydrophilic copolymers of acrylonitrile by initially polymerizing acrylonitrile with about 0.01 to about 30% by weight of a monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide; methacrylamide; monomers of the formula CH.sub.2 =CRCONHR.sup.1 wherein R is hydrogen or methyl and R.sup.1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; N,N-dialkylacrylamides and methacrylamides and N-alkylol amides, thereafter subjecting said copolymer to hydrolysis by an aqueous acidic solvent for the monomers or swelling agent for the polymer comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, formic acid, zinc chloride and zinc chloride/HCl mixtures and subsequent isolating the product thus formed by removal of the acidic hydrolytic agent therefrom.