Abstract: Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) is prepared from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When PVC is made utilizing polyvinyl alcohol, the low molecular weight CPVC compound so prepared is colored. A low molecular weight CPVC compound prepared from PVC that was made in the presence of a cellulose ether instead of polyvinyl alcohol resulted in a very low color compound having a DE of O by definition. However, a CPVC compound prepared from PVC made in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol resulted in a relatively high color (DE 18.51). During the polymerization of vinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol is replaced with the hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose ether having a methoxyl substitution of 15-35 percent and a hydroxypropoxyl substitution of from 4-35 percent.

Abstract: Copolymers of vinyl or vinylidene halides and vinyl esters of fatty acids having low molecular weights, good particle characteristics, and improved melt flow are made by aqueous polymerization utilizing an effective amount of a mercaptan as a chain transfer agent, wherein the chain transfer agent is admixed with the vinyl esters to form a chain transfer composition, and the composition be added before the start of the polymerization.

Abstract: A polyvinyl halide ionomer which contains in the polymer backbone at least one vinyl halide monomer in polymerized form or at least one vinyl halide monomer and at least one other monomer copolymerizable with vinyl chloride and less than 50% by weight of the ionomer a comonomer containing at least one ester group and at least one neutralized carboxyl group. The ionomer is prepared by neutralizing, preferably in a molten state, a functionalized vinyl halide copolymer containing pendant carboxyl groups. The ionomer has outstanding adhesion to metals and its glass transition temperature is higher than the carboxyl vinyl halide copolymer.

Abstract: Copolymers of vinyl or vinylidene halides and vinyl esters of fatty acids having low molecular weights, good particle characteristics, and improved melt flow are made by aqueous polymerization utilizing an effective amount of a mercaptan as a chain transfer agent, wherein the chain transfer agent is admixed with the vinyl esters to form a chain transfer composition, and the composition be added before the start of the polymerization.

Abstract: Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) is prepared from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When PVC is made utilizing polyvinyl alcohol, the low molecular weight CPVC compound so prepared is colored. A low molecular weight CPVC compound prepared from PVC that was made in the presence of a cellulose ether instead of polyvinyl alcohol resulted in a very low color compound having a DE of O by definition. However, a CPVC compound prepared from PVC made in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol resulted in a relatively high color (DE 18.51). During the polymerization of vinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol is replaced with the hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose ether having a methoxyl substitution of 15-35 percent and a hydroxypropoxyl substitution of from 4-35 percent.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymers exhibiting improved physical properties and a method for preparing same compositions comprises reacting a functionalized base polymer composition having pendant cyclic anhdyride groups with a coreactive second moiety. Said functionalized base polymer comprises the reaction product of:I. a hydroxyl containing base polymer comprising the reaction product of:(a) a vinyl halide monomer; and(b) at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one pendant hydroxyl functional group; andII. a cyclic polyanhydride functionalizing agent.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymers exhibiting improved physical properties and a method for preparing same are described. The method of preparing these polymer compositions comprises reacting a functionalized base polymer composition having pendant cyclic anhydride groups with a coreactive second moiety. Said functionalized base polymer comprises the reaction product of:I. a hydroxyl containing base polymer comprising the reaction product of:(a) a vinyl halide monomer; and(b) at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one pendant hydroxyl functional group; andII. a cyclic polyanhydride functionalizing agent.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymers exhibiting improved physical properties and a method for preparing same are described. The method of preparing these polymer compositions comprises reacting a functionalized base polymer composition having pendant cyclic anhydride groups with a coreactive second moiety. Said functionalized base polymer comprises the reaction product of:I. a hydroxyl containing base polymer comprising the reaction product of:(a) a vinyl halide monomer; and(b) at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one pendant hydroxyl functional group; andII. a cyclic polyanhydride functionalizing agent.

Abstract: A process for producing porous, low molecular weight vinyl polymers and copolymers via suspension polymerization in the presence of a dual function porosifier/low molecular weight modifier is disclosed. The process is especially advantageous in that it can be run at a wide variety of temperatures to obtain super porous, low molecular weight resins. Novel super porous, low molecular weight resins are also disclosed.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymers exhibiting improved physical properties and a method for preparing same are described. The method of preparing these polymer compositions comprises reacting a functionalized base polymer composition having pendant cyclic anhydride groups with a coreactive second moiety. Said functionalized base polymer comprises the reaction product of:I. a hydroxyl containing base polymer comprising the reaction product of:(a) a vinyl halide monomer; and(b) at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one pendant hydroxyl functional group; andII. a cyclic polyanhydride functionalizing agent.

Abstract: Vinyl halide copolymer resins having relatively high porosity levels are produced by polymerizing a vinyl halide with a comonomer of an acrylated caprolactone. The product produced exhibits high absorbtivity of plasticizer, easy processability and films made therefrom have low fish-eye content.

Abstract: Copolymers of vinyl or vinylidene halides and vinyl esters of C.sub.2 and C.sub.3 acids are provided having low molecular weights, good particle characteristics, and improved melt flow are made by aqueous polymerization utilizing an effective amount of a mercaptan as a chain transfer agent, wherein the chain transfer agent is admixed with the vinyl esters to form a chain transfer composition, and may be added before the start of the polymerization.

Abstract: Copolymers of vinyl or vinylidene halides and vinyl esters of fatty acids having low molecular weights, good particle characteristics, and improved melt flow are made by aqueous polymerization utilizing an effective amount of a mercaptan as a chain transfer agent, wherein the chain transfer agent is admixed with the vinyl ester to form a chain transfer composition, and the composition be added before the start of the polymerization.

Abstract: Vinyl halide copolymer resins having relatively high porosity levels are produced by polymerizing a vinyl halide with a comonomer of an acrylated caprolactone. The product produced exhibits high absorbtivity of plasticizer, easy processability and films made therefrom have low fish-eye content.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymers exhibiting improved physical properties and a method for preparing same are described. The method of preparing these polymer compositions comprises reacting a functionalized base polymer composition having pendant cyclic anhydride groups with a coreactive second moiety. Said functionalized base polymer comprises the reaction product of:I. a hydroxyl containing base polymer comprising the reaction product of:(a) a vinyl halide monomer; and(b) at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one pendant hydroxyl functional group; andII. a cyclic polyanhydride functionalizing agent.

Abstract: Stabilized vinyl halide compositions are provided by adding to said vinyl halide compositions an effective amount of a stabilizer having the substituted hydroquinone structure: ##STR1## wherein ##STR2## wherein p is 1 or 2 andq is 0 or 1;provided that p+q=1 or 2.The groups R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, Z and W are defined hereafter.The stabilizer is added at any point in the process after the desired state of polymerization is achieved.

Abstract: Polymers of vinyl halides having low molecular weights, good particle characteristics, and improved melt flow are made by aqueous polymerization utilizing an effective amount of a mercaptan as a chain transfer agent, wherein the mercaptan chain transfer agent is mixed with at least one material which is non-polymerizable with vinyl chloride and wherein said non-polymerizable material is substantially insoluble in water and is miscible with said mercaptan to form a chain transfer composition, and said chain transfer composition is added before the start of the polymerization while maintaining colloidal stability.

Abstract: It has been found that substituted hydroquinones function as a shortstop agent in the polymerization of vinyl monomers. The substituted hydroquinones have the formula: ##STR1## wherein ##STR2## wherein p is 1 or 2 and q is 0 or 1; provided that p+q=1 or 2. The groups R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, Z and W are defined hereafter.The compounds 2,5-di-t-amylhydroquinone and 2,5-di-t-butylhydroquinone are particularly desirable as shortstop agents in the polymerization of vinyl chloride.

Abstract: Vinyl chloride polymers are prepared by polymerizing a monomer component that comprises vinyl chloride in an aqueous medium in the presence of a free radical-generating polymerization initiator and 0.01% to 2% by weight, based on the weight of the monomer component, of a chain-transfer agent that is a mercapto organic compound having at least one beta-ether linkage. The process can be used to produce low molecular weight vinyl chloride polymers.