Abstract: A method to produce a polymer gel includes dissolving precursors in a solvent to form a precursor solution, the precursors including polymer precursors, a stable free radical, one or more initiating radicals, and one or more stable free radical control agents, and heating the precursor solution to a temperature of polymerization to produce a cross-linked gel. A dried polymer aerogel has a Brunauer-Emmett Teller (BET) surface area over 100 m2/g, porosity of greater than 10%, visible transparency greater than 20%, color rendering index of over 20%, and average pore size of less than 100 nm.

Abstract: Polymer extruded or expanded foams that contain modifier-free nanoclays are provided. The addition of modifier-free nano-clays to extruded or expanded foam products improves the thermal properties, mechanical properties, and fire performance properties. Water or a water-containing compound is used as a carrier for the modifier-free nanoclays. The final foamed products may be utilized in building application such as foamed insulation products and in underground applications such as highway insulation. A preferred modifier-free nanoclay is Na+MMT. Modifier-free nanoclay particles may be injected into a polymer during an extrusion foaming process. In another embodiment of the invention, polymer beads containing water/nanoclay particles are formed using inverse emulsion/suspension polymerizations and expanded or extruded into a foamed product. In a further embodiment, a modifier-free nanoclay particle is encapsulated in a super-absorbent material, which may be used in an expanding or extruding process.

Abstract: Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers have superior gas barrier properties, but are inferior in bending fatigue resistance. The present invention improves bending fatigue resistance without reducing the gas barrier property and heat resistance. An ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 to 50 percent by mole is modified by incorporating 0.01 to 1% mol of a structural unit expressed by the following formula (3): wherein, n indicates an integer of 2 to 5, m indicates an integer of 10 to 20, and R1 indicates a C1 to C20 aliphatic hydrocarbon group provided that R1 may contain a mercapto group, thioester group, sulfenamide, vinyl group, methacryloxy group, or acryloxy group. The modified ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer may be used as a gas barrier resin and this gas barrier resin may be shaped or laminated and used in various applications such as in pneumatic tires and hoses.

Abstract: A modified natural rubber particle having carbon-carbon double bonds assigned to multifunctional vinyl monomers graft-copolymerized onto the surface of the modified natural rubber particle, which is prepared by graft-copolymerization of multifunctional vinyl monomers having two or more carbon-carbon double bonds onto natural rubber particles or deproteinized natural rubber particles. One of the methods for producing a modified natural rubber particle includes the steps of: forming inclusion complex of the multifunctional vinyl monomers having two or more carbon-carbon double bonds with a guest-protecting agent to protect at least one of the double bonds of the multifunctional vinyl monomers; graft-copolymerizing the resulting inclusion complex onto natural rubber particles or deproteinized natural rubber particles; and deprotecting the protected double bonds by removing the guest-protecting agent from the obtained graft-copolymer.

Abstract: Color enhancing compositions for enhancing, changing and concealing the color of substrates to which the compositions are applied are provided. The compositions include chromatically selective scattering particles having small sizes and narrow size distributions. Inks, paints and other coatings made from the color enhancing compositions are also provided.

Abstract: What is described is a reactive extrusion process of making a polymeric hydrogel of a polymeric anhydride or acid, e.g. maleic anhydride or maleic acid polymer, or copolymer thereof, crosslinked with a crosslinking agent containing at least 2 crosslinkable groups, particularly, —OH or —NH2, or both. The reaction product is a crosslinked polymeric ester or amide/imide, or both, suitably having a mole ratio of —OH, or —NH2, to —COOH, of 1:10 to 10:1, preferably 2:10 to 7:1. The hydrogel is particularly swellable in water, e.g. >100% in 1 hour in aqueous media; and forms a thin, tacky layer on a substrate, which property is useful in bioadhesive products.

Abstract: What is described is a reactive extrusion process of making a polymeric hydrogel of a polymeric anhydride or acid, e.g. maleic anhydride or maleic acid polymer, or copolymer thereof, crosslinked with a crosslinking agent containing at least 2 crosslinkable groups, particularly, —OH or —NH2, or both. The reaction product is a crosslinked polymeric ester or amide/imide, or both, suitably having a mole ratio of —OH, or —NH2, to —COOH, of 1:10 to 10:1, preferably 2:10 to 7:1. The hydrogel is particularly swellable in water, e.g. >100% in 1 hour in aqueous media; and forms a thin, tacky layer on a substrate, which property is useful in bioadhesive products.

Abstract: The invention relates to absorptive, crosslinked polymers which are based on partly neutralized, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers carrying acid groups, and have improved properties, in particular in respect of their capacity for transportation of liquids in the swollen state, and which have been after-crosslinked on their surface at temperatures of at least 150° C. with a combination of polyol as after-crosslinking compound and a cation in the form of an aqueous solution.

Abstract: What is described is a polymeric hydrogel of a polymeric anhydride or acid, e.g. maleic anhydride or maleic acid polymer, or copolymer thereof, crosslinked with a crosslinking agent containing at least 2 crosslinkable groups, particularly, —OH or —NH2, or both. The reaction product is a crosslinked polymeric ester or amide/imide, or both, suitably having a mole ratio of —OH, or —NH2, to —COOH, of 1:10 to 10:1, preferably 2:10 to 7:1. The hydrogel is particularly swellable in water, e.g. >100% in 1 hour in aqueous media; and forms a thin, tacky layer on a substrate, which property is useful in bioadhesive products.

Abstract: What is described is a polymeric hydrogel of a polymeric anhydride or acid, e.g. maleic anhydride or maleic acid polymer, or copolymer thereof, crosslinked with a crosslinking agent containing at least 2 crosslinkable groups, particularly, —OH or —NH2, or both. The reaction product is a crosslinked polymeric ester or amide/imide, or both, suitably having a mole ratio of —OH, or —NH2, to —COOH, of 1:10 to 10:1, preferably 2:10 to 7:1. The hydrogel is particularly swellable in water, e.g. >100% in 1 hour in aqueous media; and forms a thin, tacky layer on a substrate, which property is useful in bioadhesive products.

Abstract: Natural cyclic polyalcohols such as polyfructoses and, dehydration products of sugar alcohols can be used for stabilising thermoplastic polymers, at a ratio of 0.001-5 phr of polyol with respect to the polymer. The cyclic polyol is in particular inulin or sorbitan. The polymer to be stabilised is in particular PVC, PE, PP or a halogenated rubber.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a resin comprising:heating a mixture of at least one free radical polymerizable monomer, a free radical initiator compound, a stable free radical compound, and a reducing agent.

Abstract: A fluorine-containing elastomer composition, which comprises a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, perfluoro(lower alkyl vinyl ether) or perfluoro (lower alkoxy-lower alkyl vinyl ether) and cross-linkable cyano group-containing (perfluorovinylether), and a bis(aminothiophenol) compound represented by the following general formula as a cross-linking agent: ##STR1## wherein A is an alkylidene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a perfluoroalkylidene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a SO.sub.2 group, an O atom, a CO group or a carbon-carbon bond capable of directly bonding two benzene rings and one of X and Y is an amino group, while the other is a mercapto group, can produce cross-linked fluororubber moldings having an improved compression set.

Abstract: Agglomerated, finely divided, crosslinked vinylimidazole copolymers obtainable by free-radically initiated polymerization of N-vinylimidazoles of the formula ##STR1## where R, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and each is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: A process for the polymerization of dienes which comprises anionically polymerizing dienes in the presence of an anionic polymerization initiator and a microstructure control agent is improved by adding the control agent to the polymerization mixture in two or more doses to closely control the vinyl content of the polymer produced.

Abstract: Superabsorbent, high gel strength/short gel time acrylic polymers, well suited for the production of items of feminine hygiene/adult incontinence, are prepared by (a) inversely suspending an aqueous acrylic monomer phase in an organic solvent in the presence of an emulsifying agent having an HLB of from 8 to 12, the aqueous monomer phase also comprising a crosslinking agent therefor, (b) polymerizing the inverse suspension of acrylic monomer into a polymer gel, (c) absorbing a second charge of acrylic monomer into the polymer gel thus attained, the ratio of the amount of the second monomer charge to the amount of monomer in the beginning aqueous phase ranging from 1 to 1.2, (d) introducing a surfactant having an HLB of from 2 to 5 into the medium of polymerization, and (e) polymerizing the second monomer charge within the polymer gel.

Abstract: Crystalline propylene polymers having P.I. values lower than or equal to 3.7, and having, at an MFR (Melt Flow Rate) ranging from 600 to 1000 g/10 min., an Mw value from 100,000 to 60,000, and at a MFR ranging from 1000 to 2000 g/10 min., an Mz value higher than or equal to 140,000, are obtained by way of polymerization with specific supported catalysts.

Abstract: A process for preparing a rubber modified thermoplastic resin, in which a latex in aqueous emulsion is prepared in the presence of an ionic surfactant; a vinyl monomer insoluble or substantially insoluble in water is added, and the particles of the latex are transferred to the monomer to form an organic phase using a transfer agent of opposite charge to the surfactant; and a polymerization of the organic phase is performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method which makes it possible to manufacture substantially spherical resin granules with a narrow grain size distribution by a simple operation. According to the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing resin granules with a grain diameter of 1.about.100 .mu.m and narrow grain size distribution by controlling the cloud point of polyvinyl alcohol and other water soluble polymers.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polyolefine--vinyl polymer composite, wherein about 10-200 parts by weight of vinyl monomer and about 0.01-4.0 parts by weight of a free radical polymerization initiator, based on 100 parts by weight of vinyl monomer, are impregnated in 100 parts of weight of polyolefine particles by slowly mixing these at a temperature of about 20.degree.-130.degree. C. while maintaining the particle structure of the polyolefine. After 50-99% of the amount of the monomer has been absorbed into the polyolefine particles, a water suspension is prepared by adding to the above-mentioned mixture about 80-1000 parts by weight water, based on 100 parts of weight of polyolefine+vinyl monomer, as well as a stabilizing agent. The temperature of the water suspension is then increased for polymerizing the vinyl monomer.

Abstract: A process for producing monodispersed fine particles of a vinyl polymer is disclosed, which comprises polymerizing monomers containing at least one vinyl monomer selected from the group consisting of aromatic vinyl compounds, acrylic esters, and a methacrylic ester in the presence of (1) a surface active agent represented by formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexyl group and M represents an alkali metal, (2) from 10.sup.-3 to 10.sup.-1 mol/l of a persulfate as a polymerization initiator, and (3) from 10.sup.-4 to 10.sup.-2 mol/l of a divalent metal sulfate as an electrolyte. Monodispersed vinyl polymer fine particles having a particle size of 1 .mu.m or greater with a very narrow size distribution are obtained.

Abstract: A liquid coating composition is provided which comprises, as a binder, a compound containing at least two pendant activated unsaturated groups and, as a crosslinking agent for the activated unsaturated groups, a particular unblocked monoprimary amine compound. The liquid coating compositions of the present invention provide the particular advantage of surprisingly good potlife without blocking the crosslinking agent, with the resulting coating compositions displaying good properties such as, for example, solvent resistance.

Abstract: A process for producing monodispersed fine particles of a vinyl polymer is disclosed, which comprises polymerizing monomers containing at least one vinyl monomer selected from the group consisting of aromatic vinyl compounds, acrylic esters, and a methacrylic ester in the presence of (1) a surface active agent represented by formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexyl group and M represents an alkali metal, (2) from 10.sup.-3 to 10.sup.-1 mol/l of a persulfate as a polymerization initiator, and (3) from 10.sup.-4 to 10.sup.-2 mol/l of a divalent metal sulfate as an electrolyte. Monodispersed vinyl polymer fine particles having a particle size of 1 .mu.m or greater with a very narrow size distribution are obtained.

Abstract: A process for producing a resin composition which comprises suspension-polymerizing at least one vinyl monomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a dispersing agent, said suspension polymerization being carried out using a nonionic dispersant as said dispersing agent in the presence of a high-molecular-weight vinyl polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 500,000 obtained by emulsion polymerization.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for graft-copolymerizing vinyl chloride monomer to a polyfluorine resin to produce resins of improved physical properties and processability parameters. The vinyl chloride monomer and polyfluorine resin are first treated in a highly alkaline medium and at a high temperature, and the mixture is stirred. Suspension agent(s), water and an initiator are added to the mixture after the temperature thereof has been lowered. The resultant mixture which has been stirred and homogenized is heated to a temperature at which polymerization is completed. Thereafter the mixture is neutralized, washed, and dried. A product having improved impact strength and resistance to heat and abrasion results.

Abstract: Styrenic polymer expandable beads that are useful in forming heat-resistant foamed articles are prepared by forming an aqueous suspension of initial styrenic polymer beads and adding thereto a portion of a comonomer solution of styrenic monomer and methacrylic acid, which solution also contains a polymerization regulator, forming an emulsion of catalyst, monomer solution and polyvinyl alcohol suspending agent, adding portions of the emulsion to the suspension and then adding the remainder of the comonomer solution to the suspension, and the suspension with added monomers is heated to copolymerize the styrenic monomer and methacrylic acid about the initial beads and form a coating about the beads.

Abstract: Soluble polymeric colorants composed of free amine groups and chromophoric groups covalently bonded to an organic backbone are disclosed. The number of free amine groups is not less than one-half the number of chromophoric groups. The colorants are characterized by being free of sulfonate, phosphonate and carboxylate groups. The preparation and use of these colorants is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the bulk or suspension polymerization of vinyl monomers, particularly vinyl chloride, in the presence of a redox catalyst system consisting of a peroxyester or diacyl peroxide and an ascorbic acid ester of a carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Copolymers of vinyl esters and crotonic acid are commonly prepared by polymerizing the monomers in bulk or in solution by means of a radical-forming initiator in the presence of a regulator. The polymers should be free from residual monomers and impurities as far as possible. This may be realized in that upon completion of the polymerization the unreacted monomers and other volatile impurities are removed from the reaction mixture by distillation. For this purpose, the use of an entrainer is advantageous. The copolymers are suitable as starting materials for adhesives and hair lacquers, hair setting lotions as well as hair sprays.

Abstract: A process for preparing polymer resins by polymerization of at least one ethylenic monomer onto at least one rubbery polymer optionally grafted with at least one ethylenic monomer which comprises initiating the polymerization in an emulsion system, adding a suspension stabilizer to the polymerization system at the stage after the conversion of the ethylenic monomer to be polymerized reaches 5% by weight and before the emulsion system is broken and then continuing the polymerization in a suspension system until completion of the polymerization. By the process, polymer resins can be produced in particles having a beautiful appearance and an even particle size with a narrow range of particle size distribution.