Abstract: A method for preparing polymodal tapered block copolymers in a polymerization process by sequentially charging: (a) an initiator and monovinylaromatic monomers in the presence of a randomizer; (b) an initiator and monovinylaromatic monomers; (c) a mixture of monovinylaromatic and conjugated diene monomers; (d) a mixture of monovinylaromatic and conjugated diene monomers; (e) an initiator and monovinylaromatic monomers; (f) a mixture of monovinylaromatic and conjugated diene monomers; (g) a mixture of monovinylaromatic and conjugated diene monomers; (h) conjugated diene monomers; and (i) a coupling agent. The copolymers are particularly useful for packaging applications which require good environmental stress crack resistance.

Abstract: It is highly desirable for tire treads to exhibit good traction characteristics such as good wet skid resistance. However, it has traditionally been very difficult to improve the traction characteristics of a tire without sacrificing rolling resistance and tread wear. The high performance segmented elastomers of this invention offer a unique combination of desirable characteristics for utilization in making tire tread compositions. For instance, the rubbery polymers of this invention can be made into tire treads which exhibit outstanding traction characteristics while maintaining good rolling resistance and tread durability.

Abstract: A method for preparing tapered block copolymers in a polymerization process by charging an initiator and monomers sequentially with one or more charges of first one of the monomers, then with a mixture of the two monomers, and then with one or more charges of the first monomer to produce a polymodal tapered block copolymer. Suitable monomers include conjugated dienes and monovinylaromatic compounds. The copolymers are particularly useful for applications requiring environmental stress crack resistance.

Abstract: A method for preparing asymmetric radial polymers wherein the different polymeric arms are contacted sequentially with a nonpolymerizable coupling agent. Contacting of the final step in the process, which frequently but not necessarily always will be the second step in the process, will be carried out in the presence of a polar compound suitable for increasing the amount of vinyl content in a conjugated diolefin polymer during polymerization thereof. The method used narrows the relative arm distribution of the several asymmetric radial polymers produced and significantly increases the amount of total product having the desired ratio of polymeric arms and accomplishes this objective in relatively short reaction time.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of conjugated alkadiene-based polymers of higher vinyl content employs as a structure modifier a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is alkylene, R' alkyl and R" is hydrogen or hydrocarbyl.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprising a polymer obtained by adding maleic anhydride or a derivative thereof to a nitrile-group-containing highly saturated polymer rubber having an iodine value of 80 or less, which can be widely utilized in belts, hoses such as for hydraulic ones.

Abstract: An unsaturated, elastomeric, asymmetrically coupled block copolymer of the formula:(A--B).sub.n --X--(B).sub.m,wherein block A is a block of polybutadiene having an 8 to 60% content of uniformly distributed vinyl groups and block B is a homopolymer of isoprene or a copolymer of at leat 10% isoprene units with 0 to 60% butadiene units and up to 45% styrene units and X is a radical of a coupling agent, and (m-n).gtoreq.0 while (m+n) ranges from 3 to 25.

Abstract: A process for preparing a grafted star polymer which comprises contacting a nitrogen-containing polymerizable organic polar compound with a star polymer (as hereinbefore defined) in the presence of a free radical polymerization initiator and characterized in that the reaction is carried out in a mineral oil solvent and, as coupling inhibitor, either a chain transfer agent, a pi-electron donor, or a comonomer, together with the modified, hydrogenated star polymers thus produced, and their use as luboil additives.

Abstract: A method for preparing tapered block copolymers in a polymerization process by charging an initiator and monomers sequentially with one or more charges of first one of the monomers, then with a mixture of the two monomers, and then with one or more charges of the second monomer alternating with one or more charges of the first monomer with subsequent coupling, to produce a polymodal tapered block copolymer. Suitable monomers include conjugated dienes and monovinylaromatic compounds. The copolymers are suitable for use in injection and blow molding equipment; the copolymers are particularly useful for shrink films, containers, tubes, fibers and other packaging applications.

Abstract: The process of this invention can be utilized to synthesize polymers having a high trans microstructure. The polymers which can be prepared utilizing the procedure of this invention include high trans-1,4-polybutadiene, styrene-isoprene-butadiene terpolymers with high trans-1,4-polybutadiene microstructures, high trans-isoprene-butadiene copolymers, and styrene-butadiene copolymers having high trans-1,4-polybutadiene microstructures. Such polymers can be utilized in tire tread rubber compounds which exhibit improved wear characteristics, tear resistance and low temperature performance characteristics. This invention more specifically reveals a process for synthesizing a high trans polymer which comprises adding (a) at least one organolithium initiator, (b) an organoaluminum compound, (c) a barium alkoxide, and (d) a lithium alkoxide to a polymerization medium which is comprised of an organic solvent and at least one conjugated diene monomer.

Abstract: An unsaturated, elastomeric ABC block copolymer comprised of the monomer units of 40 to 80% of 1,3-butadiene, 5 to 40% of isoprene and 2 to 30% of styrene, said copolymer comprising i) 40 to 75% of block A which contains styrene and butadiene units or isoprene and butadiene units with a content of distributed vinyl or isopropenyl groups of less than 15%, iia) up to 25% of a block B which contains styrene and butadiene units or isoprene and butadiene units with a vinyl or isopropenyl content of more than 70%, or iib) up to 25% of a block B' which contains styrene, isoprene and optionally butadiene units with a content of homogeneously distributed isopropenyl or vinyl groups of less than 15%, and iii) 20 to 55% of a block C which contains styrene and isoprene units and optionally butadiene units with an isopropenyl or vinyl content of more than 70%.

Abstract: An unsaturated elastomeric AB block copolymer, comprising:(i) 45-85 wt. % 1,3-butadiene,(ii) 5-40 wt. % isoprene, and(iii) up to 30 wt. % styrene,wherein said AB block copolymer comprising:40-80 wt. % of a block A, said block A comprising butadiene monomer units and having a content of uniformly distributed vinyl groups of 8-60 wt. %, and60-20 wt. % of a block B, said block B comprising 0-60 wt. % 1,3-butadiene, at least 10 wt. % isoprene and up to 45 wt. % styrene monomer units, wherein the butadiene and isoprene monomer units have a vinyl group content of 75-90 wt. %.

Abstract: Block copolymers compose a polyisobutylene rubbery soft segment of M.sub.n of about 5,000 to above 500,000 and glassy hard segments of M.sub.n of about 5,000 or higher and usually about 10,000 to 35,000 or more, are made by preparing a living polymer block of the polyisobutylene and then polymerizing on said living polyisobutylene block the glassy hard segments by adding thereto an electron donor having a donor number of 15 to 50 and then adding and polymerizing the monomers for the glassy hard segments. The monomers for the glassy hard segments are styrene and its derivatives and indene and its derivatives and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Transparent linear resinous conjugated diene/monovinyl-substituted aromatic block copolymers of improved properties are prepared by forming a monovinyl-substituted aromatic homopolymer block referred to as S.sub.1, followed by forming a conjugated diene homopolymer block, referred to as B.sub.1 and linked to segments S.sub.1, followed by the formation of a conjugated diene/monovinyl-substituted aromatic random copolymer block, referred to as B/S and linked to segment B.sub.1, followed by the formation of a monovinyl-substituted aromatic homopolymer block, referred to as S.sub.2 and linked to segment B/S thereby forming the block copolymer S.sub.1 -B.sub.1 -B/S-S.sub.2 wherein the molecular weight of the S.sub.2 block is significantly greater than the molecular weight of the S.sub.1 block.

Abstract: A method of producing an emulsion polymer which comprises adding a polymerizable monomer to an emulsion polymer containing a high-molecular-weight compound having a weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 2,000,000 as a seed polymer, the amount of the unsaturated monomer being 1.5 to 9.5 times the total volume of the solids in the emulsion polymer, and thereafter, polymerizing the monomer in the presence of a film-forming aid.

Abstract: Macromonomer prepared by contacting and reacting a polymer (oligomer) having at least three monomer repeat units and at least one silyl ether group, in the presence of an anion catalyst, with a terminally unsaturated acyl fluoride or sulfonyl fluoride.

Abstract: A process for producing a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a block copolymer of the A-B-A' type, wherein A is a monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block, B is a conjugated diolefin polymer block, and A' is either the same as A or a polymer block derived from a dialkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon or a dihalogenated hydrocarbon, which process comprises polymerizing a monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon in a polymerization medium in the presence of an organomonolithium compound as a polymerization initiator, adding a conjugated diolefin to perform block copolymerization, and further adding a monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon to perform polymerization or in the alternative, adding a dialkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon or a dihalogenated hydrocarbon to perform coupling, wherein the monomer components are used in such amounts that the weight ratio of (A+A') to B ranges from 10/90 to 65/35, and a chained aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent containing from 0.0001 to 0.

Abstract: Block copolymers are prepared by providing an initial anionically polymerizable monomer portion; anionically polymerizing the initial monomer portion to provide polymer chains with living ends, and contacting the polymer chains with m-bis(phenylethenyl)benzene (PEB), a coupling agent, to bring about substantial coupling. In preferred embodiments the polymer chain living ends are capped with an .alpha.-alkylstyrene or a ring-alkyl substituted .alpha.-alkylstyrene, wherein the .alpha.-alkyl groups contain between about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and the ring-alkyl groups have at least 2 carbon atoms. The coupling agents employed with the capped polymer chain living ends include PEB, p-dibromoxylene, terephthaloyl chloride, 1,4-dibromobutene; and the multifunctional epoxides, multifunctional isocyanates, multifunctional aziridines, multifunctional aldehydes, multifunctional ketones, multifunctional anhydrides, multifunctional esters, and polyhalides.

Abstract: A process for the production of .alpha.-olefin block copolymer particles having excellent impact resistance at low temperature and excellent molding and processing characteristics, is disclosed. The process includes a two step gas phase polymerization procedure under specific conditions in the presence of a specific catalyst system.

Abstract: ABC block copolymers on the basis of butadiene, isoprene and optionally styrene, are provided by a polymerization process wherein the resultant block copolymer comprises:about 40 to 75 wt % of a block A based on butadiene (uniformly distributed vinyl group content less than about 15 wt %),up to about 25 wt % of a block B based on butadiene and isoprene (vinyl content less than about 15 wt %) or based on butadiene (vinyl content more than about 75 wt %)about 20 to 55 wt % of a block C based on butadiene and isoprene (vinyl content more than about 75 wt %). The ABC block copolymers are useful for the production of tire treads.

Abstract: A process is provided for metallating ethylene polymers which have polymerized therein a minor amount of nonconjugated diene. Metallation is accomplished with a blend of three metallating reagents: (a) an alkyllithium compound; (b) a potassium alkoxide; and (c) a chelating tertiary diamine. The metallated polymers so prepared may be reacted with one or more anionically polymerizable monomers to form graft polymers or with a reagent such as carbon dioxide to form a functionalized polymer. When the anionically polymerizable monomer has two or more polymerizable sites, the metallated polymer is reacted with a modifying compound such as alpha-methylstyrene before it is reacted with the monomer(s). Certain of the graft polymers behave as thermoplastic elastomers whereas others are thermoplastic. The blend of metallating reagents may be used with any polymer having partial or complete unsaturation.

Abstract: A process is provided for metallating ethylene polymers which have polymerized therein a minor amount of nonconjugated diene. Metallation is accomplished with a blend of three metallating reagents: (a) an alkyllithium compound; (b) a potassium alkoxide; and (c) a chelating tertiary diamine. The metallated polymers so prepared may be reacted with one or more anionically polymerizable monomers to form graft polymers or with a reagent such as carbon dioxide to form a functionalized polymer. When the anionically polymerizable monomer has two or more polymerizable sites, the metallated polymer is reacted with a modifying compound such as alpha-methylstyrene before it is reacted with the monomer(s). Certain of the graft polymers behave as thermoplastic elastomers whereas others are thermoplastic. The blend of metallating reagents may be used with any polymer having partial or complete unsaturation.

Abstract: A rubber composition containing at least 20% by weight of a styrene-butadiene block copolymer consisting of a block (A) and a block (B) characterized in that: (i) the block (A) is a styrene-butadiene copolymer block having the content of styrene of 10-80% by weight and the average content of the vinyl bonds in the butadiene portion of 30-70% by weight; (ii) the block (B) is a polybutadiene block with the average content of the vinyl bonds in the butadiene portion being not more than 60% by weight (iii) the styrene-butadiene block copolymer contains at least 20% by weight of each of the block (A) and the block (B); (iv) the average content of the vinyl bonds in the butadiene portion of the block (A) is greater by at least 5% by weight than that of the block (B); (v) the glass transition temperature of the block (A) is higher by at least 30.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for continuously producing a propylene-ethylene block copolymer having well-balanced qualities such as high-impact properties, stiffness, processability, etc., with a good productivity, through two polymerization stages using a stereoregular catalyst comprising a Ti-containing solid catalyst and an organoaluminum compound, is provided, which process is characterized in that at the first stage, propylene is mainly fed into two or more polymerization vessels connected in series, to produce 60 to 95% by weight of the total polymerization quantity, and at the second stage, a specified quantity of a glycol ether is added to the polymerization reaction mixture obtained above and ethylene is fed in a relatively large quantity into one or more polymerization vessels, to produce 5 to 40% by weight of the total polymerization quantity.

Abstract: A process for the production of coatings based on reaction products of(A) polyhydroxypolyacrylate resins obtained from hydroxyalkyl esters of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid, alkyl esters of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid, and one or more polymerizable, olefinically unsaturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, with or without vinylaromatics, (meth)acrylamides and other monomers, with(B) isocyanurate-containing polyisocyanates which may or may not contain biuret groups, have a functionality of from 2.5 to 6 and consist of a mixture of polyisocyanates possessing predominantly cycloaliphatically bonded isocyanate groups with those possessing predominantly aliphatically bonded isocyanate groups.The process is particularly useful for coating metal components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an opaque binder system containing a core-shell polymer and polymeric binder. The system is prepared and blended in-situ and demonstrates improvement in contrast ratio and scrub properties over corresponding compositions wherein the core-shell polymer is separately produced and subsequently blended with a binder polymer.

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: Cyanoacrylate adhesive compositions which employ calixarene compounds as additives give substantially reduced fixture and cure times on de-activating substrates such as wood. The calixarene compounds are preferably employed at levels of about 0.1-1% by weight of the composition. The calixarene compounds particularly useful in this invention may be represented by the formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is alkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkyl or substituted alkoxy; R.sup.2 is H or alkyl; and n=4, 6, or 8.The compositions are further characterized by a thickener component, which may suitably be selected from various polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate), methacrylate type copolymers, acrylic rubbers, polyvinyl acetate and poly(.alpha.-cyanoacrylate) or silicas treated with polydialkylsiloxanes or trialkylsilanes.

Abstract: Ethylenically unsaturated monomers are grafted on homo- and olefinic co-polymers by means of a radicalic reaction, operating at between 60.degree. C. and 160.degree. C., in a solution of the polymer in a solving medium consisting of, or predominantly comprising a mixture of a component (A), chosen between aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters and ethers containing at least one aromatic or cycloaliphatic group, with a component (B) consisting of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic ketone, and by separating at the end of the reaction the grafted polymer, by means of the cooling down of the solution to a temperature below 40.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the production of coatings based on reaction products of (A) polyhydroxy polyacrylate resins obtained from hydroxyalkyl esters of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid, alkyl acrylates and/or methacrylates, one or more polymerizable, olefinically unsaturated N-containing heterocyclic compounds and if appropriate vinyl-aromatics, acrylamides or methacrylamides and other monomers with (B) isocyanurate-containing polyisocyanates having a functionality of from 2.5 to 6 and predominantly containing cycloaliphatically bonded isocyanate groups is particularly useful for coating metal articles.

Abstract: A process is provided for crosslinking, foaming, or both of polymers at temperatures above 150.degree. C. using at least one azo ester and/or azo ether in combination with at least one crosslinking intensifier having at least two reactive carbon-carbon double or triple bonds.

Abstract: Formation of undesired by-product adduct during production of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-acrylate copolymers is controlled by subjecting the inhibitor containing reaction mixture to a molecular-oxygen-containing gaseous atmosphere during addition of the acrylate monomer.

Abstract: Coated beads which exhibit anti-lumping properties upon pre-expansion and which are useful in the formation of soft expanded articles are prepared by coating initial polystyrene beads, in suspension, with a coating composition comprising styrene and a macromonomer of styrene and isoprene or styrene and butadiene, the coating compositions added to the suspension as an aqueous emulsion containing a catalyst and a polyoxyethylene ether of nonylphenol or octylphenol as surfactant.

Abstract: Styrenic polymer beads of a preferred size are produced from styrenic polymer beads of a smaller size by forming an aqueous suspension of the styrenic polymer beads and adding thereto, under polymerization conditions, an aqueous emulsion formed by admixing styrenic monomer and a catalyst therefor with water containing a nonionic surfactant that is an ethylene oxide condensate of an alkylphenol, which contains at least fifty moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkylphenol. The beads of preferred size are formed without formation of fine styrenic polymer particles and without significant amounts of clusters of beads.

Abstract: Esters of tetracarboxylic acids having the following general formula:(RO.sub.2 C').sub.2 .dbd.X.dbd.(C"O.sub.2 R').sub.2wherein .dbd.X.dbd. is selected from tetravalent 5 or 6 membered or a double 6 membered ring system and wherein C' and C" carbons are attached to separate pairs of vicinal carbons and R and R' are selected from halogenated organic radicals containing at least 2 atoms of chlorine or bromine and the other of each R and R' is selected from --H, --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 O.sub.2 CCR".dbd.CH.sub.2, and --CH[CH.sub.2 (OH)]CH.sub.2 O.sub.2 CCR".dbd.CH.sub.2 are useful in the preparations of high molecular weight polymers and copolymers which are improved in fire retardance and strength.

Abstract: This invention relates to aqueous dispersions of synthetic polymer particles, particularly those used as film-forming media in surface coating compositions.The problem of maintaining under moist conditions the adhesion to a substrate of a film formed from a surface coating composition having such an aqueous dispersion as a film former can be substantially overcome by using a dispersion wherein the film-forming polymer comprises (a) polar groups selected from amine, ureido and thioureido groups (b) a proportion of monomer units derived from acrylamide and methacrylamide, and (c) a proportion of poly(alkylene oxide). The proportions of these components present by weight of the film-forming polymer are at least 0.3% of (a), at least 0.3% of (b), at least 0.5% of (c) and from 1.4-9.0% of (a)+(b)+(c).These aqueous polymer dispersions may be used in interior or exterior surface coatings.

Abstract: Emulsion polymerization is carried out with reactive surfactants comprised of ring sulfonated maleate half esters of alkoxylated alkyl arylols.

Abstract: By block-copolymerizing a mixture of an aromatic vinyl compound and a conjugated diene in two stages in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, using an organomonolithium compound or an organodilithium compound as a polymerization initiator, a block copolymer is formed as a suspension polymer in a slurry state.The resulting block copolymer is very clear and excellent in mechanical properties, especially, strength, elongation and impact strength. It has a wide application in the field of general resins.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing high impact polystyrenes by mass-suspension polymerization of styrene and a polybutadiene rubber having a vinyl isomer content of 11 to 22 percent. The high impact polystyrenes made by the disclosed process are useful for forming extruded sheet with balanced impact properties suited for deep draw thermoforming.

Abstract: An adhesive composition comprising a 2-cyanoacrylate and at least one member selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic carboxylic acids having three or more carboxyl groups, anhydrides thereof, partial esters thereof, aromatic polycarboxylic acids having three or more carboxyl groups and anhydrides thereof. This composition has a high impact strength, is suitable for bonding metallic substrates to one another and is also excellent in resistance to heat, weather, and water.