Abstract: A method for forming ionic copolymer salts from low molecular weight copolymer acids formed from ethylene and an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having at least one carboxylic acid group, and cations having a valence of 1 to 3. The copolymer acid and the cation containing material are fed to a reaction vessel. The reaction vessel is maintained below atmospheric pressure, for at least a portion of the time, so that the oxygen content of the reaction vessel is minimized and volatile reaction products are removed. The reacting mixture is continually stirred or mixed within the reaction vessel. The temperature within the reaction vessel is controlled and maintained above the melting point of the polymer.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions of amide polymers, such as polyacrylamide when treated with small amounts of a water-soluble polyaldehyde and a hypohalite salt at an alkaline pH, react to form firm gels within a short time at ambient temperature. Such gels, which are stable under alkaline as well as acidic conditions, are usefully employed to plug porous subterranean formations, for grouting of leaking soil pipes or wells, and to otherwise render porous structures impermeable to the passage of liquids such as water.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an electrically conductive polyene, wherein a polyene which contains one or more chain members of the formula where R is hydrogen or methyl, and which contains a total of not less than seven aliphatic double bonds, is treated, in the absence of moisture and of oxygen, with a strong Lewis acid having a pk.sub.a of from -10 to +4, or with an alkali metal.

Abstract: Compounds represented by the formula ##STR1## and addition polymers thereof where m is an integer from 2 to about 10, X- is chlorine, hydroxy, carboxy or-AC-R).dbd.CH.sub.2-R is hydrogen or methyl, -R' is an ethylene or propylene group and-AC-R).dbd.CH.sub.2is one of ##STR2## These compounds and their addition polymers form complexes with alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts and permit the concentration of aqueous solutions of said salts. For example, a compound of the formula ##STR3## is polymerized with an azobis(isobutyronitrile) catalyst to form addition polymers of the repeating unit ##STR4## When cross-linked, rendering it water-insoluble, such an addition polymer concentrates an aqueous solution of sodium chloride when contacted with same at about 0.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention relates to contact lenses having an oxygen gas permeability constant of at least ##EQU1## comprising homopolymers and interpolymers formed by the polymerization of monomers comprising at least one alkyl styrene monomer having at least one C.sub.1 or higher alkyl group on the aromatic ring and improved surface wettability and to the method of making such contact lenses utilizing ultraviolet (UV) and chemical treatment.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a novel thermally reversible copolymer having up to about 11 percent by weight of an N-(alkoxymethyl)acrylamide, a diene-containing synthetic rubber and a metal. The thermally reversible copolymer can be blended with conventional styrene-butadiene rubbers to improve the green strength thereof. Also disclosed herein is a process for improving the green strength of styrene-butadiene rubber which includes the steps of charging a reaction vessel with water, an emulsifier, an initiator, an N-(alkoxymethyl)acrylamide monomer and a vinyl monomer where one is desired, purging the vessel with an inert gas, charging a diene monomer and an activator to the reaction vessel, polymerizing the monomers to form a copolymer latex, coagulating the latex with an aqueous metal salt to form a thermally reversible polymer and compounding the thermally reversible polymer with styrene-butadiene rubber.

Abstract: A novel process is disclosed for increasing the amount of grafted polymer formed during the production of polyamide-modified macroporous polystyrene/divinylbenzene cross-linked beads. Greater selectivity for oxazolination and/or oxazination (grafting) of the chloromethylated polystyrene (CMPS) beads over homopolymer formation is achieved by forming an iodized cross-linked vinyl-addition polymer which is then contacted with an excess of oxazoline or oxazine until up to about 50 percent of said oxazoline or oxazine monomer is reacted. Subsequent hydrolysis of these polyamide-modified resins produces polyamine anion-exchange resins which exhibit greater than 2 times the weak base capacities of conventional anion-exchange resins.

Abstract: The method for preparing cross-linked vinylaromatic polymers containing nitro groups having the general formula ##STR1## where R' is H, NO.sub.2, COOH, SO.sub.3 H, P(O)(OH).sub.2, or P(O)H(OH), m is from 60 to 99 and n is from 40 to 1, consists in treatment of the starting cross-linked polymers having the general formula ##STR2## where R is H, COOH, SO.sub.3 H, P(O)(OH).sub.2, or P(O)(OH), m is from 60 to 99 and n is from 40 to 1, with a mixture of an alkali metal nitrate and an acid agent, at a temperature from -5.degree. to 95.degree. C. The quantity of the alkali metal nitrate in the nitrating mixture is from 0.1 to 8 moles per mole of the starting cross-linked polymer.The method provides conditions for preparing cross-linked vinylaromatic polymers, containing nitro groups, having higher mechanical strength, high osmotic stability, and their volume in an ion-exchange column changes insignificantly as acid media are changed for alkaline, and vice versa.

Abstract: Copolymers of acrylic acid and nonionic surfactant acrylates have been found to be useful thickening agents for both aqueous solutions and water/liquid hydrocarbon emulsions.

Abstract: Three-block copolymers of the ABA and ABC type are disclosed in which A and C are plastomeric monomers and B is an elastomeric polymer are disclosed, which are prepared by first polymerizing the block A in such a way to keep alive the active centers in the chain ends for a time sufficient to permit the addition of the second monomer B, whereafter, with the aid of a special catalytic system, the growth of the third block C, can be carried out. A and C are mutually interchangeable. The catalyst for polymerizing the block A is a Lewis' acid aided by isobutene and the catalyst for introducing and copolymerizing C (or A) is a chloride of aluminium alkyl.

Abstract: Compositionally uniform but nonrandom copolymers of ethylene and .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms are provided having an acid content of from about 6 to about 35 weight percent, a melt index of from about 0.1 to about 800, and a ratio of weight percent adjacent acid to weight percent total acid in the copolymer of from about 0.44 to about 1.0. These copolymers have improved physical properties such as hardness, stiffness, heat resistance and creep resistance. Further provided, is a process for preparing these copolymers in a constant environment stirred autoclave in a continuous manner wherein the reaction zone is maintained in a steady state at a pressure of from 0 to about 500 psi above, and at a temperature of from 0.degree. to about 15.degree. C. above that needed to maintain a single phase reaction mixture at a given concentration of copolymer and at the given acid comonomer content of the copolymer.

Abstract: The graft copolymer is the reaction of a backbone polymer having allylic chloride groups therein and monomers forming a pendant graft polymer in the presence of a coinitiator. The monomers have the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having from 4 to 15 carbon atoms, an aryl group having from 6 to 15 carbon atoms, combinations thereof, or hydrogen. The amount of the pendant graft polymer portion by weight ranges from about 0.5 percent to about 90 percent based upon the total weight of the total graft copolymer with the pendant graft polymer being substituted on the polymer backbone in lieu of the chlorine atom of the allylic chloride group.

Abstract: The graft copolymer is the reaction of a backbone polymer having allylic chloride groups therein and monomers forming a pendant graft polymer in the presence of a coinitiator. The monomers have the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having from 4 to 15 carbon atoms, an aryl group having from 6 to 15 carbon atoms, combinations thereof, or hydrogen. The amount of the pendant graft polymer portion by weight ranges from about 0.5 percent to about 90 percent based upon the total weight of the total graft copolymer with the pendant graft polymer being substituted on the polymer backbone in lieu of the chlorine atom of the allylic chloride group.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions of amide polymers, such as polyacrylamide when treated with small amounts of a water-soluble polyaldehyde and a hypohalite salt at an alkaline pH, react to form firm gels within a short time at ambient temperature. Such gels, which are stable under alkaline as well as acidic conditions, are usefully employed to plug porous subterranean formations, for grouting of leaking soil pipes or wells, and to otherwise render porous structures impermeable to the passage of liquids such as water.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of salts of hydroxycarboxylated polymers of reduced molecular weight, starting from the corresponding polymer salts of higher molecular weight, comprises reacting the polymer salt of higher molecular weight with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a solvent.

Abstract: Copolymers of vinylidene fluoride with at least one other fluorinated- ethylenically unsaturated monomer are press-cured at about 163.degree.-204.degree. C. by crosslinking with an aromatic polyhydroxy compound in the presence of an accelerator in a weakly basic system, at least a portion of the polyhydroxy compound being blocked by conversion to acetal or thioacetal groups. At the press-cure temperature some of the acetal or thioacetal groups are decomposed and the free hydroxyl groups are reformed, thus providing crosslinking capability. The remainder of acetal or thioacetal groups are decomposed during post-cure oven heating at a higher temperature, and under those conditions copolymer vulcanization is completed. Press-cured compositions of this invention have excellent hot tensile elongation, which permits easy demoldability; and very good recyclability, which eliminates or reduces fluoropolymer waste. The compositions of this invention also have excellent mold flow properties at press-cure temperature.