Abstract: New crosslinkable polymers, in particular polymerization products of 5-maleimidyl-isophthalic acid derivatives and 5-(nadic acid)-isophthalic acid derivatives and vinyl monomers and polycondensation products of the said isophthalic acid derivatives and diamines, diols or aminoalcohols and optionally a di-, tri- or tetra-carboxylic acid derivative are described. These polymers are distinguished by good processability and good solubility in customary organic solvents and are suitable for the manufacture of various industrial products, such as thin films, thick films and compression mouldings. spThis is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 696,349, filed on June 15, 1976, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,368, issued on Sept. 19, 1978.

Abstract: New crosslinkable polymers, in particular polymerization products of 5-maleimidyl-trimellitic acid derivatives and 3,5-bis-(maleimidyl)-phthalic acid derivatives and vinyl monomers and polycondensation products of the said imidyl compounds and diamines, diols or amino-alcohols and optionally a di-, tri- or tetra-carboxylic acid derivative are described. These polymers are distinguished by good processability and good solubility in customary organic solvents and are suitable for the manufacture of very diverse industrial products, such as thin and thick films and the like.

Abstract: Low molecular weight polymers of an unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride monomer (e.g., maleic anhydride) and a copolymerizable monomer (e.g., styrene) are prepared by an improved process which comprises polymerizing the monomers in the presence of the hydroxide or a nucleophilic salt of a monovalent cation (e.g., a nucleophilic salt or the hydroxide of an ammonium compound or of an alkali metal). By the practice of this process, low molecular weight polymers are conveniently and economically obtained without the use of high catalyst concentrations, high temperatures, conventional chain transfer agents, high boiling chain transfer solvents or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of preparing cross-linked hydrogels in the form of shaped articles, insoluble in any solvent but swellable in water and in aqueous liquids is provided. The method comprises polymerizing acrylonitrile alone or with a minor amount up to 15% by weight of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with acrylonitrile under conditions of radical polymerization in concentrated, i.e. 50 to 72% nitric acid in absence of any added chain-transfer and cross-linking agents, said monomer or monomers being used in concentrations making possible cross-linking by chain transfer onto the monomer, i.e. in concentrations ranging from 15 to 50%, preferably from 25 to 40% by weight, at temperatures ranging from 0.degree. to 50.degree. C., preferably from 5.degree. to 20.degree. C. The polymerization is carried out in a mold.

Abstract: A polymerization vessel equipped with a condenser is charged with vinyl chloride, a suspending agent or dispersing agent, and water. The mixture is subjected to a preparatory stirring in the absence of a catalyst. The polymerization catalyst is added thereto when bubbling caused by the preparatory stirring subsides and stable suspended oil drops form. Blockage of the condenser by polymer scale deposition is substantially reduced. The addition of an alkaline substance, an oxidizing substance or an azine dye further reduces polymer scale deposition. Preferably the operation of the condenser is initiated only after the conversion rate is higher than 5% or the average value per unit hour.

Abstract: New imidyl-benzene-dicarboxylic and -tricarboxylic acid derivatives, in particular 5-maleimidyl-trimellitic acid derivatives and 3,5-bis-(maleimidyl)-phthalic acid derivatives, and a process for their manufacture are described. These imidyl-benzene-dicarboxylic and -tricarboxylic acid derivatives are suitable for the manufacture of crosslinkable polymers, above all polycondensation and polymerization products, which are distinguished by good processability and good solubility in customary organic solvents. Imidyl compounds, according to the definition, which have anhydride groups can also be used as curing agents for optionally modified epoxide resins.

Abstract: A method of preparing cross-linked hydrogels in the form of shaped articles, insoluble in any solvent but swellable in water and in aqueous liquids, is provided. The method comprises polymerizing acrylonitrile alone or with a minor amount up to 15% by weight of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with acrylonitrile under conditions of radical polymerization in concentrated, i.e. 50 to 72%, nitric acid in the absence of any added chain-transfer and cross-linking agents, said monomer or monomers being used in concentrations making possible cross-linking by chain transfer onto the monomer, i.e. in concentrations ranging from 15 to 50%, preferably from 25 to 40% by weight, at temperatures ranging from 0.degree. to 50.degree. C, preferably from 5.degree. to 20.degree. C. The polymerization is carried out in a mold.

Abstract: Processes for increasing the molecular weight of bis-maleimides are provided. The bis-maleimides are reacted with certain cyclic dienes to form reversible adducts. These adducts, upon elimination of the cyclic diene, yield an extension of the bis-maleimides to higher molecular weight polymers, ultimately to thermally stable, infusible polymers. The process can be interrupted to yield tractable polymers which are also convertible to cross-linked, infusible products. Modifications of the process include preparing the adducts in the presence of aprotic solvents as well as Bronsted acid salt catalysts, and the isolation of intermediate solid products.

Abstract: Micro-suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride monomers and comonomers with a seed in the form of a previously prepared dispersion of the polymer or copolymer containing all of the organo-soluble initiator required for the polymerization, in which the initiator is activated during the polymerization by the addition of an organo-metallic complex of a water-soluble metal salt reacted with a complexing agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to reduction of polymer buildup during the suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride, either alone or with other olefinically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable therewith. There is employed a particular combination of ingredients in the polymerization recipe, the essential features being the use of a water phase inhibitor and an oil phase inhibitor along with a substantially water-insoluble polymerization initiator and operating at a high pH. A multiplicity of charges may be polymerized in the reactor without opening the same.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for stabilizing unsaturated cycloacetal resin produced by reacting (I) cycloacetal compound prepared by the condensation of polyhydric alcohol more than tri-hydric and unsaturated aldehyde, with (II) unsaturated alcohol having a radical-polymerizable unsaturated bond and an alcoholic hydroxyl group in the same molecule, and optionally further with one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohol, hydroxy polyether and hydroxy polyester, in the presence of acid catalyst, characterized by adding one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, quaternary ammonium salt, hydrazine and its derivatives in an amount of 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of polystyrene which comprises the steps of contacting styrene monomer with gaseous nitric oxide (NO) and thereafter subjecting the styrene monomer to polymerization conditions. An advantageous increase in the rate of polymerization for the styrene results.

Abstract: This invention discloses homopolymers and interpolymers of nonconjugated diolefins defined by the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may be hydrogen, a lower alkyl group containing up to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group and R.sub.4 may be a lower alkyl group containing up to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group. It is also disclosed that these homopolymers and interpolymers can be prepared by solution polymerization employing cationic catalyst systems and also coordination catalyst systems. The polymers are either resinous or rubbery in nature.

Abstract: Acrylonitrile-unsaturated sulphonate copolymers are prepared with an increased sulphonate content relative to the sulphonate content in the monomer mixture, in an aqueous heterogeneous phase, by using an aqueous medium of an inorganic halide or nitrate of ammonia or of a metal of group IA or IIA of the Periodic Table.

Abstract: Organic nitrones are stabilizers for anaerobically-setting adhesive compositions wherein the principal adhesive component is a (meth) acrylic acid ester and the catalyst is an organic peroxide. The nitrone improves the storage-stability of the adhesives in contact with air.

Abstract: Free flowing polychloroprene powder can be produced from standard latexes by adding 1 - 10% of a salt of an alkyl sulfate, such as sodium lauryl sulfate to an acidified latex and precipitating the rubber in a coagulating solution, separating the particles and drying them. It was also found that the precipitated polychloroprene particles could be made stable in alcohols and ketone (which affords a simpler drying procedure) by adjusting the pH of the mixture of latex and coagulating solution to about 7.25.

Abstract: Organic sulfonyl hydrazones are accelerators for aerostable, anaerobically-setting adhesive compositions. They provide rapid setting of the adhesive with formation of bonds of good strength, and have little adverse effect upon the storage stability of the compositions when access of molecular oxygen is permitted.

Abstract: Four component polymerization initiators for olefinic monomers comprise (1) an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, a persulphate, a permanganate, a chlorate, a perchlorate, a bichromate, a bromate, a ceric salt, an oxazirane, an organic peroxide or an organic hydroperoxide, (2) a chelate compound of a metal such as titanium, iron, vanadium, aluminum, tin, manganese, chromium, cobalt, copper, zinc or bismuth in which the metal is not fully coordinated, (3) an electron donor in amount at most equal to that required to complex completely the said metal of the chelate compound, the said electron donor being for example an amine, a monoalcohol, an ether, an aldehyde, a ketone, an imine, an oxime, an amide, a sulphonamide, or a phosphonamide, and (4) a chelate complex or salt which is different from the chelate compound (2) and in which the metal may be for example, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, chromium, vanadium or tin, the degree of coordination of the said metal being different from that of the met

Abstract: The mono- or diester of phosphoric acid and a straight chain alkanol of 8 to 10 carbon atoms is used as a surfactant in the emulsion polymerization of olefinic compounds, especially vinyl compounds, to obtain polymers having improved stability to light and heat.