Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-phase polymerization process for making a water insoluble polymer. The process includes (1) providing a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and an aqueous phase, and containing a monomer and a polymerization initiator, and (2) polymerizing the monomer in the reaction mixture. The monomer may be a hydrocarbon or a fluorinated monomer. The polymerization initiator may be soluble in the aqueous phase, soluble in carbon dioxide, or insoluble in both the aqueous phase and carbon dioxide, such that the initiator forms a separate phase.The present invention also provides multi-phase polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the process of making water insoluble polymers.

Abstract: Copolymers of ethylene, a vinyl ester of a tertiary saturated monocarboxylic acid and optionally a further monomer, and a process for making them. The copolymers are suitable for producing films of high mechanical strength and excellent optical properties.

Abstract: Copolymers of ethylene, a vinyl ester of a tertiary saturated monocarboxylic acid and optionally a further monomer, and a process for making them. The copolymers are suitable for producing films of high mechanical strength and excellent optical properties.

Abstract: A free radical polymerization process for the preparation of a thermoplastic resin includes heating a mixture comprised of a free radical initiator, a stable free radical agent, and ethylene at a temperature of from about 40.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. and at a pressure of from about 500 to about 5,000 bar to form a thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin has a molecular weight distribution of from about 1.0 to about 2.0.

Abstract: Vinyl C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alkanoate/C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 alkylene copolymer emulsions e.g. vinyl acetate/ethylene, are usable as wet adhesives and pressure sensitive adhesives for a number of applications. Their bonding to the surfaces of lower polarity, e.g. polyethylene, is improved by including vinyl esters of C.sub.4 to C.sub.18 primary carboxylic acids as a monomer.

Abstract: Disclosed are polymers and copolymers of CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHR alpha olefins where R is hydrogen or a 1-6 carbon atom alkyl radical, containing in the chain from 0.1 to 40 mole % of monomeric units ##STR1## where X is selected from the group consisting of (CH.sub.2).sub.r CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Y ##STR2## where r=0-10, Y is a halogen atom, R.sup.1 is a hydrocarbon radical with 1-18 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Terpolymers which are copolymers of ethylene, vinyl acetate, and vinyl neononanoate or vinyl neodecanoate, a process for their preparation, and a method of their use as additives for mineral oil distillates.

Abstract: Copolymers comprisingfrom 75 to 92% by weight of ethylene andfrom 8 to 25% by weight of vinyl acetatehave a solidification point of greater than 87.degree. C. and a melt viscosity of greater than 1,200 centistokes.

Abstract: The viscosity of copolymers of a) ethylene, b) C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 acrylates, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 methacrylates, or vinyl esters of C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 carboxylic acids, and c) at least one alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid of 3-12 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, and monoesters of dicarboxylic acids is increased, while maintaining gel content at a level of less than 3%, by treatment with a mixture of an organic peroxide and a chromium (III) salt.

Abstract: Terpolymers obtained by polymerizing a mixture of ethylene, vinyl acetate, and isobutyl vinyl ether, a process for their preparation, and methods of their use as additives for mineral oil distillates.

Abstract: A seal characterized by prossessing a cushioning part formed by cross-linking a copolymer of an .alpha.-olefin with a carboxylic acid-containing vinyl monomer owing to exposure to radiation or electron beam.

Abstract: For the preparation of copolymers of ethylene, ethylene is polymerized with esters of vinyl alcohol in the absence of solvents and emulsifiers and in the presence of free radical acceptors. The addition of free radical acceptors makes it possible to increase the polymerization temperature in comparison to a procedure without the use of free radical acceptors.

Abstract: Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer films having about 25%-33% by weight vinyl acetate and melting points of about 160.degree.-170.degree. F. are provided for packaging, lining or wrapping purposes. Low melt bags for rubber compounds and additives are made from the films.

Abstract: The use of ethylene glycol diacetate in place of methyl chloroform (1,1,1-trichloroethane) in conventional waterborne packaging and converting adhesives provides comparable adhesive products with reduced environmental and health related problems.

Abstract: Ethylene/vinyl acetate solution polymers with increased strength and low gel content may be prepared by the copolymerization of small quantities of acryloyl or methacryloyl compounds.

Abstract: Ethylene/vinyl acetate high-pressure bulk polymers having reduced tackiness can be produced by copolymerization of small quantities of an acryloyl or methacryloyl compound.

Abstract: Hot-melt adhesives, useful for both glue-port and glue-gun applications, are formulated so that they can be applied at temperatures no higher than 280.degree. F. and preferably at temperatures of at most 250.degree. F. The adhesive compositions have a heat resistance of at least 125.degree. F. and are readily shaped into glue sticks for use in glue guns. The adhesive for the hot-melt adhesive compositions is suitably compounded with tackifyin resin and/or wax. The resulting composition has a shape viscosity profile, which is readily achieved, e.g., by using a high melt index adhesive polymer as an essential component.

Abstract: High molecular weight, gel-free ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers may be prepared by the process of solution polymerization if a particular relationship of temperature/pressure is observed.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions having a Tg of -45.degree. to -25.degree. C. suitable for application to plasticized polyvinyl chloride comprising 30-70% by weight of a vinyl ester of a alkenoic acid; 10-30% by weight ethylene; 20-40% by weight of a di-2-ethylhexyl maleate or di-n-octyl maleate or the corresponding fumarate; and 1 to 10% by weight of a mono-carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Novel copolymers of ethylene containing per 100 parts by weight ethylene 0.2 to 5.0 parts by weight of 2,4,4-trimethylpentene-(1) and optionally 2.0 to 20 parts by weight of vinyl ester or vinyl ether or ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with alcohols of 1 to 8 carbon atoms having a melt index MFI (190/2.16) of 0.4 to 20 g/10 min. a density of 0.915 to 0.960 g/ml and an impact tensile strength of 850 to 2,600 mJ/mm.sup.2 and a process for their preparation useful for making transparent films.

Abstract: Terpolymer emulsions of vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride and ethylene are used in surface coatings, e.g. paints, and require certain properties for this application. The dry tensile strength and water uptake properties of such terpolymers is improved by adding monomer with the initiator during the reaction at rates which provide a reservoir of free monomer in the medium.

Abstract: Copolymers of ethylene with vinyl esters are prepared in a continuously operated tubular polymerization system at high pressure and temperatures by feeding a mixture of ethylene, vinyl ester, initiator and, if appropriate, regulant into the polymerization system in the form of a mainstream at the inlet point thereof and at the same time through two or more secondary streams downstream of the inlet point, secondary streams (I) being metered in at points where the reaction temperature has just exceeded a maximum temperature due to the heat of polymerization and secondary streams (II) at points which, relative to the direction of flow of the ethylene, are upstream of the feed points of secondary streams (I) and upstream of the respective maximum temperature.

Abstract: A halogenated ethylene-vinyl acetate-isobutene terpolymer is provided that has improved thermal stability.

Abstract: An improved process for continuously producing ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing 20 to 50 mole % of ethylene is provided. An aliphatic alcohol solvent is employed in the polymerization vessel. Ethylene vapor discharged from the polymerization vessel is introduced into the tubes of the lower part of a multi-tubular heat exchanger. Vinyl acetate is introduced into the upper part of the heat exchanger and caused to flow through said tubes, thereby effecting absorption and solubilization of ethylene into the vinyl acetate. The solubilized ethylene and vinyl acetate is passed to the polymerization vessel. The process of this invention permits the stable production of the copolymer over a long period of time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate in a continuous stirred-tank reactor in which the ethylene and vinyl acetate are premixed and the reactor is continuously purged.

Abstract: There is provided a coating material made of a saponification product of a modified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing a cross-linkable olefinically unsaturated monomer. The saponification product is characterized by its intrinsic viscosity not greater than 0.7 dl/g which is measured at 20.degree. C. using phenol containing 15 wt % of water as a solvent. This polymer is readily soluble in solvents, and the resulting solution can have concentration as high as 20 to 50 wt % and provide coating film which is as strong as that obtained from the conventional EVOH having a high degree of polymerization.

Abstract: A process for generating random dialkyl or alkyl aryl peroxide functionality on elastomers is disclosed. Generally, the process involves dissolving an elastomer in a solvent followed by treating the resulting solution with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a catalyst. In a preferred embodiment, the oxidizing agent is a an alkyl or aryl hydroperoxide and the catalyst is a Group VIIa, VIII, Ib or IIb metal.

Abstract: Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers having a melt index of 2,000 to 7,500 and containing from 10 to 22% vinyl acetate are useful in hot melt road marking compositions containing from 1 to 30% of the EVA copolymer; from 0 to 29% by weight of a binder resin; and from 0 to 5% by weight of a plasticizer, the balance of the composition typically comprising from 70 to 80% by weight of aggregates, made up of particulate materials such as sand and/or fillers and/or pigments such as calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide.

Abstract: Homogeneous, random interpolymers of ethylene and lesser amounts by weight of olefinically-unsaturated comonomers are prepared in a substantially constant environment, substantially steady-state reaction mixture, in a well-stirred autoclave reactor, in continuous single-phase operation, using elevated synthesis conditions wherein the temperature and pressure are elevated to an amount high enough to approach, reach, or surpass the molecular weight distribution boundary.

Abstract: A halogenated ethylene-vinyl acetate-isobutene terpolymer is provided that has improved thermal stability.

Abstract: Improved rate of dissolution in liquid hydrocarbon fuels, of specified tert-butylstyrene copolymers capable of imparting anti-misting characteristics to the fuel, is obtained when the copolymer, following its production by aqueous emulsion polymerization of the monomers, is isolated from the resulting latex by a process of flocculation, separation, washing and drying at moderate temperatures. The copolymer thus isolated is advantageously incorporated in the liquid fuel in the form of a slurry with a hydroxylic liquid and an amine.

Abstract: Cold flow properties of distillate fuel such as diesel fuel are improved by the addition of a small amount of a tetrapolymer of ethylene, a C.sub.3-32 .alpha.-olefin (e.g. hexene-1), vinyl ester of a C.sub.1-12 aliphatic monocarboxylic acid (e.g. vinyl acetate) and a vinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. styrene) having an average molecular weight of 2,000-5,000.

Abstract: An aqueous latex is disclosed which possesses improved water resistance at reduced acrylic ester content for use in exterior latex paints. This latex comprises an aqueous emulsion copolymer of monomers consisting essentially of from 10% to 30% of vinylidene chloride together with 20% to about 50% of styrene, and from 40% to 60% of monoethylenic ester, preferably acrylic or methacrylic esters, the mixture of monomers providing the copolymer with a glass transition temperature in the range of -10.degree. C. to +10.degree. C., and from 0% to 10.0% of a monomer promoting adhesion, the proportions being based on the total weight of monomers copolymerized.

Abstract: Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers having a melt index of 700 to 10000 and containing from 11 to 40% vinyl acetate are useful in hot melt systems and particularly in formulating low viscosity hot melt adhesives, preferably in binary compositions with natural or synthetic resin tackifiers. The adhesives show long open times with short setting times, and excellent adhesive properties.The EVAs are prepared by a high pressure polymerization, preferably by using chain transfer agent such as isobutylene to achieve high melt indices.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of continuously copolymerizing ethylene and vinyl acetate in a solvent in the presence of a radical initiator without causing gel formation.

Abstract: Use of zinc salts of mercaptobenzimidazoles corresponding to the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group; and/or a zinc salt of a di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.9 -alkyldithiophosphate for the preparation of nitrile rubber/PVC mixtures.

Abstract: Copolymerization in aqueous emulsion of ethylene with one or two comonomers having different water solubilities is more efficient when at least two but no more than three comonomer solubility-affecting additives are present in the copolymerization medium, at least one of which increases the solubility in water of one of the comonomers, while at least another one decreases the solubility in water of another comonomer. In this manner, the diffusion rates of comonomers to the copolymerization locus are well controlled; the rate of polymerization often is increased; the concentrations of the comonomers at the copolymerization locus remain constant; and the copolymer composition remains constant. This process improvement can be applied to the copolymerization of many comonomer combinations of great commercial interest, including, for example ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymerizations.

Abstract: A polymer capable of forming an anisotropic melt characterized in that the polymer chain includes residues of cross-linking reactants at a concentration sufficient to give a polymer with a melt viscosity of not greater than 10.sup.7 Nsec/m.sup.2 measured by capillary rheometry at a shear rate of 10.sup.4 N/m.sup.2. The polymers exhibit favorable shear dependent viscosity characteristics in that the viscosity is high under low shear conditions and is low under high shear conditions, as judged by the viscosity characteristics of polymers of the same composition but not containing the residues of cross-linking reactants.

Abstract: Process for preparing copolymers of vinyl-aromatic monomers with ethylenically unsaturated nitriles having a very low content of unreacted residual monomers, consisting in adding to the polymerization dispersion, containing a compound capable of giving free radicals, and in the final step of the polymerization process, from 0.2 to 2% by weight of a comonomer which is reactive towards the unreacted monomers.

Abstract: Polymers of 1,000 to 50,000 number average molecular weight, comprising 3 to 40 molar proportions of ethylene per molar proportion of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, are prepared using an ester peroxide as the free radical initiator, in a solvent, for use as wax crystal modifying agents, e.g., pour depressants and flow improvers for middle distillate fuel oil.

Abstract: In producing an aqueous latex the reactor pressure and free monomers content in the aqueous phase of the reactor are controlled. This control is achieved by selective addition of the monomers mixture to the reactor in response to pressure variation and the maintenance of a monomer unsaturated condition in the reactor.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of dispersions of optionally cross-linked ethylene-vinyl ester graft polymers wherein an ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer is used as graft substrate and a vinyl ester of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 carboxylic acid and/or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkyl ester of acrylic and/or methacrylic acid are used as a graft monomer which is polymerized, optionally together with a cross-linking agent having two or more C--C double bonds, in organic solution until at least 25% by weight of the graft monomer has been reacted, the reaction product is converted into a stable finely divided dispersion by the addition of a precipitating agent under the action of shearing forces and polymerisation is completed before, during or after the formation of the dispersion.

Abstract: In a process for preparing an elastomeric vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer having high Mooney viscosity and low gel content wherein vinyl acetate monomer is copolymerized with ethylene monomer in an aqueous emulsion reaction medium containing surface active agent, polymerization catalyst and protective colloid to provide a latex and vinyl acetate-ethylene elastomer is recovered from the latex, an improvement is disclosed which comprises:copolymerizing from about 40% to about 70% by weight of vinyl acetate monomer with from about 60% to about 30% by weight of ethylene monomer in an aqueous emulsion reaction medium to provide a latex, the reaction medium for vinyl acetate-ethylene elastomer containing:(i) at least one surface active agent having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance value of at least 22 in an amount above about 2.

Abstract: A woven fabric consisting of warp and filling yarns made from fibers or filaments having a low modulus of elasticity and a large diameter. The fibers can be of any cross-sectional shape but have a moment of inertia of from 400.times.10.sup.-14 in..sup.4 to 7.8.times.10.sup.-9 in..sup.4 and an elastic modulus of from 2,000 to 80,000 p.s.i. These values correspond to a range of circular diameters of from 0.003 to 0.020 in. The fibers can be loaded with high amounts of fillers, such as pigments, color agents, flame retardants, antistatic agents, antisoiling agents, or antioxidants.

Abstract: A process for the continuous production of an ethylene copolymer by compressing a mixture of ethylene and comonomer in a pre-compressor and a post-compressor, copolymerizing the mixture in a polymerization zone at a high temperature and high pressure, transferring the reaction mixture into a high pressure product isolation zone, from there into a low pressure product isolation zone and thereafter into a discharge extruder, and recycling the greater part of the unconverted monomer into the polymerization process and passing a small part of the unconverted gas into a low temperature isolation zone, in which process a small part of the gas recycled from the high pressure product isolation zone is passed into the low temperature isolation zone, which is preferably under a pressure of from 10 to 30 bar and at from -10.degree. to -50.degree. C., and all the gas taken off the low pressure product isolation zone is fed to the pre-compressor.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a uniaxially oriented plastic film material having improved strength and clarity in the direction of orientation with unexpected improvement in strength in the transverse (unoriented) direction. Preferred film materials of homopolymers and copolymers of ethylene having a density of 0.915 to 0.935 g/cm.sup.3.

Abstract: A process for the copolymerization of ethylene at pressures of from 200 to 3500 atms and temperatures of from 130.degree. to 300.degree. C., wherein silyl ethers are used as initiators.

Abstract: An elastic strapping band is essentially made of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing vinyl acetate in the range of 3 to 20 wt %. The band has molecular orientation in the lengthwise direction thereof with a double refraction rate (.DELTA.n) being in the range of 24.times.10.sup.-3 to 38.times.10.sup.-3. The band has a tensile strength higher than 3.3 kg/mm.sup.2, a stress residual rate higher than 15% after elongating the band under an initial load of 3.3 kg/mm.sup.2, and an elasticity recovering rate higher than 70%.

Abstract: A multi-layer film having a crosslinked layer of an olefin vinyl alcohol copolymer is produced by providing a substrate layer and a layer of a copolymer of an olefin and a vinyl ester. The multi-layer structure is crosslinked preferably by irradiation and then hydrolyzed to convert the olefin/vinyl ester copolymer into a copolymer of the olefin and vinyl alcohol. The thus produced structure may be incorporated into a further film combination by extrusion coating additional layers. The multi-layer structure may be oriented to produce a heat shrinkable film for use as a packaging material.

Abstract: Use of vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer emulsions as laminating adhesives for rug backing is disclosed. The copolymer emulsions are prepared by admixing vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer, dispersant and thickening agent together, with or without the addition of filler. The vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer can contain between about 20 and about 70 parts by weight of vinyl acetate and between about 30 and about 80 parts by weight of ethylene. The resulting vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer emulsions have a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of between about -35.degree. C. and about -10.degree. C.