Abstract: This invention relates to olefin polymerization processes for polymerizing ethylene, higher alpha-olefin comonomer and dienes, especially vinyl norbornene, and especially process for producing amorphous or semi-crystalline polymers such as EPDM. The invention also relates to the novel polymers produced by such processes. The invention furthermore relates to articles of manufacture with an improved balance of toughness and curing properties.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of preparing an EP(D)M elastomer, which includes pre-cooling a reactive solvent to ?80 to ?100° C.; and polymerizing ethylene, at least one higher ?-olefin having 3 to 18 carbons, and selectively, at least one conjugated or non-conjugated diene having 5 to 15 carbons, in the presence of the reactive solvent. According to the method of the current invention, the yield of the EP(D)M elastomer is drastically increased even though a conventional preparation device is used unchanged. Further, methods of controlling the yield of the EP(D)M elastomer and of recovering the EP(D)M elastomer are provided.

Abstract: A method of lowering MFR response of a high-melt-flow-rate-polymer-producing metallocene catalyst is provided. The method includes contacting the metallocene catalyst with a sufficient quantity of ?,?-diene monomer such that when the catalyst composition is contacted with polymerizable reactants under suitable polymerization conditions, the resulting polymer has an MFR rate in the range of 0.1 to 1000. Hydrogen and ethylene may also be present in the polymerization. Additionally a catalyst composition is provided which includes a high-melt-flow-rate-polymer-producing metallocene catalyst and a sufficient quantity of ?,?-diene monomers such that when the catalyst composition is contacted with a monomer under polymerization conditions, the resulting polymer has an MFR rate in the range of 0.1 to 1000.

Abstract: A class of bridged or unbridged metallocene compounds is disclosed, wherein the cyclopentadienyl ligands have two or four adjacent substituents forming one or two alkylenic cycles of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms. These metallocenes are useful as catalyst components for the polymerization of olefins, particularly for the (co)polymerization of ethylene and for the polymerization of propylene.

Abstract: A cross-linkable or cross-linked rubber composition usable to constitute a tire tread having improved wear resistance, to such a tread and to a tire incorporating this tread. The composition is particularly applicable to tires of passenger-vehicle type. The rubber composition includes a plasticizing resin of number-average molecular weight of from 400 to 2000 g/mol, the resin having units resulting from the polymerization of a monocyclic or bicyclic unsaturated terpene, in a mass fraction of from 70% to 100%, and having a glass transition temperature greater than 50° C. and less than 120° C.

Abstract: A vinyl monomer of the structure R—B—Ar(—CH?CH2)n (1) in which Ar is an aromatic ring (arylene group); n is an integer >0, in particular one or two; B is a bridge structure; R is a (C2-30)-hydrocarbon group carrying two or more protected or unprotected hydroxy groups. The monomer is characterized in that B comprises a chain of atoms linking R to Ar and consisting of 1–10 atoms selected from carbons and the heteroatoms ether oxygen, thioether sulphur or amino nitrogen, with the proviso that the terminal atom in B which is attached to R is one of the heteroatoms. A method for producing a polymer support matrix in which the vinylmonomer is one of the monomeric units. The support matrix as such is also claimed. The preferred method for producing the support matrices involves suspension polymerisation, the preferred form of matrix is beads.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the copolymerisation of propylene with at least one C4-20 ?-olefin or C4-20 diene in a reaction medium in the presence of a catalyst system at a temperature of greater that 80° C. or at a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of the reaction medium. Under such conditions, comonmer incorporation is higher than under standard conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to synthetic procedures that include the step of ring-opening metathesis of cyclic olefins and reaction with an acyclic diene co-reactant to produce olefin macrocycles by ring expansion, or alternatively. The ring expansion of the cyclic olefin is provided by three types of sequential olefin metathesis (ring-opening, cross, and ring-closing olefin metathesis). More particularly, the invention pertains to synthesis of olefin macrocycles via olefin metathesis reactions using a Group 8 transition metal complex as the metathesis catalyst. Macrocycles provided herein have a variety of uses in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, organic synthesis and chemical industries, such as the production of crown ethers that are useful as metal complexing species.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of heterophasic elastomeric polymer comprising the step of polymerizing ethylene, an alpha-olefin CH2?CHL, where L is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical with 1–10 carbon atoms and a non-conjugated diene in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a transition metal catalyst component supported on a porous alpha-olefin polymer, characterized in that at least part of the diene is impregnated on the porous alpha-olefin polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to telechelic polymers having crosslinkable end groups of the formula and methods for preparing the same wherein n is an integer; is an alkadienyl group; Y is an alkyl group; and Z is crosslinkable end group. In general, the inventive synthesis involves reacting a functionalized chain transfer agent having crosslinkable ends with a cycloalkene in the presence of a ruthenium or osmium catalyst of the formula wherein: M is ruthenium or osmium; X and X1 are independently any anionic ligand; L and L1 are any neutral electron donor ligand; R and R1 are each hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted substituent wherein the substituent is selected from the group consisting of C1–C20 alkyl, C2–C20 alkenyl, C2–C20 alkynyl, aryl, C1–C20 carboxylate, C1–C20 alkoxy, C1–C20 alkenyloxy, C2–C20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C2–C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1–C20 alkylthio, C1–C20 alkylsulfonyl and C1–C20 alkylsulfinyl.

Abstract: The invention concerns alkali-stable hydrophilic sorbents for ion-exchange chromatography. The invention is characterized in that it consists in using as base material a crosslinked vinyl polymerconsisting of vinyl monomers containing diol groups and crosslinking monomers whereof the polymerizable groups are bound by carbonamide-containing chains. Monomers containing ionic groups are grafted on said base material using cerium (IV) salts.

Abstract: A method of lowering MFR response of a high melt flow rate polymer producing metallocene catalyst is provided. The method includes contacting the metallocene catalyst with a sufficient quantity of ?,?-diene monomer such that when the catalyst composition is contacted with polymerizable reactants under suitable polymerization conditions, the resulting polymer has an MFR rate in the range of 0.1 to 19. Hydrogen and ethylene may also be present in the polymerization. Additionally a catalyst composition is provided which includes a high melt flow rate polymer producing metallocene catalyst and a sufficient quantity of ?,?-diene monomers such that when the catalyst composition is contacted with a monomer under polymerization conditions, the resulting polymer has an MFR rate in the range of 0.1 to 19.

Abstract: There is provided an ethylene-?-olefin-non-conjugated diene copolymer rubber satisfying the following requirements (1) to (4): (1) a ratio of a Z-average molecular chain length (Az) measured according to a gel permeation chromatography to a number average molecular chain length (An), Az/An, of the ethylene-?-olefin-non-conjugated diene copolymer rubber is from 20 to 30, (2) a ratio of a weight average molecular chain length (Aw), which is an index of a molecular weight distribution, to the number average molecular chain length (An), Aw/An, of the ethylene-?-olefin-non-conjugated diene copolymer rubber is more than 5, (3) a unimodal or bimodal molecular weight distribution structure having a molecular chain length component, which component is present in a maximum amount in a range of 3.8<Log Aw<4.5, exists in the ethylene-?-olefin-non-conjugated diene copolymer rubber, and (4) a viscosity (ML1+4, 121° C.

Abstract: An automotive molding, which is excellent in scratching resistance, has high gloss, and is excellent in weathering resistance. The automotive molding of the invention has a part composed of an elastomer material containing an olefinic random copolymer obtained by copolymerizing ethylene, an ?-olefin having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and an unsaturated monomer having a functional group, and optionally a non-conjugated diene, and a metal ion for crosslinking the olefinic random copolymer.

Abstract: It has been discovered that improved polystyrene products may be obtained by polymerizing styrene in the presence of p-t-butyl styrene (TBS) and optionally at least one di-olefinic substituted aromatic compound, such as isopro-penyl styrene, sec-butenyl styrene, m-isobutenyl styrene, p-diisopropenyl benzene, diallyl benzene, and/or diallyl phthalate. The resulting copolymers have a higher glass transition temperature (Tg), a higher molecular weight distribution (MWD), a higher Mz, and a lower melt flow index (MFI) as compared with a polymerized product made by an otherwise identical method except that TBS and/or the di-olefinic substituted aromatic compound are not used. These copoly-mers are also more highly branched as compared with a polymerized product made by an otherwise identical method in the absence of TBS and/or a di-olefinic substituted aromatic compound.

Abstract: The co-polymerization reaction of one or more olefin monomers, such as propylene, with ?,?-diene units and the resulting copolymers are provided. More specifically, the copolymer may have from 90 to 99.999 weight percent of olefins and from 0.001 to 2.000 weight percent of ?,?-dienes. The copolymer may have a weight average molecular weight in the range from 50,000 to 2,000,000, a crystallization temperature in the range from 115° C. to 135° C. and a melt flow rate in the range from 0.1 dg/min to 100 dg/min. These copolymers may be employed in a wide variety of applications, the articles of which include, for example, films, fibers, such as spunbonded and meltblown fibers, fabrics, such as nonwoven fabrics, and molded articles. The copolymer may further include at least two crystalline populations. Desirably, the melting point range of one of the crystalline populations is distinguishable from the melting point range of another crystalline population by a temperature range of from 1° C. to 8° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shaped article for high purity applications containing at least one peroxide curable compound containing a substantially gel-free butyl polymer. In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a sealing material and a medical device containing at least one peroxide-curable compound containing a substantially gel-free butyl polymer. In still another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a fuel cell containing at least one peroxide curable compound containing a substantially gel-free butyl polymer. In still another of its aspects, the present invention relates to halogen-free and sulfur-free shaped articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to functionalized catalyst supports that are useful in the formation of supported polymerization catalysts, supported catalysts derived from such functionalized catalyst supports, methods for preparing such functionalized catalyst supports and supported catalysts, and polymerization processes utilizing such supported catalysts. The functionalized catalyst supports comprise a particulated, solid support material having chemically bonded thereto a plurality of conjugated or non-conjugated diene or alkyne functionalized ligand groups, said composition being capable of reacting with and tethering a catalytically activatable Group 3-10 or Lanthanide metal complex thereto.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive polymer comprising a reaction product of a C1 to C20 alkyl (meth)acrylate, an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, a C2 to C8 hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate, a vinyl aromatic, optionally a ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing sulfonic acid, and optionally a vinyl ester of a carboxylic acid. The pressure-sensitive adhesive polymer can provide adhesion and cohesion in a temperature range from ?30° C. to 50° C. for the All-temperature pressure-sensitive adhesive market.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing monodisperse anion-exchanger gels with high stability, purity and coarse particle size greater than 800 ?m starting from a monodisperse bead polymer with a swelling index of from 2.5 to 7.5 and more than one subsequent feed procedure without any separation between the polymerization steps and then modifying to give the anion exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to telechelic polymers having crosslinkable end groups of the formula and methods for preparing the same wherein n is an integer; is an alkadienyl group; Y is an alkyl group; and Z is crosslinkable end group. In general, the inventive synthesis involves reacting a functionalized chain transfer agent having crosslinkable ends with a cycloalkene in the presence of a ruthenium or osmium catalyst of the formula wherein: M is ruthenium or osmium; X and X1 are independently any anionic ligand; L and L1 are any neutral electron donor ligand; R and R1 are each hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted substituent wherein the substituent is selected from the group consisting of C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C1-C20 alkynyl, aryl, C1-C20 carboxylate, C1-C20 alkoxy, C2-C20 alkenyloxy, C2-C20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C2-C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C20 alkylthio, C1-C20 alkylsulfonyl and C1-C20 alkylsulfinyl.

Abstract: Solid media useful for a variety of applications, such as separations, catalysis, drug carriers, sensors, and combinatorial chemistry, are disclosed. The solid media are prepared with PNPs having a diameter of 1 to 50 nanometers, the PNPs including as polymerized units a multi-ethylenically-unsaturated monomer. Also provided are methods for preparing the solid media.

Abstract: A process for polymerizing monomers in the gas phase, in fluidized bed reactors is described, where unsaturated, gas phase monomers are fed into the reactors in the presence of a mixture of inert diluents having a composition that allows the dew point to be adjusted, this leading to high production rates under stable operation in a non condensed operation mode.

Abstract: Novel polyindanebisphenols or PIBPs for the preparation of new and improved thermosetting polymers having the general formula of are provided. Also disclosed are thermoplastic or thermoset compositions prepared using the novel compounds of the invention, as well as methods of making and using the same. When copolymerized or reactive with other commercial resins such as, e.g., epoxy compounds, PIBP based polymers are characterized by high glass transition temperature (“Tg”), low dielectric constant, low moisture absorption, low coefficient of expansion, low cost, and can be processed on equipment typically used for the production of epoxy based laminates.

Abstract: The present invention is relates to a process for the preparation of an isoolefin polymer containing repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin, at least one divinyl aromatic monomer and, optionally, additional copolymerizable monomers, wherein the content of unreacted vinyl groups from the aromatic monomer is predicted by means of FTIR measurements. The present invention is related to a process for the preparation of an isoolefin polymer comprising repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin, at least one divinyl aromatic monomer and, optionally, further copolymerizable monomers, wherein the content of unreacted vinyl groups from the aromatic monomer is predicted by means of FTIR measurements and said prediction is subsequently used to alter at least one process parameter.

Abstract: A butyl polymer having improved processability is described, together with a process for production thereof. The butyl polymer derived from a reaction mixture which contains: (i) a monomer mixture comprising a C4 to C7 monoolefin monomer (preferably isobutylene) and a C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer (preferably isoprene); (ii) a multiolefin cross-linking agent (preferably divinyl benzene); and (iii) a chain transfer agent (preferably diisobutylene (2,2,4-trimethyl-1-pentene)). The subject butyl polymer has an improved balance of cold flow, filler dispersion, extrusion rate and die swell.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a hydrogenated modified polymer which can afford a molded body excellent in improvement in the balance among the impact resistance, the strength, the adherability and as the appearance, and a process for producing the same as well as a composition containing the same. Another objective is to provide a composition which can afford a molded body excellent in the balance among the flame retardancy, the tensile strength, the tensile extension, the heat resistance, the characteristic at low temperature, the insulation property, the pliability and the like. The hydrogenated modified polymer of the invention is a hydrogenated polymer of a modified conjugated diene-based polymer obtained by reacting an alkoxysilane compound to a polymer which is polymerized a conjugated diene or a conjugated diene and another monomer using an organic alkali metal compound as a polymerization initiator in an inert organic solvent such as cyclohexane and the like.

Abstract: New ligands, compositions, metal-ligand complexes and arrays with pyridyl-amine ligands are disclosed that catalyze the polymerization of monomers into polymers. Certain of these catalysts with hafnium metal centers have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, isobutylene or styrene. Certain of the catalysts are particularly effective at polymerizing propylene to high molecular weight isotactic polypropylene in a solution process at a variety of polymerization conditions.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon resin is prepared by (1) thermally polymerizing a mixture consisting essentially of (a) about 5% to 25% by weight styrene or aliphatic or aromatic substituted styrene, and (b) about 95% to 75% by weight based on total monomer content of a cyclic diolefin component comprising at least about 50% by weight dicyclopentadiene. A method of producing an aromatic-modified resin having a Mz of less than 2000 through the addition of about 5% to 25% by weight styrene in combination with about 95% to about 75% DCPD monomer at a rate to consume styrene monomer at a the rate at which it is added. Hydrogenation of this resin produces light colored, thermally stable products that are useful as tackifiers in adhesives.

Abstract: The co-polymerization reaction of one or more olefin monomers, such as propylene, with &agr;,&ohgr;-diene units and the resulting copolymers are provided. More specifically, the copolymer may have from 90 to 99.999 weight percent of olefins and from 0.001 to 2.000 weight percent of &agr;,&ohgr;-dienes. The copolymer may have a weight average molecular weight in the range from 50,000 to 2,000,000, a crystallization temperature in the range from 115° C. to 135° C. and a melt flow rate in the range from 0.1 dg/min to 100 dg/min. These copolymers may be employed in a wide variety of applications, the articles of which include, for example, films, fibers, such as spunbonded and meltblown fibers, fabrics, such as nonwoven fabrics, and molded articles. The copolymer may further include at least two crystalline populations.

Abstract: A tire provided with a tire tread made from a rubber composition comprising (A) a random copolymer based on non-conjugated cyclic polyene comprising structural units originated from one or more &agr;-olefins (A1) and originated from one or more non-conjugated cyclic polyene (A2), the said random copolymer having a content of the structural unit(s) originated from one or more &agr;-olefins (A1) in the range of 93 to 70 mole %; a content of the structural unit originated from one or more non-conjugated cyclic polyene (A2) in the range of 7 to 30 mole %; an intrinsic viscosity [&eegr;], determined in decalin at 135° C., in the range of 0.01 to 20 dl/g; a glass transition temperature (Tg) of not higher than 40° C.; and an iodine value in the range of 50 to 150, and (B) a rubber based on diene, in a weight proportion of {the random copolymer based on non-conjugated cyclic polyene (A)} versus {the rubber based on diene (B)} in the range from 60/40 to 0.1/99.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition for extrusion and molding comprising 100 weight parts of ethylene/&agr;-olefin/non-conjugated polyene copolymer (A) composed of ethylene, &agr;-olefin having carbon atoms of 3-20 and non-conjugated polyene, and at least 30-300 weight parts of carbon black (B), and 1.0×10−5-5.0×10−3 mol of an alkoxysilane compound shown by the following formula (I): wherein, R is alkyl or alkoxy, R1 is alkyl or phenyl, n is 0, 1 or 2, R2 is a bivalent hydrocarbon, R3 is arylene group, m and p are 0 or 1 respectively, and m and p are not 0 at a same time, q is 1 or 2, and D is —SCN or —SH when q is 1, and —Sx— when q is 2 (wherein x is an integer of 2-8).

Abstract: Ethylene, dienes and optionally &agr;-olefins are copolymerized by selected iron complexes of 2,6-pyridinecarbox-aldehydebis(imines) and 2,6-diacylpyridinebis(imines). The resulting copolymers contain residual olefinic unsaturation from the diene monomers, and some of these copolymers contain cyclic units in the main chain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymers that are modified along the polymer chain and are based on conjugated dienes or conjugated dienes and vinyl-aromatic compounds having a content of vinyl-aromatic compounds of up to 60 wt. %, a content of cis-position double bonds of ≧92%, a mean molecular weight of 50,000 to 1,500,000 g/mole and a gel content of ≦5%. The polymers according to the invention can be used for the production of all types of molded articles, wherein in particular their technical and physical properties are improved compared with the prior art.

Abstract: A shape memory polymer which is a reaction product of styrene, a vinyl compound, a multifunctional crosslinking agent and an initiator. The shape memory polymer has particular application as a contact lens mold.

Abstract: Hyperbranched copolymers comprising at least one C2-C20 &agr;-monoolefin monomers and 0.2 to 20 mole % of at least one &agr;, &ohgr;-non-conjugated diene monomers having 5 to 18 carbon atoms are prepared by coordination (metallocene) copolymerization of the monomers and quenching the reaction prior to the formation of a gelled product. The building blocks of the products are characterized by a number average molecular weight less than 5 times the entanglement molecular weight of a homopolymer prepared using the same catalyst but in the absence of the diene component.

Abstract: Functional polymers containing hydroxyl groups as supports for use with catalysts can increase the activity of these catalysts which results in improved ethylene polymerization. The present invention seeks to provide catalysts with improved activity by incorporating 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) into the support of the catalyst.

Abstract: An ethylene styrene copolymer having isolated styrene monomer units separated by 5 or 6 methylene groups as determined by 13C-NMR may be polymerized in the presence of an activator and a transition metal catalyst containing a phosphinimine ligand.

Abstract: A labeling reagent for use in oligonucleotide (“oligo”) synthesis, as well as a method of preparing such a labeling reagent, a method of using such a reagent for synthesizing a labeled oligonucleotide, and an oligonucleotide prepared using such a reagent. The reagent can be used to label either the 3′ or 5′ termini of a synthesized oligo, and/or for one or more positions along the oligo. The labeling reagent can be prepared by a reaction scheme that involves the initial preparation of hydroxyacids, tritylated hydroxyacids and coupling of such derivatives to diamine, wherein the amine function serves at an attachment point for labels and the hydroxyl groups can either be used to immoblize the molecules to support or can be converted to provide a phosphorylating reagent.

Abstract: The co-polymerization reaction of one or more olefin monomers, such as propylene, with &agr;,&ohgr;-diene units and the resulting copolymers are provided. More specifically, the copolymer may have from 90 to 99.999 weight percent of olefins and from 0.001 to 2.000 weight percent of &agr;,&ohgr;-dienes. The copolymer may have a weight average molecular weight in the range from 50,000 to 2,000,000, a crystallization temperature in the range from 115° C. to 135° C. and a melt flow rate in the range from 0.1 dg/min to 100 dg/min. These copolymers may be employed in a wide variety of applications, the articles of which include, for example, films, fibers, such as spunbonded and meltblown fibers, fabrics, such as nonwoven fabrics, and molded articles. The copolymer may further indude at least two crystalline populations.

Abstract: The co-polymerization reaction of one or more olefin monomers, such as propylene, with &agr;,&ohgr;-diene units and the resulting copolymers are provided. More specifically, the copolymer may have from 90 to 99.999 weight percent of olefins and from 0.001 to 2.000 weight percent of &agr;,&ohgr;-dienes. The copolymer may have a weight average molecular weight in the range from 50,000 to 2,000,000, a crystallization temperature in the range from 115° C. to 135° C. and a melt flow rate in the range from 0.1 dg/min to 100 dg/min. These copolymers may be employed in a wide variety of applications, the articles of which include, for example, films, fibers, such as spunbonded and meltblown fibers, fabrics, such as nonwoven fabrics, and molded articles. The copolymer may further include at least two crystalline populations.

Abstract: There is provided vulcanized solid rubber, which comprises a vulcanized product of an oil-extended copolymer comprising: (i) 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-&agr;-olefin-non-conjugated diene copolymer satisfying the following requirements (1) to (4), and (ii) 10 to 90 parts by weight of an extender oil: (1) a weight ratio of an ethylene unit to an &agr;-olefin unit in the ethylene-&agr;-olefin-non-conjugated diene copolymer is from 73/27 to 40/60, (2) an iodine value of the ethylene-&agr;-olefin-non-conjugated diene copolymer is from 20 to 36, (3) Mooney viscosity (ML1+4 (121° C.)) measured according to JIS-K-6300 of a blend containing 100 parts by weight of the ethylene-&agr;-olefin-non-conjugated diene copolymer and 20 parts by weight of an extender oil is from 100 to 180, and (4) a ratio of weight average molecular chain length/number average molecular chain length measured by gel permeation chromatography of the ethylene-&agr;-olefin-non-conjugated diene copolymer is from 3 to 5.

Abstract: This invention discloses a rubbery polymer which is comprised of repeat units that are derived from (1) at least one conjugated diolefin monomer, and (2) at least one functionalized monomer having of the structural formula: 1

Abstract: A method is provided for producing hyperbranched polymers comprising heating a polymerizable reaction charge comprising (a) a monomer mixture comprising 50-99.1% by weight of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer and 0.1-50% by weight of one or more multiethylenically unsaturated monomers and (b) if at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer of the monomer mixture is not a thermally initiating monomer, a free radical polymerization initiator, to a temperature in the range from about 250° C. to about 400° C. in a continuous reactor which allows mixing of the reactor contents for a residence time of from about 2 minutes to about 60 minutes, provided that if the total amount of multiethylenically unsaturated monomer is less than 3% by weight of the monomer mixture than at least one of said one or more multiethylenically unsaturated monomers must be tri- or greater ethylenically unsaturated. The hyperbranched polymers prepared by this process are also described.

Abstract: Ethylene, dienes and optionally &agr;-olefins are copolym-erized by selected iron complexes of 2,6-pyridinecarbox-aldehydebis(imines) and 2,6-diacylpyridinebis(imines). The resulting copolymers contain residual olefinic unsaturation from the diene monomers, and some of these copolymers contain cyclic units in the main chain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rubber mixtures containing diene rubber with a concentration of primary hydroxyl groups of 0.1 to 2 wt. % and a glass transition temperature of −120° to −50° C. and their mixtures with fillers, optionally further rubbers and rubber auxiliary substances and vulcanisates prepared therefrom. Rubber mixtures according to the invention are suitable for producing highly reinforced, abrasion-resistant moulded items, in particular for producing tires treads which have a particularly high resistance to wet skidding.

Abstract: Highly cross-linked, maroporous/mesoporous polymer monoliths are prepard using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as the solvent and porogen for the polymerisation of monomers having more than one polymerisable group, at a monomer concentration in CO2 of more than 40 vol %. The procedure allows the direct formation of dry, solvent-free, macroporous/mesoporous cross-linked monoliths with large surface area and well-controlled pore size distribution.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to synthetic polymers, generally with improved balance of processability, resilience and durability. These polymers are generally of the ethylene, alpha-olefin, diene terpolymer type.

Abstract: The particle size of popcorn polymers is established during the popcorn polymerization by a process in which reaction mixtures forming popcorn polymers and comprising monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and a crosslinking agent are polymerized in the absence of oxygen and polymerization initiators at up to 200° C. and in which the popcorn polymerization is carried out as a precipitation polymerization in water or in the absence of a solvent and the particle size of the popcorn polymers is controlled in the range from 1 &mgr;m to 10 mm by passing an inert gas stream into the reaction mixture, and popcorn polymers having a mean particle diameter of from >400 &mgr;m to 1500 &mgr;m are used as beverage clarifiers, antidiarrheal drugs and disintegration accelerators for tablets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing water immiscible porogens from macroreticular copolymers comprising distilling said porogen in water soluble organic solvent.