Abstract: An improved continuous process for the manufacture of polymers of ethylene in autoclave reactors with practically complete back-mixing under pressure of from about 800 to about 2500 bars in the presence of free-radical-generating initiators is provided wherein (a) two autoclaves are connected in series in such a way that all the reaction product from the first reactor is fed to the second reactor, (b) each autoclave has a length/diameter (L/D) ratio of from about 1:1 to about 3:1, (c) the monomer(s) feed stream is divided between the two reactors such that when the temperature/concentration and/or pressure environment in the first reactor is different from that in the second reactor, the monomer(s) feed stream to the first reactor is equal to or greater than the monomer(s) feed stream to the second reactor, (d) the reaction temperatures in the two autoclaves are set such that when the temperature in the first reactor is different from that in the second reactor, the temperature in the first reactor is lower t

Abstract: Polyphenylene oxides are prepared by the catalytic reaction of oxygen with a monohydroxyaromatic compound such as 2,6-xylenol in a solvent for reactants and product, in a two-stage process. The first stage is effected continuously in at least one and preferably not more than two back-mixed (e.g., tank) reactors, and the second stage in one or more batch reactors or, preferably, in a reaction system with limited back-mixing, typically a cylindrical reactor containing multiple agitated zones. In the case of a copper catalyst system, it is also preferred to pre-mix the non-gaseous constituents of the reaction mixture in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of polymer latex by emulsification of an initiator or initiator mixture and optionally a solvent in the presence of emulsifier in water in a first step and adding a monomer and polymerizing in a second step. The process is carried out by emulsifying an essentially water-insoluble initiator or initiator mixture in the first step at a temperature above the melting point of the initiator or initiator mixture if no solvent is used, and below its decomposition temperature, optionally together with an essentially water-insoluble liquid solvent, which forms a liquid solution together with the initiator or the initiator mixture at the emulsification temperature, then, in a second step adding monomer, possibly additional emulsifier and that part of the desired amount of water which was not added in the first step, and initiating polymerization as per se known by heating.

Abstract: A continuous process for preparing polyphenylene ether resins without removing water is described in which only two continuously vigorously stirred reactors are used with the average residence time in the two reactors being correlated to yield resin having an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 0.35 deciliter/gram.

Abstract: A modified copolymer of ethylene and of at least one .alpha.-olefin having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, comprising from 0.5 to 10 mole percent of units derived from the .alpha.-olefin, wherein the measured limiting viscosity of the copolymer is between 1.5 and 10 times the limiting viscosity of the copolymer calculated from the molecular weight distribution of the copolymer. Process for producing these copolymers employing at least one free-radical initiator.

Abstract: Polyphenylene oxides are prepared by the catalytic reaction of oxygen with a monohydroxy aromatic compound such as 2,6-xylenol in a two-stage continuous process. The first stage is effected in at least one and preferably no more than two tank reactors, and the second stage in a reaction system with limited back-mixing, typically a cylindrical reactor containing multiple agitated zones. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the non-gaseous constituents of the reaction mixture are pre-mixed in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: Polyetherimides are formed by the blending of a first melt of organic dianhydride and a second melt of organic diamine and the resulting blend is polymerized in a continuous, steady state manner, employing an extruder reactor as the reaction chamber. The extruder reactor is provided with means for heating, evacuation of water of reaction, and transfer sections in order to achieve the steady state necessary for continuous production of a substantially uniform polyimide.

Abstract: Polyetherimides are formed by the dry blending of organodianhydride, organic diamine, and chain stopper and the polymerization of the dry-blended mixture in a continuous, steady state reaction, employing an extruder reactor as the reaction chamber. The extruder reactor is provided with means for heating and cooling, evacuation of water of reaction, and material conveyance means in order to achieve a steady state necessary for continuous production of a uniform polymeric product.

Abstract: Live polyethylene slurry is treated with small amounts of ethylene in the absence of hydrogen, for example in the drier. By using this procedure it is possible to prepare polymers with very high, controllable levels of swell. In contrast to previous procedures reported for dual stage polymerizations, the melt flow ratios are not appreciably altered.

Abstract: Polyetherimides are formed by the dry blending of organodianhydride, organic diamine, and chain stopper and the polymerization of the dry-blended mixture in a continuous, steady state reaction, employing an extruder reactor as the reaction chamber. The extruder reactor is provided with means for heating and cooling, evacuation of water of reaction, and material conveyance means in order to achieve a steady state necessary for continuous production of a uniform polymeric product.

Abstract: A process for polymerizing an olefin in the gaseous phase in a multiplicity of steps in at least two independent polymerization zones connected to each other by a transfer passage, which comprises feeding an olefin and a catalyst into a first polymerization zone, polymerizing the olefin in the gaseous phase, intermittently or continuously withdrawing a gaseous stream containing the resulting polymer from the first zone and feeding it into said transfer passage, introducing the withdrawn polymer-containing gaseous stream into a second polymerization zone through the transfer passage, feeding the or an olefin into the second zone with or without feeding an additional supply of the catalyst thereinto, and polymerizing the olefin in the gaseous phase in the second zone; characterized in that an inert gas zone is provided in the transfer passage, and at least a part of the gas components of the gaseous stream containing the polymer is replaced by an inert gas.

Abstract: Polyolefins having a wide distribution of molecular weights are prepared in a plural stage process, by initially polymerizing the olefins in the presence of a solvent, hydrogen and a highly active Ziegler type catalyst under pressure, and beneath a gas phase containing an inert gas, to form in the first stage a polymer having a relatively high molecular weight. The polymerization reaction mixture from the first stage is continuously flowed to a second stage reactor. The second stage reactor is maintained at a relatively lower pressure, such that the flow is driven by the higher pressure in the first stage. The second stage is agitated and the polymerization reaction mixture is maintained beneath an atmosphere containing olefins and hydrogen gas. Polymers of relatively low molecular weight are formed in the second stage. The product continuously removed from the second stage contains a polymer having a wide distribution of molecular weight.

Abstract: In a process for the preparation of aromatic polyesters by polycondensation of diphenols with chlorides of aromatic dicarboxylic acids by the two-phase interfacial polycondensation process, in which a dispersion as the reaction mixture is prepared from an aqueous phase, which contains the diphenolate formed with the aid of alkali metal hydroxide, and an organic-liquid phase containing the acid chlorides, this dispersion is passed, in the apparatus which is intended for carrying out the process and which comprises a reaction kettle and a dispersing device included with the latter in a circulation, through the dispersing device and the reaction kettle, the acid chloride dissolved in a largely anhydrous chlorinated solvent being continuously fed into this circulation at a point which, in the direction of flow, is upstream of the dispersing device.

Abstract: A process of preparing a bimodal or multimodal homopolymer of a conjugated diene or a bimodal or multimodal copolymer of a conjugated diene with another conjugated diene or with a vinyl aromatic compound consists in polymerizing the monomer(s) in a reaction medium at a temperature of between 20.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. in the presence of a catalytic system comprising an organolithium initiator, a barium, strontium or calcium compound, and an organometallic compound of a metal of group 2B or 3A of the periodic classification of elements of the Mendeleev Table and adding hydrogen as a modifying agent to the reaction medium during the course of the polymerization reaction.

Abstract: Ethylene or a mixture of ethylene and a small amount of another .alpha.-olefin or diene is polymerized in two successive steps under different hydrogen partial pressures by polymerizing 30 to 70 wt. % of the ethylene or ethylene mixture to be polymerized in the presence of hydrogen at a molar ratio of ethylene or ethylene mixture to hydrogen of 1:1-8 in the first step and polymerizing the residual ethylene or the ethylene mixture at a molar ratio of ethylene to hydrogen of 1:0-0.3 in the second step, in the presence of the specific catalyst system comprising an organoaluminum compound (C) and a specific solid catalytic component (B) obtained by reacting a titanium or vanadium halogen-containing compound with a reaction product (A) obtained by reacting a Grignard reagent with a hydropoly-siloxane having the formula ##EQU1## (R.sup.1 represents an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkoxy, or aryloxy group as a monovalent organic group; a is 0,1 or 2; b is 1, 2 or 3; and a+b.ltoreq.

Abstract: A process of preparing a bimodal or multimodal homopolymer of a conjugated diene or a bimodal or multimodal copolymer of a conjugated diene with another conjugated diene or with a vinyl aromatic compound consists in polymerizing the monomer(s) in a reaction medium at a temperature of between 20.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst system comprising an organolithium initiator, a barium, strontium or calcium compound, and an organometallic compound of a metal of group 2B or 3A of the periodic classification of elements of the Mendeleev Table, and adding to the reaction medium during the course of the polymerization reaction a compound of a transition metal of groups 1B to 7B and 8 or a magnesium compound of the general formula Mg(A).sub.2.

Abstract: A process of preparing a bimodal or multimodal homopolymer of a conjugated diene or a bimodal or multimodal copolymer of a conjugated diene with another conjugated diene or with a vinyl aromatic compound consists in polymerizing the monomer(s) in a reaction medium at a temperature of between 20.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst system formed of the reaction product of:(a) an organic compound of a metal of group 3A of the periodic classification of elements of the Mendeleev Table having one of the following formulas:M.sup.1 M.sup.3 R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4M.sup.2 (M.sup.3 R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4).sub.2M.sup.3 R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3M.sup.1 OM.sup.3 R.sup.1 R.sup.2with (b) at least one electron-donor compound containing at least one heteroatom,and adding hydrogen as a modifying agent to the reaction medium during the course of the polymerization reaction.

Abstract: In a continuous bulk polymerization process of a styrene type copolymer which is a copolymer consisting of 60 to 95% by weight of an aromatic vinyl monomer and 40 to 5% by weight of maleic anhydride, a continuous bulk polymerization process of a styrene type copolymer characterized in that at the first stage, continuous bulk polymerization is carried out using a vertical agitation system polymerization apparatus to a conversion of 30 to 60% by continuously feeding a mixed monomer of the aromatic vinyl monomer and maleic anhydride having a feed composition ratio corresponding to the copolymer, and at the second stage, and at the third stage, if necessary, continuous bulk polymerization is carried out to a conversion of 60 to 95% using a horizontal apparatus for processing highly viscous substances, equipped with one or two rotary shafts having agitation blade frames or agitation blades impaled thereon, by continuously and dividedly feeding maleic anhydride from plural feed ports disposed on said apparatus for

Abstract: A method for obtaining improved diene conversion in the manufacture of EPDM type terpolymers is disclosed in which the polymerization reaction is conducted in a series of two or more stirred reactors with substantially all of the non-conjugated diene monomer being fed to the first reactor to thereby produce a polymer that has a non-uniform diene content.

Abstract: A polymerization process is carried out in at least two zones, wherein in one zone polymerization is effected in the presence of a liquid phase which is at least one liquid olefine monomer and in a subsequent zone polymerization is effected by contacting the solid polymer with a gaseous olefine monomer, the product from the first zone being subjected to a concentration stage to remove some of the liquid olefine monomer before the concentrated polymer mixture is passed to the subsequent zone for polymerization with the gaseous olefine monomer. The monomer in each case may be the same, for example liquid propylene in one zone and gaseous propylene in a subsequent zone. The concentration stage may be effected using a hydrocyclone.

Abstract: The binary suspension polymerization of a water soluble monomer and an organophilic or hydrophobic monomer having a low Tg in an integrated aqueous suspension system wherein the suspension medium for said organophilic monomer droplets comprises a hydrophilic monomer having a higher rate of reaction than the hydrophobic monomer and water in a mixture such that a solution of between about 1,000 and about 100,000 cps Brookfield viscosity is maintained in the reaction zone during polymerization of the organophilic droplets.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of nylons by heating an aqueous solution of a salt of an alkanedicarboxylic acid of 6 to 12 carbon atoms and a diamine of the formula NH.sub.2 RNH.sub.2, where R is alkylene of 6 to 12 carbon atoms or is a radical ##STR1## to a temperature at which a nylon is formed, under superatmospheric pressure and with removal of water. The solution used is an aqueous solution of from 75 to 90 percent strength by weight of a salt of a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine, which solution has been obtained by neutralizing a less concentrated salt solution, which contains an appropriate dissolved excess of the particular dicarboxylic acid, with the corresponding diamine. The nylons obtained are used for the manufacture of moldings.

Abstract: A rubbery copolymer of butadiene, styrene and acrylonitrile, if desired, with a tensile strength of about 50 to about 100 psig containing a minor amount of styrene, particularly in combination with selective tackifier resins. Said copolymer is preferably prepared by a step-wise aqueous emulsion polymerization with styrene and modifier being incrementally added. Said rubbery copolymer/tackifier mixture is particularly useful as an adhesive.

Abstract: An improved polyvinyl halide or a polyvinyl halide copolymer containing up to 50 percent of a comonomer can be obtained by post polymerizing in a single stage or two-stage bulk process in contact with a base polymer, the same or different monomer as the monomer used to form the base polymer. Compositions produced by the process of the invention are useful in making films, coated fabrics and molded objects. The liquid phase post polymerization process of the invention is applicable to base polymers in powder form prepared by emulsion, suspension and bulk polymerization processes. The base polymer can be present in a polymerization mixture in which only a partial amount of monomer has been converted to base polymer such as in a two-stage polymerization process or the base polymer can be used in dry, solid form. Polymers of the invention have improved bulk density and reduced plasticizer uptake and can be used to prepare fabric coatings.

Abstract: Copolymers ofA 22 to 96 mol-% of styrene and/or .alpha.-methyl styrene,B 0 to 78 mol-% of at least one monoolefinically unsaturated monomer containing nitrile groups, andC 0 to 50 mol-% of at least one monoolefinically unsaturated monomer different from A or B are obtained by continuous bulk polymerization in a homogeneous liquid phase, in several process stages, in one or more different temperature ranges and in the presence of one or more initiators with different dissociation times in each temperature range and under pressures of from 1 to 20 bars.In first stage the monomers are copolymerized with backmixing up to a conversion of from 10 - 60 mol-% in an ideally mixed tank reactor and then after optionally additional addition of further parts of monomers copolymerization is continued with backmixing in a completely flooded, self-cleaning polymerization kneader up to a residual monomer content of from 10-50 mol-%.Residual monomers are continuously removed from the copolymer up to a content of less than 0.

Abstract: Ethylene is polymerized, in the presence of hydrogen, at a temperature of 180.degree. to 340.degree. C and a pressure of 200 2,500 bars with a Ziegler catalyst in a stirred reactor having at least one first reaction zone and at least one second reaction zone. The reaction mixture is fed to a separator at a pressure of 80 to 400 bars. The improvement results from partially liquifying at least a part of the gas coming from the separator at a temperature of -50.degree. to +20.degree. C, releasing the pressure to a value of 10 to 60 bars, separating the partially liquified gas into a gas phase and a liquid phase, and recycling the gas phase to the second reaction zone and the liquid phase to the first reaction zone. The resulting polymer has a low melt index, a high polydispersity index, and superior physical properties compared to polymers prepared by conventional processes.

Abstract: In one aspect, thermosetting liquid resinous polyepoxides are upgraded or advanced in molecular weight by a process including (A) providing a catalyst-free mixture of a dihydric phenol, preferably bisphenol-A and a liquid resinous polyepoxide containing 1,2-epoxy groups, preferably a low molecular weight epoxy resin consisting essentially of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A, at a temperature above about a minimum reaction temperature for a catalytic liquid upgrade reaction between the dihydric phenol and the polyepoxide; and (B) subsequently introducing the catlyst, preferably an organic phosphine and most preferably triphenylphosphine, into the mixture of the dihydric phenol and polyepoxide at reaction temperature and maintaining the mixture containing the catalyst at reaction temperature for a time sufficient to produce the upgraded version of the thermosetting resinous polyepoxide.

Abstract: Elastomers of the ethylene-propylene-termonomer type.In accordance with the invention these elastomers have a bimodal distribution of the molecular weights, each principal fraction having, on the one hand, a wide distribution of the molecular weights and a monomer composition which is different from that of the other principal fraction, but, on the other hand, a distribution of composition as a function of the molecular weights which is very narrow around the average value contemplated for the fraction.

Abstract: A reactor including a horizontally disposed, elongated motor housing and at least a pair of mating reactor body sections, end heads for sealing the outer ends of the reactor and closure straps removably and hermetically securing the motor housing and the respective reactor body sections in assembled relation, and fixed and movable cradles supporting the motor housing and the reactor body sections for effecting relative movement thereof upon disengagement of the reactor clamping structure to permit ready disassembly and maintenance of the reactor.

Abstract: Polymers of esters of methacrylic acid having an average chain length of about 6 to about 50 mers are prepared by an anionic polymerization reaction, carried out in the presence of a chain-regulating alcohol and a catalytic amount of an alkoxide anion, in which control of the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the polymer are achieved by regulating the ratio of the total quantity of alcohol employed to the total monomer charge. These polymers, their hydrolysis products, and their derivatives having allyl functionality have a wide variety of applications, including use as components in films, coatings, fibers, impregnants, adhesives, printing inks, and binders, and use as modifiers, plasticizers, melt flow improvers, and leveling agents.

Abstract: A rubbery copolymer of butadiene, styrene and acrylonitrile, if desired, with a tensile strength of about 50 to about 100 psig containing a minor amount of styrene, particularly in combination with selective tackifier resins. Said copolymer is preferably prepared by a step-wise aqueous emulsion polymerization with styrene and modifier being incrementally added. Said rubbery copolymer/tackifier mixture is particularly useful as an adhesive.

Abstract: The dry polymerization of olefins to produce polymers having a molecular weight above 50,000 in the presence of a catalyst system formed of a compound of a transition metal and a co-catalyst of an organo-metallic compound of a metal of Groups II or III of the periodic table, in which the polymerization reaction is carried out in a series of reaction vessels wherein the formed polymer is transferred from one to the other and in which additional co-catalyst is added to reaction vessels beyond the first, the gaseous effluent from each reaction vessel is recycled back to the reaction vessel and in which the co-catalyst is introduced into the first reaction vessel in an amount such that the atomic ratio of the metal of the co-catalyst to the transition metal is within the range of 0.1 to 10, and in which the co-catalyst is introduced into vessels other than the first in an amount such that the atomic ratio of metal of the co-catalyst to the transition metal is within the range of 0.1 to 20.

Abstract: Copolymer substantially free from compositional drift can be produced in a batch-type addition copolymerization process to a high degree of conversion by initiating the reaction in a monomer-containing phase (optionally dispersed in another phase of a reaction mixture) containing the monomers at mole ratios f.sub.i such that the monomers will initially be incorporated into copolymer at the desired mole ratios F.sub.i and sustaining the reaction while simultaneously controlling the addition each monomer to the phase in which the copolymerization reaction is continuing according to the relationQ.sub.i = f.sub.i Q.sub.0 + (F.sub.i - f.sub.i Q.sub.0 /Q.sub..infin.)Z,where Q.sub.i is the running cumulative moles of monomer i added to the phase in which reaction is occurring (including that initially present), Q.sub.0 is the total moles of all monomers initially present in that phase, Q.sub..infin.

Abstract: In a microsuspension polymerization of vinyl halide monomer additional monomer is added during the polymerization.

Abstract: A method of preparing synthetic rubbers having improved green strength and improved processing characteristics wherein a portion of the monomer is contacted with a catalyst imparting a cis-1,4 configuration and subsequently contacting the remaining portion of the monomer with a catalyst capable of imparting a trans-1,4 configuration.

Abstract: A melt finish process is disclosed herein for working up solid, particulate polymer from a vapor state polymerization reactor, which reactor employs high yield catalysts, whereby the polymer is moved out of the reactor and into a post polymerization zone characterized by essentially adiabatic polymerization and the heat of such polymerization is used in raising the temperature of and melting said solid, particulate polymer to form molten polymer for further processing.

Abstract: A rubbery copolymer of butadiene, styrene and acrylonitrile, if desired, with a tensile strength of about 50 to about 100 psig containing a minor amount of styrene, particularly in combination with selective tackifier resins. Said copolymer is preferably prepared by a step-wise aqueous emulsion polymerization with styrene and modifier being incrementally added. Said rubbery copolymer/tackifier mixture is particularly useful as an adhesive.

Abstract: A process for preparing vinyl aromatic resin-, e.g. styrene-,based resinous materials to render them brittle and disintegratable upon prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light while retaining, in the absence of ultraviolet light, substantially the same appearance, processability and mechanical properties of conventional vinyl aromatic resin-based materials, comprising copolymerizing said vinyl aromatic monomer with from 0.5 to 6.0% of a conjugated diene monomer, e.g. isoprene, based on the total weight of the two monomers, initially copolymerizing said vinyl aromatic monomer with only a portion of the total amount of conjugated diene monomer and then completing the copolymerization with the remainder thereof, and the polymeric resin obtained by said process.

Abstract: Polymers of ethylene, an alpha mono-olfin, and ethylidene bicycloheptene which can be sulfur-cured to form elastomers.

Abstract: A method is herein disclosed by which a polymerizable monomer or a mixture thereof can be economically and efficiently converted to polymeric substances with a high yield catalyst in a vapor phase polymerization process using a stirred-bed, quench-cooled, horizontaL reactor together with essentially total reactor off-gas recycle and melt finishing. The method is further characterized by being essentially isobaric at least up to the polymer finishing steps.

Abstract: A two-vessel continuous reactor system is used to make a uniform acrylonitrile copolymer containing 65 to 85% by weight acrylonitrile polymerized units and 35 to 15% by weight of styrene polymerized units. Into a first reactor are fed a free radical initiator together with an emulsified feed containing acrylonitrile, styrene and a chain transfer agent. Formation of polymer seed particles takes place in the first reactor and an outlet stream is continuously introduced into a second reactor together with added free radical initiator and a second aqueous emulsified feed containing acrylonitrile, styrene, and a chain transfer agent to continue growth of the seed particles. Conditions of particle initiation in the first reactor as opposed to particle growth in the second reactor are carefully separated to obtain noncyclical operation with low levels of coagulum formation in both reactors together with a final low emulsifier content in the polymer.

Abstract: Polymerization of ethylene by free-radical initiation at high temperature and pressure in a stirred autoclave by continuous process is improved by means of cooling at inner wall in contact with polymerization reaction mixture and removing part of the exothermic heat of polymerization reaction by indirect heat transfer to heat exchange fluid.

Abstract: In the production of a petroleum resin an unsaturated hydrocarbon feedstock is continuously polymerised by means of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst in a plurality of alternating polymerisation and cooling zones in which catalyst is added to each polymerisation zone.

Abstract: A melt finish process is disclosed herein for working up solid, particulate polymer from a vapor state polymerization reactor, which reactor employs high yield catalysts, whereby the polymer is moved out of the reactor and into a post polymerization zone characterized by essentially adiabatic polymerization and the heat of such polymerization is used in raising the temperature of and melting said solid, particulate polymer to form molten polymer for further processing.