Abstract: A process for forming polymers of 2-pyrrolidone in pellet form via bulk polymerization is disclosed. Polymerization accelerators are empolyed to markedly shorten the polymerization time thus making possible a compact continuous polymerization apparatus which produces pellets of high polymer content requiring no further polymerization. The pellets are formed by forcing the polymerizing mixture through small tubes to form rods of polymer which are then cut into short lengths.

Abstract: N-Hydroxyalkyltrimellitic acid imides of high purity are prepared by reacting trimellitic acid anhydride with a monoalkanolamine in an aqueous medium comprising an amount of not less than about 0.025 liter of a certain specific solvent or solvent mixture per 1 mole of the trimellitic acid anhydride and can be advantageously used for production of their polymers having a high thermal stability and a good color tone.

Abstract: There is disclosed the use of certain quaternary ammonium sulfates and bisulfates as polymerization accelerators in the polymerization of 2-pyrrolidone employing alkali metal pyrrolidonates as primary catalysts together with CO.sub.2, SO.sub.2 or MoO.sub.3 as activators. Methods for recycling both the unchanged monomer and the accelerator are disclosed.The structural formula for the operable quaternary ammonium salts is: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are alkyl, aryl and aralkyl radicals, including mixtures thereof, and n is 1 or 2 depending on the valence of X, and X is a bisulfate or sulfate.In addition to accelerating the rate of polymerization these substances also act as color suppressors when SO.sub.2 is used as the activator. For this purpose X in the above formula may also be a halide. Less than 0.01 mol per mol of alkali metal pyrrolidonate is needed in this use.Cesium or rubidium pyrrolidonates are also disclosed as color suppressors when using SO.sub.2 as the activator.

Abstract: An improved process for the polymerization of 2-pyrrolidone provides high-molecular-weight poly-2-pyrrolidone at higher rates of conversion by effecting the alkaline-catalyzed polymerization in the presence of a synergistic activator consisting of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: A blend of a condensation polyamide and zinc phenyl phosphinate and/or zinc phenyl phosphonate nucleating agent has been found to result in resins having good strength.

Abstract: Novel polyamides are prepared having end groups especially selected to impart special properties to the polymer. These polyamides are prepared by utilizing anionic polymerization processes and the end groups can be of a type that, under existing methods, normally will hinder or completely stop the anionic polymerization reaction. The hindering effect of these end groups is largely overcome through the formation of novel initiator compounds that enables the polymerization reaction to proceed with extreme rapidity at comparatively low temperatures despite the presence of these end groups.

Abstract: Aromatic onium salts, such as diaryliodonium salts, have been found to be effective thermal initiators for the polymerization of a variety of cationically polymerizable materials including epoxides, cyclic ethers, phenol formaldehyde resins, etc., when used in combination with various cocatalysts such as organic acids and copper salts.

Abstract: An aromatic polyamide having a high degree of polymerization is produced by polymerizing(A) a mixture of an aromatic diamine of the formula (1):H.sub.2 N--Ar.sub.1 --NH.sub.2 (1)and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid dihalide of the formula (2):XOC--Ar.sub.2 --COX (2)(b) a mixture of the aromatic diamine of the formula (1), the aromatic dicarboxylic acid dihalide of the formula (2) and a hydrogen halide salt of an aromatic amino carboxylic acid halide of the formula (3):XH.multidot.H.sub.2 N--Ar.sub.3 --COX (3)or(C) the hydrogen halide salt of the aromatic amino carboxylic acid halide of the formula (3) alone,Wherein Ar.sub.1, Ar.sub.2 and Ar.sub.

Abstract: When magnesium oxide in which the half-width of the X-ray diffraction profile at (200) as determined according to a specific method is at least 0.3 is incorporated in an amount of 0.05 to 2.0% by weight in polycaprolactam, a polycaprolactam composition having an improved spinnability is obtained.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing sodium lactamoaluminates by reacting an excess of a lactam in an aromatic hydrocarbon with at least one compound selected from sodium tetrahydridoaluminate, trisodium hexahydridoaluminate, sodium dihydrido-bis(2-methoxyethoxo)aluminate, and sodium tetraamidoaluminate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the cationic polymerization of lactams either substituted or unsubstituted on the lactam ring, which contain 6-16 carbon atoms, in the presence of 0.05 - 10 mol. % based on the lactam of an anhydrous salt of Cu, Zn, B, Al, Ti, Si, V, Sb, Bi, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and an inorganic or organic anion such as phosphate, pyrophosphate, phosphite, sulfate, halide, carboxylate and sulfonate in the presence of 0.05 - 5 mol. % of a protic organic or inorganic acid such as pyrophosphoric, phosphorous, hydrohalic carboxylic and sulfonic. These additives can be added to lactam below 180.degree. C and the polymerization is carried out at 150.degree. - 320.degree. C for 0.1 - 200 hr. The above-specified salts, also their mixtures, can be used. The polymerization can be carried out with mixtures containing two or more lactams.

Abstract: Hexaorgano distannanes of the general formula R.sub.3 Sn--SnR.sub.3 significantly reduce or eliminate the discoloration which occurs when mixtures containing an alkali metal salt of a lactam are stored under an inert atmosphere for extended periods of time at temperatures between ambient and 100.degree. C. R in the foregoing formula represents a monovalent hydrocarbon radical containing between 1 and 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing of anionic polycaprolactam with a low content of water extractables and high stability of the degree of polymerization during melting by a two-stage polymerization using known basic initiators and known activators of the following types: ##STR1## where R is ##STR2## R.sup.1 = R or C.sub.1-4 alkyl, cycloalkyl or allyl, R.sup.2 = C.sub.1-4 alkyl or H atom, n is an integer 3-11 and x is an integer >3. The ratio of activator to initiator (e.g. sodium dihydromethoxyethoxyaluminate) ranges between 2.6 and 4.2, advantageously 2.8-3.5 The first polymerization stage proceeds at 150.degree.-200.degree. C. for .ltoreq.10 min, the polymer is then shaped and postpolymerized at 150.degree.-200.degree. C. for .ltoreq.90 min to achieve a monomer content near to the equilibrium content corresponding to the 2nd stage temperature.