Patent ID: 7504466
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: C08F

Abstract:
1. A method for predicting whether a selection of reaction conditions for a polymerization reaction for forming crosslinked polymer particles exhibit a potential for forming a gel; wherein the reaction conditions include a reaction mixture comprising at least one reactant monomer and at least one crosslinking monomer; wherein the at least one reactant monomer is selected from alkyl (meth)acrylates, (meth)acrylamides, vinyl acetates, alkenyl (meth)acrylates, aryl (meth)acrylates, alkylaryl (meth)acrylates, amine containing (meth)acrylates, phosphorous containing (meth)acrylates, sulfur containing (meth)acrylates, vinyl aromatic monomers, (meth)acrylic acid, substituted ethylene monomers, vinyl imidazole, norbornene, substituted norbornenes, olefins and combinations thereof; wherein the reaction conditions are selected to provide a polymerization reaction that is emulsion free; the method comprising: predicting whether equation (1) will be satisfied at some point during the polymerization reaction given the selection of reaction conditions: wherein A is the total fraction of potential pendant double bonds defined according to equation 2:  where N is the number of polymerizable double bonds per cross linking monomer; B is the moles of standing monomer per kg of reaction mixture; and, C is the overall mole fraction of methacrylate monomers, vinyl aromatic monomers, methacrylamide monomers, norbornene monomers and substituted norbornene monomers in the reaction mixture.