Patent ID: 8299139

Claim:
A process for synthesizing an ultra-high molecular weight polymer which comprises (1) polymerizing at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of a photo-initiator into a solid polymer, wherein the photo-initiator is present at a level which is less than 0.01 weight percent, wherein said polymerization is initiated with ultra-violet light; (2) dissolving the solid polymer into a liquid monomer and/or solvent to make a polymer solution wherein no additional photo-initiator is added to the polymer solution; (3) exposing the polymer solution to ultra-violet light; (4) allowing the polymerization to continue to produce a polymer of higher molecular weight; wherein the polymerization temperature is not allowed to exceed 30° C. in step (1), step (2), step (3) or step (4) of the process.