Appeal No. 2002-0865
Application No. 08/940,996
on the inner surfaces of the polymerization reactor or
vessel. This buildup interferes with heat transfer and
decreases productivity and adversely affects polymer
quality. It must be removed at considerable reduction
in production time and if not removed, more polymer
buildup occurs rapidly on that already present
resulting in a hard, insoluble crust. Accordingly, it
is not only desirable to have an emulsion polymer-
ization process in which vinyl resins are produced that
have the properties of eliminating bloom in finished
articles made therefrom, or at least reducing the bloom
to a minimum, but also in which polymer buildup on the
inner surfaces of the reactor is substantially reduced
or eliminated.
Secondly, the examiner has not responded to appellants'
argument that Fan, the secondary reference, is directed to water-
in-oil emulsions whereas appellants, and Bush, are directed to
oil-in-water emulsions. The examiner has not explained why the
process of Fan, which is directed to a water-in-oil emulsion
polymerization that may include a conventional cooling
recirculation loop, would have been applicable to the oil-in-
water emulsion polymerization of Bush, who fails to mention a
recirculation loop.
Also, we can hardly disagree with appellants that Fan's
solution to emulsion breakdown under the influence of a high
shear field, particularly at elevated temperatures, is to first
form a small amount of polymer in the emulsion to obtain a shear
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