Appeal 2006-1219
Application 10/636,148
Independent claims 1, 6, and 10 are representative of the subject
matter on appeal and are set forth below:
1. A crosslinked polymeric bead comprising a polymer having
from 0.5 mole percent to 2 mole percent crosslinker; wherein said
bead has a diameter no greater than 200 µm, no void spaces having a
diameter greater than 5 µm, and less than 5 weight percent of organic
extractables.
6. A method for producing a lightly crosslinked polymeric bead
having no void spaces having a diameter greater than 5 µm; said
method comprising steps of:
(a) preparing a suspension polymerization mixture in a vessel;
said mixture comprising: (i) a monomer mixture comprising at least
one vinyl monomer and 0.5 mole percent to 2 mole percent of at least
one crosslinker; and (ii) from 0.25 mole percent to 1.5 mole percent of
at least one free radical initiator;
(b) removing oxygen from the suspension polymerization
mixture and the vessel by introducing an inert gas for a time sufficient
to produce an atomosphere in the vessel containing no more than
5 percent oxygen;
(c) allowing the monomer mixture to polymerize; and
(d) washing the bead with an aprotic organic solvent.
10. A lightly crosslinked polymeric bead having no void spaces
having a diameter greater than 5 µm; said bead produced by a method
comprising steps of :
(a) preparing a suspension polymerization mixture in a vessel;
said mixture comprising: (i) a monomer mixture comprising at least
one vinyl monomer and 0.5 mole percent to 2 mole percent of at least
one crosslinker; and (ii) from 0.25 mole percent to 1.5 mole percent of
at least one free radical initiator;
2
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