Process for the preparation of macroreticular-structured copolymers

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR PREPARATION OF SUBSTANTIALLY SOLID WATER-INSOLUBLE, CROSS-LINKED COPOLYMERS THAT ARE USEFUL FOR CONVERSION TO ION EXCHANGE RESINS, WHICH COMPRISES POLYMERIZING IN BULK, WITH OXYGEN SUBSTANTIALLY EXCLUDED, A HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURE CONSISTING OF (1) A MONOVINYL AROMATIC HYDROCARBON OR MIXTURES THEREOF, (2) A POLYVINYL AROMATIC HYDROCARBON, SAID MONO- AND POLYVINYL AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS BEING EXTENDED WITH (3) 5 TO 70% WATER, THE PERCENTAGE BEING BASED ON THE WEIGHT OF THE TOTAL HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURE, (4) A POLYMERIZATION INITIATOR FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF PEROXIDE AND AZO CATALYSTS, WATERSOLUBLE FREE RADICAL INITIATORS, AND CATALYSTS WHICH ACTIVATE ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT AS A POLYMERIZATION AGENT, AND (5) A SURFACTANT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF (A) NONIONIC SURFACTANTS, (B) ANIONTIC SURFACTANTS, AND (C) MIXTURES OF A NONIONIC SURFACTANT AND AN ANIONIC SURFACTANT, TNE NONIONIC SURFACTANTS BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF OCTYL AND NONYL-PHENOXY (POLYETHOXYETHANOLS) IN WHICH THE ETHOXY GROUPS RANGE FROM 3 TO 69, AND THE ANIONIC SURFACTANTS ARE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE AND DODECYLBENZENE SODIUM SULFONATE, THE VARIOUS REACTANTS BEING MIXED AND AGITATED TOGETHER UNTIL A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM, CREAM-LIKE PASTE IS PRODUCED.