Method of making low molecular weight vinyl resin

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYMER OF AN OLEFINICALLY UNSATURATED MONOMERIC COMPOUND CONTAINING THE POLYMERIZABLE GROUP CH2=C<, WHICH PROCESS COMPRISES INTODUCING SAID MONOMERIC COMPOUND INTO AN EMULSION POLYMERIZATION SYSTEM AT SUCH A RATE DURING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF THE REACTION THAT CONCENTRATION OF THE MONOMER AT THE POLYMERIZATION ZONE IS LESS THAN THAT EQUIVALENT TO SATURATION TO THE EXTENT THAT THE INHERENT VISCOSITY OF SAID POLYMER IS AT LEAST 20% LESS THAN THAT OBTAINED WHEN PRODUCING SAID POLYMER UNDER CONDITIONS WHEREIN THE POLYMERIZATION ZONE IS SATURATED WITH MONOMER DURING THE POLYMERIZATION REACTION, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING A SURFACTANT, WATER AS THE DILUENT IN WHICH SAID MONOMERIC COMPOUND IS POLYMERIZABLE AND SUBSTANTIALLY INSOLUBLE BOTH AS MONOMER AND AS POLYMER AND A POLYMERIZATION INITIATOR FOR THE MONOMERIC COMPOUND DISSOLVED IN THE WATER, POLYMERIZING THE MONOMERIC COMPOUND IN SAID SYSTEM AND RECOVERING THE RESULTING POLYMER.