A reverse-phase suspension polymerization process for the manufacture of polymer beads comprising forming aqueous monomer beads comprising an aqueous solution of water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or monomer blend and polymerizing the monomer or monomer blend to form polymer beads while suspended in a non-aqueous liquid, and recovering polymer beads, in which the process comprises, providing in a vessel (1) a volume (2) of non-aqueous liquid wherein the volume of non-aqueous liquid extends between at least one polymer bead discharge point (3) and at least one monomer feed point (4), feeding the aqueous monomer or monomer blend through orifices (5) into, or onto, the non-aqueous liquid to form aqueous monomer beads, allowing the aqueous monomer beads to flow towards the polymer bead discharge point subjecting the aqueous monomer beads to polymerization conditions to initiate polymerization to form polymerizing beads, wherein the polymerizing beads have formed polymer beads when they reach the polymer bead discharge point, removing a suspension of the polymer beads in non-aqueous liquid from the vessel at the polymer bead discharge point and recovering water soluble or water swellable polymer beads from the suspension. The invention also relates to the apparatus suitable for carrying out a reverse-phase suspension polymerization and polymer beads obtainable by the process or employing the apparatus.

A reverse-phase suspension polymerization process for the manufacture of polymer beads comprising forming aqueous monomer beads comprising an aqueous solution of water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or monomer blend and polymerizing the monomer or monomer blend to form polymer beads while suspended in a non-aqueous liquid, and recovering polymer beads, in which the process comprises, providing in a vessel (1) a volume (2) of non-aqueous liquid wherein the volume of non-aqueous liquid extends between at least one polymer bead discharge point (3) and at least one monomer feed point (4), feeding the aqueous monomer or monomer blend through orifices (5) into, or onto, the non-aqueous liquid to form aqueous monomer beads, allowing the aqueous monomer beads to flow towards the polymer bead discharge point subjecting the aqueous monomer beads to polymerization conditions to initiate polymerization to form polymerizing beads, wherein the polymerizing beads have formed polymer beads when they reach the polymer bead discharge point, removing a suspension of the polymer beads in non-aqueous liquid from the vessel at the polymer bead discharge point and recovering water soluble or water swellable polymer beads from the suspension. The invention also relates to the apparatus suitable for carrying out a reverse-phase suspension polymerization and polymer beads obtainable by the process or employing the apparatus.

A hydrophilic thickener comprising a polymer obtainable by subjecting a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer to a reversed phase suspension polymerization in the presence of a polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether; and a cosmetic composition containing the hydrophilic thickener. The hydrophilic thickener according to the present invention can be used in the fields of cosmetics such as powder foundations, liquid foundations, emulsions, lotions, liquid cosmetics, moisturizing gel, all-in-one gels, cleansing foams, hair setting agents, emollient creams; toiletries, sundries, and the like.

A hydrophilic thickener comprising a polymer obtainable by subjecting a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer to a reversed phase suspension polymerization in the presence of a polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether; and a cosmetic composition containing the hydrophilic thickener. The hydrophilic thickener according to the present invention can be used in the fields of cosmetics such as powder foundations, liquid foundations, emulsions, lotions, liquid cosmetics, moisturizing gel, all-in-one gels, cleansing foams, hair setting agents, emollient creams; toiletries, sundries, and the like.

Temperature-responsive poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. In the preparation method, with a system consisting of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) (an oxidant) and 2-methyl-N-[3-(methyl-phenyl-amino)-propyl]-acrylamide (MPAEMA) or 2-methyl-N-[3-(methyl-phenyl-amino)-propyl]-propionamide (MEMA) (a reducing agent monomer) as a redox initiation system, water and toluene as media, a nonionic surfactant as an emulsifier, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as a polymerization monomer, polymerization is conducted at room temperature and atmospheric pressure to obtain the PHEMA. An alcohol solution of the PHEMA has an upper critical solution temperature (UCST). The method has the advantages of simple and stable polymerization system, low polymerization cost, easy operation, mild conditions, small impact on the environment, and low energy consumption. Moreover, a molecular weight and UCST of a product are controllable within a specified range.

Temperature-responsive poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. In the preparation method, with a system consisting of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) (an oxidant) and 2-methyl-N-[3-(methyl-phenyl-amino)-propyl]-acrylamide (MPAEMA) or 2-methyl-N-[3-(methyl-phenyl-amino)-propyl]-propionamide (MEMA) (a reducing agent monomer) as a redox initiation system, water and toluene as media, a nonionic surfactant as an emulsifier, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as a polymerization monomer, polymerization is conducted at room temperature and atmospheric pressure to obtain the PHEMA. An alcohol solution of the PHEMA has an upper critical solution temperature (UCST). The method has the advantages of simple and stable polymerization system, low polymerization cost, easy operation, mild conditions, small impact on the environment, and low energy consumption. Moreover, a molecular weight and UCST of a product are controllable within a specified range.

The invention relates to a self-invertible inverse latex comprising, as an inverting agent, surfactant species of the polyglycerol ester family, the alkyl chain of which has from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, with polyglycerols having 1 to 10 glycerol units, and the use thereof as a thickening and/or emulsifying and/or stabilizing agent for a cosmetic, dermopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical topical composition, and cosmetic, dermopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical topical compositions comprising same. Also disclosed are surfactant compositions comprising polyglycerol esters, the alkyl chain of which has from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and polyglycerols having 1 to 10 glycerol units.

The invention relates to a self-invertible inverse latex comprising, as an inverting agent, surfactant species of the polyglycerol ester family, the alkyl chain of which has from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, with polyglycerols having 1 to 10 glycerol units, and the use thereof as a thickening and/or emulsifying and/or stabilizing agent for a cosmetic, dermopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical topical composition, and cosmetic, dermopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical topical compositions comprising same. Also disclosed are surfactant compositions comprising polyglycerol esters, the alkyl chain of which has from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and polyglycerols having 1 to 10 glycerol units.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a polymer reverse emulsion polymerization comprising the following steps: a) Preparation of an aqueous phase comprising at least one water-soluble monomer and at least one water-soluble precursor of formula (I):

##STR00001## b) Preparation of an organic phase comprising a lipophilic solvent and at least one water-in-oil surfactant, c) Mixing the aqueous phase and the organic phase while stirring to form an inverse emulsion, d) Once the inverse emulsion has been formed, addition of a radical polymerization initiator in said inverse emulsion, and obtaining a polymer by polymerization of at least one water-soluble monomer.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a polymer reverse emulsion polymerization comprising the following steps: a) Preparation of an aqueous phase comprising at least one water-soluble monomer and at least one water-soluble precursor of formula (I):

##STR00001## b) Preparation of an organic phase comprising a lipophilic solvent and at least one water-in-oil surfactant, c) Mixing the aqueous phase and the organic phase while stirring to form an inverse emulsion, d) Once the inverse emulsion has been formed, addition of a radical polymerization initiator in said inverse emulsion, and obtaining a polymer by polymerization of at least one water-soluble monomer.