Non-gelling high molecular weight polymer compositions and thermosplastic blends thereof

The present invention relates to non-gelling high polymer compositions. The present invention also relates to polymer blend compositions which contain non-gelling, high molecular weight polymer compositions and thermoplastic polymer resins. The present invention further relates to processes for increasing the melt strength of thermoplastic polymer resins using non-gelling, high molecular weight polymer compositions. The present invention even further relates to processes for preparing non-gelling, high molecular weight polymer compositions and polymer blend compositions containing the same. Disclosed are compositions and processes for preparing polymeric materials having polymerizable units derived from at least one Cto Calkyl (meth)acrylate monomer, and at least one chain branching unit. The presence of the chain branching unit suprisingly results in the polymeric composition having non-gelled polymer chains. The polymeric compositions are useful as additives for improving the melt strength of thermoplastic resins.