A method for the manufacture of an adhesive id described, comprising: (A)
Providing an initial reaction product of a solution polymerization
reaction, the initial reaction product comprising polymer, unreacted
polymerizable reactant, non-poly-merizable material, and solvent; and (B)
Purifying the initial reaction product by adding an oxidizing agent and a
reducing agent to the initial reaction product and allowing the unreacted
polymerizable reactant in the initial reaction product to further react,
thereby providing a second reaction product comprising additional polymer
and a lower level of unreacted polymerizable reactant than was present in
the initial reaction product. Optionally, the method of the invention may
further comprise: Precipitating the polymer from the second reaction
product to provide a precipitated polymer, and separating the
precipitated polymer from the remainder of the second reaction product,
the precipitated polymer comprising a lower level of non-polymerizable
material or unreacted polymerizable reactant or both non-polymerizable
material and unreacted polymerizable reactant than was present in the
second reaction product.