Abstract: A dispersion of 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (“DBNPA”) particles in a restrictedly viscosified concentrated brine solution effectively negates gelling of the brine solution because the naturally occurring gum used does not exhibits Ellis-Plastic behavior in the concentrated brine at a pH of from about 1 to 4. Because the DBNPA particles are much less soluble in the brine than in water, the particles are held in the stable dispersion. Moreover, a dispersion of DBNPA particles in viscosified brine provides at least the same biocidal effect as a solution of DBNPA, relative to the same concentration of DBNPA in solution in glycol, but also concurrently nullifies the degradation of the DBNPA during storage so that the loss due to hydrolysis of the DBNPA is less than 3% over a period of three months at a temperature in the range from ?5° C. to 25° C. A process is disclosed for making the dispersion which can be stored at a temperature in the range from about ?5° C. to 25° C.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) for overmolding (OM) a nylon substrate with an overmolded layer consists essentially of an inert filler, a plasticizer, preferably a mineral oil, and chosen combinations of ingredients from the following: (i) a functionalized “high rubber” SHDS (styrene-hydrogenated diene-styrene) having a functionality of 1%, the “small end blocks” together present in an amount in the range from about 8-25% by weight; (ii) hydrogenated SDS or SHDS block copolymer having polystyrene endblocks and a polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer in the poly(conjugated diene) midblock, the polystyrene endblocks together present in an amount in the range from 20-30% by weight of the block copolymer, excluding weight of the polystyrene in the polydiene midblock; (iii) a functionalized “high rubber” SHDS having a functionality of >1% but <2%, the “small end blocks” together present in an amount in the range from about 8-25% by weight; (iv) from 0-30% by weight of the composition, of a functionalized polyo

Abstract: A container for live bait is provided with a bait retrieval assembly of readily available structural components which are combined in an unexpectedly useful manner to allow all operations to be carried out using one hand only. The container, which is closed with a substantially rigid lid, may be of arbitrary cross-section but is preferably either cylindrical or tapered. The bait retrieval assembly includes an L-shaped frame comprising a pair of vertical members and a pair of horizontal members on which a bowl-shaped colander is supported. The vertical members are reciprocable through openings in the lid. The vertical members are required to be in mirror image relationship with one another, and laterally spaced-apart so that the distance between the longitudinal center lines of the members in the bottom portion of the L is less than the distance between longitudinal center lines of the members in the upper portion of the L.

Abstract: A low elevational profile of each of a pair of first and second wheel chocks for restraining a current “low-drag” motor vehicle in a carrier, such as a railway car, is derived from each wheel chock having an internally webbed, elongated stepped-box body terminated with a relatively short rectangular box having its inner wall integrally formed with the stepped-box body. The body of the first chock is essentially a mirror-image of the second chock body. The low profile of a wheel chock allows each to be positioned under a vehicle the rocker panel of which has its lower edge only 148 mm (5.82 inches) above the surface upon which the vehicle's tire rests, so that the installed chock height is reduced to 47.6 mm (1.87?) under the components of the vehicle's body. The assembly may include a pair of “active” chocks; or, one active chock and one anchor chock.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) for overmolding (OM) a nylon substrate with an overmolded layer consists essentially of an inert filler, a plasticizer, preferably a mineral oil, and chosen combinations of ingredients from the following: (i) a functionalized “high rubber” SHDS (styrene-hydrogenated diene-styrene) having a functionality of 1%, the “small end blocks” together present in an amount in the range from about 8-25% by weight; (ii) hydrogenated SDS or SHDS block copolymer having polystyrene endblocks and a polymerized vinyl aromatic monomer in the poly(conjugated diene) midblock, the polystyrene endblocks together present in an amount in the range from 20-30% by weight of the block copolymer, excluding weight of the polystyrene in the polydiene midblock; (iii) a functionalized “high rubber” SHDS having a functionality of >1% but <2%, the “small end blocks” together present in an amount in the range from about 8-25% by weight; (iv) from 0-30% by weight of the composition, of a functionalized polyo

Abstract: Rope made of cellulose fibers, the polymeric chemical structure of which fibers has not been modified (referred to as “raw” cellulose fibers), are subjected to intense electron beam irradiation insufficient to degrade their chemical structure but sufficient to modify their physical structure so as to allow them to be comminuted into fragments having a length no more than 6.35 mm (0.25?), preferably less than 3.175 mm (0.125?), and preferably 50% by weight of the fibers have a length less than 70 ?m. Such fragments of fibers are found to be particularly susceptible to being micronized in a micronizer into elongated granular fragments smaller than about 20 ?m at an economical production rate in excess of 22.7 Kg/hr (50 lb/hr) which was not possible when the micronizer was fed with naturally occurring fibers.

Abstract: A powder metal mixture comprises a lubricant powder conventionally used to produce powder metal parts in combination with a modified lubricant. A lubricant conventionally used to compact and sinter a chosen powder metal mixture is modified by adding to it starch particles smaller than the average metal particle, and optionally, micronized cellulose fibers in so small an amount that the modified lubricant is present in an amount less than 2% by weight of the mixture. The Hall apparent density and the Hall flow rate of a powder metal mixture made with the modified lubricant of starch or (starch+fibers) remains within the ranges deemed desirable for production of compacted powder metal parts. Using the modified lubricant in lieu of the conventional lubricant increases green strength of a part made by compacting the mixture and improves dimensional conformance.

Abstract: A powder metal mixture comprises a lubricant powder conventionally used to produce powder metal parts in combination with micronized cellulose fibers in an amount less than 2% by weight of the mixture. The addition of fibers with the lubricant increases green strength of a part made by compacting the mixture and improves dimensional conformance.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer (“TPE”) which is oxygen-permeable is provided with excellent barrier properties against oxygen by melt-blending with a liquid polyisobutene oil plasticizer in an amount insufficient to render the plasticized elastomer tacky. If made tacky, enough detackifier is used to allow the product to be formed into a removable seal. The TPE may be a conventional thermoplastic vulcanizate or a block copolymer of a vinylaromatic compound, typically styrene, and a conjugated diene, typically butadiene or isoprene, or mixtures thereof; the block may be a diblock, triblock or higher block, but the preferred polyblock copolymer is a triblock with styrene end-blocks and a butadiene/isoprene mid-block. Preferably the diene mid-block is hydrogenated to provide a poly(lower)monoolefin mid-block. When the TPE is a TPV, some or all of the mineral oil used to make the TPV processable may also be substituted with the polyisobutene plasticizer.

Abstract: A waxy solid having ultrafine particles homogeneously distributed in a mixture of vegetable oil and waxy solid, the oil being present in a major proportion by weight, forms a homogeneous colloidal solution which is then cooled and subjected to high shear to form ultrafine particles of the waxy solid, in situ, in a size range from about 0.1 ?m to 10 ?m. The resulting stiff gel retains its shape and high viscosity for at least 30 days when confined in a container in an air atmosphere at 40° C. at substantially sea level. The stability of the gel is visually evidenced by a lack of syneresis. The gel is destabilized at a temperature in the range from 52° C. (125° F.) to 100° C. (212° F.).

Abstract: A nail polish remover is formulated from a combination of solvents derived from naturally occurring materials, which combination consists essentially of a (i) a major proportion by weight (“by wt”) of esters of fatty acids having from 16 to 18 carbon atoms wherein the content of linoleic acid ester in the source vegetable oil is less than 60%, and (ii) a minor proportion by weight of a lower (C1–C5) alkyl lactate. The nail polish remover is highly effective yet has good skin conditioning properties, is non-toxic and non-flammable. A visible residue several micrometers thick provides a desirable gloss on the cleaned nails unless it is washed off.

Abstract: A plasticized HSBC blended with polypropylene and free of a filler material which adversely affects clarity, provides an injection-moldable composition for an article required to have specific properties, namely, tensile strength in the range from about 4.13 to 8.96 MPa (600 to 1300 psi); tear strength in the range from about 21 to 52.6 N/mm (120 to 300 lbs/in); softness in the range from about 45 but less than 65 Shore A; and haze less than 20%, measured by ASTM D1003 using a BYK Gardner Micro Tri-gloss 4525 meter; and it is essential that all of these properties, along with the physical dimensions of the molded article, remain substantially unchanged after immersion of the article in boiling water for 1 hour. Such a composition is may be injection molded to form a nipple for feeding an infant, or a teething ring, or goggles for a diver, and the articles are sterilizable and recyclable.

Abstract: Sidewalls of a pneumatic tire have greater resistance to failure due to dynamic flexing and abrasion, and the tire's tread has better resistance to tearing than with conventionally used rubber compositions, when sidewalls and tread are formed from a compound having a major proportion by weight of synthetic rubber (SR) and a minor proportion by weight of natural rubber (NR), and a major proportion by weight of the SR itself consists essentially of a high cis-1,4-polybutadiene having defined molecular architecture. The high cis-1,4-PBD has more than 90 percent cis-structure, a poly-dispersity in the range from about 3 to 5, a number average molecular weight Mn in the range from 100,000 to 150,000 and a degree of branching in the range from 2 to 3.5. The sidewall compound has characteristics quite different from one made with a typical commercially available high cis-1,4-PBD; and the tread has excellent tear strength.

Abstract: A passive pitching target comprises a portable device including a resilient rectangular laminar backstop indentable by a baseball pitched at a velocity of 100 km/hr (62 mph); the target is higher than it is wide, and rests with its base supported on the ground; one planar face of the backstop is fully covered with a laminar resilient pad of synthetic resinous material having a specified resilience to ensure that a pitched baseball striking the target's planar surface is returned to the pitcher at a location of choice, either less than one-half the distance from where the pitch was thrown, to mimic a “bunt”, or, in the general vicinity of the location from where the ball was pitched; the pad is dimensioned for height and width the same as the backstop and is removably affixed in contact with the face of the backboard; the resilient pad, in turn is fully covered with a removably affixed synthetic resinous sheet of material overlying the resilient pad and in intimate contact therewith, the target forming an inde

Abstract: A drupe which is infested with a larva of a moth or larvae of other insects, and is contaminated with related excretions, referred to as a “frass”, in a central zone within the drupe, is cleansed with a longitudinally bored pitting knife mounted in the pitting head of a conventional pitting machine. A source of cleansing fluid is connected to the bore within the knife and fluid is discharged through radial passages in the knife, which radial passages communicate with the longitudinal bore. In operation, while the knife pits the drupe, fluid discharged from within the knife contacts the walls of the passage left by the ejected pit, and removes the frass. If desired, the drupe may be first pitted, then decontaminated or washed, and/or dried sequentially, in separate stages. The invention is particularly effective with dates, prunes, olives, cherries, nectarines, peaches and avocados.

Abstract: Poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (“PBO”) yarn or cord is first coated with a subcoat of a mixture of (a) an aliphatic polyglycidyl ether having a flash point greater than 150° C. with enough OH-groups to be substantially water-soluble and (b) a vinyl pyridine-styrene-butadiene rubber latex (VPSBRL), then coated in a conventional RFL dip, yields a twice-coated PBO yarn; this yarn provides adhesive strength in sulfur-vulcanizable rubber which is substantially the same as, or better than, that provided by aramid yarn having the same physical dimensions and construction, and coated with an aromatic polyglycidyl ether.

Abstract: Yaw stabilization device provides a light-weight mechanism for increasing the linear yaw stiffness levels between the side frame and bolster to provide the proper inter-axle shear stiffness without affecting the compliancy required of the vertical suspension system. This invention, which fails to increase the unsprung weight of a railroad car truck assembly noticeably, may be retrofitted to existing freight car trucks in service or incorporated into newly manufactured trucks. Moreover, it does so without the need for damping wedges to increase interaxle shear stiffness and allow the wedges to function optimally for control of vertical vibrations.

Abstract: A black rubber sidewall compound essentially free of a silanated rubber which includes a combination of less than 10 phr of a rosin acid type “tackifier” and less than 1 phr of a t-alkanolamine generates, upon curing against a metal mold surface having a finish in the range from about 8 RA to 32 RA, a reaction product which, at the surface of the sidewall, has a gloss in the range from about 10 to 40 lasting at least one month. A secondary advantage is that the surface of the mold remains clean enough not to require refurbishing through at least 20% more curing cycles than is possible with a sidewall conventional sidewall compound without the specified tackifier and t-alkanolamine. Multiple washing of the sidewalls during a month of using the tire, fails to diminish the gloss substantially.

Abstract: A method for determining a “safe-operation” point for a metal structural element subjected to repeated loading, the same or different, generating variable levels of strain and residual stress in the worked element; and, predicting the imminent failure of the structural element. The surface of the metal element is worked to provide a residual strain, for example, by shot-peening. Measurements of electrical conductivity are compared at various chosen frequencies corresponding to different depths in the “near-surface” of the element. Similar measurements are made in the near-surface of a “standard” and a first difference is computed between the conductivity of the shot-peened surface and the “standard” surface. This first difference provides a basis for comparison of the effects of residual stress after successive loadings of the shot-peened metal element.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a multifunctional additive involving irradiating raw cotton plant material with an electron beam source, continually blending the raw cotton plant material during the irradiating and micronizing the irradiated cotton plant material. The invention is improved wherein the irradiating and blending of the raw cotton plant material is performed while the raw cotton plant material is in rope form. Irradiated rope is suitably tensioned before micronizing to compensate for degradability of the rope incurred during irradiation.