Abstract: A fuel gas and an oxidant gas are humidified using a flow transmitter and a static mixer to achieve saturation of fuel and oxidant process gases prior to feeding to a fuel cell.

Abstract: A process for preparing conjugated polymers which comprises contacting (i) monomers having two reactive groups selected from boronic acid, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 boronic acid ester, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 borane, and combinations thereof, with aromatic dihalide-functional monomers or (ii) monomers having one reactive boronic acid, boronic acid ester, or borane group and one reactive halide-functional group, with each other; (wherein the monomers are selected so that the polymerization reaction product of such has conjugated unsaturated internal groups) in a reaction mixture which contains: (a) an organic solvent in which the polymer forms at least a 1 percent solution; (b) an aqueous solution of an inorganic base having a pKa in the range of from 9 to 13, said solution having a concentration of at least 0.1N; (c) a catalytic amount of a palladium complex; and (d) at least 0.

Abstract: Novel organic ion-exchange polymers and membranes formed from these polymers provide improved performance in electrolytic cells. The membranes exhibit an expanded micro-structure as the result of the removal of organic groups previously reacted with the ion-exchange groups of the polymer. The polymers are also useful in finely divided form as catalysts or deposited on a catalyst support. When formed into sheets, the polymers are useful as membranes in the separation of miscible liquids and in the separation of gases.

Abstract: A poly(arylamine) composition comprising one or more compounds of Formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: R is independently in each occurrence a C.sub.1-24 hydrocarbyl, C.sub.1-24 hydrocarboxy, C.sub.1-24 hydrocarbylthiooxy, or C.sub.1-24 hydrocarbylcarboxyl;Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are independently in each occurrence a C.sub.6-18 aryl moiety optionally substituted with a C.sub.1-12 hydrocarbyl, C.sub.1-12 hydrocarbyloxy, C.sub.1-12 hydrocarbylthiooxy, or C.sub.1-12 hydrocarbylcarboxyl;A is independently in each occurrence hydrogen or a halogen;x is independently in each occurrence a positive number from 0 to 1;n is independently in each occurrence a whole number of from 0 to 4; andm is a number of from about 5 to about 1000.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 4,4'-dihydroxy-alpha-alkylstilbene or 4,4'-dihydroxy-alpha,alpha'-dialkylstilbene which includes the steps of (A) reacting at a temperature of from -20.degree. C. to 20.degree. C. a mixture of: (1) at least one alpha-haloketone; (2) at least one compound containing one phenolic hydroxyl group or aromatic alkoxy group per molecule such that the mole ratio of phenolic hydroxyl group-containing or aromatic alkoxy group-containing compound(s):alpha-haloketone(s) is at least 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to 2,7-substituted-9-substituted fluorenes and 9-substituted fluorene oligomers and polymers. The fluorenes, oligomers and polymers are substituted at the 9-position with two hydrocarbyl moieties which may optionally contain one or more of sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous or silicon heteroatoms; a C.sub.5-20 ring structure formed with the 9-carbon on the fluorene ring or a C.sub.4-20 ring structure formed with the 9-carbon containing one or more heteroatoms of sulfur, nitrogen or oxygen; or a hydrocarbylidene moiety. In one embodiment, the fluorenes are substituted at the 2- and 7-positions with aryl moieties which may further be substituted with moieties which are capable of crosslinking or chain extension or a trialkylsiloxy moiety. The fluorene polymers and oligomers may be substituted at the 2- and 7'-positions. The monomer units of the fluorene oligomers and polymers are bound to one another at the 2- and 7'-positions.

Abstract: A composition comprising (a) catalytically-active particles, (b) an organic compound having a pKa of at least about 18 and a basicity parameter, .beta., of less than 0.66, and (c) a polymeric binder. Also described is a process for preparing a membrane/electrode assembly, which comprises the sequential steps of (i) applying a layer of the composition of the invention to a solid polymer electrolyte, a carbon fiber paper, or a release substrate; (ii) heating the composition under conditions sufficient to volatilize at least 95 percent of component (b); and (iii) positioning the composition in contact with the solid polymer electrolyte, if the composition was not applied directly to the solid polymer electrolyte, forming the membrane/electrode assembly thereby.

Abstract: A composite oxygen electrode/electrolyte structure for a solid state electrochemical device having a porous composite electrode in contact with a dense electrolyte membrane, which electrode includes: (a) a porous structure having interpenetrating networks of an ionically-conductive material and an electronically-conductive material; and (b) an electrocatalyst different from the electronically-conductive material, dispersed within the pores of the porous structure. This electrode structure is relatively simple to manufacture, requiring relatively few steps to infiltrate an electrocatalyst precursor material to obtain an electrode structure which will perform advantageously in a solid oxide fuel cell, has a relatively low internal resistance, and permits the selection of an optimal electronically-conductive material and electrocatalyst.

Abstract: Described is a polycarbonate, polyester, or polyestercarbonate composition prepared from a reaction mixture comprising at least one diol and at least one carbonate precursor or ester precursor, wherein at least about 95 mole percent of the diol present in the reaction mixture consists of one or more aromatic diols, at least about 10 mole percent of which consists of one or more stilbene diols. The composition of the invention advantageously has a relatively high thermal resistance, melting temperature, tensile and flexural properties, and/or resistance to thermal embrittlement. Moreover, the polymers of the invention which are thermotropic liquid crystalline also advantageously possess a broad temperature range for liquid crystallinity, good melt processibility, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, a high ignition resistance, high solvent resistance, and/or good barrier properties.

Abstract: Described is a continuous process for removing polyphosphoric acid from a polybenzazole dope filament, which comprises: (a) contacting the dope filament with water or a mixture of water and polyphosphoric acid under conditions sufficient to reduce the phosphorous content of the filament to less than about 10,000 ppm by weight; and then (b) contacting the dope filament with an aqueous solution of an inorganic base under conditions sufficient to convert at least about 50 percent of the polyphosphoric acid groups present in the filament to a salt of the base and the acid. It has been discovered that contacting the dope filament with a solution of a base after washing the filament to remove most of the residual phosphorous advantageously leads to an improvement in the initial tensile strength of the filament, as well as improved retention of tensile strength and/or molecular weight (of the polybenzazole polymer) following exposure to light and/or high temperatures.

Abstract: Described herein is a composition comprising at least 10 percent by weight of water and, based on the weight of components (a), (b), and (c); (a) 0 to about 95 percent by weight of a water-compatible polymer having at least two pendant carboxylate groups; (b) 1 to about 60 percent by weight of a polymeric polycarboxylate polymer different from (a) having (1) at least two pendant carboxylate groups and (2) at least one internal amide, thioamide, urea, thiourea, biuret, dithiobiuret, or urethane group; and (c) 2 to about 70 percent by weight of a polyfunctional crosslinking agent having an ionic or potentially ionic moiety counter ion capable of reacting with the carboxylate groups of (a) and (b). Component (b) may also contain fluoroalkyl groups. The composition of the invention provides a water-based coating which, when deposited on a surface to be coated and allowed to dry and form a crosslinked polymer, has a high degree of wear resistance, hardness, and impact resistance.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for synthesizing polybenzazole polymers comprising: (a) contacting a bis(trihalomethyl) organic compound with a polyphosphoric acid under reaction conditions sufficient to convert at least about 25 mole percent of the trihalomethyl groups present to carboxylic acid or carboxylate groups, forming a reaction mixture thereby; and (b) contacting the reaction mixture with an aromatic compound having two o-amino-basic moieties under reaction conditions sufficient to form a polybenzazole polymer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of dihydroxy polyphenyl compounds is disclosed which comprises the simultaneous steps of (a) contacting the corresponding diisoalkyl polyphenyl compound or an oxidation intermediate thereof with oxygen under reaction conditions sufficient to form a corresponding dihydroperoxyalkyl polyphenyl compound and (b) contacting the dihydroperoxyalkyl polyphenyl compound with an acid under reaction conditions sufficient to form the corresponding dihydroxy polyphenyl compound. In addition, the intermediate dihydroperoxyalkyl polyphenyl compound is a novel compound.

Abstract: A process for preparing amines or imines which comprises contacting an alcohol, aldehyde, or ketone with an aminating agent in the presence of a catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to form an amine or imine, wherein the catalyst comprises a homogeneous mixture of (a) 10-90 mole percent cobalt or an insoluble salt thereof, (b) 9-89 mole percent copper or an insoluble salt thereof, and (c) 1-20 mole percent of a metal or insoluble salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of a Lanthanum series metal, thorium, uranium, scandium, titanium, and yttrium is described. A process which employs zirconium as component (c) and which is supported on a carrier material, wherein the carrier material has been neutralized with a base, is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a process for preparing a prefabricated vehicle window comprising the sequential steps of:(a) placing a cover film in a receptacle to provide a film cavity, with a portion of the cover film extending out of the receptacle, wherein the cavity is of a dimension sufficient to hold a bead of adhesive which would extend around the entire periphery of the window;(b) depositing a bead of an uncured, deformable adhesive in the cavity on top of the cover film in an amount sufficient to slightly overfill the cavity; and(c) contacting the bead of adhesive with a vehicle window under conditions sufficient to press adhesive out of the cavity and between the vehicle window and the portion of the cover film extending over the sides of the receptacle such that the adhesive pressed out of the cavity bonds the film to the window along the edges of the bead of adhesive.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are phthalonitriles of the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are independently in each occurrence an aryl or phosphazine group; X is independently in each occurrence O, S, S(O), S(O)(O), P(R.sup.5), P(O)(R.sup.5), or N(R.sup.5); R.sup.4 is independently in each occurrence aryl, aryloxy, polyhaloaryl, polyhaloaryloxy, polyhaloalkylaryl, or polyhaloalkylaryloxy; R.sup.5 is independently in each occurrence aryl, polyhaloaryl, or polyhaloalkylaryl; n is a number from 1 to 4; and m is a number from 2 to 5. Also disclosed are phthalocyanines prepared from the above-described phthalonitriles. Also disclosed is a lubricant composition which comprises a lubricating fluid and a phthalonitrile or phthalocyanine as described above.

Abstract: In one aspect, this invention is a primer which comprises a solution of: (a) a polyester resin of a carboxylic acid and a glycol; and (b) a polymethylene poly(phenyl isocyanate), diphenylmethane diisocyanate, or mixture thereof; in a volatile solvent, wherein the weight ratio of (a):(b) is in the range of from about 0.25:1.0 to 2.0:1.0. In a second aspect, this invention is a primer which comprises a solution of: (a) 5-18 weight percent of a polyester resin of a carboxylic acid and a glycol; and (b) 6-17 weight percent of a polymethylene poly(phenyl isocyanate), diphenylmethane diisocyanate, or mixture thereof; in a volatile solvent. It has been discovered that the primer of the invention advantageously provides improved adhesion characteristics of metal-to-glass bonding when used to prime paint-coated metal substrates before the application of a urethane adhesive, particularly when used with a "fast cure" adhesive comprised of an isocyanate-functional prepolymer and dimorpholinediethyl ether.

Abstract: Described herein is an isocyanate-reactive compound containing at least one linkage of the formula:--X--X--wherein X is independently in each occurrence --NR--, --S--, or --O--; R is independently in each occurrence hydrogen, C.sub.1-10 alkyl, aryl, or arylene; and at least one N, S, or O atom of the above formula is bonded to an aryl or arylene group. Also disclosed are isocyanate-reactive compositions containing the above compound and flexible polyurethane foams prepared therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for the preparation of an o-aminophenyl derivative of a polyalkyleneoxy polyamine which comprises adding a polyalkyleneoxy polyamine to a dispersion or solution of an isatoic anhydride under reaction conditions sufficient to form the corresponding o-aminophenyl derivative. Also disclosed is an o-aminophenyl derivative of a modified polyamine comprising a backbone portion containing at least one polyalkyleneoxy moiety and one or more internal urea, biuret, amide, thiourea, dithiobiuret, or thioamide moieties, and a plurality of o-aminophenyl end groups wherein each o-aminophenyl group is separated from each urea, biuret, amide, thiourea, dithiobiuret, or thioamide moiety by at least one alkylene, cycloalkylene, aralkylene, arylene, or alkyleneoxy moiety with 4-20 carbon atoms, or at least one polyalkyleneoxy moiety containing from 2-50 alkyleneoxy units; as well as prepolymers and polymers prepared therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is an aryl ether sulfone of the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is independently in each occurrence hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, polyhaloaryl, polyhaloaryloxy, polyhaloalkylaryl, or polyhaloalkylaryloxy, R.sup.2 is independently in each occurrence hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, polyhaloaryl, polyhaloaryloxy, polyhaloalkylaryl, or polyhaloalkylaryloxy, and n is a whole number from 1 to 5. Also disclosed is a lubricant composition which comprises a lubricating fluid and an aryl ether sulfone as shown above, wherein the aryl ether sulfone is present in an amount sufficient to increase the lubricity of the lubricating fluid component.