Abstract: A compositional blend of from about 50 to about 99 weight percent of a polyester and from about 1 to about 50 weight percent of an essentially, linear, random aliphatic-aromatic copolyester or branched and/or chain extended copolyester thereof is useful as a heat-shrinkable film.

Abstract: This invention describes the use of organoclays as additives to plasticizers to provide a plasticizer composition, to allow the mixing of the plasticizers with thermoplastic resins in the same process used to convert the resin formulation to finished product. The use of this invention eliminates the need for a preliminary compounding step to incorporate plasticizers into thermoplastics prior to extrusion or molding.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recovering and purifying 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (epoxybutene) from an epoxidation effluent gas obtained by the vapor phase, catalytic, partial oxidation of 1,3-butadiene (butadiene) with molecular oxygen in the presence of a silver catalyst wherein the epoxybutene-laden epoxidation product gas is reacted with a water-miscible solvent to absorb the epoxybutene. The disclosed process includes a method of separating epoxybutene from the solvent and other reaction by-products by a novel combination of distillation and decantation steps.

Abstract: Disclosed are substantially enantiomerically pure bis-phosphine compounds comprising a substantially enantiomerically pure chiral backbone linking two phosphine residues wherein one of the phosphine residues has three phosphorus-carbon bonds and the other phosphine residue has two phosphorus-carbon bonds and one phosphorus-nitrogen bond wherein the nitrogen is part of the chiral backbone. The compounds, which have exhibited surprising air stability, are useful as ligands for metal catalysts for asymmetric reactions and have demonstrated excellent results, in particular as rhodium complexes for asymmetric hydrogenation of enamide, itaconate, and &agr;-ketoester compounds. Also disclosed are novel processes for the preparation of the bis-phosphine compounds and novel intermediate compounds useful in the preparation of the bis-phosphine compounds.

Abstract: A novel process for producing homopolymers and interpolymers of olefins which involves contacting an olefin and/or an olefin and at least one or more other olefin(s) under polymerization conditions with a metallocene catalyst and dinitrogen monoxide in amounts sufficient to reduce the electrostatic charge in the polymerization medium. Also provided is a process for reducing electrostatic charge in the production of polyolefins by introducing dinitrogen monoxide into the polymerization medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of obtaining a cellulose material from corn fiber wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) heating a mixture of corn fiber and a liquid; (b) contacting the mixture of step (a) with a protease enzyme, thereby providing a proteolyzed corn fiber and a liquid; (c) separating the liquid from the proteolyzed corn fiber; (d) contacting the proteolyzed corn fiber at least once with an alkaline extractant, thereby providing an insoluble cellulose material and a first liquid comprising arabinoxylan; (e) separating the insoluble cellulose material from the first liquid comprising arabinoxylan at a temperature of at or above about 60° C.; and (f) rinsing the insoluble cellulose material to remove essentially all alkali, thereby providing a cellulose material having a cellulose content of at least about 50% and consisting essentially of cellulose I. Cellulose esters and ethers are also prepared from the derivatizable cellulose prepared according to the methods herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the recovery and purification of 3,4-epoxy-1-butene (epoxybutene) from mixtures comprising epoxybutene and aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons containing five to seven carbon atoms having boiling points between about 20° C. and 115° C. by means of extractive distillation of the epoxybutene using certain extractive distillation solvents.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions useful for the polymerization of olefins are disclosed. These compositions comprise a Group 8-10 metal complex comprising a bidentate or variable denticity ligand comprising one or two nitrogen donor atom or atoms independently substituted by an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring(s), wherein the ortho positions of said ring(s) are substituted by aryl or heteroaryl groups. Also disclosed are processes for the polymerization of olefins using the catalyst compositions.

Abstract: Optical brighteners are widely used for decreasing the apparent yellowness of polymeric materials. Polyethylene, as a coating film for photographic paper has presented unique problems because of its general lack of compatibility with conventional, large, fluorescent brightener molecules. The present invention provides a solution to this problem by incorporating into the polyethylene an optical brightener compatibilizing amount of a second polyolefin having alkyl groups pendant from the polymer backbone which serves to reduce the exudation of the optical brightener in articles or substrates comprised of or coated with such compositions.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions useful for the polymerization or oligomerization of olefins are disclosed. Certain of the catalyst compositions comprise metal complexes of mono through tetradentate ligands comprising N-pyrrolyl substituted nitrogen donors bonded to the metal. Also disclosed are processes for the polymerization or oligomerization of olefins using the catalyst compositions.

Abstract: A polyester resin composition is calendered to produce a film or a sheet. The polyester resin composition is a polyester having a crystallization half time from a molten state of at least 5 minutes combined with an additive for preventing sticking of the polyester to calendering rolls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 4-step process for the preparation of alkyl esters of 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid which comprises the steps of (1) converting &ggr;-butyrolactone to &agr;-methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactone; (2) converting the &agr;-methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactone from step (1) to an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate; (3) producing a xylene solution of the alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate; and (4) contacting the xylene solution of an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate from step (3) with an alkali metal alkoxide under conditions of temperature and pressure which causes vaporization of (i) an alkanol as it is formed and (ii) an alkyl 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate as it is formed from the alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate. Also disclosed are processes whereby the alkyl 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate, prepared as described above, is converted to 1-methylcyclopropylamine.

Abstract: An improved method for making a p-phenylenediamine color developer concentrate in a free-base form wherein the sulfate or chloride salt of the color developer is contacted with an alkali metal hydroxide includes the steps of forming a liquid free-base layer and a water layer, separating the liquid free-base layer from the water layer; and mixing the liquid free-base with a water soluble hydroxy organic solvent, wherein the p-phenylenediamine color developer concentrate has at least 0.06 mol/l of a color developing agent in the free base form.

Abstract: A stabilized solution of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of N-ethyl-N-2-(methanesulfonylaminoethyl)-2-methyl-p-phenylenediamine includes from about 10 to 40 weight percent of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of N-ethyl-N-2-(methane sulfonylaminoethyl)-2-methyl-p-phenylene-diamine; from about 30 to 70 weight percent of at least one photographically inactive water-miscible or water-soluble hydroxy-containing, organic solvent of the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of N-ethyl-N-2-(methane sulfonylaminoethyl)-2-methyl-p-phenylene-diamine; from about 5 to 40 weight percent water; and from about 1 to 40 weight percent of a preservative for the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of N-ethyl-N-2-(methane sulfonylaminoethyl)-2-methyl-p-phenylene-diamine, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the stabilized solution. Another aspect of the invention are processes for making stabilized p-phenylenediamine color developer solutions.

Abstract: A carbonylation catalyst useful for producing esters and carboxylic acids from reactants including lower alkyl alcohols, lower alkyl alcohol generating compounds, such as ether and ester derivatives of the alcohols, and mixtures thereof in a vapor phase carbonylation process. The catalyst includes a solid component having a catalytically effective amount of iridium and tin which are associated with a solid catalyst support material and a vaporous halide component.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions useful for the polymerization or oligomerization of olefins are disclosed. Certain of the catalyst compositions comprise metal complexes of mono through tetradentate ligands comprising N-pyrrolyl substituted nitrogen donors bonded to the metal. Also disclosed are processes for the polymerization or oligomerization of olefins using the catalyst compositions.

Abstract: A novel process for preparing polymers having an average particle size of less than about 40 micrometers is described. The process involves dissolving a polymer in a solvent to form a solution that is introduced into an agitating aqueous medium.

Abstract: A solid carbonylation catalyst useful for producing esters and carboxylic acids from reactants including lower alkyl alcohols and lower alkyl alcohol producing compositions in a vapor phase carbonylation process wherein the catalyst includes a catalytically effective amount of a Group VIII metal selected from platinum or palladium, and tungsten which are associated with a solid catalyst support material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to copolymers of norbornene and functional group containing norbornene comonomers and processes for the preparation thereof. These polymers may be random, alternating or block copolymers or terpolymers, etc. In general, the present invention describes a polymer composition of the formula: [A]S— and —[B]T wherein A is monomer repeat unit derived from one or more norbornene or substituted norbornene monomers and B is a monomer repeat unit derived from one or more functionalized norbornene compounds.

Abstract: A novel process for producing homopolymers and copolymers of ethylene which involves contacting ethylene and/or ethylene and at least one or more other olefin(s) under polymerization conditions with a Ziegler-Natta type catalyst, at least one halogenated hydrocarbon, at least one compound of the formula XnER3-n as a co-catalyst and at least one compound containing at least one carbon-oxygen-carbon linkage (C—O—C) of the formula R1—O(—R2—O)n—R3 as an external electron donor. Also provided are films and articles produced therefrom.