Abstract: A composite recovery board (10) containing a foam core (11) of polyisocyanurate, polyurethane materials or mixtures thereof; a facer (15), applied to one major surface (13) of the foam core, where the facer includes polymer materials, reinforced polymer materials, cellulosic materials, paper, aluminum foil or trilaminates thereof, wherein the reinforced polymer material and the cellulosic material are reinforced with glass strands, glass fibers, or mixtures thereof; and, gypsum board (14), applied to the opposite major surface (12) of the foam core. A method of reroofing a roof by applying composite recovery boards of the present invention to a roof deck; and, applying a weather protective layer over the recovery boards.

Abstract: Novel silicon-containing derivatives of crystalline, high-trans-1,4 polybutadiene in which organosilicon-containing groups are bonded to the 1,2-vinyl carbon atoms along the main chain of the butadiene polymers through the carbon-silicon linkages. These derivatives of butadiene polymers are produced by the addition reaction of an organosilicon-compound having one hydrogen atom directly bonded to the silicon atom in the molecule to the double bonds in the 1,2-vinyl group butadiene polymers. These derivatives having good compatibility with siliceous fillers and when blended with filled diene rubbers are cured to elastomer compositions having excellent properties suitable for the production of tires.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalyst composition, comprising: (a) an organolithium compound; and, (b) an organic acid salt of lanthanide series element; wherein: (1) only components (a) and (b) are required to promote the synthesis of 1,4-trans-polybutadiene; (2) the ratio of component (a) to component (b) is selected to maximize formation of the trans structure of said 1,4-trans-polybutadiene; and, (3) components (a) and (b) are selected for enabling further diblock synthesis. The invention further contemplates a process for using the catalyst to synthesize 1,4-trans-polybutadiene and other polymers and copolymers having trans configuration in the conjugated diene monomer contributed units.

Abstract: The instant invention teaches a method for enabling the formation of a high damping, soft polymer gel. The method includes: reacting a poly(maleimide-co-alkenyl benzene) polymer with a nylon and an alkyl diamine under substantially dry conditions sufficient to form a nylon grafted poly(maleimide-co-alkenyl benzene) polymer product; and, dispersing the nylon grafted poly(maleimide-co-alkenyl benzene) polymer product with an extender oil sufficient to form the gel. The instant invention also contemplates a polymer gel composition, a polymer composition and an article manufactured from the polymer gel composition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the regulation of the molecular weight of high cis polybutadiene prepared by polymerizing butadiene under solution polymerization conditions employing as the catalyst system a mixture of (a) organoaluminum compounds; (b) organonickel compounds; and (c) fluorine containing compounds; said polymerization being conducted in the presence of alkali or alkaline earth metal salts of organic carboxylic acids.

Abstract: A vinylidene chloride film with improved processing properties such as good thermal stability, enhanced extrudability and reduced stickiness to metal surfaces is made from a vinylidene chloride polymer or copolymer and up to about 2.0% by weight of a soap of a fatty acid as a processing aid.

Abstract: An improved food package comprises a cook-in film encasing an in situ aqueous medium cooked meat product. The film has a polymeric olefin containing inner surface in adhering relation to the cooked meat product. The film inner surface is treated by a cold plasma in a confined region which has been evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure and to which a selected process gas other than air and containing less than 30% nitrogen has been added which results in a gas plasma that reacts with a film surface during cold plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of the film to more than 44 dynes/cm and provide a film that is both heat sealable to the package with an acceptable bond strength for sealing the package, and capable of adhering in a uniform and well controlled manner to the cooked meat product during cook-in without purge.

Abstract: A multilayer film characterized by having excellent oxygen permeability and thermoformable properties comprising a sealant layer and a heat resistant layer is disclosed. The sealant layer contains an ethylene based polymer or copolymer. The heat resistant layer has a melting point greater than that of the polymeric composition of the sealing layer. Internal layers also can be provided.

Abstract: A multilayer film comprises: a first layer comprising a first homogeneous ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer; a second layer comprising a polyolefin; and a third layer comprising a second homogeneous ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer. The second layer is between the first layer and the third layer, the second layer is chemically different from the first layer and the third layer, and the multilayer film has an oxygen transmission rate of from about 500 to 50,000 cc/m.sup.2 /24 hr STP. Also disclosed are a process for making the film, a packaging process using the film, and a product packaged in the film. The film is especially suitable for the packaging of oxygen sensitive products, such as lettuce, and exhibits exceptional hot tack seal strength.

Abstract: A copolymer blend comprising vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer, vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer or a mixture thereof, from 2 to 20% by weight of CO-modified ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or CO-modified ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer and preferably up to 5%, of a plasticizer and/or stabiliser, relative to the total weight of the blend is useful as a barrier layer in a multi-layer film for packaging food such as cheese. A multi-layer film comprising such a blend, a method of producing such a blend or multi-layer film and a package or bag formed from the film.

Abstract: The invention provides a film, a package and methods for employing the same. The film has a first layer of an elastomer and a second layer of a polyethylene such as a single site catalyst polyethylene. The film can have a third layer of a polyethylene such that the second layer is disposed between the first and third layers. The polyethylene of the third layer also can be single site catalyst polyethylene and, the elastomer of the first layer can be styrene butadiene copolymer. The film has an oxygen transmission rate of up to about 1000, such as 150-450 cc/100 in.sup.2 /24 hr., typically 260-400 cc/100 in.sup.2 /24 hr., with values of 300, 350-360, 400 cc/100 in.sup.2 /24 hr. and even higher exhibited by the film. The film is suitable for packages, for instance, packaging for cole slaw and leafy salad. The film also exhibits excellent clarity, durability, seal strength and machinability.

Abstract: A polymerization process produces polymers that are insoluble in a reaction mixture that was homogeneous before the polymer began to form. A dispersing agent in the polymerizing system (i.e., the reaction mixture plus the dispersing agent) allows a kinetically stable dispersion of the polymer to be formed in this polymerizing system. The polymerization process is performed in a fluid held under superatmospheric conditions such that the fluid is a liquid or a supercritical fluid; the fluid being carbon dioxide, a hydroflurocarbon, a perfluorocarbon, or a mixture of any of the foregoing.

Abstract: A film with properties such as good thermal stability, enhanced extrudability, improved oxygen barrier properties, and reduced stickiness to metal surfaces is made by the use of a vinylidene chloride composition with small amounts of a plasticizer, such as epoxidized oil or epoxidized alpha olefin, and with an acrylate or styrene polymer, such as methyl methacrylate/butyl acrylate/styrene polymer, butyl acrylate/butyl methacrylate/methyl methacrylate polymer, or poly (alpha-methylstyrene).

Abstract: The present invention provides a peelable laminate suitable for cook-in packaging and a method of cooking a food product. The method includes the steps of:a) enclosing a food product in the peelable laminate, the peelable laminate having(1) an edible film in contact with the food product, and(2) a protective film peelably adhered to the edible film; andb) heating the enclosed food product to at least partially cook the food product, the edible layer adhering to the at least partially cooked food product with an adhesive strength which is greater than the force required to peel the protective film from the edible film. In this manner, the protective film can be peeled from the edible film after cooking without product loss due to adherence of food particles to the film. Furthermore, the peelable laminate prevents or minimizes cook-out and allows a modifier to be transferred to the food product via the edible film during the cooking process.

Abstract: An extrudable vinylidene chloride composition is useful in packaging films where controlled CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2 transmission rates benefit the packaging of products such as gassing cheese. The composition, and film made therefrom, comprises 100 parts by weight of at least one vinylidene chloride copolymer; between 4 and 15 parts by weight of a plasticizer; and between 4 and 15 parts by weight of an acrylate/styrene copolymer; wherein the total amount of plasticizer and acrylate/styrene copolymer comprises at least 9 parts by weight.

Abstract: An extrudable vinylidene chloride composition is useful in packaging films where good thermal stability during processing, and oxygen barrier properties in the finished film are desirable. The composition, and film made therefrom, comprises 100 parts by weight of an extrudable vinylidene chloride copolymer; at least 0.1 parts by weight of an acid acceptor such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate; and between 1 and 10 parts by weight of a dienophile such as ethylene/butyl acrylate/maleic anhydride terpolymer. A polymeric lubricating agent can optionally be included in the composition and film. A film comprising a sealant layer; first and second intermediate layers comprising a material selected from polyamide, polyester, and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer; a barrier layer comprising vinylidene chloride copolymer; and an abuse layer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanically compacted composite article comprising a PTFE fibril web that entraps particles retains more of its longitudinal dimension, when subjected to mechanical and/or thermal stress, than a similar but non-mechanically compacted article.

Abstract: Compositions radiation-curable to pressure sensitive adhesives comprise (1) one or more copolymers of .alpha.-olefins of which 90.1 to 99 mole percent are one or more straight chain .alpha.-olefins, having 2 to 10 carbon atoms of which at least 55% have 6 to 10 carbon atoms, and 9.9 to 0.1 mole percent are one or more .alpha.-olefins having 6 to 20 carbon atoms and at least one methylidyne group; (2) an effective amount of a photoactive hydrogen abstracting agent; and, optionally, (3) a tackifying resin. The compositions, on exposure to radiation, provide adhesive films useful in adhesive applications, especially where a bonded article is to be used at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A fluorescent ionophoric compound comprises a cryptand portion and a coumarin portion substituted at the 3-position with an electron withdrawing or polarizable group. The compound, which exhibits good photostability, can be incorporated into cation-sensing composite structures useful in biological and environmental testing, which can be used with conventional glass optics, by means of convenient points of covalent attachment.

Abstract: Improved silicone-free, continuous zirconia fibers have diameters greater than 5 micrometers and high tensile strengths. In another aspect, strong, flexible, zirconia fibers are prepared in a process involving the addition of colloidal ZrO.sub.2 particles to a fiber precursor solution.