Abstract: Strands of molten polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from a PET polycondensation reactor are solidified, pelletized, and cooled only to a temperature in the range of 50° C. to a temperature near the polymer Tg by contact with water. The still hot pellets are conveyed, optionally followed by drying to remove water, to a PET crystallizer. By avoiding cooling the amorphous pellets to room temperature with water and cool air, significant savings of energy are realized.

Abstract: Considerable energy savings may be realized by recovering heat from hot PET pellets exiting a solid state polymerization reactor, and using this heat to heat cool pellets entering the crystallizer or solid state polymerization reactor. The heat may be transferred from hot to cool pellets employing a heat exchanger.

Abstract: Disclosed are certain novel polyester compositions particularly useful for shaping or forming into containers and similar shaped articles by thermoforming procedures. The polyester compositions comprise a thermoplastic polyester, an impact modifier and a polyester crystallization rate enhancing component selected from poly(tetramethylene terephthalate) homo- and co-polymers. The polyester compositions exhibit improved crystallization rates as compared to similar compositions not including impact modifier or compositions using other types of crystallization rate enhancing components such as polyolefin-based polymers.

Abstract: A method for determining the temperature distribution throughout the thickness of a preform used in a container reheat stretch blow molding process by measuring the outside surface temperature of a preform or series of preforms at least two times during the period the preform is cooling down after exiting the heat station and before entering the blow molding station in the blow molding machine and calculating the temperature distribution throughout the thickness of the preform based upon the measured outside surface temperatures using a novel algorithm.

Abstract: This application discloses amber colored polyesters suitable for packaging food and beverages. The amber polyester compositions provide excellent blockage of UV and visible light over the wavelength ranges of from about 320-550 nm, rendering them suitable for packaging materials sensitive to ultraviolet and visible light over this wavelength range, particularly beer.

Abstract: A polyester pellet composition, a preform, and a bottle, each comprising a polyester polymer and silicon carbide. A polyester, and in particular a polyethylene terephthalate polyester, bottle containing silicon carbide has a low coefficient of static friction and a low bottle sidewall haze.

Abstract: Polymer composite materials comprising of least one polymer resin and platelet particles from at least one layered silicate material uniformly dispersed in the resin and articles prepared from the polymer composite materials. The polymer composite contains at least one polyamide resin, at least one oxygen scavenging system, and at least one layered silicate material. These polymer composite materials are especially useful for manufacturing clear polyester bottles and polyester film that are recyclable have improved active gas barrier properties to oxygen, and have improved passive barrier properties to carbon dioxide and other gases. The polymer composite materials can be used in relatively minor amounts as either a blend or a coextruded thin layer with virgin or post consumer recycled polyesters and related copolymners.

Abstract: A process for forming reactants useful in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate includes the steps of: (a) contacting recyclable polyethylene terephthalate with ammonium hydroxide whereby a mixture of ammonium terephthalate and ethylene glycol is formed, (b) separating the ammonium terephthalate, and (c) heating said ammonium terephthalate at a temperature from about 225° C. to about 300° C. to produce terephthalic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed are amber polyester compositions suitable for packaging food and beverages wherein the compositions significantly absorbs light of wavelengths shorter than about 550 nm which is achieved by a combination of several colorants, most of which are copolymerized into the polyester.

Abstract: The invention relates to polyester/polyamide blend compositions for forming an article having low haze and reduced gas permeability compared to the polyester alone. More specifically, the invention relates to blends of semi-crystalline polyesters such as PET with low molecular weight polyamides and to the containers and packages for food, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and personal care products that can be fabricated from these blends.

Abstract: A process for partially oxidizing and converting a polyoxyalkylene polyol composition to a polycarboxylic acid composition comprising reacting a polyoxyalkylene polyol composition with a stable free radical nitroxide in the presence of an NOx generating compound, a flow of air or oxygen, and optionally water, at elevated temperatures. The oxidation reaction is discontinued by deactivating the catalyst and removing the source of air or oxygen, the NOx generating source, and the optional water. From 60% to no more than 95% of the polyoxyalkylene polyol composition is converted.

Abstract: There is provided an alcohol composition obtained by dimerizing an olefin feed comprising C6-C10 linear olefins to obtain C12-C20 olefins, followed by conversion to alcohols, such as by hydroformylation. The composition has an average number of branches ranging from 0.9 to 2.0 per molecule. The linear olefin feed preferably comprises at least 85% of C6-C8-olefins. The primary alcohol compositions are then converted to anionic or nonionic surfactants, preferably sulfated or oxyalkylated or both. The sulfated compositions are biodegradable and possess good cold water detergency.

Abstract: There is provided a curing agent composition, a method for making a curing agent composition, two component curable epoxy resin compositions, methods of their manufacture, and the different cured products thereof. The curing agent comprises the reaction product of a a) phenolic acid substituted with at least one carboxyl group and at least one hydrocarbyl group having at least 1 carbon atom; b) a polyepoxide compound; c) a polyamine compound having at least two primary amine groups; and d) a monoglycidyl capping agent. The curing agents contain secondary amine groups, yet are reactive enough to cure epoxy resins without the necessity for external catalysts/accelerators, at a wide range of curing temperatures and are immediately compatible with a standard diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol-A epoxy resins.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating functionalized alpha olefins from functionalized internal olefins. The process achieves by a step of contacting a feedstock containing functionalized alpha olefins and functionalized internal olefins with a linear polyaromatic compound to form a linear polyaromatic compound-functionalized alpha olefin adduct and a step of dissociating the linear polyaromatic compound-functionalized alpha olefin adduct to form linear polyaromatic compounds and a functionalized alpha olefin composition.

Abstract: There is provided a surfactant composition, a stable, self emulsifiable water borne curing agent composition, and methods for the manufacture of each, and two component water borne curable epoxy resin compositions. The surfactant composition comprises the reaction product of an a) a phenolic acid substituted with at least one carboxyl group and at least one hydrocarbyl group having at least 1 carbon atom; b) a polyepoxide compound; c) a polyamine compound having at least two primary amine groups; d) a reactive surfactant; and optionally e) a monoglycidyl, monocarboxylic acid, or monoisocyanate capping agent; wherein the reactive surfactant comprises an epoxide, a carboxylic acid or anhydrides thereof, or an isocyanate functional moeity, and a hydrophilic moiety comprising a polyoxyalkylene monool or polyol residue.

Abstract: There is provided a new branched primary alcohol composition and the sulfates thereof exhibiting good cold water detergency and biodegradability. The branched primary alcohol composition has an average number of branches per chain of at least 0.7, having at least 8 carbon atoms and contianing both methyl and ethyl branches. The primary alcohol composition may also contain less than 0.5 atom % of quaternary carbon atoms, and a significant number ethyl branches, terminal isopropyl branches, and branching at the C.sub.3 position relative to the hydroxyl carbon. The process for its manufacture is by skeletally isomerizing an olefin feed having at least 7 carbon atoms followed by conversion to an alcohol, as by way of hydroformylation, and ultimately, sulfation to obtain a detergent surfactant. Useful catalysts include the zeolites having at least one channel with a crystallographic free diameter along the x and/or y planes of the [001] view ranging from greater than 4.2 .ANG. and less than 7 .ANG..

Abstract: An aqueous displacement fluid composition is used as a spacer fluid composition to change one type of drilling mud for another type of drilling mud or in cementing operations downhole, to clean downhole hardware in wellbores. The method comprises introducing into a wellbore an aqueous displacement fluid composition, such as a spacer fluid, to displace downhole wellbore fluids, having an improved rate of emulsification and a high capacity for emulsifying hydrocarbons, and aqueous fluid compositions. The aqueous displacement fluid composition introduced into wellbores contain mixtures of:a) water;b) a polyoxyalkylene monool surfactant represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrocarbyl group, R.sub.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl group, and the weight average of w+x is at least about 5; andc) a polyoxyalkylene monool surfactant represented by the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrocarbyl group, R.sub.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: A foamable polyester composition comprising a combination of blowing agent and mixed polymer composition comprising:a) a semi-crystalline polyester composition comprising a polycondensed branched polyester polymer, andb) an aromatic polycarbonate polymer.The foamable composition has a high extrusion melt strength, and can pulled across a die without ripping, to form a continuous thermoformable closed cell polyester sheet. The foamed sheets have a uniform, fine, and closed cell morphology; and simultaneously are less dense but have a higher impact strength than comparable closed cell polymers made in only with linear polyesters as the polyester component or without the aromatic polycarbonate.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting fouling of one or more pieces of equipment for processing crude epichlorohydrin by treating at least one epichlorohydrin stream entering or exiting the one or more pieces of equipment with hydroquinone as an antifoulant.

Abstract: A feedstock of linear internal olefins and branched internal olefins are converted to a primarily linear internal olefin composition having a lower concentration of branched internal olefins than present in the feedstock, by:a) contracting the feedstock with linear polyaromatic compound under conditions effective to form a reaction mixture comprising an linear polyaromatic compound-linear internal olefin adduct;b) separating the linear polyaromatic compound-linear internal olefin adduct from the reaction mixture;c) dissociating the linear polyaromatic compound-linear internal olefin adduct to form linear polyaromatic compound and a linear internal olefin composition, andd) separating the linear polyaromatic compound formed in step c) from a linear internal olefin composition.