Abstract: An interpolymer of at least one olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid containing at least one activated carbon-to-carbon olefinic double bond and at least one carboxyl group, in an amount of more than 15% by weight based upon the weight of the interpolymer, and at least one steric stabilizer surfactant having at least one hydrophilic moiety and at least one hydrophobic moiety and a linear block or a random comb configuration, or mixtures thereof, made by polymerizing olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers in an organic media, in the presence of free a radical forming catalyst, and the steric stabilizer.

Abstract: Curable epoxy resins are toughened with statistical monofunctional carboxyl, amine or epoxy terminated reactive polymers and have low viscosities before cure thereby making them useful in a wide range of applications. The cured epoxy resin systems which are modified by the statistical monofunctional reactive polymers have physical properties, such as adhesion and elongation, generally equal to or better than those of cured epoxy resin systems modified with statistical difunctional reactive polymers. A process of preparation for the modified epoxy resin systems of the present invention includes admixing an epoxy resin with a statistical monofunctional carboxyl, amine, or epoxy-terminated reactive polymer in the presence of a curing agent and reaction therewith to form the toughened, cured epoxy resin system.

Abstract: Unsaturated polyester resins of the type already having reactive liquid polymers reacted into the backbone of the resins, are cured in the presence of a reactive liquid polymer additive admixed with the prereacted unsaturated polyester resin. Heating of this system during cure causes the reactive liquid polymer additive to miscibilize with the unsaturated polyester resin. The unsaturated polyester resin modified in the manner described above shows a significant enhancement in toughness as measured by fracture energy over unmodified counterparts or counterparts modified by known methods of adduction or admixing alone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating streams containing cyanide, heavy metal and precious metal values to recover those values where the method includes the following steps:a) providing a membrane filtration means having an inlet, a product outlet and an discharge outlet,b) contacting the waste stream to be treated with an effective amount of carbon dioxide to adjust the pH to about 8.0 to about 10.0,c) further contacting the waste stream with an effective amount of a soluble metal compound to react with the cyanide in the waste stream to form membrane rejectable cyanide compounds, andd) passing the treated stream through the membrane filtration means to thereby separate recoverable cyanide and precious metal values from the treated stream and produce an effluent stream for further processing or discharge to the environment.

Abstract: A glassy coated sintered non-oxide ceramic fiber produced by an in situ oxidation chemical reaction. A process to produce a protective glassy coating on ceramic fibers by heating the non-oxide ceramic fibers in the presence of boron and atmosphere containing oxygen.

Abstract: This invention relates to a comb-shaped graft copolymer, to a process for making the comb, and to a polymer blend made with the comb. The comb is made by a free radical polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer with a macromolecular monomer ("macromer" for brevity) of a haloalkylene oxide ("HAO" for brevity) homopolymer, random or block copolymer. The comb copolymer and blends of the comb with a polymer(s) may be cured. A comb with a terminal acrylyl or methacrylyl group or "head" and pendant polyether chains, which always include some HAO repeating units, may be made in an emulsion or suspension polymerization process which provides a comb having adequately high molecular weight so that the comb may be used in blends. The preferred comb of epichlorohydrin has a (meth)acrylyl head at one end, through which it (the macromer) is polymerizable, and a terminal hydroxyl (OH) group, or an end-capping group derived from the OH group at the other end.

Abstract: Polycarbophil or crosslinked acrylic acid polymer is prepared in a solvent selected from acetone, alkyl acetates, and mixtures thereof, in the presence of an effective amount of divinyl glycol crosslinker, and in the presence of an effective amount of a suitable initiator allowing for polymerization to proceed at a temperature below 100.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure. The polymer produced has average particle size of less than 10 microns without grinding, its viscosity is greater than about 20,000 cPs when measured in water at 1% concentration, and it adheres to mucous membranes. By preparing the polymer in a non-aqueous solvent, the need for aqueous washing is avoided and the subsequent and enormous swelling of the polymer is avoided which means that prolonged and excessive drying inherent in the known processes is avoided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a reactive diluent comprising a backbone portion and a pendant group portion. The backbone portion comprises at least two polymerizable sites, and the pendant group portion comprising a functional group having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein Z is an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group containing from 2 to about 12 carbon atoms and wherein said pendant group is capable of a (2+2) cyclo-addition with another like pendant group of the above formula. The chain extending reaction site is preferably used in a polymerization reaction to provide a polymeric material, and the cross-linking reactive site is preferably used to create cross-linking as needed or desired.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a reactive diluent comprising a backbone portion and a pendant group portion. The backbone portion comprises at least two polymerizable sites, and the pendant group portion comprising a functional group having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein Z is an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group containing from 2 to about 12 carbon atoms and wherein said pendant group is capable of a (2+2) cyclo-addition with another like pendant group of the above formula. The chain extending reaction site is preferably used in a polymerization reaction to provide a polymeric material, and the cross-linking reactive site is preferably used to create cross-linking as needed or desired.

Abstract: A latex system can be made from a combination of acids in a base monomer wherein methylenesuccinic acid is used with at least one other monocarboxylic acid.The latex system provides a high pH latex that can be used to treat fiber substrates or alternatively can be blended with other latexes to form coatings.

Abstract: A novel latex is derived from a crosslinked carboxylate latex containing from 1-20 phr of itaconic acid (IA) and at least 70 phr of one or more copolymerizable monomers one of which is an acrylate having the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl;R.sub.2 represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 alkylthioalkyl, or C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 cyanoalkyl; andat least 40 phr of said acrylate in said film is present as an alkyl acrylate in which alkyl is C.sub.4 -C.sub.8. The latex can only be formed in an aqueous medium by an emulsion polymerization process in which at least one-half of the IA is initially charged into a reactor, and the remaining ingredients of the receipe then added gradually. This unique order of addition produces a highly stable latex of polymer particles having a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) in the range from about -20.degree. C. to about -60.degree. C.

Abstract: A colloidal system is provided which is the emulsion polymerization product of an alkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid where the alkyl portion of the ester substituent has from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms; from about 0.5 to about 60 phm of acrylonitrile or substituted acrylonitrile; from about 0.005 to about 25 phm of a monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid; and optionally from about 0 to about 5 phm of a chain transfer agent. The latex system can be used to treat a fibrous substrate, and particular paper, to improve delamination and tensile characteristics.

Abstract: A method is provide for deoxygenating water that is at substantially ambient temperature and contains dissolved oxygen. A selected reducing agent is injected into a stream of the water, and the water that contains the organic reducing agent is then passed over a packed catalyst bed. This causes the reducing agent, with the catalyst at the ambient temperature, to reduce the oxygen in the liquid.

Abstract: As an article of manufacture an intumescent conforming mounting pad for fragile structures comprised of at least two plys of intumescent sheet material adhesively bonded together over a predetermined part of their adjoining faces said plys and being offset a predetermined amount lengthwise whereby said pad can be bent around a fragile structure and the ends can be joined without cracking or buckling.

Abstract: Fused cast refractory moldings having a random microstructure, which are near in size and configuration to the desired final shape, and process and apparatus used in their manufacture are described. The process includes rapid melting of the refractory material followed by controlled rapid cooling. Laminated composite fused cast refractories may be produced.

Abstract: A handleable, flexible, crack resistant intumescent sheet material for use in mounting fragile structures comprising a preformed intumescent layer, and a reinforcing layer bonded to the intumescent layer and having a tensile strength greater that the intumescent layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides at least one cylindrical, close-ended porous, ceramic molten metal filter element connected to an essentially horizontal porous ceramic sealing plate filter element. The cylindrical element extends vertically above the elevation of that sealing plate. The molten metal flow is introduced to the exterior of the close-ended cylindrical elements and the upper surface of the plate element. The cylindrical filter body elements rest on the sealing plate, thus the sealing plate provides all of the structural support for the assembly. The molten metal flows through the porous ceramic material of the cylindrical elements and the sealing plate element to be further flowed downstream, ultimately to the associated casting molds.

Abstract: Provided is a composite for use as thermal insulation in high temperature environments. The composite comprises a layer of randomly laid and oriented, fine diameter, heat resistant fibers interlocked together into the form of a shape sustaining paper having a high fiber index and two lateral surfaces, said paper being compressed to produce a paper which has a thickness of from about 0.01 to 0.50 inch and a density of about 6 to about 30 lb/cu.ft. A high temperature resistant scrim is disposed upon each of the lateral surfaces of the paper, and a network of abrasion-resistant, high temperature-resistant threads is stitched through the scrim and the paper such that the scrim is mechanically locked to the paper by said threads. The network of threads and the scrim substantially retain the structural integrity of the said paper to maintain said paper in compression.

Abstract: A method for grinding an oxygen sensitive ceramic material to a powder which comprises grinding an oxygen sensitive ceramic feed material having an average particle size of between 1 and 200 microns in a contamination free high energy autogenous attrition mill in non-oxidizing fluid in the presence of media for a sufficient time to obtain a specific surface area of at least 5 m.sup.2 /g and preferably at least 9 m.sup.2 /g. The media consists essentially of the same ceramic as the feed material is of high purity and has an average particle size of less than 4 mm and preferably less than 2.5 mm. the ground material may be further treated so that the average particle size is less than one micron and so that the greater than 97 numerical percent of the particles of the finished powder is smaller than 5 microns. The invention includes the finished powder.

Abstract: A high density planar array of substrate-supported, thin film diodes constituting photoresponsive semiconductor elements is placed between a document to be read and a light source for illuminating the document. The document is illuminated by the light source via windows in the array, reflected light from the document impinging on the photoresponsive elements constituted by the diodes which are electronically interrogated to provide a signal which is indicative of image information on the document. The light source directly illuminates small portions of each diode to establish a discharge or bias current that makes the array more sensitive and responsive. The high density diodes of the array can be formed in a manner that minimizes leakage current between adjacent diodes.