Abstract: A calendering apparatus and method for heatsetting a traveling multi-filament tow basically utilizes plural heated rolls about which the tow travels in a sinuous path to be conductively heated by the rolls and, at each roll, a plurality of infrared lamps in an arcuate arrangement facing the portion of the respective roll in contact with the tow simultaneously applies infrared radiation to the opposite side of the tow. In one embodiment, this arrangement of infrared lamps is retrofitted to a conventional calendering apparatus. An alternative embodiment provides for reducing or eliminating the number of calender rolls followed by a series of infrared heating tunnels collectively effective to accomplish heatsetting of the tow. The speed and/or throughput rate of each calendering apparatus and method is effectively twice that of conventional equipment of similar size.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the production of terephthalic acid and esters thereof from p-tolualdehyde or mixtures of p-tolualdehyde and p-xylene. The process of the invention can be carried out at lower temperatures and faster throughput than conventional processes using p-xylene. The use of p-tolualdehyde facilitates safety considerations by eliminating the induction period and high oxiding fluid concentrations encountered in typical oxidation reactions which use only p-xylene as the terephthalic acid or ester precursor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to improved poly(terephthalic acid diester)-poly(isophthalic acid diester) resins, and in particular to improved polyethylene terephthalate-polyethylene isophthalate resin formulations, the improved formulations containing nucleating and chain-branching agents. The improved formulations of the invention have particular utility in the manufacture of plastic bottles.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of a polyester polymer or polyester copolymer under superatmospheric pressure conditions in a pipe or tubular reaction under turbannular flow conditions. Reaction material having a glycol equivalents to carboxylic acid equivalents mole ratio of from 1.0:1 to 1.2:1, together with a superatmospheric dense gaseous medium are fed co-currently to the reactor. Dicarboxylic acid and/or diol raw materials may be injected into any of the reaction zones in the process during operation to achieve the overall desired mole ratio balance. The process operates at temperatures of from about 220.degree. C. to about 320.degree. C., with turbannular flow achieved before the polymer product and gas exit the reactor process. The pressure in the reaction zones can be in the range from 15 psia to 2500 psia.

Abstract: In an improved power transmission belt, the circumferentially disposed reinforcing cords are made from multi-filament yarns of heterofilaments. These cords, when fused, have good inter-filament bonding without the solvent of the solvent/adhesive systems.

Abstract: A catalytic process for production of biphenyl and its derivatives by coupling of substituted or unsubstituted monoaryl compounds in the presence of a catalytic system comprising at least one Pd (II) compound and a strong acid or a mixture of acids. The process provides high conversions and high selectivity under mild temperature conditions and short reaction times. The strong acid or mixture of acids has a Hammett acidity of less than about -10, and contains a predominant amount of counterions which form a weak ligand complex with palladium (II). The method is highly selective to formation of desired biaryl isomers, such as 4,4'-isomers, and allows control of the relative amounts of isomers of biaryl compounds and substituted monoaryl compounds in the final product.

Abstract: A process for producing yarn, fiber or filament with substantially improved whiteness, reduced yellowness, reduced abrasiveness, reduced static and softer hand includes melt-blending a masterbatch of zinc sulfide and a polyester with a fiber-forming polyester followed by melt-spinning the blend. The invention additionally provides for polyester yarn, fiber, or filament produced by the process.

Abstract: In the instant invention, drawn yarns, with the following properties, are obtained: tenacity of at least 8.5 gpd; initial modulus of at least 150 gpd/100%; and shrinkage of less than 6%. Alternatively, the yarn may be characterized as: tenacity of greater than 10 gpd; initial modulus of greater than 120 gpd/100%; and shrinkage of less than 6%. These yarns are made by a process directed mainly toward affecting the yarn properties as they are spun.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device, in particular for the treatment of low-viscosity polymer melts, containing a vessel (1) with a stirrer element, the stirrer element (6) essentially comprising a support structure which passes through the vessel and on which surface formers (8) are arranged. According to the invention, the support structure is designed as a cage-like rod frame (7).This results in the following advantages:1. Owing to the now possible continuous wetting or wiping of the surfaces, encrustations and inhomogeneities are avoided.2. Due to enhanced cascading with weir plates, the residence time spectrum can be controlled, which likewise improves the product quality.3. The flexing of the stirrer element is reduced.

Abstract: An improved continuous process for the manufacture of tubular food casings, which allows for the regeneration of casing without an interruption of the process to drive out liquids and gases produced during coagulation and regeneration of the casing, characterized by the steps of: extruding an alkaline viscose solution through an extrusion die within a coagulation bath; coagulating and regenerating the viscose solution thereby producing gases and extruding a tubular casing whereby the gases are entrapped within the casing; inducing a countercurrent flow of gases entrapped within the casing opposite the extrusion direction; and continuously venting the gases through an orifice within the extrusion die. This process permits the non-interrupted extrusion and regeneration of tubular food casings associated with the prior art wherein the process is frequently interrupted to allow exhaustion of liquids and gases.

Abstract: A bicomponent staple or filament is disclosed having a core of PET and a sheath of polyethylene wherein the core PET component contains from 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % of a functionalized polyethylene polymer specified herein. In particular, the sheath component is either not functionalized or functionalized with up to 10% by weight ethylene copolymer. The improved bicomponent fiber is processible on carding machines with reduced shedding of the outer portion of the fiber.

Abstract: Fibers and yarns of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and PET copolymers with a sheath/filamentous core microstructure are formed from unoriented and non crystalline "as spun" source fibers and yarns by drawing to high draw ratios in one step. Fibers and yarns with the sheath/filamentous core microstructure are stiffer than commercial PET fibers. Fibers and yarns with the sheath/filamentous core microstructure may be annealed and relaxed to increase their dimensional stability without loss of the sheath/filamentous core microstructure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyester polymer composition containing graphite in the range of about 3-60 parts per million based on the polyester. The size of the graphite particles is greater than about 0.5 .mu.m. As an upper limit, however, any particle size which is not visible to the naked eye is acceptable. Such polyester polymers having graphite incorporated therein absorb infrared radiation better than polymers containing no graphite and thus in the production of plastic bottles less energy is required to heat the preform so that it can be blow molded into a bottle.

Abstract: A novel process to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using a specific catalyst stabilizer system is described. The catalyst stabilizer system is specific for producing PET wherein the polycondensation catalyst is a titanium and the stabilizer possesses an irreversible oxidation potential of at least +2.0 volts versus SCE. The novel process results in PET having acceptable color and low acetaldehyde content.

Abstract: In a filter apparatus 1, a central filter rod 6 is arranged in the interior 14 of a filter housing 2, the diameter d of which filter rod tapers in the direction of flow of the plastic melt. On the filter rod 6 are arranged filter discs 7 which are parallel to one another and have outer and inner diameters of equal size. The filter apparatus 1 operates as a continuous-flow filter apparatus in which the plastic melt flows in via an intake 4 and flows out via an outlet 5. A filter housing wall inner surface 3 tapers in the direction of flow of the plastic melt, so that a gap width h.sub.a (x) between a filter disc outer rim 8 and the filter housing wall inner surface 3 decreases in the direction of flow of the plastic melt.

Abstract: In the canning of tow produced by a synthetic textile filament extrusion line, a pair of deflecting rolls having radially projecting spokes are positioned immediately above the tow-receiving can for travel of the tow between the rolls to impose a folding or plaiting of the tow as it is deposited into the can, thereby reducing the linear velocity of the tow to mitigate potential entanglement of the tow within the can. The production output and operational speed of the filament extrusion process may thus be optimized without being limited by the downstream canning operation.

Abstract: A process for producing aromatic aldehydes by carbonylation of an arene in the presence of triflic acid catalyst is described by reacting an arene, such as toluene, with carbon monoxide in the presence of triflic acid (as a catalyst), for a reaction time less than 90 minutes, at a carbon monoxide partial pressure of about 700-2000 psig, at a temperature of from about 0-50.degree. C. to produce an aromatic aldehyde such as tolualdehyde and by-products, the by-products being less than 5% by weight based on the total reaction products.The mole ratio of triflic acid to arene is between about 0.8 to 20, with the reaction having an isomer selectivity greater than 95% by weight for the para isomer aldehyde, and showing substantially no meta isomer.

Abstract: The present invention describes a fiber material for use in mastic asphalt in roadbuilding for stabilizing the binder during transport, storage and incorporation, said fiber material being a macromolecular product including at least 95% of polyethylene terephthalate, the diameter of the individual fibers being .gtoreq.0.1 mm, the length to diameter ratio exceeding 5 on average, and the particle size distribution, measured as sieve passthrough as per the draft code of practice for the supply and testing of stabilizing materials in asphalt road construction in line with TP Min-StB Part 6.3.2, producing a proportion of at least 90% for the fractions .ltoreq.0.71 mm and at least 70% for the fractions .ltoreq.0.4 mm, and this product being manufactured by comminution from waste materials based on polyethylene terephthalate monofilaments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), comprising the steps of (i) reacting di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol to yield bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate, (ii) adding a sequestering agent based on phosphorus and (iii) polycondensing the bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate to produce PET; wherein in step (i) a zinc catalyst is present and in step (iii) an antimony catalyst is additionally present, the amount of zinc being in the range of from 0.003 to 0.008% by weight (30 to 80 ppm), the amount of phosphorus being in the range of from 0.001 to 0.01% (10 to 100 ppm), and the amount of antimony being in the range of from 0.01 to 0.05% by weight (100 to 500 ppm), in each case such weights being relative to the weight of the di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)alkyl terephthalate; the molar ratio of the antimony to the zinc being in the range of from 1:0.95 to 1:0.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for reducing the amount of acetaldehyde generated when polyethylene terephthalate (PET) chip is subjected to high temperatures in order to render the PET chip suitable for making food containers, particularly beverage bottles. This process comprises the addition of primary and secondary antioxidants either prior to or after the PET polycondensation reaction in order to reduce the amount of regenerated acetaldehyde produced by the polymer. The polyethylene terephthalate produced by this process reduces regenerated acetaldehyde by at least 25% in comparison to control resin produced without antioxidants, while maintaining suitable color for use as clear glass replacement. There is also disclosed a process for molding a PET preform wherein the polymer prepared as described above is melted, formed into the desired preform shape, and solidified by cooling. This preform can then be reheated above its glass transition temperature and molded into the desired container shape.