Abstract: A carbon supported solid catalyst suitable for the vapor phase carbonylation of lower aliphatic alcohols, ethers, ester, and ester-alcohol mixtures, and desirably, methanol, to produce carboxylic acid, esters and mixtures thereof. The solid supported catalyst includes an effective amount of iridium and gold associated with a solid carbon support, and a halogen promoter.

Abstract: An improved extrusion coating is described comprising at least two polyethylene homopolymers, one component being a low melt index medium density polyethylene homopolymer, and another component being a high melt index low density polyethylene homopolymer. Superior heat seal strengths are achieved with this blend.

Abstract: Provided are novel olefin polymerization catalysts based on neutral nickel complexes of bidentate ligands containing a nitrogen atom and an oxygen atom and a process for the preparation of polyolefins using such catalysts. Preferred ligands possess imine and carboxylate groups.

Abstract: Provided are water-dispersible sulfopolyester compositions having relatively large proportions of pigments and/or fillers. Such compositions are useful as packaging materials and are substantially non-blocking when processed using packaging rolls and are comprised of at least one sulfopolyester as described herein, about 10 to about 75 weight percent of a pigment and/or filler, and a wax.

Abstract: A process for emulsifying a functionalized polyolefin is described. A functionalized polyolefin having a weight average molecular weight greater than 10,000, a fatty acid, a base in an amount sufficient to neutralize the functionalized polyolefin and the fatty acid, a surfactant and water are mixed in a pressure reactor vessel to form a pre-emulsion concentrate having a solids concentrate ranging from about 55 to 90% by weight. The pre-emulsion concentrate is then heated with agitation in the reaction vessel to an emulsification temperature, preferably at or above the melting point of the highest melting polymer in the formulation, for a time sufficient to form an emulsion concentrate. Water is then added to the emulsion concentrate within the pressure reactor vessel, diluting the solids content to about 5 to 50% by weight, and heated with agitation to the emulsification temperature for a time sufficient to form a functionalized polyolefin emulsion. Preferably, the resulting emulsion is rapidly cooled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyester-platelet particle composite comprising; at least one polyester having dispersed therein a platelet particle dispersion comprising about 0.01 to about 25 weight percent platelet particles and at least one water dissipatible polymer in a concentration which is at least about 1 part water dissipatible polymer to 1 part said polyester wherein said platelet particles primarily comprise individual platelet particles and tactoids. The composites of the present invention are prepared by dispersing at least one clay material in a water dissipatible polymer to form a platelet particle dispersion; introducing said platelet particle dispersion to a polyester and extrusion mixing said dispersion and polyester.

Abstract: A process for preparing a halohydrin of a water-miscible olefin comprising: reacting a water-miscible olefin in water with a compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently represent a branched or unbranched, substituted or unsubstituted, lower alkyl having from 1 to 5 carbons and X is a halogen, to thereby form the halohydrin of the water-miscible olefin.

Abstract: Disclosed are linear, water-dispersible sulfopolyesters incorporating a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and blocks of a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol. The block sulfopolyesters have improved toughness, abrasion resistance, flexibility, and adhesion. Particular utility is realized in polyester fiber sizing applications and as an adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention provides acrylic polymer-optical brightener compositions. The invention also provides acrylic polymer-optical brightener compositions further comprising near infrared absorbing compounds. The invention also provides processes for making such compositions. Still further, the invention provides methods for detecting and/or separating fluorescing and/or near infrared emitting articles from non-fluorescing and/or non-near infrared emitting articles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for introducing strain-induced crystallization to polyesters. Specifically, amorphous polymer from the melt phase reactor is first extruded through a traditional strand die. However, instead of going directly into a pelletizer/cutter, it is stretched uniaxially at a temperature only slightly higher than Tg. The chain alignment resulting from stretching makes crystallization occur at a considerably higher rate than with traditional thermal crystallization. After this stretching process, the strand is annealed and fed to the pelletizer and chopped. The process of the present invention is advantageous for crystallizing polymers having slow rate of thermal crystallization half time from the glass. Optically clear polymers having at least about 15% crystallinity and a single melting point endotherm are produced.

Abstract: The specification describes various polymers having monomer of formula (I): ##STR1## In formula (I), R1 and R2 are, independently, hydrogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.24 alkyl group, an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 heterocycloalkyl group, or a --C(O)R3 group. Preferably R1 and R2 are both a a --C(O)R3 group where R3 which can the same of different is selected from the group consisting of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.24 alkyl group, an aromatic or heteroaromatic group, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 heterocyclic group; or a --CH.sub.2 --C(O)--R4 group in which R4 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group. At lease one of R1 and R2 is a --C(O)R3 group. The polymer may be a homopolymer or a copolymer containing other ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The polymer may be used in a variety of coating compositions such as inks, adhesives, paints and films.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous high molecular weight, amorphous polymer-producing process which includes a reactor design, an unreacted monomer and solvent recycling and purification system, a catalyst deactivation and polymer stabilization system, and a polymer isolation process. The present invention relates to the discovery of a continuous process for the production of polymers. The discovery relates particularly to Ziegler-Natta synthesis of amorphous polymers from .alpha.-olefins. In the inventive method, it was discovered that reconfiguration of process streams for the purposes of the product stabilization and catalyst deactivation led to elimination of the need for an elaborate absorption bed train to purify recycled components. Additionally, reconfiguration of process streams resulted in an improvement of process yield where recycled solvent and unreacted monomer previously caused process yield to be marginal in comparison to using entirely new feedstocks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing cellulose esters having a total DS/AGU of 0.1 to 3.0, said process comprising contacting the following:(i) a cellulose material,(ii) a solubilizing amount of a solvent system comprising a carboxamide diluent or a urea-based diluent,(iii) an acylating reagent, and(iv) an insoluble sulfonic acid resin catalyst.

Abstract: Novel polyethylene compositions comprising a blend of a polyethylene component having defined properties, a specific quantity of defined tackifying resins and defined quantities of thermally sensitive additives are disclosed. In addition, process for extrusion coating at high speeds and relatively low extrusion coating temperatures employing invention compositions is disclosed.

Abstract: A numerically controlled milling machine is used to mill the surface of a coined spinnerette after punching and before broaching the holes in the spinnerette. A probe is mounted on the milling machine to obtain data points on the bumpy surface of the coined spinnerette. The low points in predetermined areas off of the protuberances on the bumpy surface of the coined spinnerette are detected. Splines connecting the low points in, e.g., concentric rings if the holes in the finished spinnerette will be in rings, are used to generate a representation of the finished surface. A spiral tool path is obtained using the representation of the finished surface and G-codes are generated to control the milling machine to move a tool along the tool path. After the coined spinnerette has been milled, conventional finishing, including broaching is performed.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising an effective amount of iridium and at least one second metal selected from the Lanthanide Series of the Periodic Table is useful for vapor phase carbonylation to produce carboxylic acids and esters from lower alkyl alcohols, ethers and ester-alcohol mixtures. The iridium and secondary metal are deposited on a support material, preferably carbon. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the catalyst is useful for vapor phase carbonylation to produce acetic acid, methyl acetate and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to method for separating tocol from a tocol-containing admixture by heating the tocol-containing admixture composed a tocol, a fatty acid, and an esterifying compound to esterify the fatty acid to produce a second tocol admixture composed of the tocol, the esterified fatty acid, and the unesterified fatty acid; distilling the tocol-containing admixture with the esterified fatty acid to remove the unesterified fatty acid from the tocol admixture to produce a tocol admixture composed of the tocol with substantially removed unesterified fatty acid; distilling the tocol admixture for a sufficient time and temperature to substantially remove the tocol from the tocol admixture to produce a tocol admixture composed of the removed tocol and a non-tocol component; and extracting the tocol from the tocol admixture with an extraction solvent composed of a polar, organic solvent that is miscible with water to produce a two phase system composed of a first phase containing the majority of the extract

Abstract: The invention provides processes for producing phytol, isophytol, and certain phytol derivatives by a method of oxidizing or epoxidizing geranylgeraniol or geranylgeraniol derivatives to form epoxygeranylgeraniol derivatives, reducing or hydrogenating the epoxygeranylgeraniol derivatives to produce epoxyphytol derivatives, and then deoxygenating the epoxyphytol derivatives to produce phytol, isophytol, phytene derivatives, isophytene derivatives, or mixtures thereof. The step of deoxygenating is carried out in the presence of deoxygenation catalysts, including rhenium trioxide compounds. The invention also provides methods for the synthesis of certain novel substituted epoxyphytyl compounds and substituted phytene compounds having removable protecting groups.

Abstract: A novel propylene copolymer is disclosed. Also disclosed is a novel composition comprising about 85 to about 99 weight percent of a polymeric ethylenic containing component having a density no greater than 0.94 g/cc, and about 1 to about 15 weight percent of a novel propylene copolymer comprising from about 60 to about 80 weight percent propylene, based on the copolymer, and from about 20 to about 40 weight percent olefin comonomer units, the propylene copolymer having a viscosity of about 1 to about 2,000 mPa.cndot.s at 190.degree. C. and a needle penetration of greater than about 150 to about 300 dmm. Also disclosed are films produced from the composition, both blown and cast, and both monolayer and multilayer. Also disclosed are processes for stretch wrapping and forming blown film.

Abstract: A water jacket face of a burner nozzle for a synthesis gas generator is protected from hot gas corrosion by an annular heat shield of high temperature material tiles. Angular segments of a tile annulus around a burner nozzle orifice are secured to the water jacket face by furnace melted, high temperature brazed metal. The metal water jacket face along radial joints between adjacent tiles is protected by stepped or scarfed lap joints.