Abstract: A method of increasing the hydrophobicity of solid materials. The inventive method comprises the steps of: (a) metal ion activating the surface of a solid substrate material to provide reactive metal sites on the surface and (b) chemically bonding a surfactant to the surface at the reactive metal sites. Titanium dioxide pigments and other particulate property modifiers treated in accordance with the inventive method are more readily dispersed in polymer compositions.

Abstract: Improved methods and polymer compositions are provided whereby ultraviolet radiation degradation of substrates formed of the compositions is attenuated. In accordance with the invention, ultraviolet scattering and absorbing particles having a particle size in the range of from about 0.001 micrometer to about 0.20 micrometer in diameter are dispersed in at least a surface layer of a polymer substrate.

Abstract: A titanium dioxide production method, a novel titanium dioxide product produced by the inventive titanium dioxide production method, a method for producing a plastic product using the novel titanium dioxide product, and a novel plastic product formed by the inventive plastic product production method. The inventive titanium dioxide production method comprises the steps of: (a) forming a mixture comprising a titanium dioxide material in a liquid medium; (b) wet milling the titanium dioxide material in the liquid medium; (c) after step (b), reducing the pH of the mixture to a value not exceeding 4.0; (d) after step (c), adding an effective amount of a base to the mixture to cause the titanium dioxide material to flocculate; (e) removing the flocculated titanium dioxide material from the mixture; and (f) washing the titanium dioxide material. The titanium dioxide material used in step (a) is an agglomerated titanium dioxide material which has been produced by a reaction process.

Abstract: A pigment composition of improved dispersibility in thermoplastic resins and concentrates of the pigment composition in thermoplastic resin are provided. The pigment composition is comprised of an inorganic pigment such as titanium dioxide having an organophosphate ester treating agent deposited thereon.

Abstract: An inventive process for forming a conductive, particulate, fluorine-doped, zinc oxide product which is doped throughout. The process comprises the step of reacting vapor phase reactants in a vapor phase oxidation system and at a temperature sufficient to form the conductive, particulate, fluorine-doped, zinc oxide product. The vapor phase reactants used in the inventive process comprise: elemental zinc vapor; at least one fluorine source; and at least one water source.

Abstract: A method of preconditioning manganese dioxide for use in a rechargeable alkaline electrochemical cell. The method includes the step of contacting unreduced manganese dioxide (e.g., electrolytic manganese dioxide) with a solution of hydroquinone in an environment having a pH greater than or equal to 5 that is essentially free of dissolved oxygen to partially reduce the unreduced manganese dioxide to manganese dioxide generally represented by the formulaMnO.sub.xwherein x is between about 1.80 and about 1.92. Partially reducing the manganese dioxide to an oxidation state in this range before the cell is finally assembled and sealed lessens the degree by which the capacity of the cell is decreased as the cell is cycled and improves the overall performance of the cell.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for producing titanium tetrachloride vapor admixed with a desired particular amount of aluminum trichloride vapor for use in the production of rutile titanium dioxide. The vapor mixture is derived from a titanium tetrachloride solution containing the desired particular amount of aluminum trichloride. The solution is produced continuously by dissolving aluminum trichloride in a heated stream of liquid titanium tetrachloride utilizing a cyclic aluminum trichloride bed switching and recharging process.

Abstract: A colloidal sulfur particle opacifying extender scatters light across the visible spectrum to result in an overall colorless appearance. A process for opacifying and extending a matrix which can be a water-borne emulsion or a coating, using the colloidal sulfur particles, and opacified and extended water-borne emulsions and coatings including the colloidal sulfur particles are also provided.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of refinery oily sludges to produce an oily fraction that is reprocessed in the refinery into (i) salable products and (ii) a solid residue meeting environmental regulatory agency requirements for disposal in non-hazardous solid waste landfills. The process includes mixing the refinery oily sludge with a particulate filter aid and preferably a single solvent selected from refinery intermediate and product streams and contacting this mixture with plate filters in a closed filter vessel. A cake residue forms on the filter plates and a filtrate mixture of oil, water and solvent is produced. The filtrate is separated into an oily fraction and a water fraction. The oily fraction is rerouted to refinery operating units for processing into salable products. The water fraction is routed to a refinery water treatment system. When filter cake residue has built to a predetermined level, charge to the filter vessel is discontinued.

Abstract: A colloidal sulfur particle opacifying extender scatters light across the visible spectrum to result in an overall colorless appearance. A process for opacifying and extending a matrix which can be a water-borne emulsion or a coating, using the colloidal sulfur particles, and opacified and extended water-borne emulsions and coatings including the colloidal sulfur particles are also provided.

Abstract: A method of increasing the hydrophobicity of solid materials. The inventive method comprises the steps of: (a) metal ion activating the surface of a solid substrate material to provide reactive metal sites on the surface and (b) chemically bonding a surfactant to the surface at the reactive metal sites. Titanium dioxide pigments and other particulate property modifiers treated in accordance with the inventive method are more readily dispersed in polymer compositions.

Abstract: A process for co-producing hydrogen peroxide and another useful product, namely either an oxalate ester or a carbonate ester product, is provided The process comprises reacting a saturated monohydric alcohol with carbon monoxide and a quinone to form an oxalate ester or a carbonate ester product and hydroquinone. The hydroquinone is then reacted with oxygen to form hydrogen peroxide and a quinone.

Abstract: An improved method for preparing a rutile titanium dioxide pigment of uniform particle size wherein the pigment is formed by reaction of a mixture of an oxidizing gas and a titanium halide in the vapor phase at elevated temperatures in the presence of a metal ion containing compound. The improvement comprises introducing the metal ion containing compound into a vapor phase oxidation reactor containing the reacting mixture in at least two separate and discrete increments. The first increment is introduced into the reactor at a point prior to reaction of said mixture having occurred while the second increment is introduced into the reactor at a point wherein at least 20 weight percent of the total titanium halide reactant has been converted to the desired titanium dioxide pigment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pigmentary titanium composite having good durability and excellent optical properties. The inventive composite consists essentially of: a particulate titanium dioxide base; a hydrous zirconium oxide layer deposited on the titanium dioxide base; and a hydrous alumina layer deposited on the hydrous zirconium oxide layer. The alumina layer consists essentially of boehmite alumina and/or pseudoboehmite alumina.The present invention also provides a method for preparing the inventive pigmentary composite. The inventive method comprises the steps of: (a) preparing an aqueous slurry comprising water and a particulate titanium dioxide base; (b) depositing a layer of a hydrous zirconium oxide precipitate on the titanium dioxide base; and (c) depositing a layer of a hydrous alumina precipitate on the layer of hydrous zirconium oxide. The hydrous alumina precipitate consists essentially of boehmite alumina and/or pseudoboehmite alumina.

Abstract: A process for making colored pigments based on zircon is described whereby a mixture of zirconium halide, silicon halide and a metal halide chromophore are oxidized at a temperature in the range of from about 600.degree. to about 1400.degree. C. This combustion process may be conducted in much less time than prior art procedures which calcine zirconium oxide, silicon oxide and a chromophore. Additionally, the resultant particles are sufficiently small to enable the pigment to be used immediately without need for a subsequent grinding or pulverization step, as typically required by the prior art.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for producing hydrogen peroxide. The inventive process utilizes an aqueous liquid reaction medium, a gaseous reactant stream comprising oxygen gas and hydrogen gas, and a catalyst bed comprising a catalyst which is effective for catalyzing the production of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen. The inventive process preferably comprises the step of conducting the gaseous reactant stream and the liquid reaction medium through the fixed catalyst bed in a manner such that a pulse-flow regime is established in the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically attaching end plates to the ends of a railroad tie. A web of material automatically is fed to a plate assembly position. A portion of the web of material is formed into an end plate at the plate assembly position. The formed end plate is removed from the web of material. The formed end plate then automatically is connected to one end of the railroad tie. The system also senses the size of the end of the railroad tie and the end plate formed at the plate assembly position automatically is sized to be about the same size as the sensed size of the end of the railroad tie.

Abstract: A rail-tie fastening assembly for connecting a rail having a rail flange to a tie comprising a rail seat assembly and a rail anchor. The rail seat assembly is connectable to the tie and includes an anchor slot and a seat hook assembly. The seat hook assembly is adapted to extend a distance over an upper surface of the rail flange. The rail anchor includes an anchor hook assembly adapted to extend over on the upper surface of the rail flange in an assembled position of the rail anchor to the rail seat assembly. The rail anchor is insertable through the anchor slot in the rail seat assembly to the assembled position. The seat hook assembly is spaced a distance from the upper surface of the rail in the assembled position of the rail anchor to the rail seat assembly. The anchor hook assembly engages one side of the rail flange and the seat hook assembly engages the opposite side of the rail flange to restrain lateral movement.