Abstract: A cellulose ether that is predominantly substituted in the C3 position of the anhydroglucose unit of the cellulose is described. In an embodiment of the present invention, the partial degree of substitution in the C3 position of the cellulose ether is ≧60%, based on the total degree of substitution. Also described is a process for preparing the cellulose ether of the present invention. The process involves, reacting cellulose, dissolved in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide monohydrate (NMMNO) and optionally other inert organic solvents, with alkylation reagents. The reaction takes place in the presence of: (i) an insoluble solid phase catalyst, e.g., solid ion exchange resins based on polystyrene having quaternary ammonium groups; (ii) stabilizers, e.g., propyl gallate; and (iii) optionally additional soluble co-catalysts, e.g., trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: A polishing pad is described as comprising, (a) particulate polymer selected from particulate thermoplastic polymer (e.g., particulate thermoplastic polyurethane), particulate crosslinked polymer (e.g., particulate crosslinked polyurethane and/or particulate crosslinked polyepoxide) and mixtures thereof; and (b) crosslinked organic polymer binder (e.g., crosslinked polyurethane binder and/or crosslinked polyepoxide binder), which binds the particulate polymer together. The particulate polymer and crosslinked organic polymer binder are distributed substantially uniformly throughout the polishing pad, and the pad has a percent pore volume of from 2 percent by volume to 50 percent by volume, based on the total volume of said polishing pad. Polishing pad assemblies are also described.

Abstract: A thermoplastic molding composition suitable for preparing molded articles having improved properties, most notably high ductility and impact strength at low temperature, is disclosed. The composition contains a resinous blend of aromatic polycarbonate and a mixture of at least two grafted rubbers. The mixture of grafted rubbers contains a “small-mode” component having a weight average particle size of less than 0.3 microns and a “large-mode” component having a weight average particle size of 0.3 microns or larger. The inventive composition is characterized in the absence of flaky filler having an aspect ratio is at least 1.7 and particle size of 1-100 microns therefrom.

Abstract: A multi-component composite coating composition comprising a base coat deposited from a pigmented film-forming composition and a transparent top coat applied over the base coat in which the base coat is a thermosetting composition comprising a co-reactable solid, particulate mixture of (i) an epoxy functional polymer containing at least one of the polymer chain structures -[(M)p-(G)q]x- or -[(G)q-(M)p]x- wherein M is an oxirane-free residue of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, G is a glycidyl-functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, p and q each independently has a value of 0 to typically less than 100, and x has a value of at least 1 to typically less than 100, the total value of p, q and x selected such that said epoxy functional polymer has a number average molecular weight of at least 250, and (ii) a co-reactant having functional groups reactive with the epoxy groups of (i).

Abstract: A pigment dispersion that includes a pigment, an aqueous carrier, and a pigment dispersant. The pigment dispersant is prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization initiated and has the polymer chain structure: &phgr;—(G)p—(E)a—T where G is a residue of at least One ethylenically unsaturated monomer; E is a hydrophilic residue of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer; &phgr; is a hydrophobic residue of or derived from an initiator; T is or is derived from a radically transferable group from the initiator, p and s represent average numbers of residues occurring in a block of residues; p and s are each individually selected such that said pigment dispersant has a number average molecular weight of at least 250.

Abstract: Composites of at least two different plastics materials joined directly to one another, wherein A) is a thermoplastic polymer or a thermoplastic mixture of polymers which contain at least one polar compound of at least one of the metals of the 1st to the 5th main group or of the 1st to 8th subsidiary group of the Periodic System as an extremely finely divided powder, and B) is polyurethane.

Abstract: The production of polycarbonate by the phase boundary method is disclosed. In accordance with the inventive process, a solution that contains polycarbonate is repeatedly washed with a washing liquid and the washing liquid is separated from the solution that contains the polycarbonate by separating elements and the solvent is then evaporated. The process is characterized in that the organic solution that contains the polycarbonate and the washing liquid are separated from each other after the first washing stage in a coalescer that contains hydrophilic packing.

Abstract: Described is a thermoplastic molding composition comprising: a) 0.05 to 1.5 wt. %, with respect to the entire molding composition, of a fatty acid amide ester wax; b) 0.5 to 10 wt. %, with respect to the entire molding composition, of a silica selected from natural silica, synthetic silica and mixtures thereof; c) 0 to 1 wt. %, with respect to the entire molding composition, of a montan wax; and d) at least one thermoplastic elastomer. Also described are a method of preparing the thermoplastic molding composition, and methods of preparing articles from the thermoplastic molding composition.

Abstract: Molding compositions comprising polyether block amide and homogeneously distributed antimicrobially active substances are disclosed. The compositions are suitable for molding a variety of articles, notably medical articles.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel substituted aryluracils of the formula (I): to processes for their preparation and to their use as crop protection agents.

Abstract: A flame resistant thermoplastic molding composition is disclosed. The composition contains a mixture of two aromatic polycarbonates having differing solution viscosities, a vinyl(co)polymer made from at least two ethylenically unsaturated monomers, a graft polymer obtainable by graft polymerization of at least two monomers selected from chloroprene, 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, styrene, acrylonitrile, ethylene, propylene, vinyl acetate and (meth)acrylates with 1 to 18 carbon atoms in the alcohol component, a phosphorous compound, a fluorinated polyolefin and an inorganic compound with an average particle size no greater than 200 nm. The inventive composition is additionally characterized in its improved stress cracking resistance.

Abstract: A homopolymer formed from monomers which contain groupings which are at least trinuclear, which are capable of absorbing the electromagnetic radiation of visible light, and which are structured so that in their thermodynamically stable state they are distended and strongly anisometric, is disclosed. The trinuclear groups of the homopolymer include at least one electron-attracting substituent which gives rise to a dipole moment which forms an angle of at least 20° with the longitudinal axis of the trinuclear groups. The homopolymer contains covalently bonded side groups branching from the backbone represented by the following formula, —§—T—Q—E. In the formula: § represents one of oxygen, sulphur and NR1; T represents a (CH2)n radical, optionally interrupted by, for example, —O—; Q represents a divalent linking group; and E represents the trinuclear group, e.g.

Abstract: A flame-resistant, reinforced thermoplastic molding composition characterized by its improved properties is disclosed. The composition contains A) a mixture of two aromatic polycarbonate resins that differ one from the other in terms of their relative solution viscosities, B) an optional vinyl (co)polymer containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, C) a graft polymer, D) a phosphorus compound, E) fluorinated polyolefin, and F) inorganic reinforcing material.

Abstract: A pigment dispersion comprising pigment, an aqueous carrier selected from water and a mixture of water and at least one organic solvent, and a pigment dispersant is described. The pigment dispersant is prepared by controlled radical polymerization, e.g., atom transfer radical polymerization, of a radically polymerizable monomer in the presence of a polymeric initiator having at least one radically transferable group. The polymeric initiator forms the polymeric backbone segment of the pigment dispersant, and the monomer forms polymeric segments that are pendent to the polymeric backbone segment. The pigment dispersant has comb-like architecture in which the polymeric backbone segment is hydrophilic, and at least a portion of each pendent polymeric segment is hydrophobic.

Abstract: A process for the work up of reaction mixtures containing diaryl carbonate, aromatic hydroxy compound, water, base and quaternary salt, which are obtained in the preparation of diaryl carbonates by direct carbonylation of aromatic hydroxy compounds, is described. In the process of the present invention an adduct of diaryl carbonate and aromatic hydroxy compound is crystallized from the reaction mixture. A distillate comprising aromatic hydroxy compound is removed from the liquid phase either prior to or after crystallization of the adduct of diaryl carbonate and aromatic hydroxy compound. The liquid phase remaining after the crystallization and distillation steps may be recycled, without further work up, back to the direct carbonylation process step by which the diaryl carbonate is initially prepared.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition is described, which composition comprises a polyol(allyl carbonate) monomer, e.g., diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate) monomer, and an additive represented by the general formula, R2—O&Parenopenst;R3O&Parenclosest;x&Parenopenst;R4O&Parenclosest;y&Parenopenst;R5O&Parenclosest;zR6 wherein R2 and R6 are each selected independently from hydrogen, C1-C20 linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl having from 5 to 7 carbon atoms in the cyclic ring, aryl, C2-C20 linear or branched alkanoyl, cycloalkanoyl having from 5 to 7 carbon atoms in the cyclic ring and aroyl, R2 and R6 each being free of radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated groups; R3O and R5O are the same or different; R4O is different than each of R3O and R5O; R3O, R4O and R5O are each independently a divalent residue of an epoxide; x and z are each independently a number from 0 to 200, provided that the sum of x and z is greater than zero; and y is a number from 3 to 200.

Abstract: A catayltic process for the hydrogenation of aromatic polymers is disclosed. The catalyst used in the process is a metal or mixture of metals of sub-group VIII of the periodic table together with a support of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide or a mixture thereof. The catalyst, having pores is characaterized in that the pores having diameters of 100 to 1,000 Å constitute less than 15 percent of the total volume of pores. The hydrogenation, that is carried out in the presence of at least one oxygen-containing hydrocarbon is characterized in that it is essentially complete and without significant degradation of molecular weights.

Abstract: Polyurethane moulding compositions which can be melt processed in the form of sintering powders suitable for the preparation of grained sintered films and which are prepared exclusively from linear aliphatic components are described. The polyol component is composed of 30 to 80 parts by weight of an aliphatic polycarbonate diol with an average molecular weight {overscore (M)}n of 1000 to 2200 and 70 to 20 parts by weight of a polybutane diol adipate and/or a polycaprolactone diol with an average molecular weight {overscore (M)}n of 1000 to 2400. Moreover, the mixture contains 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate in an equivalence ratio of 2.3:1.0 to 6.2:1.0, based on the polyol mixture and butane-1,4-diol as chain extender, the equivalence ratio of the butane-1,4-diol based on the poly mixture being 1.3:1.0 to 5.2:1.0.

Abstract: A thermoplastic molding composition containing 1 to 99 parts by weight of aromatic polycarbonate or polyester carbonate and 1 to 99 parts by weight of at least one graft polymer prepared by solution polymerization is disclosed. The graft polymer is characterized in having rubber content of 20 to 50 wt. % and in that the average particle size of its rubber phase is 80 to 600 nm. The composition, which optionally contains additives, flameproofing agents and reinforcing agents, is characterized by its improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: A process of preparing bisphenol A having low residual contents of oxygen and phenol is described. The process involves: (a) melting mixed crystals of bisphenol A and phenol under a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of 100° C. to 120° C.; (b) feeding continuously the melt formed in step (a) into the top of a distillation unit under conditions of 120° C. to <160° C. and a pressure of >80 mbar to 200 mbar; (c) feeding contemporaneously with step (b) nitrogen into the bottom of the distillation unit; (d) allowing the melted feed material and the nitrogen feed to contact each other within the distillation unit, thereby forming a concentrated melt material having (i) a phenol content reduced to 10 to 25 wt. %, and (ii) a reduced oxygen content (e.g., an oxygen content of <1 ppm); and (e) optionally passing a stream of nitrogen through the concentrated melt material under conditions of at least atmospheric pressure, 180° C. to 220° C. and a nitrogen partial pressure of 1 to 1.