Abstract: Process of detecting the presence of certain gases, including certain pollutants, in small concentrations; or to cause partial polymerization of certain polyacetylene compositions for use in time/temperature history indicators or radiation dosage indicators. The process involves contacting a reactive gas, such as a nitrogen oxide, a halide or ozone, with a crystalline substituted acetylenic monomer containing at least two conjugated triple bonds and substituents having at least one atom of oxygen or nitrogen. In particular the acetylenic compound is 2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-bis(phenylurethane) crystallized from tetrahydrofuran or acetone.

Abstract: Ultra-high molecular weight poly(N-propionylethylenimines) are disclosed that are useful as water purification agents. The polymers of this invention include partially deacylated poly(N-propionylethylenimines) derived from poly(N-propionylethylenimines) having a weight average molecular weight, M.sub.w, between about 1 million and about 20 million. The polymers have a degree of deacylation that ranges from about 10% to about 90%.

Abstract: Impact modified polyamide/polyether block copolymers have increased impact strength for corresponding polyol concentration, which can be achieved using certain difunctional and tri-functional symmetrical triazine derivatives as the co-catalyst/coupling agent, and lactamyl salts as the catalyst. Also disclosed is an improved anionic polymerization process, especially suitable for reaction injection molding.

Abstract: Crude hexafluoroacetone containing as impurities nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide is purified by admixing with water to form an aqueous solution, admixing the aqueous solution with concentrated sulfuric acid or oleum to form a vapor and scrubbing the vapor with liquid concentrated sulfuric acid to produce purified anhydrous hexafluoroacetone. The sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides interact with the aqueous solution and concentrated sulfuric acid so as not to be found in the purified product, thus obviating the need for a neutralization step.

Abstract: Mixed oxides of bismuth with other metals of the perovskite structure and having vacant lattice sites in the same lattice positions occupied by bismuth are disclosed as partial oxidation and ammoxidation catalysts. Such oxides are used as catalysts in the improved method of oxidizing an acyclic hydrocarbon of 1-10 carbons having at most one olefinic unsaturation by reacting the acyclic hydrocarbon in the vapor phase with oxygen in the presence of the solid catalyst to form products having carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: Silicon tetrafluoride gas is produced by reacting aqueous fluosilicic acid and concentrated sulfuric acid in a vertical column. The fluosilicic acid is fed to an intermediate point of the column and the sulfuric acid to the top of the column. Silicon dioxide, both dissolved and suspended, is fed with fluosilicic acid in some forms so as to produce a by-product acid substantially free of silicon and fluoride values.

Abstract: A polymer solution is formed from a sulfur- or oxygen-containing aromatic polymer solute such as poly(phenylene sulfide) or poly(phenylene oxide), a Lewis Acid solute derivative (dopant) such as arsenic hexafluoride and a strong acid solvent such as sulfuric acid. Solvents such as fluorosulfonic acid may also serve to generate the dopant. The solutions are especially useful for casting polymer articles.

Abstract: An improved poly(vinyl acetate) which on hydrolysis and reacetylation has an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 5 dL/g and an improved poly(vinyl alcohol) which on acetylation yields poly(vinyl acetate) having an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 5 dL/g. Such poly(vinyl acetate) can be prepared by photo-initiated free radical bulk polymerization of vinyl acetate with controlled low initiator concentration, polymerization temperature and reaction time. Such poly(vinyl alcohol) can be prepared by conventional alcoholysis of the poly(vinyl acetate).

Abstract: A novel process for producing hydrogen and sulfur via the thermal decomposition of hydrogen sulfide is disclosed. The thermal decomposition of hydrogen sulfide is accomplished by passing a hydrogen sulfide containing gas through a reaction chamber containing a refractory material that has been preheated to a temperature between about 982.degree. C. and about 1816.degree. C. so that a gas stream comprising hydrogen, sulfur and hydrogen sulfide is produced. While one reaction chamber is used for decomposition, another is being preheated with hot gases such as a sulfur dioxide-oxygen mixture from a sulfur burner. When the peak temperature in the first reaction chamber declines to a selected value, the functions of the two reaction chambers are reversed.

Abstract: Pyromellitate diester-diacid chlorides are disclosed that are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of a variety of soil and water repelling compounds. The pyromellitates of this invention characteristically contain two ester moieties wherein said ester moieties contain a fluorinated or saturated hydrocarbon alkyl moiety. The pyromellitates additionally contain two acid chloride moieties which are capable of reacting with various compounds to produce various products useful as surfactants.

Abstract: Articles such as vests, helmets and structural elements containing a network of ultrahigh molecular weight, high strength, high modulus polyethylene or polypropylene fibers. The fibers, and especially polyethylene fibers of 15, 20, 25, 30 or more g/denier tenacity, and 300, 500, 1,000, 1,500 or more g/denier tensile modulus impart exceptional ballistic resistance to the articles in spite of the melting points, e.g. 145.degree.-151.degree. C. for the polyethylene fibers and 168.degree.-171.degree. C. for the polypropylene fibers, which are high for these polymers, but substantially lower than the 200.degree. C. or more melting point previously thought necessary for good ballistic resistance.

Abstract: Tetraesters of pyromellitic dianhydride are disclosed wherein two ester moieties are saturated hydrocarbon groups and two ester moieties are halohydroxyalkyl groups. The compounds may be used as diluents for fluorinated pyromellitates that are useful as soil and water repelling agents. Mixtures formed by dissolving the compounds of this invention and known fluorinated pyromellitates in a common solvent are capable of imparting soil and water repelling properties to various fibers that are essentially equivalent to soil and water repelling properties imparted to such fibers by fluorinated pyromellitates alone. Additionally, the hydrocarbon pyromellitates of this invention may be used alone as water repellents.

Abstract: Fibers prepared by spinning, drawing and drying dilute solutions of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene or polypropylene are modified by including in the dilute solution a polymeric additive. The polyethylene fibers so prepared have melting points above 140.degree. C. and exhibit improved adherence to matrices, resistance to fibrillation and other advantageous properties. Additives include lower molecular weight polyolefins, oxidized polyolefins, olefin copolymers, polyolefin graft copolymers and polyoxymethylenes.

Abstract: Ethanol is concentrated from ethanol-water mixtures by extraction or extractive distillation with a solvent which is a cyclic ketone of at least seven carbons or cyclic alcohol of at least eight carbons such a cyclohexylcyclohexanone or cyclohexylcyclohexanol. In the extractive distillation process, a first overheads is produced which can be made to be steam with minimal ethanol content and a second overhead is produced which can be made to be essentially pure ethanol. The preferred solvents are also non-toxic, such that the alcohol can be used for human consumption.

Abstract: Methanol is reacted with branched monoolefins such as isobutylene, or mixtures of hydrocarbons such as mixed C-4's from or in a refinery, in the presence of methanesulfonic acid. A column (10) operation is described wherein methanesulfonic acid (11) and methanol (12) are fed in countercurrent fashion to hydrocarbons (13). Crude product ether is removed as a liquid sidestream (25) above the feed of methanesulfonic acid (11), while hydrocarbons depleted of the reactive branched monoolefins (24) are removed overhead. The methanesulfonic acid suppresses the vapor pressure of methanol relative to product ether.

Abstract: Polydiacetylene gel compositions, comprised of a polydiacetylene and a gel-forming liquid therefor, are described which undergo a change in color and in physical state to a solution when heated to a predetermined temperature. The gel compositions exhibit hysteresis temperature characteristics which allow the original color change to be maintained and recorded until the solution is cooled below the predetermined temperature. Thus, the gel compositions are useful in temperature-indicating devices for reversibly monitoring a wide range of temperatures. A novel class of polydiacetylene compounds is also described, useful in forming the gel compositions, formed from monomeric diacetylenediol bis(alkoxycarbonylmethylurethanes).

Abstract: A polymer solution is formed from a sulfur- or oxygen-containing aromatic polymer solute such as poly(phenylene sulfide) or poly(phenylene oxide), a Lewis Acid solute derivative (dopant) such as arsenic hexafluoride and a liquid halide solvent such as arsenic trifluoride. The solutions are especially useful for casting conductive polymer articles.

Abstract: Nickel electrodes having selenium and/or tellurium electrochemically deposited thereon are disclosed. The nickel electrodes of this invention may be employed in primary or secondary alkaline batteries, and said electrodes exhibit improved currents and charges (i.e. with respect to pure nickel electrodes) when said electrodes are employed in primary or secondary batteries.

Abstract: Pyromellitate tetraesters are disclosed that are useful as water repellents. The pyromellitates of this invention characteristically contain two ester moieties wherein said ester moieties contain a fluorinated or saturated hydrocarbon alkyl group. Additionally, pyromellitates of this invention contain two ester moieties which contain siloxyl groups.

Abstract: Polyvinyl alcohol of molecular weight over 500,000 (i.e. 1,500,000 to 2,500,000) is spun as a dilute solution (2-15%) in a relatively non-volatile solvent such as glycerin. The resultant gel fiber is extracted with a volatile solvent such as methanol and dried. Upon stretching at one or more stages during the process, fibers of tenacity above 10 g/denier and modulus above 200 g/denier (e.g. 18 and 450, respectively) are produced.