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 process for rapidly and substantially decreasing the melt index and increasing the viscosity of polymers of caprolactams during melt processing by forming a molten mixture of the polymer and a phosphite compound and heating the mixture until the desired change in melt index and viscosity are obtained.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating low molecular weight alcohols, especially ethanol, from aqueous mixtures. The process involves subjecting alcohol-water mixtures to extraction and/or extractive distillation procedures. Extractive solvents useful for the process of this invention include phenols having at least six carbon atoms and a boiling point between about 180.degree. C. and about 350.degree. C.

Abstract: The arsenic trifluoride content of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is reduced by diffusion in one or more stages through a non-porous fluoride-resistant film, such as a thin fluoropolymer film.

Abstract: A novel class of compounds, anionic Group VIII metal hydrides containing phosphorus, arsenic and antimony organoligands is described, such as potassium tris and bis(triphenylphosphine) ruthenium hydride. The compounds are useful as homogeneous catalysts in the hydrogenation of aldehydes, ketones, olefins or alkynes. Processes for producing the compounds are also described.

Abstract: A process for preparing quasi-random copolymers is described which involves heating a mixture of polyamides in the presence of one or more phosphite promotor(s). The process is conducted at temperatures between about 265.degree. C. and 315.degree. C. with the process time generally ranging from about 2 to about 20 minutes. The process is especially useful for preparing copolymers from a mixture of poly(caproamide) and poly(hexamethylene adipamide). The copolymer products prepared in accordance with the process are particularly suitable for the production of plastic films which have improved properties as compared to either of the homopolymers.

Abstract: A process for preparing block, and/or graft copolymeric compositions by forming an intimate mixture of two or more polymers, at least one of which includes one or more amino junctions and at least one of the remaining polymers includes one or more carboxylic acid junctions and an effective amount of a phosphite compound, and thereafter heating the intimate mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form the desired block, and/or graft copolymers.

Abstract: An extractive distillation process is provided for the separation of phenol and/or cresol from mixtures with high boiling oxygenated compounds such as alkanols, alkanones, cycloalkanones, cycloalkanols, aryl alcohols, aryl ketones or mixtures thereof that have a boiling point of at least about 175.degree. C. The process involves distilling the phenol and/or cresol-high boiling oxygenated compound mixture in the presence of at least one extractive solvent comprising a substituted phenol and/or substituted cresol that has a boiling point between about 195.degree. C. and about 400.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the production of oligomeric mixtures useful as surfactants is disclosed. The initial step of the process comprises reacting pyromellitic dianhydride with a fluoroalcohol using a mole ratio of about one mole pyromellitic dianhydride per two moles of fluoroalcohol to produce an intermediate which contains two fluorinated ester moieties and two free acid moieties. Thereafter, the intermediate diester-diacid is reacted with an excess of an oxirane compound such as epichlorohydrin, epibromohydrin or propylene oxide wherein said oxirane compound reacts with the free acid moieties to produce ester moieties containing a primary or secondary alcohol moiety. In the final step of the process, additional pyromellitic dianhydride is added to the reaction mixture so that the alcohol moieties may react with anhydride moieties to produce ester linking groups (between pyromellitate nuclei) and additional free acid moieties capable of reacting with the oxirane compound.

Abstract: Formed from trifunctional units (M) having attached, to one of the two terminal carbon atoms of an alkylene hydrocarbon diradical, the functional group A', and having attached, to the other terminal carbon atom, a different functional group B' reactive with A' to form a linkage AB; and having attached, to a third carbon of the skeleton of unit (M), the functional group A" (preferably the same as A') reactive with B' whereby a macromolecule is built up of successive layers of units (M). The process involves successive stages in the first of which, the functional groups A' are blocked and group B is blocked with a "source" unit (S); then groups A' are liberated to form Compound I. In the second stage, Compound II is formed from the starting material (such as lysine) by first blocking groups A', then converting group B' to a form reactive with A'.

Abstract: A process for preparing substituted or unsubstituted benzoxazoline compound by reacting ammonia, a cycloalkanone and oxygen in the presence of metal cations.

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: Silicon tetrafluoride is reacted with sodium hydride in a cyclic ether reaction medium such as tetrahydrofuran or 1,4-dioxane or in dimethoxyethane. Sodium aluminum hydride is dissolved in the solvent and catalyzes the reaction in amounts of 4-25%, by weight of combined sodium hydride and sodium aluminum hydride.

Abstract: A process for decreasing the melt index and increasing the viscosity of polyamide compositions by adding thereto an effective amount of an aryl phosphate compound, and thereafter heating the composition until the desired changes in melt index or viscosity are attained.

Abstract: A recording device is described, useful as an integrated time-temperature or radiation-dosage history indicator. The device contains a substrate having deposited thereon at least two indicating units, one being unreacted and representing zero time of exposure and the other unit being pre-reacted. Each unit is comprised of an acetylenic compound containing at least one --C.tbd.C--C.tbd.C-- group, capable of reacting by 1,4-addition polymerization thereby forming an end-point color after an irreversible, progressive color change upon thermal annealing or exposure to actinic radiation. The end-point color represents an integrated time-temperature history of thermal annealing or radiation-dosage history. Each unit is constructed such that the time required to form the end-point color by thermal annealing at a given temperature or for a known thermal history, or exposure to actinic radiation at a given average radiation dosage rate, is predetermined.

Abstract: In the reduction of di- or polynitro aromatic compounds by gaseous H.sub.2 S over a solid catalyst, addition of CO gas promotes formation of amino groups from all nitro groups in the molecule. A preferred embodiment is reduction of 2,4- and/or 2,6-dinitrotoluene in vapor phase at 325.degree. C. over a supported iron or supported cobalt catalyst on a support comprising alumina. The amino products are useful for production of polyurethane resins.

Abstract: A composition is described comprising at least two co-crystallized acetylenic compounds, of different chemical structures, each containing at least one --C.tbd.C--C.tbd.C-- group and substituents selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, urethane and alcohol radicals, at least one of the compounds capable of ungergoing a contrasting color change upon exposure to actinic radiation or thermal annealing, wherein the composition exhibits a substantially different thermogram than the sum of thermograms of the individual components as obtained by differential scanning alorimetry.A device is also described useful for measuring the time-temperature or radiation-dosage history of an article comprising a substrate having deposited thereon the described composition.A process is also described for producing the composition of this invention.

Abstract: A silicon halide such as methyl trichlorosilane is reacted with an alcohol such as isopropanol and an oxime such as methyl ethyl ketone oxime. Byproduct oxime hydrohalide is formed in all cases. With higher amounts of alcohol, alkoxysilane (e.g. methyl triisopropoxysilane) is the sole or major product. With lower amounts of alcohol, alkoxy-oxminosilanes (e.g. methyl diisopropoxy(methyl ethyl ketoximo)silane and methyl isopropoxy bis(methyl ethyl ketoximo)silane) are the major products.

Abstract: Water-soluble polyacetylenic alkali metal salts from monomers and polymers of carboxymethyl urethanes of di-, tetra-, and hexayne diols, or from the corresponding diacids; useful in thermal and irradiation exposure indicators and/or in detection and/or removal of nonalkali metal ions dissolved in aqueous media.