Abstract: Polyvinyl chloride resin compositions and methods of preparation and use thereof for increasing the degree of whiteness in finished polyvinyl chloride foam. The resin compositions contain sulfur compounds selected from sulfonic acid derivatives, sulfinic acid derivatives, and mercapto acetic acid sodium salt, and optionally contain water soluble salts and/or t-butyl hydroperoxide.

Abstract: Polyvinyl chloride resin compositions and methods of preparation and use thereof for increasing the degree of whiteness in finished polyvinyl chloride foam. The resin compositions contain sulfur compounds selected from sulfonic acid derivatives, sulfinic acid derivatives, and mercapto acetic acid sodium salt, and optionally contain water soluble salts and/or t-butyl hydroperoxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing an extract of the herb sea buckthorn. In the absence of oxygen and metals berries of sea buckthorn are mixed with a vegetable oil and the mixture is incubated, which results in the extraction of liposoluble components of the berries into the vegetable oil. The extract is then separated from the berries. A composition is prepared of about 5 to about 95 wt % of the extract, 0 to about 95 wt % of an extract of a herb selected from the group consisting of rose hips (Rosa species), St. John's wort (Hypericus perforatum), chickweed herb (Stellaria media), plantain herb (Plantago major), calendula flowers (Calendula officinalis), and mixtures thereof, prepared by extracting liposoluble components of the herb into a vegetable oil in the absence of oxygen and metal, 0 to about 10 wt % of an essential oil, 0 to about 15 wt % of an antioxidant, and 0 to about 80 wt % of a diluent. The composition is applied to open skin lesions to promote their healing.

Abstract: A nondestructive read, two-device gain cell for a DRAM memory, based on conventional complementary metal oxide technology is disclosed. The charge is stored on the gate of a first MOSFET, with a second MOSFET connected to the gate for controlling the charge in accordance with an information bit. Depending on the stored charge, the surface under the gate of the first MOSFET is in a depletion or weak inversion condition. For both conditions, the first MOSFET is “off-state.” The first MOSFET causes a bipolar current flow when it is in a weak inversion condition, due to a “read” forward bias of the source to body junction. The bipolar current substantially depends on current gain, thereby multiplying the effective charge read from the first MOSFET.

Abstract: A screw has a head portion and a threaded portion. The head portion has an undercut slot extending across it. The slot has a flat floor and sloping sides and the width of the floor of the slot is greater than the width at the top opening of the slot. A matching bit has a shank portion and a flat portion. The flat portion of the bit is not as wide as the top opening of the slot. The flat portion has a foot extending from each end.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solution that comprises (A) a solvent; (B) about 0.001 to about 20 wt % of a terpolymer that comprises the condensation reaction product of (1) an aromatic compound that contains a benzene or naphthalene ring substituted with the group OR or SR, where R is hydrogen, alkyl from C1 to C15, or aryl, alkaryl, or aralkyl from C6 to C15; (2) about 0.1 to about 10 moles of a carbonyl compound per mole of said aromatic compound; and (3) about 0.1 to about 10 moles of a thiourea per mole of said aromatic compound (C) about 1 to about 5 wt % of a base; (D) about 0.1 wt % to saturation of a salt; and (E) 0 to about 20 wt % of an alcohol. Also disclosed is a method of making the terpolymer in the absence of an acid catalyst and a method of inhibiting the formation of scale on reactor components in contact with polymerizing vinyl chloride monomer.

Abstract: A filter dispenser is disclosed. The dispenser comprises a filter holder for horizontally holding a multiplicity of nested filters, an extractor positioned above the filter holder having a tacky material on its lower surface, and a resilient bridge connecting the extractor to the filter holder, whereby when the extractor is pressed downward the resilient bridge is bent until the tacky material contacts the uppermost of the filters, and, when released, returns to its original position with the uppermost filter attached to the tacky material. Also disclosed is a method of dispensing filters using the filter dispenser. The extractor is pressed downward until the tacky material contacts the uppermost filter in the stack. The extractor is permitted to return to its original position with the uppermost filter adhering to the tacky material and the uppermost filter is removed from the tacky material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst composition and a method of polymerizing vinyl chloride using it. The catalyst composition is a mixture of a vanadyl (V) catalyst having the formula and about 0.5 to about 15 moles of an alkyl aluminum cocatalyst having the formula (R′)mAl(X′)3−m per mole of said catalyst, where R is a group containing 1 to 14 carbon atoms, each X is independently selected from halogen or OR, each R′ is independently selected from alkyl from C1 to C10, each X′ is independently selected from halogen, R1 is alkyl from C1 to C10, haloalkyl from C1 to C10, alkoxyalkyl where each alkyl group is independently selected from C1 to C10, or aryl from C6 to C14, m is 1 or 2, and n is 1 to 100. Also disclosed is a method of polymerizing vinyl chloride comonomer using this catalyst.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for making a designer disease is disclosed. The apparatus comprises first, second, and third containers, each having two sections, I and II, separated by a semipermeable material through which a microbe can pass but cells from target and non-target populations cannot pass, and an entrance and an exit to each section. The entrance to section I of the first and second containers are circulation entrances, the exits from section II of the first and second containers are circulation exits, and the entrance to and exit from section I of the third container is a circulation entrance and a circulation exit, respectively. Conduits form a loop by connecting the circulation exit of each container to the circulation entrance to another container. A pump moves fluid around the loop and microbes in the fluid are mutated. A method of making a designer disease using that apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recovering elemental phosphorus from a sludge that contains water, dirt, and elemental phosphorus. In the first step, the sludge is melted. A mixture is formed of the melted sludge and about 0.5 to about 5 wt % of an oxidizing agent, based on the weight of elemental phosphorus in the sludge, and about 75 to about 580 wt % water, based on the weight of the sludge. The mixture is stirred until a continuous elemental phosphorus phase forms. The purified phosphorus phase is separated from the mixture.

Abstract: Novel polymer stabilizers are disclosed. The novel stabilizers have the general formula (R)qSn-(MR″-OCH2-R′CH]m-OT)4-q, P-[(OCH2-R′CH)mOT]3′ wherein M is O or S and R″is (CH2)pCO-, CO-(CH3)p, or CO(CH2)p-. About 0.005 to about 65 phr of the stabilizer can be used in a polymer having a halogen-containing repeating unit, such as poly(vinyl chloride), to reduce yellowing of an article made from the polymer after the article has been exposed to gamma radiation.

Abstract: A method of making a dry, solid, powdered flame retardant composition is disclosed. Polyvinyl chloride is mixed with about 20 to about 150 phr of a liquid flame retardant having the general formula at a temperature of about 50 to about 100° C., where R1 and R2 are independently selected from aliphatic from C2 to C20. Also disclosed are a dry, solid, powdered flame retardant composition made by this method, a method of making a flame retardant polymer by compounding that dry, solid, powdered flame retardant composition with a polymer, and a flame retardant polymer made by that method.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agitator assembly which comprises an agitator and means for mounting the agitator assembly on top of a tank. The agitator comprises a shaft, a propeller fixed to one end of the shaft, and means for rotating the shaft to provide an axial discharge from the propeller of at least 4.0 m/sec with a flow equivalent of at least 0.2 tank volumes/minute. The agitator is mounted on top of the tank so that the shaft enters the tank at an angle a to the longitudinal axis of the tank of between about 30 and about 60 degrees and at an angle &bgr; to the transverse vertical axis of the tank of less than about 50 degrees. Also disclosed is a method of shipping solids that are soluble in a solvent. The solids are placed in a tank on which the agitator assembly has been mounted. The quantity of solids placed in the tank exceeds the amount that will dissolve when the tank is filled with the solvent. The tank is transported to the location where the solids are to be removed from the tank.

Abstract: Disclosed is a separator for separating a meltable solid from a mixture with other solids. The separator has a tank for holding a fluid; a container at least partially inside the tank, made at least in part of a screen through which the fluid can pass and melted solids can flow, but through which the unmelted solid material will not flow; and a heater for heating the fluid above the melting point of the meltable solids. Also disclosed is a method of separating a meltable solid from a mixture with other solids. The mixture of solids is placed in the container of the separator and the fluid is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the meltable solid, whereby the meltable solid flows through the screen out of the container, while the other solids remain within the container.

Abstract: A process for producing peroxydicarbonates comprising first reacting at least one inorganic peroxide with at least one alkali metal hydroxide to form at least one alkali metal peroxide. The at least one alkali metal peroxide is added to a mixture of at least one haloformate, at least one dispersant and water. The mixture is homogenized during the entire reaction to form a peroxydicarbonate. The peroxydicarbonate is dispersed as small droplets of from 1 to 10 microns in size in the aqueous mixture. The entire mixture is added to a polymerization reactor containing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The peroxydicarbonate functions as the free radical initiator to polymerize the monomer. The peroxydicarbonate is substantially free of organic solvents and plasticizers. The resulting polymers are of high quality.

Abstract: A method of making an article from polyvinyl chloride compound that has a predetermined amount of gloss is disclosed. Samples of the resin are prepared that have different molecular weight distributions. Articles are made from the samples and the gloss of the articles is measured. The relationship between the molecular weight distributions of the samples and the gloss of the articles made therefrom is determined. From that relationship, an article is made from a resin selected such that its molecular weight distribution corresponds to the predetermined amount of gloss.

Abstract: A bulk tank depressurization filter apparatus is disclosed which comprises a filter cartridge having an inlet and an outlet, a gas passageway therebetween, at least one gas-capturing filter through which gas in the gas passageway passes, and a Chicago coupling for attaching the inlet of the filter cartridge to a tank containing a pressurized gas. Also disclosed is a method of capturing the residual gas in a tank containing a gas under pressure using the bulk tank depressurization filter apparatus. The inlet is attached to the tank and the pressurized gas is permitted to flow from the tank into the filter cartridge where the gas is captured by the material in the filter.

Abstract: An instrument for determining thermophysical properties of a solid sample of uniform thickness is disclosed. The instrument comprises a furnace, an elliptical mirror outside the furnace, a light source at one focus of the elliptical mirror that is closest to the elliptical mirror, a beam guide having one end at the other focus of the elliptical mirror and the other end inside the furnace, a sample holder inside the furnace capable of holding at least two diffusivity samples with the front and back surface of a sample exposed, an indexing system for moving the sample holder so as to place samples held by the sample holder in the path of light leaving the beam guide, and an infrared detector for quantifying changes in the temperature of the back surface of a sample that is in the path of the light. Methods for determining the thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, density, and temperature of a sample using this instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of preparing a sterile article is disclosed. A polymer having a halogen-containing repeating unit is prepared that contains about 0.

Abstract: A method of making a benzoyl halide is disclosed. Into a reactor is placed a reaction mixture of a benzotrihalide and a benzaldehyde having the respective general formulas where each A is independently selected from halogen, CF3, R, or OR, each B is independently selected from halogen, CF3, or R, R is alkyl from C1 to C10 or aryl from C6 to C12, each X is independently selected from Cl and Br, m is 0 to 3, and n is 0 to 2. Also added is at least about 10 ppm of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of zinc salts and copper salts, and an optional solvent. The addition of an ammonium halide to the product mixture forms the corresponding amide, which can be dehydrated to form the corresponding nitrile.