Abstract: A spotting-agent composition for use in laundering garments is provided which consists essentially of a solution of (1) about 10 weight percent or more of a nonionic surfactant produced by reacting a mixture of fatty alcohols containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms (with the proviso that the proportion of such alcohols which is attributable to alcohols containing 17 or more carbon atoms is limited to about 20 percent by weight) with mixed lower-alkylene oxides (ethylene oxide and propylene oxide) to such an extent as to have the mixed oxides comprise about 57 to 68 weight percent of the total fatty alcohol plus alkylene oxides used, with the proportion of ethylene oxide in the mixed oxides used being about 50 to 70%, in (2) an isoparaffinic solvent made of a mixture of isoparaffins containing about 11 to 14 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Highly stable liquid 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) containing MDI-carbodiimide adducts are prepared by (a) heating MDI at a temperature of from 60.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. for a period of from one hour to ten hours in the presence of tris(chloromethyl)phosphine oxide, (b) stopping the carbodiimide formation by adding thereto a quenchant selected from the group consisting of magnesium chloride hydrate, stannous chloride and trichlorosilane, (c) heating the reaction mixture at a temperature between 60.degree. C. and 120.degree. C. for a period of from 0.5 hour to 6.0 hours, and (d) cooling to room temperature. The resulting compositions are highly stable and may be advantageously employed in the preparation of polyurethane compositions.

Abstract: A flexible, highly resilient, cold-cure, closed-mold polyurethane foam can be produced by reacting a foamable mixture comprising an organic polyisocyanate, water and a polyol. The foams of the invention are preferably prepared from a mixture of a hydroxyl-terminated graft copolymer and a hydroxyl-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyether in the presence of a co-catalyst mixture of at least one tertiary amine catalyst and at least one metal-containing basic catalyst. Said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, an inorganic basic salt thereof derived from the reaction of said hydroxides with a weak inorganic acid, a metal organic basic salt catalyst derived from the reaction of at least one of said hydroxides with an organic acid and mixtures thereof. Useful metal organic catalysts are selected from the group consisting of the alkali and alkaline earth metal carboxylates, alkoxides and phenates.

Abstract: An electrolysis cell assembly of the filter press type having plastic frames and a membrane wherein the membrane is formed to fit between adjacent frames with one or more recesses provided on one or both of the adjacent frames together with sealing gasket means which are formed for effectively controlling electrode spacing and for retaining the membrane in position without membrane damage. The construction not only provides proper sealing and protection of the membrane during use, but also allows for the membrane to be removed, reactivated, and reused.

Abstract: An especially efficient and durable electrolytic cell is provided by utilizing a combined cathode and diaphragm unit wherein the cathode is made by spray coating a ferrous metal substrate with a powder metal having lower hydrogen overvoltage than said substrate to form a protected cathode surface having a larger surface area than the substrate, and vacuum depositing fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer fibers onto the spray coated surface of the cathode to form a fibrous diaphragm securely adhered thereto. Preferably, the cathode surface is made with nickel and the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of chlorotrifluoroethylene and copolymers of chlorotrifluoroethylene and at least one compatible monomer with units of chlorotrifluoroethylene accounting for at least 80 percent of the monomeric units of said copolymer.

Abstract: Expandable-polystyrene beads suitable for use in making impervious containers are made from a recipe including styrene, free-radical initiator and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and this practice includes a step of washing the beads in a warm aqueous solution to which an alkoxylated nonionic surfactant having 70-90 percent of its molecular weight accounted for by oxyethylene units is added in an amount effective to cause the washing to remove contaminating grafted polyvinyl pyrrolidone from the surface of the beads and cause them to become expandable into impervious product containers.

Abstract: There are disclosed liquid detergent-bleach concentrates of high alkalinity which are clear solutions having excellent long term stability at elevated temperatures and at low temperatures. The concentrate compositions consist essentially of an alkali metal hypochlorite, alkali metal chloride, an alkali metal salt of an alkylated diphenyl oxide sulfonic acid, and metal chelating agents in an aqueous composition having a high proportion of alkali metal hydroxide. The concentrates are useful upon dilution in forming hard surface cleaning compositions which are particularly useful in removal of oily soils, derived from animal and vegetable oils.

Abstract: Rigid foams characterized by carbodiimide and isocyanurate linkages are prepared by catalytically condensing an organic polyisocyanate in the presence of (a) a carbodiimide-promoting compound and (b) certain C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkali metal carboxylates as trimerization catalysts.

Abstract: Lubricants, or processing aids, for synthetic fibers, particularly polyester and nylon fibers and most particularly for polyester fibers, are disclosed comprising a capped heteric polyoxyalkylene monoester having the formula: ##STR1## in which R is an aliphatic group having about 7 to about 22 carbon atoms; A is a mixture of oxyethylene and oxypropylene residues derived from the reaction of ethylene oxide and 1,2-propylene oxide in the respective ratio by weight of 3:7 to 4:1; n has a value to produce a molecular weight of about 300 to about 3000 and R' is derived from a monofunctional compound containing an OH group, preferably a monofunctional aryl alcohol or a monofunctional alkyl or arylalkyl alcohol, all having 1 to about 21 carbons in the alkyl chain.Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly suited by their low viscosity for application to synthetic textile fibers or yarn without dilution in water.

Abstract: The incorporation of chloro-alkanol moieties into a urethane-modified isocyanurate foam has been found to improve the insulating properties of the foam as well as improve the flame-retardant properties thereof.

Abstract: The output of an oil well is improved by supplying thereto an acidizing-gel composition which consists essentially of, for example, about 15 weight percent of hydrochloric acid, about 20 weight percent of a suitable nonionic gel-forming surfactant containing oxyethylene and oxypropylene units, a corrosion inhibitor to the extent needed, and the balance water. The polymer is of high molecular weight, and though the composition containing such polymer is fluid at the temperature prevailing at the surface, nevertheless it forms a gel at the relatively higher temperatures present in the oil-bearing rock formation under the ground. This makes it possible to exert increased pressure on the oil-bearing rock formation, and it contributes to the effectiveness of the acidizing treatment.

Abstract: Liquid oxyalkylated polyol prepolymers are prepared by oxyalkylating a prepolymer prepared from a hydroxy aromatic compound, an aldehyde and furfuryl alcohol with an alkylene oxide containing about 2-4 carbon atoms. The oxyalkylated polyol prepolymers have a viscosity of 1,000-500,000 centipoises at 25.degree. C. and contain about 1.1-6 moles of interpolymerized aldehyde, about 3.1-15 moles of interpolymerized furfuryl alcohol, and about 1-10 moles of interpolymerized alkylene oxide for each mole of interpolymerized hydroxy aromatic compound. The resultant prepolymers are highly reactive and may be further polymerized with or without monomers such as polyisocyanate to produce flame retardant solid or cellular interpolymers. Flame retardant solid or cellular polyurethanes are prepared in one variant by interpolymerizing organic polyisocyanates with the oxyalkylated polyol prepolymers. In another variant, flame retardant closed cell cellular interpolymers are provided.

Abstract: Graft polymer dispersions are prepared by the in situ polymerization in the presence of a free radical catalyst of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer or mixture of monomers in a liquid polyol employing as the free radical catalyst a liquid unsymmetrically-substituted azo compound having a melting point less than 30.degree. C. and a ten hour half-life between 55.degree. C. and 100.degree. C. The dispersions are low viscous liquids which may be advantageously employed in the preparation of polyurethane foams.

Abstract: A polyester size composition for synthetic fibers useful in protecting the fibers from abrasion during the weaving process or to improve the adhesion to the fibers of conventional size compositions and especially useful with polyester fibers such as those based upon polyethylene terephthalate, comprises a branched water-dispersible polyester which is the reaction product of at least one polycarboxylic acid, at least one diol or polyglycol and an aromatic carboxylic acid containing a --SO.sub.3 M grouping which is attached to the aromatic nucleus of said carboxylic acid through an aliphatic chain and ester linkage and wherein said linkage contains about 2 to about 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A polyester size composition for synthetic fibers useful in protecting the fibers from abrasion during the weaving process or to improve the adhesion to the fibers of conventional size compositions and especially useful with polyester fibers such as those based upon polyethylene terephthalate, comprises a branched water-dispersible polyester which is the reaction product of at least one polycarboxylic acid, at least one diol or polyglycol and an aromatic carboxylic acid containing a --SO.sub.3 M grouping which is attached to the aromatic nucleus of said carboxylic acid through an aliphatic chain and ester linkage and wherein said linkage contains about 2 to about 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of polyurethane adhesives with uniform molecular weights which are accurately adjustable and reproducible consisting of diisocyanates, polyols, chain extenders if required, catalysts and additives, all of which are soluble in polar, organic solvents which are inert with respect to isocyanate groups. The polyaddition process is carried out by using an excess of diisocyanate, the reaction is terminated upon reaching the desired molecular weight, and the still existing excess isocyanate groups are allowed to react with alcohols, ammonia and/or amines. The process is characterized in that the polyurethanepolyaddition products are crushed into particles of 1-15 mm and that they are treated with possibly substituted primary, aliphatic mono- to trivalent alcohols, ammonia and/or aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic mono- or diamines in the liquid or vapor phase in the absence of organic solvents.

Abstract: A free-radical prepolymer, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,417 as being a dispersant, when added at 10 to 500 parts per million to a reaction mixture in which raw tall oil soap is acidulated to obtain tall oil, is found to act as a separating agent and increase the quantity of tall oil recovered.

Abstract: Diaphragms for electrolytic cells are prepared by depositing onto a cathode screen, discrete thermoplastic fibers. The fibers are highly branched, and when deposited, form an entanglement or network thereof, which does not require bonding or cementing.

Abstract: Alkaline cleaning compositions are prepared by combining water, alkali metal hydroxide and certain surfactants which composition forms a gel when applied to a hot surface and a process for the easy removal of greasy soil from such surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use, as a hydraulic fluid or metalworking lubricant, of compositions having water as a base and yet possessing superior lubricating and wear preventing characteristics. The fluids of the invention comprise (1) a water-soluble polyoxyethylated ester of an aliphatic acid and a monohydric or polyhydric aliphatic alcohol, either one or both said acid and said alcohol being polyoxyethylated (2) a sulfurized molybdenum or antimony compound or alternatively mixtures of (1) and (2) with (3) a phosphate ester. The compositions can be thickened, if desired, using for instance polyglycol, polyacrylic and polyvinyl alcohol type thickeners. The use of corrosion inhibitors, metal deactivators and other adjuvants conventional in this art is also contemplated.