Abstract: Synthetic-fiber diaphragms are further improved by incorporating in the diaphragm an effective proportion of a suitable inorganic material such as TiO.sub.2, BaSO.sub.4 or K.sub.2 Ti.sub.8 O.sub.17, which is more hydrophilic than the fluoropolymer forming the diaphragm. This is done either by mixing the inorganic material with the resin before it is made into fiber or by supplying sub-micron-sized particles of the inorganic material, during or even after diaphragm formation. A principal benefit is that this lowers the cell voltage which is required during an initial period (up to about 300 hours) of the operation of a chlor-alkali cell provided with such a diaphragm, making it possible to avoid such drawbacks as suffering an initial period of low production or the necessity of providing external cooling to the cell during such an initial period.

Abstract: Fuels containing detergents have improved water tolerance when combined with acetal or ester terminated polyoxyalkylene ether compounds, acetal or carbonate coupled polyoxyalkylene ether compounds or C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 epoxide adducts of polyoxyalkylene ether compounds.

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: Liquid prepolymers are prepared by interpolymerizing monomers including a hydroxy aromatic compound, an aldehyde and furfuryl alcohol. The resultant liquid prepolymers have a viscosity of about 100-500,000 centipoises at 25.degree. C. and contain about 1.1-6 moles of interpolymerized aldehyde and about 3.1-15 moles of interpolymerized furfuryl alcohol for each mole of interpolymerized hydroxy aromatic compound. The prepolymers are highly reactive and may be polymerized with or without other monomers to produce flame retardant solid or cellular interpolymers. In one variant, flame retardant solid or cellular polymers are produced by interpolymerizing organic polyisocyanates with the prepolymers. In another variant, solid or cellular interpolymers are produced by polymerizing the prepolymers without monomers such as polyisocyanate in the presence of unreacted furfuryl alcohol. Processes are provided for preparing the aforementioned novel liquid prepolymers and solid or cellular interpolymers.

Abstract: There is practiced a four-step procedure, according to which the acrylamide or the like and, if desired, other ingredients, is first polymerized in a water-in-oil emulsion where the oil phase consists of a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an appropriate quantity of suitable surfactant so as to produce particles of a desired size, then water is azeotropically removed, and then a suitable glycol or glycol ether is added, following which the hydrocarbon solvent used in the polymerization reaction is removed. This makes it possible to obtain a composition of matter which contains at least 10 weight percent of active flocculant ingredient, and more usually about 20 percent, suspended in a medium which is entirely water-soluble. Such flocculant compositions dissolve readily in water, yet they can be obtained, according to the method of the invention, in a manner considerably less expensive than any process which necessitates the grinding of a solid flocculant material into finely divided form.

Abstract: Phosphated ferrous metal surfaces are treated with a rinse containing citric acid and sodium nitrite to enhance corrosion protection. This rinse has the advantages of providing an effluent which is not objectionable from an environmental viewpoint and does not stain the treated surfaces.

Abstract: A process for recovering a catalyst adsorbent from a polyol-adsorbent residue by treatment of the polyol-adsorbent residue with organic solvents. This adsorbent can then be recycled for use in the further removal of alkaline catalysts from polyether polyols.

Abstract: Finely-divided dispersed solids are prepared by the emulsion polymerization in the presence of a free radical catalyst of a major amount of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer or mixture of monomers and a minor amount of a hydroxy-terminated organic compound having from one to eight hydroxyl groups, an oxyethylene content of from about 15 to 80 weight percent, a hydroxyl equivalent weight of from 250 to 10,000 and containing a polymerizable carbon-to-carbon double bond. The resulting polymeric solids are particularly useful in the preparation of reinforced polymer compositions.

Abstract: Stained textile fabrics, especially cotton-polyester, rayon-polyester blends stained in use with blood stains, can be reclaimed and returned to use by the process of washing and bleaching said fabrics in the presence of a non-ionic or anionic surface-active agent, together with an oxygen-releasing bleaching agent and a chlorine-releasing bleaching agent, said bleaching agents used either successively or simultaneously. The laundering process involves the use of aqueous solutions of bleaching agents at elevated temperatures and at high pH. The process of the invention provides a synergistic improvement in the removal of stains as compared with the use of either an oxygen-releasing bleaching agent or a chlorine-releasing bleaching agent. The process can include a hot aqueous acid sour treatment to remove rust stains and an aqueous sour to neutralize alkalies in the bleached fabric. The treatment can be completed in a period of time of about 30 to about 90 minutes.

Abstract: Liquid and solid compositions are provided for souring and imparting softness to freshly laundered textile materials. When in the form of a stable homogeneous liquid, the composition may contain (a) a quaternized fatty amide, an aqueous emulsion of partially oxidized polyethylene or a fatty amphoteric compound as the softening agent, (b) hydrofluorosilicic acid, ammonium silicofluoride, zinc silicofluoride, ammonium acid fluoride, potassium acid fluoride, or orthophosphoric acid as the souring agent, and (c) water. When in the form of a stable dry solid, the composition may contain (a) a quaternized fatty amide or fatty amphoteric compound as the softening agent, and (b) ammonium silicofluoride, potassium silicofluoride, sodium silicofluoride, zinc silicofluoride, ammonium acid fluoride, sodium acid fluoride or potassium acid fluoride. A method of preparing the liquid composition is provided which insures that it remains stable and homogeneous while awaiting use.

Abstract: Liquid and solid compositions are provided for souring and imparting softness to freshly laundered textile materials. When in the form of a stable homogeneous liquid, the composition may contain (a) a quaternized fatty amide, an aqueous emulsion of partially oxidized polyethylene or a fatty amphoteric compound as the softening agent, (b) hydrofluorosilicic acid, ammonium silicofluoride, zinc silicofluoride, ammonium acid fluoride, potassium acid fluoride, or orthophosphoric acid as the souring agent, and (c) water. When in the form of a stable dry solid, the composition may contain (a) a quaternized fatty amide or fatty amphoteric compound as the softening agent, and (b) ammonium silicofluoride, potassium silicofluoride, sodium silicofluoride, zinc silicofluoride, ammonium acid fluoride, sodium acid fluoride or potassium acid fluoride. A method of preparing the liquid composition is provided which insures that it remains stable and homogeneous while awaiting use.

Abstract: As a spin-finish lubricant for processing synthetic fibers, a nonionic polyalkoxylate surfactant of the fatty-ether alkoxylate, fatty-ester alkoxylate, or block or heteric ethylene oxide/propylene oxide type is made which contains a substantial proportion of alkali-metal or alkaline-earth metal ions and preferably anions of volatile nature, such as the anions of saturated carboxylic acids containing up to 18 carbon atoms. Such lubricants display improved stability when during a spin-finishing operation the synthetic fiber to which they have been applied is passed over a heater plate maintained at 150.degree. to 300.degree. Centigrade.

Abstract: A thickened acid cleaner concentrate composition comprising an inorganic acid, e.g., hydrochloric, an organic acid, e.g., oxalic, a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a flocculating agent such as iron or aluminum ion and water is used to clean vehicles such as railroad equipment. The waste water is then treated by increasing its pH to cause flocculation and separation to remove suspended solids and entrained BOD prior to discharge or re-use within the plant. The flocculating agent in the composition provides a proportional pretreatment of the waste to facilitate the final treatment and separation of waste in the used composition.

Abstract: A practical method of electrolyzing sodium chloride brine on a commercial scale, obtaining in good yield a caustic product exceptionally low in salt content, is provided. The process necessarily involves working with a brine of lower calcium-ion content than is ordinarily used, using dimensionally stable anodes, using, preferably but not necessarily, a heat-treated ion-exchange membrane as a separator within the cell, and periodically taking action to reduce the cell voltage, by reducing the current or interrupting it, alone or with a concomitant flushing of the catholyte portion of the cell.

Abstract: Liquid and solid compositions are provided for souring and imparting softness to freshly laundered textile materials. When in the form of a stable homogeneous liquid, the composition may contain (a) a quaternized fatty amide, an aqueous emulsion of partially oxidized polyethylene, a fatty amphoteric compound, or a fatty amide as described hereinafter as the softening agent, (b) hydrofluorosilicic acid, ammonium silicofluoride, zinc silicofluoride, ammonium acid fluoride, potassium acid fluoride, or orthophosphoric acid as the souring agent, and (c) water. When in the form of a stable dry solid, the composition may contain (a) a quaternized fatty amide, a fatty amphoteric compound or a fatty amide as described hereinafter as the softening agent, and (b) ammonium silicofluoride, potassium silicofluoride, sodium silicofluoride, zinc silicofluoride, ammonium acid fluoride, sodium acid fluoride or potassium acid fluoride.

Abstract: New polyether polyols of predetermined structure are prepared by reacting polyether bis alcoholates with selected bis epoxides. Specifically, a polyoxyalkylene glycol is converted to the bis alcoholate, and then the bis alcoholate is reacted with an equivalent amount of a glycol bis glycidyl ether, with the reactants being mixed together all at once. The polyether polyalcoholate thus obtained is converted to a high molecular weight polyether polyol by acid neutralization or ion exchange.

Abstract: There are disclosed a phosphorus-containing polyester and size compositions especially useful for sizing spun and continuous filament yarn produced from hydrophobic fibers and useful in protecting these fibers from abrasion during the weaving process. When the size is used alone or in mixtures with conventional size agents such as starches and polyvinyl alcohol, improved adhesion is obtained to hydrophobic fibers or blends thereof with cotton or other hydrophilic fibers. Polyester, polypropylene and polyamide and other fibers are effectively sized with the size compositions of the invention. The polyester consists of a branched chain phosphorus-containing polymer which is the reaction product of at least one dicarboxylic reactant, at least one diol or polyoxyalkylene glycol and a phosphorus acid reactant selected from the class consisting of phosphorus pentoxide, phosphoric acid and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Foams characterized by isocyanurate and urethane linkages are prepared by condensing: (a) an organic polyisocyanate with a polyol or (b) a quasi-prepolymer in the presence of a blowing agent and a catalytically effective amount of an alkali metal salt of an organic sulfinic acid. The catalysts of the invention offer the advantages of longer cream times and fully cured foams in acceptable times thus finding particular utility in pour-in-place and slab stock foaming applications.

Abstract: Lubricants for synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon are disclosed which are improved oxidation stable polyoxyalkylene lubricant compounds. Such lubricant compounds can be used alone as textile fiber lubricants or in combination with other polyoxyalkylene compounds useful as fiber lubricants but which are subject to oxidative degradation under conditions of heating at temperatures at least above 200.degree. C. An improved textile fiber is produced by the use of such fiber lubricants in conventional processes for producing continuous filament, false twist, textured yarn as well as other type yarns.The improved oxidation stable homopolymer and copolymer, i.e.

Abstract: Liquid prepolymers are prepared by interpolymerizing monomers including a hydroxy aromatic compound, an aldehyde and furfuryl alcohol. The resultant liquid prepolymers have a viscosity of about 100-500,000 centipoises at 25.degree. C. and contain about 1.1-6 moles of interpolymerized aldehyde and about 3.1-15 moles of interpolymerized furfuryl alcohol for each mole of interpolymerized hydroxy aromatic compound. The prepolymers are highly reactive and may be polymerized with or without other monomers to produce flame retardant solid or cellular interpolymers. In one variant, flame retardant solid or cellular polymers are produced by interpolymerizing organic polyisocyanates with the prepolymers. In another variant, solid or cellular interpolymers are produced by polymerizing the prepolymers without monomers such as polyisocyanate in the presence of unreacted furfuryl alcohol. Processes are provided for preparing the aforementioned novel liquid prepolymers and solid or cellular interpolymers.