Abstract: New plastic articles are disclosed and claimed having flame retardant properties which contain a core of a plastic polymeric material (thermoplastic, thermoset, rigid foam or semi-flexible foam polymeric material) which is coated with a protective, flame retardant layer comprising a mixture of a thermoplastic polymeric material and a flame retardant, char-forming, intumescent system. The new articles are suitable for the manufacture of e.g. rods, beams, pipes, hoses, non-tubular profiles and panels which are useful in various industries such as the building, automotive and mining industries.

Abstract: Gallium is purified by washing organic solutions containing hydroxamic acid complexes of gallium with aqueous solutions, individually or in series, especially amine or ammonia solutions, and dilute acid solutions. The method is applicable to a variety of gallium sources, and capable of producing gallium of extremely high purity, especially with a repetitive procedure.

Abstract: Nickel and cobalt are reversibly extracted from nickel and cobalt bearing aqueous solutions using solvent extraction techniques by contacting the aqueous solution with a hydrocarbon solvent containing a N-alkylalkanohydroxamic acid having at least about 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Gallium is extracted in the presence of other metals from gallium bearing aqueous solutions, by contact with organic solvent containing N-organo hydroxamic acids, particularly at described acid and alkaline pH ranges; and recovered from the organic solvent. New gallium complexes and certain N-organo hydroxamic acids are also provided.

Abstract: Dihydroxamic acids derived from succinyl compounds are used in conjunction with monohydroxamic acids to extract gallium, e.g. N,N'-dimethyl n-decylsuccino dihydroxamic acid and a monohydroxamic acid in an organic solvent extracts gallium in the presence of other metals from gallium bearing aqueous solutions.

Abstract: A perfluorinated polyether having the formulaR.sub.f O--(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 O).sub.n --R'.sub.fwherein n=3-11 and R.sub.f and R.sub.f ' are perfluorinated C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl radicals is used in vapor phase soldering applications. Especially useful for such applications is perfluoroheptaglyme.

Abstract: Maleic anhydride is produced by the catalytic vapor phase partial oxidation of a nonaromatic hydrocarbon having at least four carbon atoms in a straight chain with molecular oxygen or a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of phosphorus-vanadium mixed oxide oxidation catalyst. The catalyst is diluted with an inert solid material in an amount sufficient to form a catalyst-inert solid material composition effective to stabilize the maleic anhydride yield such that the average yield decay is less than 0.30% of the established initial maleic anhydride yield per month over an extended period of sustained operations.

Abstract: Alkylidene diesters such as ethylidene diacetate are selectively produced in high yields by reacting an ether and/or an ester under substantially anhydrous conditions with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in contact with a catalyst system comprising a rhodium compound, a halogen component, a palladium cocatalyst and a promoter component which is an agent for liberation of carboxylic acid anions. The process is carried out in the liquid phase in a solvent comprising a carboxylic acid at a temperature in the range of 150.degree. to 190.degree. C. and at a carbon monoxide partial pressure in the range from about 1.0 to 1100 kg/cm.sup.2 and a carbon monoxide/hydrogen mole ratio of 6:1 to 1:2 for the ester reaction and 10:1 to 1:2 for the ether reaction. When ethylidene diacetate is the product, it can then be decomposed to produce vinyl acetate and acetic acid by well-known techniques.

Abstract: Fibrous sheet composites are prepared by (a) forming an aqueous dispersion comprising asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate fibers wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium and lithium, and mixtures thereof, auxiliary fibers, and a water insoluble organic polymeric binder; (b) distributing and draining the aqueous dispersion on a porous substrate to form a wet sheet-like solid phase or wet web; and (c) pressing and drying the wet web.

Abstract: Gallium is recovered from gallium arsenide by reacting and dissolving the gallium arsenide with an oxidant and a complexing agent, especially with water insoluble hydroxamic acids with mild conditions, e.g. with aqueous hydrogen peroxide and mild temperature, to effect separation of gallium hydroxamic acid chelates from water soluble arsenic compounds.

Abstract: Catalysts useful to catalyze the nitration of aromatic compounds in the vapor phase to produce nitroaromatic compounds are prepared by contacting a Group 4b-Group 3b metal oxide composition represented by the empirical formula:(M.sup.1.sub.a M.sup.2.sub.b O.sub.c).sub.x (NO.sub.2).sub.ywherein M.sup.1 is at least one element selected from Group 4b of the Periodic Table of the Elements, M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from Group 3b of the Periodic Table of the Elements, a is 1, b is 0 to 20, c is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition, x is 1, and y is 0 to c, with a catalytically effective amount of sulfur trioxide. Such catalysts are particularly effective to catalyze the vapor phase nitration of chlorobenzene and are characterized in such reaction by providing a para/ortho isomer distribution ratio of at least about 2/1.

Abstract: Catalysts comprising the adduct of a Group 4b-Group 3b metal oxide composition represented by the empirical formula:(M.sup.1.sub.a M.sup.2.sub.b O.sub.c).sub.x (NO.sub.2).sub.ywherein M.sup.1 is at least one element selected from Group 4b of the Periodic Table of the Elements, M.sup.2 is at least one element selected from Group 3b of the Periodic Table of the Elements, a is 1, b is 0.05 to 20, c is a number taken to satisfy the average valences of M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 in the oxidation states in which they exist in the composition, x is 1, and y is 0 to c, and a catalytically effective amount of sulfur trioxide are useful to catalyze the nitration of aromatic compounds in the vapor phase to produce nitroaromatic compounds. The catalysts are particularly effective to catalyze the vapor phase nitration of chlorobenzene and are characterized in such reaction by providing a para/ortho isomer distribution ratio of at least about 2/1.

Abstract: Gallium is extracted in the presence of other metals from gallium bearing aqueous solutions, by contact with organic solvent containing N-organo hydroxamic acids, particularly at described acid and alkaline pH ranges; and recovered from the organic solvent. New gallium complexes and certain N-organo hydroxamic acids are also provided.

Abstract: Phenyldichlorophosphine is prepared by contacting benzene with phosphorus trichloride in the vapor phase at a temperature from about 100.degree. C. to about 145.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of aluminum metal and an activating amount of aluminum chloride.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an improved process wherein an olefin, an alcohol, or an ester, halide or ether derivative of said alcohol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst system that contains (a) a rhodium component, and (b) and iodine or bromine component. By passing at least a portion of the liquid reaction mass from the reaction zone to a separation zone of substantially lower CO partial pressure, at least a portion of the carbonylation products, as well as unreacted carbon monoxide, inert gases and unreacted olefin, alcohol or alcohol derivatives are vaporized and can be withdrawn from the separation zone. Precipitation of the rhodium catalyst under carbon monoxide deficient conditions is prevented or retarded by addition to the carbon monoxide deficient zones of the system of a catalyst stabilizer which is a germanium (IV) compound, an alkali metal compound, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Crystalline calcium sodium metaphosphate is prepared by (a) forming a wet mix slurry having a composition on a dry basis equivalent to a CaO/Na.sub.2 O/P.sub.2 O.sub.5 mol percent ratio of about 24.0-34.0/12.0-18.0/50.0-60.0, with the proviso that the CaO/Na.sub.2 O mol ratio is from about 1.60 to about 2.00, (b) forming and growing product crystals of calcium sodium metaphosphate under crystal formation and growth conditions between the solid phase of the wet mix slurry and substrate crystals of calcium sodium metaphosphate.

Abstract: Substantially crystalline calcium sodium metaphosphate having a degree of crystallinity from about 60% to about 75% as determined from density and differential thermal analysis measurements is prepared by (a) forming a dry mixture of source materials for CaO, Na.sub.2 O, and P.sub.2 O.sub.5 in proportions sufficient to provide a CaO/Na.sub.2 O/P.sub.2 O.sub.5 mol percent ratio on a dry basis of about 29.0-34.0/16.0-18.0/50.0-53.0 and (b) heating the mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient devolatilize the mixture and calcine the resulting mixture to form the substantially crystalline calcium soldium metaphosphate.

Abstract: Substantially crystalline calcium sodium metaphosphate having a degree of crystallinity from about 60% to about 75% as determined from density and differential thermal analysis measurements is prepared by (a) bringing together in water source materials for CaO, Na.sub.2 O, and P.sub.2 O.sub.5 in proportions sufficient to provide a CaO/Na.sub.2 O/P.sub.2 O.sub.5 mol percent ratio on a dry basis of about 29.0-34.0/16.0-18.0/50.0-53.0 and form a wet mix slurry containing a solid phase and an aqueous liquid phase and (b) heating the wet mix slurry at a temperature and for a time sufficient to remove the aqueous liquid phase and calcine the resulting solid phase to form the substantially crystalline calcium sodium metaphosphate.

Abstract: Asbestiform crystalline calcium sodium metaphosphate fiber is prepared by (a) forming a wet mix slurry having a composition on a dry basis equivalent to a CaO/Na.sub.2 O/P.sub.2 O.sub.5 mol percent ratio of about 24.0-34.0/12.0-18.0/50.0-60.0, with the proviso that the CaO/Na.sub.2 O mol ratio is from about 1.60 to about 2.00, (b) forming and growing product crystals of calcium sodium metaphosphate under crystal formation and growth conditions between the solid phase of the wet mix slurry and substrate crystals of calcium sodium metaphosphate, and (c) fiberizing the product crystals of calcium sodium metaphosphate.

Abstract: Asbestiform crystalline calcium sodium metaphosphate fibers are prepared by (a) forming a homogeneous melt of substantially crystalline calcium sodium metaphosphate having a composition on a dry basis equivalent to a CaO/Na.sub.2 O/P.sub.2 O.sub.5 mol percent ratio of about 29.0-34.0/16.0-18.0/50.0-53.0 and a degree of crystallinity from about 60% to about 75% as determined from density and differential thermal analysis measurements, (b) supercooling the homogeneous melt, (c) seeding the supercool melt with calcium sodium metaphosphate crystals, (d) maintaining the seeded supercooled melt at the seeding temperature under isothermal conditions for a time sufficient to form crystalline blocks of calcium sodium metaphosphate, and (e) fiberizing the crystalline blocks.