Abstract: Starch is used as a fuel/binder in pyrotechnic propellant compositions suitable for use in vehicle safety restraint systems.

Abstract: Glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic laminate is formed by extruding first and second sheets of thermoplastic resin containing glass fibers. A layer of glass fibers is applied to one side of the first sheet. The second sheet is laminated to the first sheet and the layer of glass fiber at a temperature ranging from the melting point of the thermoplastic resin to about 650.degree. F.

Abstract: An alpha-halo-aldehyde is reacted in aqueous media with an hydroxylamine-generating reagent at a pH between about 2 and about 9 to form the corresponding alpha-hydroxy-oxime. The products are useful as stabilizers and as complexing agents and as intermediates to unsaturated oximes, unsaturated nitriles and carbamate-type pesticides.

Abstract: A process for producing a highly oriented, partially drawn, untwisted, compact poly(.epsilon.-caproamide) yarn at windup speeds of from 3500 to 6000 meters per minute is disclosed. The process features the steps of overfeeding the yarn, by from 0.5 to 2.0 percent, to entangling means, and overfeeding the shrinking yarn to the winder. The yarn is "drawn" in the quench stack. Draw-twisting is omitted by this process; yarn so produced performs as well as conventional, draw-twisted yarn in end use applications, e.g., knitting and weaving.

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 undergoing 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 calorimetry.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: Conversion of coal to products soluble in common solvents and conversion of coal tar to products of lower molecular weight, effected in liquid or fused reaction medium using a hydrogenating reactant, are carried out employing hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide as the sole or major hydrogenating reactant, without need of elemental hydrogen or a hydrogen donor solvent.

Abstract: One embodiment of this invention is a specially folded steering wheel safety bag adapted to be mounted in a steering column of a vehicle to cushion the driver. Another embodiment is a specially folded passenger safety bag adapted to be mounted in the dashboard or in another area of the vehicle to cushion a passenger. Both the steering wheel safety bag and the passenger safety bag include: a plurality of adjacent first-pleats; a plurality of between-first-pleat-folds; and a plurality of cross-pleat-folds. Each first-pleat has a first-pleat-fold. One such between-first-pleat-fold is disposed between adjacent first-pleats. The cross-pleat-folds are disposed substantially transverse to the first-pleats, the first-pleat-folds and the between-first-pleat-folds. The steering wheel safety bag may have from six to twenty such first-pleats and from one to four such cross-pleat-folds.

Abstract: A process for rapid growth of large single crystals of beryllium oxide of a high degree of perfection is provided. The crystals are grown by top seeding in a substantially oxygen-and water vapor-free atmosphere from molten mixtures of BeO and one or more other metal oxides. Critical parameters include seed crystal orientation, rotation and pull rates and induction heating frequency. Resultant crystals are useful as substrates and windows in electronic and laser applications.

Abstract: Mesomorphic polyisocyanate compositions are described having extended rigid polymer backbones with flexible pendant groups. The compositions exhibit liquid-crystalline behavior and are useful in a device and process for displaying indicia, performing memory functions or indicating temperature. Novel polyisocyanate compositions for use in the above device and process are also described.

Abstract: A distributor comprising two substantially parallel covering sheets separated by a plurality of inserts provides uniform fluid flow through a cell and, consequently, improved cell efficiency. Additionally, the distributor, positioned between a cell's fluid inlet port and membrane spacer, reduces membrane flexing along the line where the spacer and adjoining gasket interface, thus diminishing the incidence of early membrane failure.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of alkylene episulfides or episelenides is provided which comprises contacting elemental sulfur or elemental selenium, respectively, with an olefin, preferably ethylene, while irradiating with electromagnetic radiation in the infrared to ultraviolet range. The alkylene episulfides and episelenides are useful in the production of a variety of functional polymers.

Abstract: A passive seat belt system including a movable rod connected to a seat belt and a hook member connected to the rod. The rod is driven by an electric motor actuated in response to opening and closing of a vehicle door. The rod is moved to a forward position when the door is opened, with the hook member being moved into contact with a rear portion of the belt so as to prevent interference of the belt with ingress to or egress from the vehicle. The rod is moved to a rearward position when the door is closed, with the hook member being moved out of contact with the belt.

Abstract: Ammonium nitrite is commercially produced by contacting a gaseous stream containing nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen with an aqueous solution containing a basically reacting ammonium compound in an absorption system. However, at normal production rates, serious problems have been encountered because of relatively low yield of ammonium nitrite and the emission of unreacted nitric oxide which causes pollution of the atmosphere. It has now been found that in situ generation of nitrogen dioxide in the absorption system by operating the absorption system under slight pressure greatly improves ammonium nitrite yield, reduces nitrogen oxide emission, reduces loss of ammonia as nitrogen and minimizes mist formation in the vent gas.

Abstract: Novel lithium dicyclopentadienyl titanium hydride type compositions are described, useful as catalysts in converting ethylene to 1-butene, which is used in producing "polymer gasoline" for increasing the octane number of automotive gasolines. Methods for synthesizing the novel compositions are also described.

Abstract: A novel process is described for the homogeneous hydrogenation of carboxylic acid esters to primary alcohols utilizing anionic Group VIII metal hydride compositions as catalysts which contain phosphorus, arsenic or antimony organoligands. Use of these anionic catalysts allows the process to be conducted in solution under mild conditions of temperature and pressure with high selectivity and eliminates the disadvantages of utilizing heterogeneous catalysts. A process is also described for decarbonylating formate esters utilizing said compositions as catalysts.

Abstract: A sheet formed from a uniform blend of from about 80 to 97% by weight of polyethylene terephthalate having an intrinsic viscosity of above about 0.9 and a melt viscosity at 525.degree. F. of above about 10,000 poises and correspondingly from about 20 to 3% by weight of a polycarbonate resin having an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.4 to 0.6 and a melt viscosity at 500.degree. F. of less than 50,000 poises; said sheet having a haze value as determined by ASTM D-1003 of less than about 2% and being essentially amorphous and non-oriented. Also disclosed is a process for forming a sheet which comprises uniformly blending the composition, extruding the composition into a sheet at a temperature between about 490.degree. to 530.degree. F. and rapidly cooling the sheet by contact with at least one cooling surface maintained at a surface temperature in the range of about 50.degree. to 160.degree. F. for a period of time not exceeding about 15 seconds.

Abstract: A vehicle passive seat belt restraint system comprising:a seat belt adapted for restraining an occupant positioned in a seat in the vehicle, the seat belt comprising a lap portion adapted to be secured around the lap of the occupant and a shoulder portion adapted to be secured around the upper torso of the occupant;the lap and shoulder portions of the seat belt each having a first end connected to a door of the vehicle ajdacent to the seat and a second end connected to each other at a location spaced from the door;a seat belt retractor connecting at least one of the first ends of the lap and shoulder portions to the door;the seat belt further comprising a connecting portion having a first end connected to the vehicle at the side of the seat opposite the door and a second end connected to the second ends of the lap and shoulder portions;a movable ring slidably engaging the lap portion at a location intermediate its first and second ends and permitting the seat belt to move therethrough;a track mounted on the d

Abstract: An improved recording device is described, useful for measuring the integrated time-temperature or integrated radiation-dosage history of an article, comprising a substrate onto which an acetylenic compound, containing at least two conjugated C.tbd.C groups, in an inactive form, is deposited. The inactive form is capable of being converted by melt or solvent recrystallization to an active form, which undergoes 1,4-addition polymerization resulting in an irreversible, progressive color change. The color change produced at any given point in time represents an integrated time-temperature history of thermal annealing or integrated radiation-dosage history of exposure to actinic radiation to which an article has been exposed.Also described is a process for producing an inactive form of the acetylenic compound. A film and a fiber, made from the inactive form of an acetylenic compound are also described.

Abstract: A process is described for producing partially crystalline polyacetylene in the cis or trans configurations utilizing.mu.-(.eta..sup.1 :.eta..sup.5 -cyclopentadienyl)-tris(.eta.-cyclopentadienyl)dititanium(Ti-Ti) catalyst. The resulting polyacetylene when "doped" with halogen additives is useful as an electrical conductor or semiconductor. Also described are polyacetylene "gels," consisting essentially of a solid polyacetylene and gel-forming liquid therefor, also containing up to about 10 percent by weight of catalyst, per weight of acetylene, which is used for production of the polyacetylene. The gels are stable to phase separation at room temperature in a closed system, and are useful in preparing randomly and partially chain-aligned polyacetylene films and articles.

Abstract: Improved polyolefin foams, particularly polystyrene foams, and improved extrusion processability thereof are obtained by employing as blowing agent a mixture of from about 3 to about 70 weight percent monochloromonofluoromethane and from about 97 to about 30 weight percent of dichlorodifluoromethane.