Abstract: A device for receiving and dispensing a coatable material such as adhesive, glue, cosmetics and the like. A sleeve-shaped receiving element has a piston-shaped element carrying the coatable material that is displaceable in longitudinal direction by a screw spindle operated by an external rotary grip at the base of the receiving element. The underside of the piston-shaped element is formed to complement the inwardly protruding shape of the sleeve base or grip element, such that there is virtually no free space in which air can collect between the piston-shaped element and the sleeve base when the piston element is fully retracted in the receiving element. Thus the device avoids undesired bubble formation during the filling process, and undesired material break off during use can be largely excluded.

Abstract: Paint residues may be removed from spraying equipment and the like by flushing with aqueous compositions containing alkoxylated aromatic alcohols wherein the aromatic ring moieties of such alcohols do not bear any alkyl substituent containing more than 4 carbon atoms. Preferably, the aqueous compositions also contain an alkanolamine or other base. The alkoxylated aromatic alcohols contain an average of at least about 2 oxyalkylene moieties (preferably, oxyethylene moieties) per molecule.