Abstract: A process for producing an aqueous dispersion of at least two preformed polymers each at least partially modified by grafted addition polymers produced in a solution of the polymers, comprising the steps of i) providing a solution in organic carrier liquid of a first preformed polymer, consisting of diepoxy resin, and at least one other preformed polymer excluding polyesters ii) mixing the solution containing the polymers with ethylenically unsaturated monomers, said monomers comprising an effective amount of copolymerizable dispersing moiety iii) providing an effective amount of a grafting polymerization initiator iv) allowing or causing the monomers to polymerize and graft to at least some of the preformed polymers to form a solution of modified polymers v) optionally adding crosslinking agent to solution iv) vi) dispersing the solution of modified polymers, and optionally crosslinking agent, in aqueous medium to form a stable dispersion of particles.

Abstract: A colored coating composition comprising a white base paint and at least one colored pigment in a form that can be readily mixed with the white base paint, the white base paint comprising a film-forming polymer, a liquid carrier, one or more opacifying white pigments and one or more extenders, the colored coating composition having a light reflectance value Y less than 110, and greater than that defined by the equation Y=mC+K, where 25>C>1.0, C being the chroma of the colored coating composition, m and K being empirical coefficients selected according to the type and number of the type of the at least one colored pigment, and dependant on the hue angle of the coating composition.

Abstract: A method of producing a coating composition in an in-store tinting machine comprising the steps of selecting a base paint, adding at least one additive to the base paint, adding at least one colorant to the base paint, the at least one colorant being selected from a range of colorants in the in-store tinting machine, mixing the base paint, the at least one colorant, and the at least one additive so as to produce a coating composition, in which the additive is not a base paint or a colorant from the range of colorants in the in-store tinting machine.

Abstract: A film-forming binder polymer for a coating composition such as a paint, varnish or woodstain where the polymer is modified by the presence of bonded moieties derived from plant gum, particularly plant fibre gum obtainable from plant fibre, especially corn fibre gum and more particularly moieties derived from proteo-xylans and/or furanose. The modified binder polymer minimises the need to use coalescing solvents without producing poor dried paint coatings which fail the scrub resistance tests also improves the opacity of the dried coating composition.

Abstract: A coating combination suitable for use in coating architectural surfaces which comprises in combination a lidable container, a coating composition provided within the lidable container, and a buoyant coating contacting member (4) including at least one aperture disposed substantially horizontally within the lidable container. The buoyant coating contacting member has physical properties selected from at least one of shape, density, number of apertures, and total area of apertures such that the buoyant coating contacting member is buoyant on the coating composition and submersible within the coating composition to the extent that under a downwards force from a coating applicator, a portion of the coating composition is allowed to flow through the at least one aperture such that the coating applicator can pick up the coating composition. When the combination has a lid, the lid is removed for insertion of the applicator for the exertion of downward pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a receiver layer, preferably thermally transferable, for use in dye diffusion thermal transfer printing comprising a swellable inorganic lamellar material, e.g. a clay, that is at least partially in an exfoliated or intercalated state, and to a dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon comprising such a receiver layer.

Abstract: A halogen-free fire retardant coating composition comprising film forming polymer, inorganic fire retardant material characterised in that the fire retardant material comprises a combination of fire retardant filler particles and a metal stannate and/or a metal hydroxy stannate wherein the overall PVC of the composition is from 75 to 97%.

Abstract: A spun polyester yarn containing ethylene terephthalate as the main or only recurring unit characterized by a percentage crystallinity (.beta..times.10.sup.2) of less than 20, a birefringence (.DELTA.n) of at least 50.times.10.sup.-3, a function A greater than 28 and a function B.gtoreq.16 where ##EQU1## and B=(A-100 .beta.) and wherein-IV is the intrinsic viscosity of the spun yarn, .DELTA.n is the birefringence of the spun yarn and (dpf) is the filament decitex of the spun yarn.

Abstract: A process for separating the individual optically active isomers of cis- or trans-forms of cyclopropane carboxylic acids of formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is halo, alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl or haloalkynyl, and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or cyano, from a mixture of cis-isomers or trans-isomers which comprises treating an aqueous solution of a soluble salt of the racemate or diastereoisomeric mixture of the cis- or trans-isomers with just sufficient of a single isomer of an optically active amine to cause precipitation of one isomer or diastereoisomer of the cyclopropane carboxylic acid as the ammonium salt while substantially all of the other isomer remains in solution as the soluble salt.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethylene glycol, methanol, ethanol and/or esters thereof from mixtures of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas) which comprises contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst at elevated pressure in a liquid medium, said catalyst comprising ruthenium and at least one other metal from Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and wherein the molar proportion of ruthenium is at least 50 percent relative to the other Group VIII metals. The process is particularly applicable to the selective production of ethylene glycol. The preferred catalysts, which comprise ruthenium/rhodium, may be present in elemental form, as coordination compounds or salts, e.g. carbonyls, acetyl acetonates or carboxylates. It is especially preferred to use a co-catalyst comprising a compound of one or more the metals of Groups IA, IIA or IIB or a nitrogen containing cation and/or base. Suitable liquid media include carboxylic acids (e.g. acetic acid) and ethers (e.g. tetraglyme).

Abstract: Compounds useful for inhibiting gastric acid secretion and for the treatment of peptic ulcers caused or exacerbated by gastric acidity having the following formula (I): ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, are H, C.sub.1-10 alkyl, C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl in which the alkyl part is C.sub.1-6 and the cycloalkyl part is C.sub.3-8, each of the alkyl, cycloalkyl and cycloalkylalkyls being optionally substituted by one or more halogens selected from F, Cl and Br, provided that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is a halogen substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl and provided that there is no halogen substituent on the carbon directly attached to the nitrogen; and X, m, Y, n and R.sup.3 are as described in the specification; and the pharmaceutically-acceptable acid-addition salts thereof.

Abstract: Metal values are extracted from aqueous solutions of metal salts containing halide or pseudo halide ions by pyrimidine, pyrazine or pyridazine derivatives bearing the substituent --(C.dbd.O.X).sub.n where X is the group --OR.sub.1 or --NR.sub.2 R.sub.3 and n is 1, 2 or 3. R.sub.1 is a hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to 36 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 and R.sub.2 together contain from 1 to 36 carbon atoms. The molecule as a whole contains from 5 to 36 alkyl carbon atoms and may carry further optional substituents. The process is especially useful for the recovery of metals from leach solutions derived from sulphur-containing ores.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for increasing the power density of an energy beam (e.g. a laser beam) by focusing an incident beam to an anisometric configuration and thereafter focusing the anisometric beam to a modified, preferably isometric, configuration. A serrulate reflective surface facilitates the splitting of an incident beam into a plurality of high energy reflected beams, and the technique is of utility in perforating webs, such as polyolefin films.

Abstract: Tetrahalobenzene compounds of the formula (I): ##STR1## in which X is independently chloro or, preferably, fluoro and Y is hydrogen or --N.sup.+ R.sub.3 A.sup.- in which each R is independently C.sub.1-4 alkyl and A is a radical capable of forming an anion A.sup.-, are prepared by(a) alkylating a compound of formula (II): ##STR2## or a salt thereof, to form a compound of formula (III): ##STR3## (b) treating the compound of formula (III) with a quaternizing agent of formula RA to form a compound of formula (IV): ##STR4## and (c) partially or completely reductively cleaving the compound of formula (IV) to replace one or both --N.sup.+ R.sub.3 A.sup.- groups by hydrogen.Compounds (I), in which Y is --N.sup.+ R.sub.3 A.sup.-, (III) and (IV) are novel. Compound (I) is useful in the synthesis of insecticides.

Abstract: A fibrous composite material of essentially two-dimensional form in the form of individual fibres, sheets or layers comprising combustible fibres and lamellae of a layer mineral of size below 50 microns, a method for the manufacture of the fibrous composite materials by applying lamellae of a layer mineral to the fibres preferably from suspension followed by removal of the liquid phase of the suspension, and use of the fibrous composite materials for the fire-protection of substrates.