Abstract: A melt-molded article such as water soluble fibers, a laminate and a container for waste matter, the article having biodegradability. The melt molded article is produced by melt-molding a composition comprising an oxyalkylene group-containing vinyl alcohol copolymer and starch or a starch-derived macromolecular substance.

Abstract: This invention provides a halogen-containing thermoplastic resin composition comprising a halogen-containing thermoplastic resin (A) consisting of 100 to 0.1 weight percent of a thermoplastic polyurethane-vinyl chloride graft polymer (a1) with a polyurethane content of 10 to 90 weight percent which is produced by polymerizing vinyl chloride in the presence of a thermoplastic polyurethane and 0 to 99.9 weight percent of another halogen-containing polymer (a2) and a melt-moldable vinyl alcohol polymer (B), the proportion of melt-moldable vinyl alcohol polymer (B) being in the range of 0.1 to 100 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of halogen-containing thermoplastic resin (A).

Abstract: A process for preparing particles of a high water-absorbent resin which comprises mixing a powder of a high water-absorbent resin having a water content of 10 to 60% by weight with a powder of water-soluble high molecular weight compound and drying the mixture. The obtained particles according to the present invention are suitable for use of sanitary goods, water-retaining agents or soil conditioner in the fields of agriculture and horticulture and other various uses.

Abstract: A polyvinyl alcohol-starch film which is prepared from a composition comprising a polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of hydrolysis of at least 93% by mole and a starch, the film being at least uniaxially stretched. The film of the present invention is excellent in water resistance, and moreover in degradable property.

Abstract: A process for preparing valproic acid which comprises:(I) producing a 2,2-dipropyl acetoacetic acid ester from an acetoacetic acid ester,(II) deacetylating the 2,2-dipropyl acetoacetic acid ester with an alcohol to give a valproic acid ester, and(III) hydrolyzing the valproic acid ester. In the process of the present invention, valproic acid can be prepared in a high yield as not less than 85% by mole and by-products such as .alpha.-propyl-.beta.-ethyl acrylic acid and its esters which cannot be easily separated from valproic acid, are not entirely produced.

Abstract: A halogen-containing thermoplastic resin composition comprising a halogen-containing thermoplastic resin (A), a metallic soap (B) and an ash- and alkali metal-lean ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer hydrolysate (C) having an ethylene content of 20 to 75 mole percent, a degree of saponification not less than 50 mole percent, an ash content not exceeding 300 ppm and an alkali metal content not exceeding 200 ppm, the proportions of (B) and (C) based on 100 parts of weight by (A) being 0.1 to 5 parts by weight and 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, respectively. The composition may further include, in addition to (A), (B), and (C) mentioned above, at least one compound (D) selected from the group consisting of .beta.-diketone compounds, organic phosphorous esters and aminocarboxylic acid compounds, the proportion of (D) based on 100 parts by weight of (A) being 0.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of a highly water-absorbing resin comprising a polymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer composition mainly composed of an ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid and/or an alkali metal salt thereof. The process comprises incorporating an oil-soluble polyfunctional epoxy compound having a solubility in 100 g of water at 20.degree. C. of not more than 0.3 g into the polymer by adding 0.0005-3 parts by weight of the oil-soluble polyfunctional epoxy compound to 100 parts by weight of the polymer or the monomer composition to be subjected to polymerization and thereby causing crosslinking.

Abstract: A process for forming a film of a hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer which comprises:coating a solution comprising a hydrolyzed ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer to a substrate,drying the wet film andsubjecting the dried film to heat-treatment,said obtained film being formed so as to have a ratio of absorbance at 1140 cm.sup.-1 to absorbance at 1090 cm.sup.-1 in infrared absorption spectrum of not less than 0.65. According to the process of the present invention, the hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer film having excellent oxygen impermeability can be obtained.

Abstract: A halogen-containing thermoplastic resin composition comprising a halogen-containing thermoplastic resin (A), a metallic soap (B) and an ash- and alkali metal-lean ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer hydrolysate (C) having an ethylene content of 20 to 75 mole percent, a degree of saponification not less than 50 mole percent, an ash content not exceeding 300 ppm and an alkali metal content not exceeding 200 ppm, the proportions of (B) and (C) based on 100 parts of weight by (A) being 0.1 to 5 parts by weight and 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, respectively. The composition may further include, in addition to (A), (B) and (C) mentioned above, at least one compound (D) selected from the group consisting of .beta.-diketone compounds, organic phosphorous esters and aminocarboxylic acid compounds, the proportion of (D) based on 100 parts by weight of (A) being 0.

Abstract: A pipe for circulating warm water made of a laminate comprising a layer of a composition comprising:(A) a hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer,(B) a substituted phenol derivative and(C) at least one of an organic phosphorous acid compound and a thioether compound. The pipe of the present invention has the excellent durability and its oxygen impermeability can be kept for a long period of time excellent.

Abstract: This invention relates to a halogen-containing thermoplastic resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a halogen-containing termoplastic resin (A) and 1 to 100 parts by weight of a graft polymer (B) having a melt index of 1 to 15 g/10 min as determined at a temperature of 190.degree. C. under a load of 2.16 kg and a benzene-insoluble fraction content of not more than 30 percent by weight as obtainable by graft-polymerizing 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 50 to 90 percent by weight as a substrate with 5 to 50 parts by weight of at least one monomer which, when polymerized alone, gives a homopolymer with a glass transition temperature of 65.degree. to 150.degree. C. (b2). This resin composition has markedly improved long-run moldability.

Abstract: A resin composition comprising(A) 100 parts by weight of a hydrolyzed eithylene-vinyl acetate copolymer,(B) 1 to 100 parts by weight of a polyester resin and(C) 0.1 to 50 parts by weight of a polyester-amide resin The composition is excellent in impact strength and flex crack resistance.

Abstract: A process for preparing sorbic acid which comprises treating sorbic aldehyde with at least one microorganism selected from Mycobacterium, Rhodopseudomonas, Streptomyces, Acetobacter, Alcaligenes and Gluconobacter. According to the present invention, sorbic acid can be prepared in high yield by oxidizing sorbic aldehyde with the specific microorganism.

Abstract: This invention provides a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising an acrylic copolymer component (A) which is at least in part an acetoacetyl group-containing acrylic copolymer and at least one curing component (B) selected from the class consisting of isocyanate compounds, epoxy compounds, aldehyde compounds, non-amino resin amine compounds, metal salts, metal alkoxides, metal chelate compounds, ammonium salts and hydrazine compounds.This adhesive composition is well-balanced in the triad of tack, adhesion, cohesion in adhesion technology and can be advantageously used in various applications such as adhesive tapes and labels.

Abstract: There are provided binder resins for use in toner compositions which comprise, as the main component thereof, a terminally blocked polyester in which the terminal hydroxyl groups of polyester polyol molecules are blocked by a rosin compound selected from the group consisting of rosin, hydrogenated rosin and disproportionated rosin and which has an acid value of not more than 4 KOH mg/g and a hydroxyl value of not more than 20 KOH mg/g as well as toner compositions comprising them in combination of a coloring agent and a charge control agent.

Abstract: A process for preparing a substantially particulate polyvinyl alcohol having a high degree of polymerization of which a 4% by weight aqueous solution has a viscosity at 20.degree. C. of not less than 80 cps, which comprises hydrolyzing a substantially particulate polyvinyl ester having a high degree of polymerization in an alcohol containing an alkali catalyst in heterogeneous system. According to the process of the present invention, there can be easily produced a substantially particulate polyvinyl alcohol having high degree of polymerization, which has the high bulk density and the excellent powder flowability.

Abstract: In a process for preparing a molded article by melt-molding a mixture of (A) a hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 to 80% by mole and a degree of hydrolysis in the vinyl acetate units of at least 90% by mole and (B) an olefin resin, the improvement which comprises melt-molding said mixture in the presence of a hydrotalcite solid solution (C) having the formula (I):{(M.sub.1.sup.2+).sub.yl (M.sub.2.sup.2+).sub.y2 }.sub.1-x (M.sup.3+).sub.x (OH).sub.2 (A.sup.n-).sub.x/n.mH.sub.2 O (I)According to the process of the present invention, long run processability during melt-molding can be remarkably improved, and the obtained molded article has excellent qualities, e.g., the film has few fish eyes.

Abstract: A container for filthy matter particularly suited for use as a bag for collecting waste matter discharged through the artifical anus is essentially made of a single-layer or multilayer packaging material comprising an oxyalkylene group-containing vinyl alcohol copolymer film layer.

Abstract: A process for preparing an optically active .gamma.-halo-.beta.-hydroxybutyric acid ester in high yields which comprises subjecting a .gamma.-haloacetoacetic acid ester to the action of a microorganism selected from genus Saccharomyces under an anaerobic condition. When the .gamma.-haloacetoacetic acid ester is subjected to the action of the microorganism in the presence of a ketal, the yield and optical purity can be further increased.

Abstract: A hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 to 60% by mole and a defree of hydrolysis in the vinyl acetate component of at least 95% by mole, having an ash content of not more than 20 ppm and an alkali metal content of not more than 5 ppm, and having a ratio of the melt viscosity at 220.degree. C. after maintaining the copolymer at 220.degree. C. for 60 minutes to the melt viscosity at 220.degree. C. after maintaining the copolymer at 220.degree. C. for 5 minutes of 1.0 to 1.5. The hydrolyzed copolymer of the invention can give the films whose gas impermeability is not lowered even at high humidity, and is applicable to long-run molding.