Abstract: Graft polymers are used as gas hydrate inhibitors.

Abstract: A process for inducing pre-tilt in alignment of a liquid crystal medium comprising exposing at least one optical alignment layer, comprising anisotropically absorbing molecules and hydrophobic moieties, to polarized light; the polarized light having a wavelength within the absorption band of said anisotropically absorbing molecules; wherein the exposed anisotropically absorbing molecules induce alignment of the liquid crystal medium at an angle + and -.theta. with respect to the direction of the polarization of the incident light beam and along the surface of the optical alignment layer, and induce a pre-tilt at an angle .PHI. with respect to the surface of the optical alignment layer and applying a liquid crystal medium to said optical alignment layer, is described. The invention also is directed to liquid crystal display elements made by the process of the invention and to novel polyimide compositions that are useful as optical alignment layers in the invention.

Abstract: A film having a net endotherm greater than about 10 joules per gram of polymer that contains chains including lactic acid residuals; said film further comprising; a) a melt stable polymer composition comprising at least 5% by weight of a melt stable first polymer component with lactic acid residuals b) said first polymer having a number average molecular weight of at least 40,000 and no greater than 300,000 and c) said first melt stable polymer composition having a lactide concentration of less than about 2% by weight of melt stable polymer including polymer chains with lactic acid residuals. A process for preparing a film having a net endotherm greater than about 10 joules per gram of polymer that contains chains including lactic acid residuals is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for the preparation of a polycarbodiimide solution wherein the polycarbodiimide is synthesized by heating an organic diisocyanate (e.g., 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate or 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate) in the presence of a carbodiimidation catlayst characterized in that a non-chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon is used as the solvent and the resulting polycarbodiimide has a number average molecular weight from about 3,000 to about 10,000; wherein the synthesis is performed in the temperature range of from about 100.degree. to about 120.degree. C.

Abstract: Compositions and a method are provided for forming a coated wood, plastic or metal product having the appearance and texture of wood grain. The joints on a wood surface are concealed by the coating and the coating is capable of accepting conventional wood stain.

Abstract: A polyimide gas separation membrane containing repeating units derived from 9,9-disubstituted xanthene dianhydride is disclosed.