Abstract: A method of removing colour from hair that has been oxidatively dyed, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the hair with a composition comprising a sulfur-containing nucleophile or a precursor thereof; (b) contacting the hair with an acidic composition; and (c) contacting the hair with an oxidising composition; wherein there is no rinsing step between step (a) and step (b).

Abstract: An image article comprises a substrate having a security image coated on at least a portion thereof, which security image effects less than 50% reflectance of radiation of a wavelength between 800 and 900 nm, wherein the security image comprises a defined infrared-absorbing compound, for example Pigment Green 8, wherein said infrared-absorbing compound does not create a strongly coloured security image.

Abstract: A method of treating a material to improve flame retardancy, the method comprising applying to the material urea, phosphorous acid or a salt thereof, and a base comprising a monovalent metallic cation.

Abstract: A depilatory composition comprising a source of cyanate ion, an organic acid or a salt thereof and a peroxide compound; and methods of removing hair from the skin using such compositions.

Abstract: A method of colouring a material, the method comprising the steps of: a)applying to the material a composition comprising a sulphur-containing nucleophile; and b)applying to the material a composition comprising a dye compound selected from a dye class other than the class of reactive dyes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of removing color from dyed hair, the method comprising applying to the hair a color removal composition comprising a sulfur-containing nucleophile or a precursor thereof.

Abstract: Composition including an oleophilic base ink composition having dispersed therein particles of an infrared-absorbing material wherein the infrared-absorbing material is selected from reduced indium tin oxide, titanium nitride, zirconium nitride, molybdenum metal, copper chromate, lanthanum hexaboride, neodymium oxide, neodymium chloride, dysprosium oxide and praseodymium oxide.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of removing colour from dyed hair, the method comprising applying to the hair a colour removal composition comprising a sulfur-containing nucleophile or a precursor thereof.

Abstract: wherein D is a chromophore; L is a linking group selected from SO2, NHCO, and NHSO2; Q is a hydrogen or halogen atom; and R is selected from C1-C4 alkyl, (CH2)nCOOH, (CH2)nCONH2, (CH2)nSO3H, (CH2)nCOOM, (CH2)nPO3H, (CH2)nOH, (CH2)nSSO3?, (CH2)nNR12, (CH2)nN+R1H2, (CH2)nNHCOR1, PhSSO3?, PhSO3H, PhPO3H, PhNR12, PhN+R13, (CH2)2CH(SH)R1(CH2)3COOH, and n is an integer in the range of 1 to 4 wherein within the same molecule each n is not necessarily the same integer; M is a cation of an alkaline earth metal, alkali metal, NH4+ or NR13+; and R1 is C1-C4 alkyl.

Abstract: A method of colouring a material, the method comprising the steps of: a)applying to the material a composition comprising a sulphur-containing nucleophile; and b)applying to the material a composition comprising a dye compound selected from a dye class other than the class of reactive dyes.

Abstract: A method of treating a material, the method comprising applying to the material a composition comprising at least 10 wt % of ammonium carbonate, ammonium carbamate or a mixture thereof; and a source of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: wherein D is a chromophore; L is a linking group selected from SO2, NHCO, and NHSO2; Q is a hydrogen or halogen atom; and R is selected from C1-C4 alkyl, (CH2)nCOOH, (CH2)nCONH2, (CH2)nSO3H, (CH2)nCOOM, (CH2)nPO3H, (CH2)nOH, (CH2)nSSO3?, (CH2)nNR12, (CH2)nN+R1H2, (CH2)nNHCOR1, PhSSO3?, PhSO3H, PhPO3H, PhNR12, PhN+R13, (CH2)2CH(SH)R1(CH2)3COOH, and n is an integer in the range of 1 to 4 wherein within the same molecule each n is not necessarily the same integer; M is a cation of an alkaline earth metal, alkali metal, NH4+ or NR13+; and R1 is C1-C4 alkyl.

Abstract: A flame-retardant composition comprising a first component selected from a phosphorous-containing acid or a salt of a phosphorous-containing acid and a second compound selected from an isocyanic acid, an isocyanic acid precursor, a cyanate salt, a thiocyanate salt or isothiocyanate precursor, dicyandiamide, cyanamide or carbodiimide precursor.

Abstract: A method of treating a material to improve flame retardancy, the method comprising applying to the material urea, phosphorous acid or a salt thereof, and a base comprising a monovalent metallic cation.

Abstract: A composition comprising an ink and an infrared-absorbing material wherein said infrared-absorbing material comprises a metal, a metal salt, a metal oxide or metal nitride is described. Also described is an article comprising a substrate having imaged thereon an infrared-absorbing material to form a security image; and a method of manufacture of such an article said method comprising image-wise applying substrate a composition comprising an infrared-absorbing material.

Abstract: An image article comprises a substrate having a security image coated on at least a portion thereof, which security image effects less than 50% reflectance of radiation of a wavelength between 800 and 900 nm, wherein the security image comprises a defined infrared-absorbing compound, for example Pigment Green 8, wherein said infrared-absorbing compound does not create a strongly coloured security image.

Abstract: A method of treating a wool material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the wool material with a cationic surfactant; and (b) contacting the wool material with a nucleophile.

Abstract: New, highly multifunctional reactive dye compounds are provided. The number of leaving groups in the non-chromophoric part of the molecule added to the number of chromophore moieties is at least equal to 5, preferably in the range of from 5 to 12, more preferably from 5 to 6. The new reactive dye compounds preferably have at least two asymmetric bridges.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing an image article comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate; (b) coating a water-soluble agent capable of adhering solid particles when wetted with an aqueous medium, on at least a portion of the substrate; the water-soluble agent being wetted with an aqueous medium, and (c) applying solid particles to at least a portion of the water-soluble agent, to form an image. The invention further relates to image articles produced by the method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treatment of a material, comprising contacting said material with a percarbamic acid and/or diacyl percarbamate. Preferably the percarbamic acid has formula (I), where R represents an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or non-aromatic heterocyclic group, a hydrogen atom, or a group having formula (1a), where each R2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and m=0 to 30. The method provides effective bleaching agents and resterilizing agents and or bacteriocidal agents over a wide range of pH and temperatures, for a wide range of applications.