Abstract: The invention relates to the stabilization of monobromostyrene of dibromostyrene and of mixtures of these. The stabilization is effected by means of hydroxy-benzene derivatives, where the benzene ring contains at least two substituents, one of these being a hydroxy group. The process is advantageously carried out by heating the styrene material with an excess of the inhibitor, distilling the monomer and adding an additional quantity of the inhibitor. The distilled monomer is preferably dried prior to the addition of the further quantity of inhibitor.

Abstract: There is provided a scaife for the polishing of gemstones wherein the abrasive material is embedded in a matrix of a material maintained in the solid state, which material has a high enthalpy of phase transition from solid to liquid. Suitable materials are frozen water, frozen water/organic liquid mixtures such as water/alkanol mixtures and suitable metals or metal alloys. There is also provided a process for the polishing of gemstones which comprises a process for the polishing of gemstones which comprises establishing a layer of abrasive embedded in a suitable solid matrix in or on the surface of a rotatory plate and polishing said gemstones, overheating being prevented by the high enthalpy of solid/liquid transition of the said matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for the production of crystalline tribromostyrene. The process involves removal of hydrogen bromide in a two phase system with the aid of phase transfer catalysts. One of the phases used is an aqueous one containing an alkali metal hydroxide whereas the second comprises .beta.-bromoethyltribromobenzene in an alcohol as solvent.

Abstract: There is provided a scaife for the polishing of gemstones wherein the abrasive material is embedded in a matrix of a material maintained in the solid state, which material has a high enthalpy of phase transition from solid to liquid. Suitable materials are frozen water, frozen water/organic liquid mixtures such as water/alkanol mixtures and suitable metals or metal alloys. There is also provided a process for the polishing of gemstones which comprises establishing a layer of abrasive embedded in a suitable solid matrix in or on the surface of a rotatory plate and polishing the gemstones, overheating being prevented by the high enthalpy of solid/liquid transition of the said matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a contact lens, which comprises coating a tool made of an inert material, having a curvature corresponding to that of one of the optical surfaces of the lens to be produced, with a layer of solid polymer, and machining the outer surface of said polymer to the desired curvature of the second surface of said lens while supported by said tool, and to a tool for carrying out such process.

Abstract: Phosphonoacetals of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an alkyl group having from 1-3 carbon atoms;R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a cation such as NH.sub.4.sup.+, Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, Sn.sup.2+, Zn.sup.2+, Cd.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, and R.sup.1 ;n is an integer from 0 to 2;q is an integer from 1 to 3;R.sup.3 is a residue of a polyhydroxy compound having from 2-12 carbon atoms;Y and Y.sup.1 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, hydroxyl groups, carbinol groups, methyl halogens, methyl carbamoyls.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified polyvinylchloride, wherein part of the chlorine atoms are replaced by groups of the formula --S--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --R--(CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --R).sub.n --Alk, wherein R is selected from oxygen, sulfur and --NH--, where R may also designate a bond, where Alk designates an alkyl group of up to 14 carbon atoms, and where n is zero or an integer of from 1 to 100, and to a process for the production of such modified polyvinylchloride polymers which comprises reacting an aqueous emulsion or suspension of polyvinylchloride in the presence of a solvent adapted to cause swelling of the PVC particles with a compound of the formula Alk--(CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --R).sub.n --R--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --SH, wherein Alk, R and n are as defined above.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antifouling paints for marine use comprising a conventional paint base containing as active ingredient a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is selected from chlorine and bromine,Y is selected from hydrogen and lower alkyl, andZ is selected from --COOR wherein R is lower alkyl, and --CN, possibly in combination with a conventional antifouling agent, and to the protection of marine structures and marine vessels which comprises applying such an antifouling paint to such structures and vessels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of ring-halogenated styrene monomers of high purity. These are of value in the production of polymers which possess flame retardance. The process of the invention comprises reacting heterogenously ring halogenated beta-bromoethyl benzene with a strong aqueous alkali base in the presence of a quaternary phase transfer catalyst until substantially all the bromoethyl benzene has undergone reaction, separating the phases, washing and neutralizing the organic phase and recovering the ring-halogenated styrene monomer, which is the desired product.

Abstract: Polyhydroxylated O,O-dialkyl phosphonoacetals having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1-3 carbon atoms;n is an integer from 1-2;q is an integer from 1-3;R' is a residue of a polyhydroxy compound having from 5-12 carbon atoms;m is an integer from 2-6, useful as polyol reactants in the preparation of flame-retardant polyurethanes, are prepared by trans-acetalating a low molecular weight O,O-dialkyl phosphonoacetal with a polyhydroxy compound under acid catalysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel 2,5-dihalophenyl-.beta.-substituted sulfone compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein Q is selected from ##STR2## and wherein: X designates chlorine or bromine,Y designates hydrogen, chlorine, or bromine,Z designates chlorine, bromine, phenyl, halophenyl or --COOR whereinR is a lower alkyl group of up to and including 4 carbon atoms,Z' designates chlorine, bromine or --COOR, wherein R is a lower alkyl of up to and including 4 carbon atoms, provided that whenY is hydrogen, Z' designates --COOR, as herein defined,and to pesticides and especially fungicides containing a compound as defined above as active ingredient. The above compounds are also effective antifungal agents when incorporated in polymeric compositions.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a polymeric composition of matter substantially transparent to solar radiation and constituting an effective barrier to infra-red radiation, especially in the region of about 7.mu. to 15.mu., comprising polyethylene or a copolymer of mainly polyethylene, containing an effective quantity of a phosphate, having a preferred range of content of phosphate of from 1 to 20 percent by weight. There is also provided a tunnel-shaped or similar structure for the cultivation of agricultural crops comprising a cover of sheeting made of such polymer.

Abstract: Compounds are disclosed of the formula ##STR1## wherein R designates hydrogen or an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, inclusive;R' designates an alkylene group of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, or alkylene substituted by a methyl or by a halomethyl group;R" designates hydrogen, an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive;--R"Z, ##STR2## or C(CH.sub.2 OH).sub.3 X designates chlorine or bromine;Z designates -OH, ##STR3## n is an integer from 1 to 5; and P IS AN INTEGER FROM 0 TO 4.A process for the production of such compounds is also disclosed which comprises reacting one mole or a slight excess of a trihalogenated alkylene oxide of the formula ##STR4## wherein X, R, and p are as defined above, per mole of an alkanolamine or polyamine of the formula ##STR5## wherein R', R", Z, are as defined above, at a temperature between 30.degree. to 90.degree. C and separating the resulting halogenated nitrogen containing polyol.

Abstract: Polymer alloys of a phosphorus-containing polymer component having the formula: ##STR1## WHEREIN X is hydrogen or halo; Z and Z' are each hydrogen or a phosphonate group PO(OR)(OR.sub.1) in which R and R.sub.1 are each alkyl or aryl, but are not both hydrogen, Y is a bivalent radical from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerized with styrene, and m, m', n, n' and p are zero or integers as specified; and a second polymer component compatible with and alloyed with the phosphorus-containing polymer component, the second component being a cellulose ester, or a polystyrene or unsaturated polyester resin. Polymer alloys thus constituted are particularly useful as fire-retardant and flame-resistant materials, and as membranes useful in the separation of solvents exhibiting differential permeabilities therethrough.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to improved polymeric materials and to a process for preparing same, which comprises blending suitable polymers into novel polymeric alloys. The disclosure further relates to novel fire-retarding and flame-resistant materials comprising such polymeric alloys and to novel membrane materials and membranes, adapted to provide novel processes of separation based on membrane technology. The novel polymeric alloys comprise commercially available polymers, blended with novel polymeric phosphonates of the general formula: ##STR1## WHEREIN: M, M', N, N' ARE ZERO OR ANY INTEGER, P IS AN INTEGER HIGHER THAN 10X designates a hydrogen atom halogen atom or a phosphorusContaining groupY designates a CH.sub.2 CHCl or CH.sub.2 CCl.sub.2 groupZ and Z' designates H or a phosphonate group - PO(OR') (OR") (at least one being a phosphonate group), wherein R and R' are alkyl or aryl groups.

Abstract: A process for the simultaneous production of bromostyrene or dibromostyrene and of an alkyl bromide, which comprises reacting bromoethyl bromobenzene or bromoethyl dibromobenzene with an alkanol at an elevated temperature. When only these reactants are reacted, the temperature is between 400.degree.C and 550.degree.C; when the reaction is effected in the presence of a source of free radicals, the temperature used can be lower, and temperatures of about 300.degree.C are adequate.

Abstract: A process for the production of mono-, di-, and/or tribromostyrene which comprises reacting .beta.-bromomethyl-mono-, di- and/or tribromobenzene at a temperature between 280.degree.C to 470.degree.C in the presence of a free radical source and either a lower alkanol or water.

Abstract: A process for producing halosubstituted derivatives of acetophenone from the respective halocumenes, the term "halo" as used herein, signifying chlorine or bromine, the molecule containing 1 to 3 nuclear halo substituents in the meta- and/or paraposition relative to the isopropyl group. The process comprises oxidizing the halocumene by means of air or oxygen. The oxidation is effected in the presence of a metal phthalocyanine complex as catalyst, and in a most preferred embodiment, in the co-presence of a dichlorobenzene solvent. The preferred halocumenes are p-chlorocumene and p-bromocumene.