Abstract: A bio-degradeable seed coating composition for enhanced seed protection and propagation comprises a gelatin-based hydrogel formulation consisting of a naturally derived, hydrophilic protein in combination with a sulfated or non-sulfated polysaccharide. The protein is animal porcine or bovine derived while the polysaccharide is preferably a cellulose derivative such as sodium cellulose sulfate, dextran sulfate, sulfated chitosan, sulfated starch and mixtures thereof. The seed coating composition may also comprise a rheology modifier comprising a clay, a dessicant or silica gel.

Abstract: A crosslinked elastomeric acetal polymer is synthesized from 1,3-dioxolane, 1,3-dioxepane, and a polyfunctional crosslinking compound having two or more functional groups that react under conditions of cationic polymerization, such as 1,4-divinyloxybutane or poly(butadiene oxide). The polymers are elastomeric and non-crystalline at temperatures well below room temperature. They can be blended with crystalline acetal polymers to produce blends that have improved impact properties.

Abstract: Crosslinked elastomeric acetal polymers are made by the copolymerization of 1,3-dioxolane with a smaller amount of one or more bifunctional monomers. The two functional groups of the bifunctional monomer react under the same cationic polymerization conditions as the 1,3-dioxolane. The elastomeric acetal polymer does not crystallize even when the temperature is as low as -50.degree. C. The elastomeric acetal polymer is particularly useful for blending with crystalline acetal polymers to yield a composition with improved impact resistance.

Abstract: Non-crystalline elastomeric acetal polymers are disclosed which have ethylenic unsaturation in the polymer backbone. The polymers are synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of 1,3-dioxolane, 1,3-dioxepane, and the cyclic formal of an ethylenically unsaturated diol having at least 4 adjacent carbon atoms in its main chain. The preferred cyclic formal is 4,7-dihydro-1,3-dioxepin. Because of the ethylenic unsaturation, the elastomeric acetal polymers can be vulcanized or cured with multifunctional vinyl monomers to produce elastomers with improved properties, such as better elasticity, decreased thermoplasticity and decreased solubility. The elastomeric acetals in any of their embodiments are particularly useful for blending with crystalline acetal polymers to improve the impact resistance of the crystalline acetal polymers.

Abstract: There are provided novel mixtures and composites comprising a normally crystalline acetal polymer and a reinforcing material comprising glass fibers or filaments sized with a normally non-crystalline elastomeric copolymer of about 15 to 45 mol %, preferably about 25 to 35 mol % of trioxane, about 55 to 85 mol %, preferably about 65 to 75 mol % of 1,3-dioxolane, said mol percents based on the total of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane, and about 0.005 to 0.15 wt. %, preferably about 0.05 to 0.12 wt. % of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether or butadiene diepoxide as a bifunctional monomer, based on the total weight of copolymer.

Abstract: There are provided new moldable blends of a normally crystalline acetal polymer and a normally non-crystalline elastomeric copolymer of about 15 to 45 mol %, preferably about 25 to 35 mol % of trioxane, about 55 to 85 %, preferably about 65 to 75 mol % of 1,3-dioxolane, said mol percents based on the total of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane, and about 0.005 to 0.15 wt. %, preferably about 0.05 to 0.12 wt. % of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether or butadiene diepoxide as a bifunctional monomer, based on the total weight of copolymer.

Abstract: An injection moldable ceramic composition is prepared by mixing a sinterable powder, a polyacetal binding agent and silicon carbide whiskers which have been coated with a polyacetal resin.

Abstract: Copolymers of 1,3-dioxolane and 1,3-dioxepane in the form of non-crystalline high molecular weight elastomers having low glass transition temperatures (Tg) are disclosed. Such copolymers are formed by polymerizing from about 40 to about 60 mol percent of 1,3-dioxolane and correspondingly from about 60 to about 40 mol percent of 1,3-dioxepane under substantially anhydrous conditions in the presence of a cationic polymerization catalyst, e.g., a strong Bronsted acid such as trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. Blends of such non-crystalline copolymers with crystalline oxymethylene polymers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing oxymethylene copolymers and terpolymers is disclosed which involves the non-linear addition of gaseous formaldehyde to a cyclic ether having at least two adjacent carbon atoms (1) and, in the case of a terpolymer, to a mixture of at least one (1) and one monoethylenically unsaturated aliphatic diol formal having at least four carbon atoms in its main chain (2), or to a mixture of (1) with a (2), in the presence of a polymerization initiator at a rate controlled so as to conform to a rate determined by kinetic equations that describe the rate of decomposition of trioxane to formaldehyde during conventional copolymerization of trioxane with a cyclic ether. The process and kinetic equations of the invention are applicable to batch reactions, single stream continuous reactions and dual stream continuous reactions.

Abstract: There are provided new articles comprising elements having surfaces bonded together with a bonding resin which is an elastomeric copolymer of about 15 to 45 mol %, preferably about 25 to 35 mol % trioxane, about 55 to 85 mol %, preferably about 65 to 75 mol % of 1,3-dioxolane, said mol percents based on the total of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane, and about 0.005 to 0.15 wt. %, preferably about 0.05 to 0.12 wt. % of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether or butadiene diepoxide as a bifunctional monomer, based on the total weight of copolymer. Preferably, at least one of said surfaces, and more preferably at least two of said surfaces bonded to each other are of a crystalline acetal polymer comprising at least 85 mol % of polymerized oxymethylene units.

Abstract: There are provided new elastomeric copolymers of about 15 to 45 mol %, preferably about 25 to 35 mol % trioxane, about 55 to 85 mol %, preferably about 65 to 75 mol % of 1,3-dioxolane, said mol percents based on the total of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane, and about 0.005 to 0.15 wt. %, preferably about 0.05 to 0.12 wt. % of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether or butadiene diepoxide as a bifunctional monomer, based on the total weight of copolymer. The elastomeric copolymers may be prepared by mixing said monomers in a substantially dry state and under an inert atmosphere with a cationic polymerization catalyst, e.g., p-nitrobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate. The elastomeric copolymers have a strong interaction with moldable, crystalline acetal polymers comprising at least 85 mol % of polymerized oxymethylene units and may be used as a blending agent with such crystalline acetal polymers or as a bonding agent to improve the adhesiveness of the crystalline acetal polymer to other materials.

Abstract: There are provided new elastomeric copolymers of about 15 to 45 mol %, preferably about 25 to 35 mol % trioxane, about 55 to 85 mol %, preferably about 65 to 75 mol % of 1,3-dioxolane, said mol percents based on the total of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane, and about 0.005 to 0.15 wt. %, preferably about 0.05 to 0.12 wt. % of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether or butadiene diepoxide as a bifunctional monomer, based on the total weight of copolymer. The elastomeric copolymers may be prepared by mixing said monomers in a substantially dry state and under an inert atmosphere with a cationic polymerization catalyst, e.g, p-nitrobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate. The elastomeric copolymers have a strong interaction with moldable, crystalline acetal polymers comprising at least 85 mol % of polymerized oxymethylene units and may be used as a blending agent with such crystalline acetal polymers or as a bonding agent to improve the adhesiveness of the crystalline acetal polymer to other materials.

Abstract: The instant invention involves a process for preparing carboxylic acid esters which comprises coreacting a carboxylic acid and an aliphatic mono or polyol by maintaining one of the reactants in a reactor at elevated temperatures and adding the other reactant to the reactor over a period of time. By employing this process esterification times are significantly reduced.

Abstract: The instant invention involves a process for preparing acrylic acid esters which comprises coreacting an acrylic acid and an aliphatic mono or polyol by maintaining one of the reactants in a reactor at elevated temperatures and adding the other reactant to the reactor over a period of time. By employing this process esterification times are reduced significantly.

Abstract: Oxymethylene polymer bonded articles, such as multilayer laminates, are disclosed. Such articles are prepared by bonding together at least two articles shaped or molded from crystalline oxymethylene homo-, co- and terpolymers using, as an adhesive, a low Tg copolymer of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane which have a dioxolane content greater than 65 mol percent and less than about 75 mol percent and an IV of from about 1.0 to about 2.3, and which are non-crystalline at room temperature or above.

Abstract: Low Tg copolymers of trioxane and 1,3-dioxolane which have a dioxolane content greater than 65 mol percent and less than about 75 mol percent and an IV of from about 1.0 to about 2.3, and which are non-crystalline at room temperature or above, are disclosed. These polymers, when blended with crystalline oxymethylene polymers, improve the latter's impact properties. They can also be used as adhesives for crystalline oxymethylene polymers.

Abstract: Ultraviolet curable terpolymers of trioxane, from at least 65 weight percent to about 75 weight percent of 1,3-dioxolane and from about 2 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of a monoethylenically unsaturated aliphatic diol formal having at least 4 carbon atoms in its main chain, e.g., 4,7-dehydro- 1,3-dioxepin, which are non-crystalline at room temperature or above are disclosed. These terpolymers, when admixed with a multifunctional crosslinking monomer, e.g., a multifunctional acrylate such as 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, and a photosensitizer, e.g., a benzoin compound such as benzoin isobutyl ether, can be cured to an insoluble, non-tacky, rubbery state using UV radiation. The thus-cured polymeric materials form useful crosslinked films, and when cryogenically ground to a suitable small particle size can be blended with conventionally prepared crystalline oxymethylene homo-, co- and terpolymers to improve the latters' impact properties.

Abstract: Novel elastomer/oxymethylene polymer blends are disclosed whose impact strength or resistance has been enhanced, with no appreciable diminution in their outer useful properties, by the inclusion therein of a novel elastomer/oxymethylene graft copolymer compatibilizing agent prepared by grafting polyformaldehyde or oxymethylene copolymer chains onto a halogenated elastomeric polymer by means of a reaction initiated at graft sites, i.e., at the sites of the haloelastomer's halo substituents, using, e.g., an initiated site-forming cationic salt.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process whereby the thermal stabilization of acrylic fibers is accelerated. The process comprises providing a zone of electron radiation and continuously passing a continuous length of acrylic fibrous material through the zone so as to provide an energy absorption of from about 5 to about 30 megarads. The residence time of the acrylic fibrous material in the zone of electron radiation is less than five seconds. The continuous length of acrylic fibrous material is subsequently continuously passed through a thermal stabilization zone wherein the acrylic fibrous material is heated in an oxygen-containing atmosphere provided at a temperature in the range of about 220.degree. C. to 310.degree. C. for about 10 to 30 minutes. The acrylic fibrous material formed thereby is thermally stabilized (i.e., black in appearance, retains its original fibrous configuration substantially intact, and is non-burning when subjected to an ordinary match flame).

Abstract: An improved process for the thermal stabilization of an acrylic fibrous material or film is provided. A tetrasubstituted phosphonium salt which is capable of promoting the thermal stabilization is incorporated in a solution of the acrylic polymer prior to extruding the same to form a fibrous material or film, and the acrylic fibrous material or film having the tetrasubstituted phosphonium salt incorporated therein is heated in an oxygen-containing atmosphere until a thermally stabilized fibrous material or film is formed which is black in appearance, non-burning when subjected to an ordinary match flame and which is capable of undergoing carbonization. The presence of the tetrasubstituted phosphonium salt has been found to cause the thermal stabilization reaction to proceed at an accelerated rate.