Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions comprising polyacrylonitriles that contain greater than 90% acrylonitrile as monomer, or copolymers of such polyacrylonitriles with an olefinic unsaturated co-monomer, can be formed by the use of certain compatibilizers and/or thermal stabilizers. Other thermoplastic compositions comprising the high nitrile polyacrylonitriles can be obtained by melt blending the polyacrylonitriles with certain aromatic engineering thermoplastic polymers in the presence of compatibilizers and thermal stabilizers. All of the foregoing high nitrile compositions have been found to possess good optical and gas barrier properties, and good stress crack resistance.

Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions comprising polyacrylonitriles that contain greater than 90% acrylonitrile as monomer, or copolymers of such polyacrylonitriles with an olefinic unsaturated co-monomer, can be formed by the use of certain compatibilizers and/or thermal stabilizers. Other thermoplastic compositions comprising the high nitrile polyacrylonitriles can be obtained by melt blending the polyacrylonitriles with certain aromatic engineering thermoplastic polymers in the presence of compatibilizers and thermal stabilizers. All of the foregoing high nitrile compositions have been found to possess good optical and gas barrier properties, and good stress crack resistance.

Abstract: Polyester compositions useful to improve the impact and heat distortion properties of polyethylene terephthalate, providing the polyethylene terephthalate with both high notched Izod properties and high heat distortion properties. The composition is the reaction of a terpolymer of ethylene, an acrylate or a methacrylate, and glycidyl methacrylate with polyethylene terephthalate in the presence of at least one elastomer such as a copolymer of ethylene and 1-octene, and polypropylene, an ethylene propylene copolymer, polybutyleneterephthalate, polycyclohexanedimethanolterephthalate, or mixtures thereof, having a melt flow of about 6 to about 15 g/10 min. The product has a notched Izod value of at least about 4 ft. lbs/in and a heat distortion temperature of about 150° C. to about 190° C.

Abstract: Discrete non-clumping mechanically stable geometric alloyed material shapes having about 55-95% by weight thermoplastic elastomer and about 5-45% thermoplastic polymer and about 0-12% by weight filler are used for removing organic contaminates from contaminated fluids. The shapes are typically spheres having a maximum dimension of 0.125 inches, or circular discs having a thickness of less than 6 millimeters. The shapes are put in a loose form or packing, and a fluid containing organic contaminants (such as water, air, or a soil slurry) is brought into contact with the shapes so that the shapes absorb organic contaminants from the fluid, typically absorbing more than 90% of the contaminants in the first pass through. The contaminated fluid is typically passed through an ozone generator before being brought into contact with the shapes. The shapes may be foamed, e.g. utilizing about 0.1-10% by weight foaming agent.

Abstract: Polyester compositions useful to improve the impact and heat distortion properties of polyethylene terephthalate, providing the polyethylene terephthalate with both high notched Izod properties and high heat distortion properties. The composition is the reaction of a terpolymer of ethylene, an acrylate or a methacrylate, and glycidyl methacrylate with polyethylene terephthalate in the presence of at least one elastomer such as a copolymer of ethylene and 1-octene.

Abstract: A handless or footless operation of an electrical automatic water flow control apparatus for turning water on and off without touching the faucet lever of a faucet. The electrical water flow control apparatus is installed in line between the water shutoff valves from the wall and the water supply lines that descend from a faucet. The flow control apparatus includes a housing which houses a pair of solenoid operated valves. Each solenoid operated valve has an inlet port and an outlet port, where the ports are protruding through a wall of the housing. The inlet ports are connected to the hot and cold water shutoff valves by flexible hoses. The outlet ports are connected to the water supply lines from the faucet by flexible hoses. The electrical flow control apparatus further comprises an elongated bar switch actuator and a transformer which supplies power to the solenoid operated valves.

Abstract: A handless or footless operation of an electrical automatic water flow control apparatus for turning water on and off without touching the faucet lever of a faucet. The electrical water flow control apparatus is installed in line between the water shutoff valves from the wall and the water supply lines that descend from a faucet. The flow control apparatus includes a housing which houses a pair of solenoid operated valves. Each solenoid operated valve has an inlet port and an outlet port, where the ports are protruding through a wall of the housing. The inlet ports are connected to the hot and cold water shutoff valves by flexible hoses. The outlet ports are connected to the water supply lines from the faucet by flexible hoses. The electrical flow control apparatus further comprises an elongated bar switch actuator and a transformer which supplies power to the solenoid operated valves.

Abstract: A method and compositions for removing organic contaminants from contaminated liquid, gas, or soil in fluent form are easily practiced and handled, highly absorbent, and readily collected. A foamed sheet, film, strands, or filament mat is formed from a composition comprising 5-49% by weight polystyrene, polypropylene, or other polymer; about 0-1% by weight blowing agent such as sodium tetraborate; and substantially the balance of elastomeric material. Contaminated liquid, gas, or soil in fluid form, or mixtures thereof into contact with the sheet, film, strands, or mat, so that the sheet, film, strands, or mat absorb at least 90% (typically at least 100%) of their weight of organic contaminants from the contaminated material. A sheet or film may be formed by extruding through a sheet or film die a composition of 10-45% polystyrene, 0.

Abstract: In an apparatus for forming pipe insulation discrete panels of generally rigid planar board insulation are fed through a sizing apparatus to control thickness, then fed into a vertically oriented conveyor where adjacent ends of the panels are adhered to one another to form a continuum of panels passing through the conveyor. A horizontally moving severing station cuts the panels into transverse trapezoidal segments, such that each succeeding segment is reversed relative to the adjacent segments with the severing plane being common. A tipping mechanism tips the segments according to their orientation such that all of the segments are received on a horizontal conveyor in the same orientation. An accumulator conveyor abuts the base of each segment against each adjacent segment such that a solid surface is formed for the application a backing to integrate the trapezoidal segments. Alternatively, the panels are sized and end glued on a horizontal conveyor prior to forming a series of trapezoidal segments.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced thermoplastic molded products, sheets, and the like, having a glossy surface are produced by intimately blending discrete reinforcing fibers (e.g. fiberglass) and thermoplastic fibers (e.g. polypropylene or polycarbonate) into a web. The web is heated to the melting point of the thermoplastic fibers while applying pressure, to eliminate air and press the web into a consolidated structure. Breakage of the reinforcing fibers is minimized by limiting the thickness of the web and limiting the pressure so as to produce a consolidated structure with minimal fiber breakage and a Notched Izod of at least one. Layered consolidated structures, some without reinforcing fibers, may be heated and pressed together to form a final structure having a thickness greater than the individual structures. The great majority of the fibers are provided so that the fibers of each type are within the range of about 0.5-5 inches.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced thermoplastic molded products, sheets, and the like, having a glossy surface are produced by intimately blending discrete reinforcing fibers (e.g. fiberglass) and thermoplastic fibers (e.g. polypropylene or polycarbonate) into a web. The web is heated to the melting point of the thermoplastic fibers while applying pressure, to eliminate air and press the web into a consolidated structure. Breakage of the reinforcing fibers is minimized by limiting the thickness of the web and limiting the pressure so as to produce a consolidated structure with minimal fiber breakage and a Notched Izod of at least one. Layered consolidated structures, some without reinforcing fibers, may be heated and pressed together to form a final structure having a thickness greater than the individual structures. The great majority of the fibers are provided so that the fibers of each type are within the range of about 0.5-5 inches.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced thermoplastic molded products, sheets, and the like, having a glossy surface are produced by intimately blending discrete reinforcing fibers (e.g. fiberglass) and thermoplastic fibers (e.g. polypropylene or polycarbonate) into a web. The web is heated to the melting point of the thermoplastic fibers while applying pressure, to eliminate air and press the web into a consolidated structure. Breakage of the reinforcing fibers is minimized by limiting the thickness of the web and limiting the pressure so as to produce a consolidated structure with minimal fiber breakage and a Notched Izod of at least one. Layered consolidated structures, some without reinforcing fibers, may be heated and pressed together to form a final structure having a thickness greater than the individual structures. The great majority of the fibers are provided so that the fibers of each type are within the range of about 0.5-5 inches.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced thermoplastic molded products, sheets, and the like, having a glossy surface are produced by intimately blending discrete reinforcing fibers (e.g. fiberglass) and thermoplastic fibers (e.g. polypropylene or polycarbonate) into a web. The web is heated to the melting point of the thermoplastic fibers while applying pressure, to eliminate air and press the web into a consolidated structure. Breakage of the reinforcing fibers is minimized by limiting the thickness of the web and limiting the pressure so as to produce a consolidated structure with minimal fiber breakage and a Notched Izod of at least one. Layering consolidated structures, some without reinforcing fibers, may be heated and pressed together to form a final structure having a thickness greater than the individual structures. The great majority of the fibers are provided so that the fibers of each type are within the range of about 0.5-5 inches.

Abstract: Formed articles made from polyvinyl alcohol having an oxygen permeability of no more than about 1 cc mil/100 in.sup.2 24 hr atm. at 80% relative humidity, compositions suitable for use in manufacturing such articles and a process for manufacturing such articles by forming polyvinyl alcohol containing a non-hydroxyl plasticizer in a substantially water-free condition and cooling at a rate sufficiently slow to provide the enhanced impermeability, are disclosed.

Abstract: The addition of small amounts of selected polyamides or polyesters to plasticized, melt extrudable polyvinyl alcohol homopolymer provides a composition with lower permeability to oxygen and other fixed gases.

Abstract: Formed articles made from polyvinyl alcohol having an oxygen permeability of no more than about 1 cc mil/100 in.sup.2 24 hr atm. at 80% relative humidity, compositions suitable for use in manufacturing such articles and a process for manufacturing such articles by forming polyvinyl alcohol containing a non-hydroxyl plasticizer in a substantially water-free condition and cooling at a rate sufficiently slow to provide the enhanced impermeability, are disclosed.

Abstract: Polymer blends of a polyester and polyvinyl alcohol, or their copolymers, may be fabricated into barrier packaging materials having very low permeabilities to oxygen, other fixed gases and moisture.

Abstract: Plastic films or sheets having tear lines formed therein are disclosed. These films are made by forming a score along a predetermined line in the surface of a plastic film to form a tear line and then restoring the scored film surface without eliminating the line of tear. The products tear very easily along predetermined lines even though the restored plastic films have enhanced impact strengths. By restoring the surface of the scored film, score lines become invisible to the naked eye and the useful life of the film is extended. Single-ply or multi-ply products are disclosed including products having an embossed or textutred surface, still without eliminating the capability for a smooth line of tear. The products have many utilities as structural materials which may be sized or torn by hand, including wall coverings, window shade coverings, rupturable packages and envelopes, to mention a few.

Abstract: A gate-controlled bidirectional switching device has two main terminals on opposite major surfaces of the device. A single gate terminal located adjacent one of the main terminals on one of the major surfaces receives a signal biased with respect to said one terminal to trigger the device into conduction. The device conducts current in either direction through the main terminals, depending on the polarity of an applied bias potential across the main terminals. By controlling the resistivities or the widths of two base regions in the device with respect to each other, a trigger current for switching the device from a nonconductive state to conduct current in the one direction is adjusted with respect to that required to switch the device to conduct current in the other direction.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a window shade whose width can be decreased, without cutting instruments, to conform to the size of the window opening into which the shade is to be mounted. The window shade includes a roller and a shade secured to the roller having at one or both edges a plurality of spaced strip lines, preferably invisible, extending from end-to-end parallel to the shade edges. The strip lines permit hand-stripping of discrete widths of the shade while the shade is rolled on the roller. The roller includes, substantially coincident with the strip lines of the shade, a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending strip lines permitting removal of a corresponding discrete length of the roller. In accordance with the invention disclosed, the shade can be conveniently shortened by the consumer in the home, without the need for cutting of the shade, thus eliminating the need for cutting machines.