Abstract: A sodium-azide-free gas-generating composition includes an oxidizable borohydride fuel and an oxidizing agent containing oxygen and a metal. The fuel and the oxidizing agent are selected such that water vapor is produced upon reaction between the borohydride fuel and the oxidizing agent. Suitable oxidizing agents contain a metal and oxygen and are selected from a metal oxide, a metal oxide hydrate, a metal oxide hydroxide, a metal hydrous oxide, a metal hydroxide, or mixtures thereof. The fuel and oxidizing agent are selected such that water vapor is the major gaseous combustion product.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modifying rocket motors to render them safer are disclosed. The invention is primarily related to placing within the bore of a rocket motor a sufficient quantity of a material mitigant such that if the rocket motor receives an unintended impact, the material mitigates the effects of the impact, and prevents ignition or explosion of the propellant. The material mitigant may take a number of forms; however, polymer foams and fibers of various types have been found to work well. It is presently preferred that the material mitigants have a density of not less than approximately 0.04 grams/cc. Examples of such materials include polyurethane foam, polystyrene, and Kevlar.RTM. fibers. It is also preferred that the material mitigant not be reactive with the propellant in the rocket motor.

Abstract: Oxazolines useful as bonding agents in solid rocket propellants are disclosed. The oxazoline bonding agents are capable of polymerizing in the presence of ammonium perchlorate. The bonding agents of the present invention are added to the propellant in a range from about 0.1% to about 3% concentration. Importantly, there is no increase in ammonia liberated above baseline propellant values and no increase in end of mix viscosities by using the oxazolines according to the present invention which provides substantial processing savings.

Abstract: Vinyl ethers for use as bonding agents in solid rocket propellants are disclosed. The vinyl ether bonding agents are capable of polymerizing in the presence of and around the surface of ammonium perchlorate particles. The bonding agents of the present invention are added to the propellant in a range from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight concentration. Importantly, there is no increase in ammonia liberated above baseline propellant values and no increase in end of mix viscosities by using the vinyl ethers according to the present invention which provides substantial processing savings.

Abstract: Polymers are produced from 4 and 5 member cyclic ethers, which polymers have hydroxyl functionalities of 4.

Abstract: Cyclic ethers having 4 and 5 member rings are polymerized with a alcohol initiator and an acid catalyst. The acid catalyst is used at a molar ratio relative to hydroxyl groups of the alcohol initiator of between about 0.05:1 and about 0.5:1.

Abstract: ABA triblock and A.sub.n B star polymers are produced by sequential cationic polymerization of 4 and 5 member ring cyclic ethers to initially form a B block and subsequent cationic polymerization of 4 and 5 member ring cyclic ethers to form A blocks at the termini of the B block. The B block is grown from the hydroxyl groups of a polyol having two or more hydroxyl groups, resulting in a B block having terminal hydroxyl functionality of two or greater. In growing each of the B and A blocks, the acid catalyst is used at a molar ratio relative to hydroxyl groups of the polyol initiator of between about 0.05:1 and about 0.5:1.

Abstract: Automotive airbag gas generant formulation providing an alternative to commercially used formulations containing sodium azide. The composition contains from about 25% to about 75% by weight of 5-nitro-1,2,4-trizal-3-one (usually known as nitrotriazolone). The other principal ingredient of the composition is from about 25% to about 75% by weight of an anhydrous oxidizing salt having a cation selected from metals of Group I-A of the Periodic Table (except sodium), calcium, strontium, or barium, and an anion which is essentially free of carbon, hydrogen, or halogens. From about 0.1% to about 5% of a binder can be added, if necessary. An automotive airbag inflator containing the composition and a method for generating gas comprising the step of igniting the composition stated above are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polyethers are formed by polymerizing oxetanes having one or two pendant groups which contain cyano moieties, particularly 3-cyanomethyl-3-methyl oxetane and 3,3-Bis(cyanomethyl) oxetane. The polyethers may also contain mer units derived from other cyclic ethers, including other oxetanes and tetrahydrofurans. The cyano group gives the polyether improved compatibility with nitrate ester plasticizers. The polyethers are curable with polyfunctional isocyanates to form binders for propellants, explosives or the like.

Abstract: There are described stable fluorescent labels comprising a complex of lanthanide metal and a chelating agent comprising a nucleus which is a triplet sensitizer having a triplet energy greater than that of said lanthanide metal and at least two heteroatom-containing groups which form coordinate complexes with lanthanide metals and a third heteroatom-containing group or heteratom in or appended to the triplet sensitizer. Labeled physiologically active materials useful in specific binding assays such as labeled antigens, heptens, antibodies, hormones and the like comprising the stable fluorescent labels having physiologically active materials adsorbed or bonded thereto are also described.

Abstract: There are described stable fluorescent labels comprising a complex of lanthanide metal and a chelating agent comprising a nucleus which is a triplet sensitizer having a triple energy greater than that of said lanthanide metal and at least two heteroatom-containing groups which form coordinate complexes with lanthanide metals and a third heteroatom-containing group or heteratom in or appended to the triplet sensitizer. Labeled physiologically active materials useful in specific binding assays such as labeled antigens, heptens, antibodies, hormones and the like comprising the stable fluorescent labels having physiologically active materials adsorbed or bonded thereto are also described.

Abstract: There are described stable fluorescent labels comprising a complex of lanthanide metal and a chelating agent comprising a nucleus which is a triplet sensitizer having a triplet energy greater than that of said lanthanide metal and at least two heteroatom-containing groups which form coordinate complexes with lanthanide metals and a third heteroatom-containing group or heteratom in or appended to the triplet sensitizer. Labeled physiologically active materials useful in specific binding assays such as labeled antigens, heptens, antibodies, hormones and the like comprising the stable fluorescent labels having physiologically active materials adsorbed or bonded thereto are also described.

Abstract: There are described stable fluorescent labels comprising a complex of lanthanide metal and a chelating agent comprising a nucleus which is a triplet sensitizer having a triplet energy greater than that of said lanthanide metal and at least two heteroatom-containing groups which form coordinate complexes with lanthanide metals and a third heteroatom-containing group or heteratom in or appended to the triplet sensitizer. Labeled physiologically active materials useful in specific binding assays such as labeled antigens, heptens, antibodies, hormones and the like comprising the stable fluorescent labels having physiologically active materials adsorbed or bonded thereto are also described.

Abstract: 1,2,4-Butanetriol is produced by hydroformylation of a solution of glycidol and reduction of the hydroformylation reaction products.

Abstract: Aromatic nitro compounds are disclosed where the aromatic ring contains electron-withdrawing groups and said aromatic nitro compound is capable of undergoing intramolecular nucleophilic displacement after reduction of the nitro group. The compounds are especially useful in photographic elements where an image dye-providing material or a photographic reagent are released upon cleavage from the compound.

Abstract: Photographic elements, processes for forming images in photographic elements and new compounds are disclosed. Generally, the invention relates to immobile compounds which can be used to provide positive images from negative recording-developing photographic materials such as negative silver halide emulsions. The compounds contain a photographically useful group such as a dye or dye precursor and are capable of releasing said photographically useful group under alkaline conditions, and are also capable of reaction with an oxidized silver halide developing agent before substantial release of said photographically useful group occurs, to provide a reaction product having a substantially lower rate of release of said photograhically useful group.

Abstract: Photographic elements, processes for forming images in photographic elements and new compounds are disclosed. Generally, the invention relates to improved immobile compounds which can be used to provide positive images from negative recording-developing photographic materials such as negative silver halide emulsions. The compounds contain a photographically useful group such as a dye or dye precursor and are capable of releasing said photographically useful group under alkaline conditions, and are also capable of reaction with an oxidized silver halide developing agent before substantial release of said photographically useful group occurs, to provide a reaction product having a substantially lower rate of release of said photographically useful group.

Abstract: Aromatic nitro compounds are disclosed where the aromatic ring contains electron-withdrawing groups and said aromatic nitro compound is capable of undergoing intramolecular nucleophilic displacement after reduction of the nitro group. The compounds are especially useful in photographic elements where an image dye-providing material or a photographic reagent are released upon cleavage from the compound.

Abstract: Photographic elements, processes for forming images in photographic elements and new compounds are disclosed. Generally, the invention relates to ballasted electron-accepting nucleophilic displacement compounds; after acceptance of at least one electron (reduction) by a nucleophile precursor group, the compounds are capable of undergoing intramolecular nucleophilic displacement to release a diffusible moiety, such as an image dye or a photographic reagent. In certain embodiments, the ballasted electron-accepting nucleophilic displacement compounds are used in combination with electron donors and electron-transfer agents. The processes disclosed are particularly useful in providing positive transfer images using negative-working silver halide emulsions.