Abstract: A dispersing agent comprising as an essential component a salt of a sulfonation product of a polymer of an aliphatic diene or a copolymer of an aliphatic diene and an alkenyl monomer copolymerizable therewith. This dispersing agent can be effectively applied to an aqueous solid fuel slurry to obtain a solid fuel slurry composition having excellent stability when allowed to stand, excellent mechanical stability, excellent thermal stability and excellent small amount addition efficiency.

Abstract: A process for preparing a carboxylic acid ester of a dicyclopentadiene by reacting the dicyclopentadiene with carbon monoxide and an alcohol in the presence of a cobalt compound catalyst, characterized by carrying out said reaction in the presence of 0.5 mole or more of a pyridine base per mole of the dicyclopentadiene at a temperature of 130.degree. C. or less at a carbon monoxide pressure of preferably at least 20 kg/cm.sup.2. G to hydroesterify the double bond in the norbornene ring, thereby forming a mono-carboxylate of a dicyclopentadiene, and hydroesterifying the monoesterification product as produced or the isolated monoester to the same reaction conditions as above except that the temperature is 160.degree. C. or less to hydroesterify the remaining double bond of the monoester, thereby forming a dicarboxylate of dicyclopentadiene.

Abstract: An unsaturated polyester was obtained by reacting a polyhydric alcohol with a mixture of an unsaturated polybasic acid and a specific saturated dibasic acid represented by the formula: ##STR1## or the formula: ##STR2## wherein, R.sub.1 to R.sub.10 are each hydrogen or alkyl, R' to R"" are the same or different and each represent hydrogen or ester-exchangeable alkyl, m is 1 or 2, and n is zero or 1. The compositions comprising this polyester and an aromatic vinyl monomer, when hardened in the presence of a catalyst, exhibit a lower shrinkage during the hardening and give molded products with improved resistance to alkalis and to boiling water.

Abstract: A novel cyclopentadiene derivative of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, a mono- to tetra-hydric alcohol moiety having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a metal of Groups Ia, IIa and IIb of the Periodic Table, an ammonium group or an organic amine residue; R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are independently hydrogen or alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R.sup.a, R.sup.b, and R.sup.c are independently hydrogen or alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; m is 0 or 1; and n is an integer of 1 to 4. This cyclopentadiene derivative is comparable or even superior to natural rosin in effectiveness as an emulsifier for use in the production of SBR and ABS resins or as a sizing agent in paper making.

Abstract: A novel compound represented by the formula, ##STR1## WHEREIN R is a hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, said four R's being the same or different; R.sup.1 is hydrogen, an alkali metal, an ammonium group, a mono-to tetra-hydric aliphatic alcohol moiety having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or an organic amine residue; n is an integer of 1 to 4; and R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently hydrogen or alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may form a ring when taken together. Said novel compound has properties similar to those of natural rosin or a disproportionated rosin, and is useful as a vehicle for coating compositions and printing inks, as an emulsifier for emulsion polymerization, and as a sizing agent.