Abstract: A method of laser marking substrates such as glass, ceramic, metal and plastic is disclosed. A marking material is applied to the surface of the substrate, followed by irradiation of a portion of the marking material to form a permanent marking on the substrate. The non-irradiated portion of the marking material is then removed from the substrate. The marking material may comprise glass frit or precursors thereof, inorganic pigments or precursors thereof, silicates, metal oxides, sulfides, nitrides and carbides, organometallic materials or metal powders. The marking method is highly versatile, can be performed quickly, and produces permanent marks of high resolution and contrast without damage to the substrate.

Abstract: Bismuth manganese oxide pigments are used as additives to various materials such as plastics, plastic or organic coating compositions, glass and ceramic coating compositions, and the like. The bismuth manganese oxide pigments preferably comprise Bi2Mn4O10 crystallized in the orthorhombic crystal structure. The pigments possess improved reflectance characteristics, particularly in the IR region, and may reduce IR-induced heat buildup.

Abstract: A solid catalyst material is evaporated from a coating on a transparent solid substrate and is condensed onto a solid polymeric organic catalyst carrier or into a liquid, by passing a laser beam through said solid transparent substrate and onto the back of said coating and contacting said catalyst carrier or liquid with the evaporated catalyst material. Suitably, the laser source is a ruby or a rhodamine dye laser; a suitable catalyst material is rhodium metal; and a suitable solid polymeric organic catalyst carrier is polystyrene crosslinked by divinyl benzene and a suitable liquid is aqueous polyvinyl alcohol. The process minimizes the exposure to heat of the catalyst carrier or suspending liquid.

Abstract: An improved process is described for synthetically converting methanol to ethanol in which a mixture of methanol and cobalt catalyst is pre-pressurized with an atmosphere of carbon monoxide at room temperature and at a pressure of about 10 to 1000 psi gauge, in a suitable pressure vessel. A gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide/hydrogen, in the stoichiometric 1:2 molar ratio, is then introduced to react with the methanol/cobalt catalyst mixture and the temperature is raised to about 175.degree. to 240.degree. C. at a pressure of about 3000-6000 psig. The improved process leads to higher selectivities of ethanol formation with lowered amounts of by-products.

Abstract: A process is described for the heterogeneous hydrogenation of fluorine-containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, and benzene carboxylic acids to the corresponding primary alcohols. The hydrogenation can be carried out in the liquid or vapor phase in the presence of a solid rhodium or iridium catalyst, employed as the metal, metallic oxide, or mixture thereof. In the liquid phase, the hydrogenation can be carried out batchwise under mild conditions of temperature and pressure, preferably at about 50.degree.-150.degree. C. and about 5-15 atmospheres, in an atmosphere containing hydrogen gas. A preferred embodiment is the hydrogenation of trifluoroacetic acid in the liquid phase to 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, said alcohol being useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of the anesthetic, isoflurane, CF.sub.3 CHClOCHF.sub.2.

Abstract: A process is described for the heterogeneous hydrogenation of haloalkyl, halocycloalkyl or haloaryl carboxylic anhydrides to the corresponding primary alcohols. In the haloalkyl or halocycloalkyl carboxylic anhydrides at least one halogen is in the alpha-position relative to the carboxylic anhydride grouping. The hydrogenation can be carried out in the liquid or vapor phase in the presence of a supported or unsupported catalyst comprising a member of the group consisting of rhodium, iridium, metal oxides thereof, or mixtures thereof. In the liquid phase, the hydrogenation can be carried out batchwise under mild conditions of temperature and pressure, preferably at about 50.degree.-150.degree. C. and about 5-15 atmospheres, in an atmosphere containing hydrogen gas. A preferred embodiment is the hydrogenation of trifluoroacetic anhydride in the liquid phase to 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, said alcohol being useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of the anesthetic, isoflurane, CF.sub.3 CHClOCHF.sub.2.

Abstract: An improved process is described for producing hydrogen from carbon monoxide and water in which carbon monoxide is contacted under homogeneous conditions with an alkaline aqueous liquid phase containing a soluble rhodium-containing catalyst at a reaction temperature from about 100.degree. to 300.degree. C. and at a reaction pressure from about 1 to 300 atmospheres in the presence of a saturated paraffinic water-soluble alcohol.

Abstract: An improved process is described for converting methanol to ethanol in which a mixture of methanol, liquid water and a Group VIII metal catalyst and a basic inorganic compound is contacted with an atmosphere of carbon monoxide at a temperature of about 240.degree. to 280.degree. C and a pressure of about 3,000-5,000 psi gauge. Good yields and selectivities of ethanol are obtained eliminating the necessity of using gaseous hydrogen or steam as starting materials, as required in prior art processes.