Abstract: A method of indicating a state of progress of a task being processed in a computer system by providing a progress-indicating visual pointer on a display device of the computer system. Prior art visual pointers (such as an arrowhead) are responsive to a pointer device such as a mouse, and are used to manipulate features of a graphical user interface (GUI). These prior art pointers do not indicate the state of progress of a task underway, but rather only indicate that the task is still running. The progress-indicating pointer of the present invention can take the form of a wristwatch or clock icon having a face which is filled, e.g., in a clockwise fashion, or the form of an hourglass icon having a portion, e.g., the lower half of the hourglass, which is filled in an amount proportionate to the state of progress of the task being processed. The different states of the icon can easily be presented by providing a plurality of bitmaps (e.g.

Abstract: An aromatic ester carbonate resin comprised of:(i) at least one recurring structural unit represented by the formula ##STR1## (ii) at least one recurring structural unit selected from structural units represented by the formulae ##STR2## or mixtures thereof; and (iii) at least one recurring structural unit represented by the formula ##STR3## (iv) at least one recurring structural unit selected from structural units represented by the formulae ##STR4## or mixtures thereof; wherein R is independently selected from halogen, monovalent hydrocarbon radicals, or monovalent hydrocarbonoxy radicals,W is selected from divalent hydrocarbon radicals, ##STR5## A is the divalent residue of at least one polymerized conjugated alkadiene and has a weight average molecular weight of at least about 600,m is independently selected from integers having a value of from 0 to 4, andb is either zero or one, andwherein B is the divalent residue of an ester precursor.

Abstract: Thermoplastic aromatic polycarbonate containing the polymerized reaction products of (i) at least one dihydric phenol, (ii) a carbonate precursor, and (iii) at least one end-capping agent represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein: R is independently selected from alkyl radicals;Z is a cycloalkyl radical; andn is an integer having a value of from 0 to 4 inclusive.

Abstract: High molecular weight thermoplastic aromatic carbonate resin exhibiting improved impact properties comprised of the polymerized reaction products of:(i) at least one dihydric phenol;(ii) a carbonate precursor; and(iii) an amount effective to improve the impact properties of said resin of at least one polymer represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein A represents a divalent residue of at least one polymerized and partially hydrogenated conjugated alkadiene monomer and has a weight average molecular weight of at least about 600, and X is independently selected from halogen radicals.

Abstract: Chromans such as Chroman-I are prepared by the reaction of a corresponding phenol with diacetone alcohol.

Abstract: An aromatic carbonate resin comprised of:(i) at least one recurring structural unit represented by the formula ##STR1## (ii) at least one recurring structural unit selected from structural units represented by the formulae ##STR2## wherein R is independently selected from halogen, monovalent hydrocarbon, and monovalent hydrocarbonoxy radicals;W is selected from divalent hydrocarbon radicals, --O--, --S--, --S--S--, ##STR3## A is a divalent residue of at least one conjugated alkadiene and has a weight average molecular weight of at least about 600,m is independently selected from integers having a value of from 0 to 4, andb is either zero or one.The carbonate resin contains an amount of (ii) at least effective to improve the impact properties thereof.

Abstract: Thermoplastic aromatic polycarbonate containing the polymerized reaction products of (i) at least one dihydric phenol, (ii) a carbonate precursor, and (iii) at least one end-capping agent represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein: R is independently selected from alkyl radicals;Z is a cycloalkyl radical; andn is an integer having a value of from 0 to 4 inclusive.

Abstract: High molecular weight thermoplastic aromatic carbonate resin exhibiting improved impact properties comprised of the polymerized reaction products of:(i) at least one dihydric phenol;(ii) a carbonate precursor; and(iii) an amount effective to improve the impact properties of said resin of at least one polymer represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein A represents a divalent residue of at least one polymerized and partially hydrogenated conjugated alkadiene monomer and has a weight average molecular weight of at least about 600, and X is independently selected from halogen radicals.

Abstract: Thermoplastic aromatic polycarbonate containing the polymerized reaction products of (i) at least one dihydric phenol, (ii) a carbonate precursor, and (iii) at least one end capping agent represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein: R is independently selected from alkyl radicals;Z is a cycloalkenyl radical; andn is an integer having a value of from 0 to 4 inclusive.

Abstract: Novel heat resistant polycarbonates are provided which are the polymerized reaction products of:(i) a carbonate precursor; and(ii) at least one dihydric phenol selected from dihydric phenols represented by the general formulae ##STR1## wherein: each R.sup.1 is independently selected from halogen radicals, monovalent hydrocarbon radicals, and monovalent hydrocarbonoxy radicals;each R.sup.2 is independently selected from halogen radicals, monovalent hydrocarbon radicals, and monovalent hydrocarbonoxy radicals;R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from monovalent hydrocarbon radicals;R.sup.3 is selected from hydrogen and monovalent hydrocarbon radicals, with the proviso that if R.sup.3 is a hydrogen radical than at least one of the monovalent hydrocarbon radicals represented by R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 contains at least two carbon atoms;R.sup.7 is selected from hydrogen and monovalent hydrocarbon radicals;R.sup.

Abstract: Polyarylates having amide terminal groups are prepared using a terminating amount of ammonia, ammonium compounds, primary amines, secondary amines, hydrogen ammonium salts of secondary amines, or hydrogen ammonium salts of primary amines. These amide terminated polyarylates exhibit improved thermal properties and are useful in the production of films and molded articles.

Abstract: Thermoplastic, linear, high molecular weight, end-capped aromatic polycarbonate polymers exhibiting improved heat resistance derived from:(i) a carbonate precursor; and(ii) at least one dihydric phenol represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein X is selected from monocyclic cycloalkylidene radicals containing from 10 to about 16 ring carbon atoms. These polycarbonate polymers have an intrinsic viscosity in methylene chloride at 25.degree. C. of at least 0.38 dl./gm.

Abstract: Linear thermoplastic polycarbonates derived from:(i) a carbonate precursor; and(ii) at least one dihydric phenol represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R is independently selected from hydrogen and lower alkyl radicals,X is selected from monocyclic cycloalkylidene radicals containing from 8 to about 16 ring carbon atoms, andn and n' are independently selected from whole numbers having a value of from 0 to 2 inclusive, with the proviso that the sum of n plus n' is at least one.

Abstract: High molecular weight aromatic carbonate resin comprised of the polymerized reaction products of:(i) at least one dihydric phenol;(ii) a carbonate precursor; and(iii) an amount at least effective to improve the impact properties of said resin of at least one polymer selected from polymers represented by the formula ##STR1## thereof; wherein A is selected from the divalent residues of at least one polymerized and fully hydrogenated conjugated alkadiene and has a weight average molecular weight of at least about 600, and X is independently selected from halogen radicals.At lower amounts of (iii) these resins exhibit improved impact properties, while at higher amounts of (iii) the resins exhibit rubbery and elastomeric characteristics.

Abstract: A process for preparing aryl sulfone sulfonic acids by reacting an aryl sulfone in the molten state with sulfur trioxide under substantially anhydrous conditions.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of aromatic carbonates selected from aliphatic aromatic carbonates and diaromatic carbonates comprising reacting at least one phenolic compound with at least one dialiphatic carbonate or at least one aliphatic aromatic carbonate in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprised of (i) at least one Lewis acid, and (ii) at least one protic acid.

Abstract: Polycarbonates exhibiting improved heat resistances comprised of the reaction products of (i) a carbonate precursor and (ii) at least one dihydric phenol represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein: R and R.sup.1 are independently selected from alkyl radicals;A is selected from divalent hydrocarbon radicals, ##STR2## and n is either zero or one.

Abstract: Polycarbonates exhibiting improved heat distortion temperatures which are comprised of the polymerized coreaction products of (i) a carbonate precursor, and (ii) at least one particular spiro dihydric phenol.

Abstract: Processes for the preparation of bisphenols from phenols and substituted vicinal glycols, or unsaturated alcohols or substituted dienes resulting in bisphenols represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from monovalent hydrocarbon and monovalent hydrocarbonoxy radicals of one to four carbon atoms, or from halogen radicals;R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 is each a lower alkyl radical, preferably of one to four carbon atoms, aryl radicals, alkaryl radicals, aralkyl radicals, and cycloalkyl radicals, and is the same or different; R.sup.5 may also be hydrogen.n and n.sup.1 are independently selected from whole numbers having a value of from 0 to 4 inclusive.

Abstract: Novel heat resistant polycarbonates are provided which are the polymerized reaction products of:(i) a carbonate precursor; and(ii) at least one dihydric phenol selected from dihydric phenols represented by the general formulae ##STR1## wherein: each R.sup.1 is independently selected from halogen radicals, monovalent hydrocarbon radicals, and monovalent hydrocarbonoxy radicals;each R.sup.2 is independently selected from halogen radicals, monovalent hydrocarbon radicals, and monovalent hydrocarbonoxy radicals;R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from monovalent hydrocarbon radicals;R.sup.3 is selected from hydrogen and monovalent hydrocarbon radicals, with the proviso that if R.sup.3 is a hydrogen radical then at least one of the monovalent hydrocarbon radicals represented by R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 contains at least two carbon atoms;R.sup.7 is selected from hydrogen and monovalent hydrocarbon radicals;R.sup.