Abstract: The present invention is addressed to a curable, marine anti-fouling composition of a thermoplastic or thermosetting binder, solvent, non-tin, organo antifouling agent, and optionally conventional additives, e.g. leaching agents, opacifying pigments, etc. The anti-fouling agents are found in preferentially-concentrated domains (hereinafter, often referred to as "PCD") in the cured compositions. The PCDs can be termed non-homogeneous, phase-separated, or incompatible in the system. The art term used in describing the PCDs of anti-fouling agent is not limitative of the invention as the disclosure herein will demonstate. Preferably, PCDs are created by forming an oligomeric adduct of the anti-fouling agent which adduct is formed into PCDs upon the curing of the composition. Additional techniques for forming PCDs of anti-fouling agent are revealed herein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a non-emissive, bimodal cured polymeric network which has an onset degradation temperature that is about 100.degree. C. above the onset degradation temperature of a base polymer. The novel cured polymeric network comprises the cured reaction product of the following ingredients: (a) combination of one or more liquid carrier monomers or prepolymers which combination is reactive to form a base polymer by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the presence of a UV photosensitizer at a temperature, T.sub.uv ; and (b) between about 10 and 100 wt-% based on ingredient (a) of a combination of one or more monomers or prepolymers which combination is reactive to form a cured high temperature stable polymer by heating at a temperature, T.sub..DELTA.. Ingredient (b) is soluble or dispersible in ingredient (a) at a temperature, T.sub.s, wherein T.sub.s is equal to or lower than T.sub.uv, and T.sub.uv is at least about 50.degree. C. lower than T.sub..DELTA..

Abstract: A distributed fiber-optic sensor is obtained by using cladding that produces a change in the intensity of scattered light in the cladding of an optical fiber in response to a change in the environment of the cladding. The change in clad scattered light is coupled into the core causing a change in the intensity of backscattered light in the core. A sensing means such as an optical time domain refractometer is used to determine the change in intensity of the core backscattered light at a specific location along the fiber. The change in intensity of the scattered light in the clad is caused by overall changes in the amount of light in the cladding and changes in the number, size or both of the refractive index inhomogeneities in the cladding. These inhomogeneities can be, but are not limited to, composition variations, density variations of the same composition, phase separations, voids, or particulate inclusions.

Abstract: Improved thermooptical sensing devices are provided wherein at various predetermined sectons of an optical fiber is juxtaposed a material characterized by a temperature dependent index of refraction. This material forms a temperature sensitive area which controls the transmission of light through the optical fiber thereby allowing detection of temperature changes along the fiber. The materials may be crystalline thermoplastic polymers, modified organic polymers containing inorganic modifiers, polymer systems containing discrete phases of organic polymers and inorganic additives or thermochromic inorganic compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed are new piezoelectric/pyroelectric materials of polarized homopolymer and copolymers of trifluorovinyl acetate. Also disclosed is a unique predictive relationship for determining the piezoelectricity of unknown material.

Abstract: A shaped polyolefin structure, such as a polyolefin fiber or a nonwoven web containing polyolefin fibers, is rendered hydrophilic by contacting the structure with a gaseous mixture of chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen or carbon monoxide or a mixture thereof, in the presence of a free radical-producing means. Such treatment results in the formation of hydrogen sulfato groups at the structure surface. Preferably, the hydrogen sulfato groups are converted to ammonium sulfato groups by subsequent treatment with ammonia or a sufficiently basic amine.

Abstract: A method for enhancing surface properties of a polymeric solid is disclosed involving chlorination in the presence of actinic light to a depth substantially not in excess of 1800 .ANG. and to a chlorine content by weight in said 1800 .ANG. layer not exceeding 20%. Such limited chlorination of only the molecular surface layer provides enhancement of the polymeric solids' surface and barrier properties without any perceptible deterioration of the polymer's bulk physical properties.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel catalyst systems and method for curing a peroxide-curable ethylenically unsaturated (e.g. acrylic or vinyl) composition wherein the catalyst system is a combination of the peroxide curing agent and a Cu.sup.+1 activator or a combination of a peroxide curing agent and an activator system comprising a furfuryl alcohol and an acid catalyst. Also disclosed is a new catalyst system for curing ring compounds (e.g. epoxides) which comprises a combination of ferrocene and a diazonium salt of a Lewis acid. Preferred curable compositions are adhesives and especially acrylic adhesives and epoxy adhesives.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel catalyst systems and method for curing a peroxide-curable ethylenically unsaturated (e.g. acrylic or vinyl) composition wherein the catalyst system is a combination of the peroxide curing agent and a Cu.sup.+1 activator or a combination of a peroxide curing agent and an activator system comprising a furfuryl alcohol and an acid catalyst. Also disclosed is a new catalyst system for curing ring compounds (e.g. epoxides) which comprises a combination of ferrocene and a diazonium salt of a Lewis acid. Preferred curable compositions are adhesives and especially acrylic adhesives and epoxy adhesives. Also disclosed is a new adhesion promoter which improves the adhesion of acrylic adhesive.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photopolymerizable vehicle and method for the selective photopolymerization of said vehicle by the application of a plurality of different selected wavelengths of energy wherein any single wavelength of energy is inadequate for effecting said photopolymerization. The method comprises sequentially applying a plurality of different selected wavelengths of energy to said vehicle whereby polymerization is effected at the intersection of said wavelengths of energy.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved marine anti-fouling coating composition of a thermoplastic binder, an organic solvent, a tin anti-fouling agent, a copper anti-fouling agent, and a water-soluble leaching agent. The improvement in can stability for said coating composition comprises the leaching agent being a water-sensitive, solvent soluble non-cross-linked polymer having an acid number of below about 50 and a .chi. value of between about 0.1 and 0.3; or a water-sensitive, solvent soluble, polymer having an acid number of below about 50 and a .chi. value between about 0.3 and 0.6. The water sensitive solvent insoluble polymer may be a non-cross-linked oligomer or polymer or a cross-linked hydrogel possessing the requisite acid number and .chi. value restriction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating a thermoplastic substrate for improving the surface thereof without significant loss of physical properties. Such method comprises:(a) determining the solubility parameter, .delta..sub.T, of said thermoplastic substrate and the surface energy, .gamma..sub.T, of said thermoplastic substrate;(b) determining a set of destructive solvents which are detrimental to a physical property of said thermoplastic substrate;(c) determining a set of non-destructive solvents which are not detrimental to the physical properties of said thermoplastic substrate;(d) determining the solubility parameters for said set of destructive solvent, .delta..sub.D, and for said set of non-destructive solvent, .delta..sub.N ; and the surface tension for said set of destructive solvent, .gamma..sub.D, and for said non-destructive solvent, .gamma..sub.N ;(e) selecting a subset of said destructive solvents which possess solubility parameters, .delta..sub.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel catalyst systems and method for curing a peroxide-curable ethylenically unsaturated (e.g. acrylic or vinyl) composition wherein the catalyst system is a combination of the peroxide curing agent and a Cu.sup.+1 activator or a combination of a peroxide curing agent and an activator system comprising a furfuryl alcohol and an acid catalyst. Also disclosed is a new catalyst system for curing ring compounds (e.g. epoxides) which comprises a combination of ferrocene and a diazonium salt of a Lewis acid. Preferred curable compositions are adhesives and especially acrylic adhesives and epoxy adhesives.

Abstract: Thin, pinhole-free, adherent, colored polymeric coatings and articles are produced by plasma polymerization followed by a heat treatment. The polymer precursor is mixed with a dye or pigment and shaped into a self-supporting thin article or applied to a substrate. The coating or article is then polymerized under plasma conditions created by an applied electrical field. Subsequent heat treatment further cures the polymer and makes the coating adherent to the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-emissive, flame-retardant coating composition comprising a flame-retardant polymer; a solvent selected from water and/or a liquid, curable, non-flame promoting polyhalogenated solvent containing air-dryable functionality; and, optionally, a non-emissive, non-flame promoting surface-active agent selected from: a cationic, non-emissive, non-flame promoting, curable polyhalogenated compound containing an air-dryable group and a cationic surface-active group; an anionic, non-emissive, non-flame promoting, curable polyhalogenated compound containing an air-dryable group and an anionic surface-active group; and a nonionic, non-emissive, non-flame promoting polyhalogenated compound containing a nonionic surface-active group.

Abstract: A method of accurately determining the degree of resin coating on the conductive particles in a conductive molding composition for a conductive, high density information disc at various stages in the manufacturing process as well as in the finished disc through the use of electron spin resonance techniques. The method is likewise useful in evaluating proposed changes in the formulation and processing parameters of the conductive molding composition.

Abstract: An ungelled composition of matter comprising a compound containing groups reactive with isocyanate, a compound containing groups reactive with mercaptan, and a carbamothioate curing agent adapted to generate a plurality of curing units upon being subjected to heating above about critical temperature. The generated curing units contain isocyanate groups, mercaptan groups, or combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments of this invention, the ungelled composition is adapted for use in powder coatings, anodic electrocoating, and cathodic electrocoating.

Abstract: An ungelled composition of matter comprising a compound containing groups reactive with isocyanate, a compound containing groups reactive with mercaptan, and a carbamothioate curing agent adapted to generate a plurality of curing units upon being subjected to heating above about critical temperature. The generated curing units contain isocyanate groups, mercaptan groups, or combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments of this invention, the ungelled composition is adapted for use in powder coatings, anodic electrocoating, and cathodic electrocoating.

Abstract: An electrocoating composition containing a polymer having pendant amine groups, an alpha-, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carbonyl cross-linking agent, and an ultraviolet photosensitizer can be electrodeposited onto a cathode substrate disposed within an aqueous electrocoating bath. The amine groups of the polymer are protonated to render the polymer water dispersible prior to electrodeposition and upon electrodeposition the amine groups become de-protonated. The cross-linking agent cross-links the polymer upon ultraviolet irradiation of the electrocoated cathode substrate to form a fully-cured electrodeposited coating on the cathode substrate.

Abstract: An ultraviolet radiation curable coating composition containing a certain adhesion promotor for adhesion to metal substrates. The ultraviolet curable coating composition comprises an ethylenically unsaturated binder vehicle, about 10% to 40% by weight of a certain high T.sub.g (glass transition temperature) adhesion promotor polymeric additive, and an ultraviolet sensitizer.