Abstract: A continuous process for the solution polymerization of appropriate polycycloolefins in a ROMP zone to obtain a processable ROMP homo- or copolymer in solution, and subsequent hydrogenation of the ROMP (co)polymer without removing the residual ROMP catalyst and co-catalyst, provides an optical product having a mol wt M.sub.w in the range from 50,000-300,000 and polydispersity M.sub.w /M.sub.n in the range from 1.3-5.0, more preferably from 1.3-3, the lower the polydispersity the more desirable the physical properties of the (co)polymer.

Abstract: An organoclay in which a quaternary long chain fatty amine is ionically bonded to clay platelets is found to function both as a filler or thickener as well as a compatibilizer in an asphaltic polyurethane (PUR) dispersion. When a PUR prepolymer is mixed into a homogenized blend of asphalt and organoclay under high shear, a phase inversion occurs the result of which is that a microdispersion of asphalt particles (preferably 1 .mu.m-44 .mu.m) becomes the dispersed phase which is uniformly scattered throughout the PUR prepolymer (the continuous phase). This dispersion is found to be an excellent adhesive, particularly for roofing components which can be secured without using conventional fasteners, and it is stable and moisture-curable to afford, when cured, an elastomer having excellent adhesion to surfaces exposed outdoors. It is also user-friendly because it is solvent-free. The asphalt is treated to react all functional groups it may have because they may react with a functional group of the PUR prepolymer.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming an electrically conductive polymer of a pyrrole monomer, optionally substituted at the 3- and 4- positions. The process comprises dispersing a polymerization initiator selected from the group consisting of anhydrous halides of iron, cobalt or nickel (Group VIII metal) in an anhydrous liquid reaction medium and, adding essentially pure pyrrole monomer, or a solution of the monomer in the liquid at a temperature in the range from about -20.degree. C. to below about the boiling point of the solution. The pyrrole polymer so formed is a Group VIII metal halide counterion, and a conductor having a conductivity in the range from about 1 to about 150 ohm.sup.-1 cm.sup.-1 ("S/cm" for brevity), or a semiconductor having a conductivity in the range from about 10.sup.-3 to about 1 S/cm, depending upon the particular structure of the monomer, the ratio of the initiator to pyrrole monomer, and the molecular weight of the polymer formed.

Abstract: The biochemical oxidation of two wastewater feeds, one containing at least ten times more ammonia nitrogen, and the other at least ten times more chlorinated hydrocarbons, than present in a conventional municipal wastewater stream were treated in an aerated packed bed bioreactor inoculated with microorganisms ("cells") especially cultured and acclimated to the task. Arbitrarily shaped pieces of numerous microporous synthetic resinous materials (familiarly referred to as "porous plastics") are discovered to provide not only an excellent packing for the bioreactor, but also a peculiar catalytic function not normally associated with a bio-support. Microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE foam) appears to be too inert to generate a high level of microbial activity for either feed which was tested, while microporous polyethylene appears to be exactly what the cells ordered.

Abstract: A method and cleaning system is disclosed for cleaning the outer surface of a fouled microfiltration (MF) or ultrafiltration (UF) semipermeable hollow fiber membrane after its initial stable transmembrane flux has been decreased to an unacceptably low level. The method is specifically applicable to any fiber used to withdraw purified water from dirty water, particularly water containing organic matter including beneficial bacteria and/or undesirable inorganic salts, where the viability of the bacteria population is to be maintained. The membrane is cleaned by flowing a cleaning fluid, preferably a biocidal oxidative electrolyte having an oxidizing anion and an associated cation through the clean, permeate-side of the membrane, at low pressure no more than the bubble pressure breakthrough, usually <300 kPa (30 psig) for a MF or UF fiber.

Abstract: A system is provided to treat wastewater from a metal-working facility, such as an automotive manufacturing plant in a bioreactor using live microorganisms. Such wastewater contains waste fluids which are a mixture of relatively easily biodegradable fats and oils, much less easily biodegradable synthetic fluids, oils and greases, and nonbiodegradable material including inorganic finely divided solids such as metal and silicon carbide particles. Such waste fluids require a hydraulic retention time (HRT) and a solids retention time (SRT) which is 10 times greater than for sewage. High quality water is separated from suspended solids which are removed from the reactor at an essentially constant rate and fed to an ultrafiltration membrane. Concentrate is recycled to the reactor, except for a bleed stream to remove solids periodically.

Abstract: A flat trapezoidal container provides a generally frustoconical bag with a single cavity when at least partially filled with a pulverulent material such as soil which may have a live plant growing therein, or comestible goods such as popcorn and other snacks which rely heavily upon spur-of-the-moment purchases by a customer who must first be visually attracted to the goods, thereafter be visually convinced of their freshness, and have the opportunity to smell and/or touch the goods prior to purchasing them. The container may also be specifically dimensioned to snugly sheath a flower pot so as to leave therebeneath, a surplus of film in an empty transition zone which is concealable under the flower pot. The container is made from two flat panels of heat-sealable film, each shaped as a trapezium; or from a single web folded double.

Abstract: Particles of a fine powder of a thermoplastic synthetic resin (host powder) having a suitable broad range between its initial glass transition temperature (initial T.sub.g) and its final T.sub.g, are partially coated with an anti-caking coating powder (coating powder) by blending at an elevated temperature to form "mottled" particles. The elevated temperature is defined in relation to the initial and final T.sub.g s as: (initial T.sub.g -20).degree. C. but below the final T.sub.g. Mottled particles, without being encapsulated, have the unique ability to maintain their individual particulate characteristics at a temperature at least 10.degree. C. above the initial T.sub.g of the uncoated host powder, and flow freely under applied pressure. Such pressure is applied by a rolling drum which spreads the mottled particles onto a target bed where they are selectively sintered With a controlled high energy beam, usually a laser beam.

Abstract: A de-labeler made with easily available structural elements which cooperate to remove a normally non-removable label from a labeled surface of a casing for magnetic media, film, and the like, without using a solvent of any kind. The labeled surface is heated just enough to cause desired viscous deformation of a thin layer of adhesive, or a sufficient decrease of viscosity to loosen the label and enable it to be manually removed, preferably by adhesive failure of the thin adhesive layer. A typical pressure sensitive adhesive ("PSA") is heated to a temperature in the range from 32.degree. C.-65.degree. C. for an interval of time from 5 to 30 seconds, in inverse relationship to the temperature at which the labeled surface is heated. The label is manually peeled away from the surface with a force in the range from 0.5 lb-force to about 10 lb-force, without distorting or otherwise damaging either the casing or the magnetic recording medium encased therein.

Abstract: A module is disclosed for use as a membrane device, comprising, a shell with fluid couplings removably affixed to each of its ends and at least one non-disassemblable cartridge operably held within the shell. The cartridge is constructed from plural wafers sequentially coaxially aligned, each wafer consisting essentially of a generally planar frame and an array of hollow fibers of selectively permeable material adhesively held by their ends in opposed portions of the border of the frame, without initially potting the ends. Each frame has a central through-passage, and multiple frames together define an axial through passage in each cartridge through which a feedstream is typically flowed in "outside-in" flow. Each opposed portion of border is provided with longitudinal, laterally spaced apart grooves in its upper surface and the fibers trained in the grooves, and successive wafers are bonded together. The bores of the fibers are in open fluid communication with the permeate zone in the shell.

Abstract: A laser-sinterable powder product has been prepared having unique properties which allow the powder to be sintered in a selective laser sintering (SLS) machine to form a sintered part which is near-fully dense. For most purposes, the sintered part is indistinguishable from another part having the same dimensions made by isotropically molding the powder. In addition to being freely flowable at a temperature near its softening temperature, the powder has a two-tier distribution in which substantially no primary particles has an average diameter greater than 180.mu.m, provided further that the number average ratio of particles smaller than 53.mu.m is greater than 80%, the remaining larger particles being in the size range from 53.mu.m to 180.mu.m. When the powder is a semicrystalline synthetic resin having a number average molecular weight in the range from about 30,000 to 500,000; a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w /M.sub.

Abstract: A novel chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) ("CPVC") resin is prepared by a two-step process which uses an organic peroxide catalyst rather than a source of actinic light. The novel two-step "photoless" process yields a CPVC ("two-step CPVC") which, even at 72% Cl, is easily fusible at 170.degree. C. It is now possible to extrude and injection mold parts with exceptional heat distortion properties attributable to the higher Cl content of the resin. The key distinguishing characteristic over a CPVC made in the presence of a distinct liquid chlorine phase, which CPVC is the most closely comparable CPVC, is when lines are drawn connecting points for measured T.sub.g s as a function of Cl content, for each type of CPVC. The slope of a line for two-step CPVC is about 15% less than the slope of a line for CPVC produced by a process in which excess chlorine is present as a distinct liquid phase.

Abstract: Substantially optically clear molding compositions comprising polymerized cycloolefin monomers (e.g., norbornene-type polymers) which, subsequent to polymerization have been hydrogenated are provided. The polymers have a weight average molecular weight of from about 37-47.times.10.sup.3.

Abstract: A moisture-curable, substantially solvent-free and anhydrous blend of a bituminous material such as asphalt and a liquid prepolymer is disclosed, which blend when cured, results in an elastomer having excellent adhesion to surfaces exposed outdoors. The stability of the blend derives from asphalt being microdispersed in a dispersed phase within a continuous phase of the liquid prepolymer so that particles of asphalt are in the size range from 0.5 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m. The asphalt is treated to react all functional groups it may have because they may react with a functional group of the liquid prepolymer. The prepolymer is a polyurethane, a terpolymer of ethylene-propylene-diene, or a silicone. The microdispersion is stably maintained by a compatibilizer having opposed substantially polar and non-polar terminal portions, present in an amount in the range from 0.01 to 5 parts per 100 parts of the blend. The compatibilizer is chosen from (A) an ester of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.

Abstract: A continuous block caster is provided with a mold block assembly having an internal anchor pin which is insulated. One end of a support pin, many of which are used to support each block, is threaded into the anchor pin, the other end is demountably secured in a fastening member in turn fastened to a carriage block. All the fastening members except only one at the center, are y- or x-y slides, so termed because they permit lateral movement of the support pin. A stepped lock-down key which provides a camming means, allows an entire mold block assembly and supporting pin assembly to be connected and disconnected quickly from the carriage block by rotating the key. Insulating the support pin in this manner allows the planarity of a casting face to be maintained in a lateral plane within 5 mils (127 micrometers) of vertical movement. Such limited distortion does not adversely affect the planarity of the upper and lower faces of the cast slab.

Abstract: A continuous process for making N,N-dimethylacrylamide (NNDMA) is disclosed which uses a commodity chemical, namely vinyl chloride (VCl), which is amidated with dimethylamine (DMA) and carbon monoxide in the presence of a supported palladium(O) triorganophosphine catalyst used under conditions where the ratio of P/Pd is critical. The continous process unexpectedly provides the catalyst with long life because the reaction can be carried out in a moving bed of catalyst in the presence of enough acetonitrile solvent to prevent deposition of DMA.HCl, formed during the reaction, in the pores of the catalyst support.

Abstract: This method teaches how to recover and reuse a powder of a thermally degradable material which is used in a selective laser sintering (SLS) process. To recycle such a laser-sinterable powder successfully in a SLS machine it is protected against degradation by cooling the hot bed while layer-upon-layer (layer-wise) of powder is being sintered, seriatim, to form successive slices fused together to form an article of arbitrary shape (part). The process requires maintaining the powder which has more than 80% of the number of particles <53 .mu.m as a quiescent bed which is nevertheless porous enough to permit flowing a cooling gas downwardly through the bed without disrupting its surface. Since each slice is formed at the surface, and the part, as it is formed, is supported in a well-insulated bed, the powder adjacent the slice is at a much higher temperature than powder in the rest of the bed, which, but for the cooling gas, would get overheated.

Abstract: A shaped strip of highly reflective aluminum protected by an anodic oxide coating and a light-permeable fluoropolymer coating which is non-adhesively interstitially mechanically bonded to the microscopic irregularities of the anodic oxide surface. There is no adhesive used to obtain chain entanglement. The highly reflective strip may be substituted for polished stainless steel and/or bi-metal and used under comparably aggressive conditions for a prolonged period without deleteriously affecting the initial D/I (distinctness of reflected image) of the shaped strip. The strip of arbitrary length is shaped in rolling dies so that at least a portion of the strip has a radius of less than 10 mm without damaging or separating the fluoropolymer coating. The specific steps of the claimed process require starting with a clean strip which is brightened to a nearmirror-like finish, then treated to carry a thin porous aluminum oxide coating in a phosphoric acid bath under direct current (DC).

Abstract: A twice-anodized aluminum substrate is anodized sequentially in first and second aqueous electrolytes. In the first, the substrate is conventionally anodized to produce (i) a porous anodic oxide layer having open pores and a passivation layer thereunder. The substrate, now singly-coated, is then anodized in the second electrolyte of an aqueous solution of an organophosphorus compound which generates a residue which is chemisorbed and covalently bonded to the substrate to form (ii) a monomolecular essentially continuous monolayer on the outer surface of (i), and at the same time, the second anodizing step produces (iii) a barrier layer of non-porous aluminum oxide under (i). The thickness of this barrier layer can be increased as a function of the voltage used while maintaining the thickness of (i) substantially constant, and (ii) protects (i) from dissolution.

Abstract: A friction wedge for use in a railroad car truck bolster pocket which has a slanted rear wall and adjoining side walls perpendicular thereto, one surface thereof adapted to bear against a portion of a car truck side frame and a slanted surface and adjoining sides adapted to bear against the slanted rear wall and adjoining side walls of the bolster pocket. The friction wedge includes a metal body and a polymer cover providing the slanted surface and adjoining sides, with the polymer cover being formed in a plurality of sections movable relative to each other and the metal body such that, during use, the polymer sections may move into contact with the pocket rear wall and adjoining side walls.