Abstract: A branched chain polyalkylene polyamine ("PAPA") having plural amine groups, including a secondary amine group intermediate terminal primary amine groups one of which is hindered, and having at least two carbon atoms between each group, is selectively reductively alkylated with a ketone. The reaction provides a convenient method for selectively reductively alkylating a PAPA having a hindered primary amine group, the method comprising contacting the PAPA with hydrogen and the ketone in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a Group VIII metal on a catalyst support, at a pressure in the range from about 500-1000 psi and a temperature in the range from about 50.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to preferentially alkylate the unhindered amine primary terminal amine group. The alkylation proceeds essentially without alkylating either the sterically hindered terminal primary amine group or the intermediate unhindered secondary amine group.

Abstract: An essentially flat "arc-grained" surface of a sheet of aluminum alloy is produced with a coarse and non-uniform microstructure which, after it is coated with a durable phosphate-free coating, provides excellent lithoplate. Though such arc-grained microstructure is much coarser than an electrochemically etched surface typically used on lithoplate, the very coarse surface is peculiarly well-adapted to provide durable lithoplate after it is coated with a phosphate-free protective surface. After the coated surface is coated with a photoresist the excellent resolution of prints is maintained over a large number of repeated uses in an off-set printing press.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing wax microspheres from molten wax. Hot water or other motive liquid in which molten wax is immiscible, is flowed under pressure through an orifice zone into which the molten wax is drawn to form a dispersion of molten wax. The dispersion is discharged into a liquid in which the wax is also immiscible, so that the wax solidifies. The liquid is maintained at a controlled temperature below the melting point of the wax. Essentially spherical wax microspheres are formed in the size range from 1.mu. to about 350.mu. in a two-tier weight distribution. A mass of these wax microspheres are recovered from the surface of the liquid, and dried to yield a mass of free-flowing individual wax microspheres which are used to produce a sintered porous body having a void fraction in the range from about 0.1 to 0.5.

Abstract: A module is disclosed for use as a membrane device, comprising, a shell with fluid couplings removably affixed to each of its ends containing at least one cartridge having an axial conduit. The cartridge is formed with plural frameless arrays of hollow fibers of selectively permeable material. Each array is free of any means to support the fibers intermediate split-clip headers in which the fibers are held near their opposite ends, except for tension cords which may be substituted for fibers. The split-clip headers are mirror-images of each other. Each has a peripheral potting channel and longitudinal, laterally spaced apart grooves in the split-clip headers. The upper and lower sections, placed one upon the other, together form through-passages ("grooves") in which terminal portions of the fibers are snugly embraced. The fibers lie in parallel spaced-apart relationship in a plane substantially orthogonal to the axial conduit, and their ends are cut before a stack of arrays is potted.

Abstract: This invention relates to a comb-shaped graft copolymer, to a process for making the comb, and to a polymer blend made with the comb. The comb is made by a free radical polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer with a macromolecular monomer ("macromer" for brevity) of a haloalkylene oxide ("HAO" for brevity) homopolymer, random or block copolymer. The comb copolymer and blends of the comb with a polymer(s) may be cured. A comb with a terminal acrylyl or methacrylyl group or "head" and pendant polyether chains, which always include some HAO repeating units, may be made in an emulsion or suspension polymerization process which provides a comb having adequately high molecular weight so that the comb may be used in blends. The preferred comb of epichlorohydrin has a (meth)acrylyl head at one end, through which it (the macromer) is polymerizable, and a terminal hydroxyl (OH) group, or an end-capping group derived from the OH group at the other end.

Abstract: An apparently conventional playing card is invisibly coded so that it can only be read face down, by an electro-optic reading means. The card may be of non-laminated conventional card stock which has a substantially white surface conventionally printed with the identification of the suit and value of the card with inks chosen because they are visible but substantially transparent to wavelengths outside the visible range. The face of the card is coded with indicia inklessly marked across its surface with a compound which absorbs wavelengths (outside the visible range) which wavelengths are used by the reading means to read the indicia. The indicia, invisible to the human eye, correspond to a code which uniquely identifies the card. The card may be laminated from top and base sheets and the code concealed behind the front printed face of the top sheet. The upper surface of the top sheet is imprinted with the face value of the card with the inks described.

Abstract: A pervaporation membrane comprises a porous, preferably microporous support which is filled from its exterior to its interior surface with a solid, non-removable organophilic polymer which exhibits permselective properties. A support so filled with the polymer and at least 20 .mu.m thick, preferably 50 .mu.m to about 200 .mu.m thick, referred to as a "thick" film, will preferentially block out water in which a target component is dispersed, yet allow diffusion of the target component. The polymer is forced through the pores of the support, which pores, before they are filled, provided open fluid communication between the opposed interior and exterior surfaces of the support. Preferably, impregnated polymer exudes through and overflows the pores, spreading upon the opposed surfaces of the porous support, and providing opposed coextensive films on either side of the porous support, the films being interconnected by microtendrils of polymer in the pores and channels of the support.

Abstract: A unique two-step process is disclosed for the surprisingly high rate of amidation of vinyl chloride (VCl) with carbon monoxide and certain amines catalyzed by an effective amount of monodentate tertiary phosphonium complexes of Pd(0). The rate is orders of magnitude faster than that of other monochloroalkenes. When compared with the three chloropropenes, the simplest alkyl-substituted derivatives of VCl, rates differ by a factor of about 40 to 70 with ammonia as the amine. The reaction product with VCl is mainly the Michael adduct of the amine with the acrylamide produced. However, the chloroprenes give the propenamides with retention of configuration in the case of cis- and trans-1-chloropropene, and no adduct formation. The formation of this adduct has an important influence on catalyst stability since it can compete with the addition of the tertiary-phosphonium ligand from the catalyst complex.

Abstract: In a system for biodegrading oxidizable organic waste in a bioreactor in combination with a membrane ultrafiltration unit used to separate a high quality permeate from activated sludge which is returned to the bioreactor from the membrane unit as a recycle stream, it has been found that an in-line fine bubble diffuser or "micronizer" takes advantage of the kinetic energy in the recycle stream to aerate the biomass with surprising efficiency. The micronizer is positioned external to the biomass in the bioreactor; the discharge from the micronizer provides a microaerated tail-jet of the recycle stream which has been infused with a mass of air bubbles from 1-1000 .mu.m in diameter. The velocity of the compressed air flowed into the micronizer keeps its pores from clogging with sludge. The energy of the recycle stream without the air is insufficient to provide the requisite motive force for adequate oxygen transfer and to establish a predetermined recirculation pattern.

Abstract: A novel latex is derived from a crosslinked carboxylate latex containing from 1-20 phr of itaconic acid (IA) and at least 70 phr of one or more copolymerizable monomers one of which is an acrylate having the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl;R.sub.2 represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 alkylthioalkyl, or C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 cyanoalkyl; andat least 40 phr of said acrylate in said film is present as an alkyl acrylate in which alkyl is C.sub.4 -C.sub.8. The latex can only be formed in an aqueous medium by an emulsion polymerization process in which at least one-half of the IA is initially charged into a reactor, and the remaining ingredients of the receipe then added gradually. This unique order of addition produces a highly stable latex of polymer particles having a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) in the range from about -20.degree. C. to about -60.degree. C.

Abstract: A continuous casting machine ("block caster") is provided with chain-wise interlinking of mold block assemblies. Such chain-wise interlinking maintains the mold block assemblies essentially contiguous and is essential to provide operation of a continuous casting machine essentially free of mechanical noise. Each mold block assembly is elastically independently hinged by dual parallel hingepins, spaced-apart in the casting direction (x-axis), as the mold block assembly is carried between opposed, transversely (y-axis) spaced-apart guide rails of each carriage track. The elastic hinge means compensates for variation in block-to-block (centerline) distance caused by kinematic phenomena, including thermally induced variations in the dimensions of individual blocks as a function of their position in each track during operation. Guide rollers guided in generally horizontal guide roller-ways are afforded no measurable tolerance relative to their vertical displacement, when the roller-ways are off-set.

Abstract: A non-sag agent useful in providing non-sag properties to many conventional curable, polymeric adhesives and sealants, said agent comprising:a first component comprising crush resistant coated particles wherein the first component particles are less than about 1 and 1/2 microns in size and have a coating of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the particle and wherein said coating substantially comprises a first surface modifying agent,a second component comprising crush resistant coated particles wherein the second component particles are about 1 and 1/2 to about 3 microns in size and have a coating of about 0.

Abstract: Excellent stabilization of polypropylene (PP) fibers exposed to sterilization levels of gamma radiation, is obtained with a hybrid stabilizer having a N-(substituted)-1-(piperazin-2-one alkyl) group at one end and a (3,5-dialkyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-.alpha.,.alpha.-disubstituted acetamide at the other. When this hybrid of a hindered amine with a hindered phenol is combined through a disubstituted alpha carbon atom of the acetamide in a single molecule, it affords the advantages of each group with respect to its stabilization against oxidation, but without the known inherent disadvantages of either group. This molecule is N-(substituted)-1-(piperazin-2-one alkyl)-.alpha.-(3,5-dialkyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-.alpha.,.alpha.-substituted acetamide molecule ("3,5-DHPZNA" for brevity).

Abstract: Blends are formed with numerous commercially available resins and a comb-shaped polymer ("comb" for brevity) of a macromolecular monomer of a polylactone having terminal vinyl unsaturation so long as the polylactone chains are long enough to be compatible with one of the components to be blended. The comb may be formed with any polymerizable olefinically unsaturated monomer, preferably a vinyl, styryl, or acryloyl monomer. The vinyl unsaturation of the "head" of the macromer of polylactone may be acryloyl, styryl or allyl. The comb is made by a low temperature emulsion or suspension polymerization process. The comb, which has a hydrocarbon backbone and pendant polylactone chains, typically has a number average molecular weight of at least 10,000. A blend of first and second resins which are normally incompatible with each other, is also produced using a comb in which the backbone is compatible with one of the resins.

Abstract: An apparatus for building a tire having an inner liner to which a sealant strip is to be laminated, comprises a rotary drum having a surface in which a trough or "groove" is provided. The depth of the groove corresponds approximately to the thickness of a layer of an elastomeric sealant which is to be placed in the groove. If the walls of the groove are contoured so as to confine the sealant layer in a specified manner while accommodating the thermo-viscous properties of the laminate, the completed first stage carcass may be removed without damaging the sealant layer which is adhered to the inner liner.

Abstract: A copolymer of an olefinically unsaturated monomer and an allylically headed macromolecular monomer ("macromer") of a ring-openable cyclic ether ("CE") is prepared as a comb-shaped graft copolymer of macromer. A wide variety of olefinically unsaturated monomers may be used to form the copolymer. The macromer, having an allylic group near one end and a hydroxyl group at the other, is first produced by cationic ring-opening polymerization of the CE in conjunction with an unsaturated alcohol (propagator) having an allyl double bond. The polymerization to form the graft copolymer proceeds either by free radical polymerization or by metathesis polymerization. The graft copolymer of macromer has a hydrocarbon backbone and pendant chains of polymerized CE, each pendant chain terminating with an OH group.

Abstract: The prior art solvent process for the manufacture of an oxo-piperazinyl triazine (PIP-T) compound required carrying out the reaction between an appropriately hindered cyclic amine and cyanuric chloride in the presence of caustic catalyst, in alkylbenzene solution, typically toluene. The chloride ions generated during the reaction, in presence of water present in the reaction zone, produced serious corrosion and resulted in off-color product which had a melt absorptivity greater than 3.5 mL/gm.cm. This "color" in the product made the product generally unmarketable. Another process to make a PIP-T termed "the solventless" process used no toluene solvent, and no caustic but required such a very large excess of amine that the catalytic function of the amine.HCl salt went unnoticed.

Abstract: A module is disclosed for use as a membrane device, comprising, a shell with fluid couplings removably affixed to each of its ends. A stack is formed with plural frameless arrays of hollow fibers of selectively permeable material. Each array is free of any means to support the fibers intermediate split-clip headers in which the fibers are held near their opposite ends. The split-clip headers are identical. Each has longitudinal, laterally spaced apart grooves in the inner surfaces of upper and lower sections from which the split-clip header is formed. The grooves in each section placed one upon the other, together form a through-passage in which a terminal portion of a fiber is snugly embraced. The fibers lie in parallel spaced-apart relationship in a plane substantially orthogonal to the direction of flow of said feedstream. The fibers of one array lie transversely to those of another array.

Abstract: A tubular membrane module for example for use in ultrafiltration has a tubular shell made of standard PVC pipe and moulded PVC end fittings. A series of membrane tubes within the shell extend between coupling members at both ends. The coupling members fit closely inside the shell and end fittings and are secured in place using epoxy adhesive. A transverse wall in each coupling member is provided with sockets which receive the ends of the tubes and in which the tubes are secured by a similar adhesive. Each socket has a blind end that receives the end portion of the tube so that the tube is protected from shear effects due to fluid entering the tube under pressure in use.

Abstract: An oxo-piperazinyl triazine with three piperazinone substituents, each of which has an alkylated N.sup.4 atom ("MPIP-T"), used in an amount no more than 0.2 phr, and without any secondary stabilizer (hence referred to as a "virgin MPIP-T"), and in particular, without any hindered phenol antioxidant, or phosphorous acid ester, simultaneously provides thermooxidative stability and stability against degradation by UV light along with acceptable melt processability. Further, the virgin MPIP-T allows (i) uninterrupted operation of a die or mold while maintaining the surfaces of the cavities essentially contaminant-free; and, (ii) excellent AO stabilization which is equivalent to that obtained with a premier hindered phenol AO, and superior to that obtained with the premier oligomeric piperidinyl-triazine compound, when each stabilizer is used in the same amounts by weight in a thermoplastic synthetic resinous substrate.