Abstract: The invention discloses an oleophobic, hydrophobic, water repellent, moisture vapor and air permeable, heat sealable, microporous membrane material suitable for garment applications. The membrane material comprises a polyolefin polymer, a processing compound which is miscible with the polymer at its melt temperature but phase separates when the polymer is cooled to or below its melt temperature, and a fluorochemical composition. The membrane material is oriented in at least one direction. The membrane materials retain their repellency and moisture vapor permeable properties for extended periods of time in garment applications which expose the membrane materials to perspiration residues which are known to generally contaminate and ultimately destroy the repellency properties of conventional liquid repellent, moisture vapor permeable treatments.

Abstract: A composition for treating fibrous substrates such as textiles to provide oil and water repellency is provided. The composition comprises a) a terpolymer comprising randomly distributed i) units containing a fluoroaliphatic group, R.sub.f, ii) fluorine-free hydrocarbon units, and iii) units containing silicone and b) a fluorine-containing polymer having isocyanate derived linking groups and blocked isocyanate moieties. Also provided is a method for providing oil and water repellency to a fibrous substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid sorbent article comprising at least two contiguous layers formed from a single sheet, said layers being joined at a fold in said sheet and being intermittently releasably bonded together.

Abstract: Compounds are provided which comprise a fluorocarbon terminal portion and a chiral hydrocarbon terminal portion, said terminal portions being connected by a central core, said compounds having tilted smectic mesophases or having latent tilted smectic mesophases which develop when said compounds having said latent mesophases are in admixture with said compounds having tilted smectic mesophases or said compounds having latent tilted smectic mesophases.

Abstract: Durably hydrophilic, thermoplastic fibers comprising thermoplastic polymer and fluoroaliphatic group-containing non-ionic compound are provided. Methods of preparation are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for preparing a microporous polyolefin shaped article which includes the steps of (1) melt blending a polyolefin with an additive which is miscible with the polymer at the melt temperature of the blend but which phase separates on cooling to form a solution; (2) forming a shaped article from the solution; (3) cooling the shaped article by use of a patterned chill roll to provide areas on the surface of the article where the polymer mixture does not contact the chill roll; and (4) (a) removing at least a substantial portion of the compatible liquid; or (b) stretching the article in at least one direction sufficient to permanently attenuate the article and effect orientation of the polymer; or (c) a combination of (a) and (b) to form a microporous polyolefin shaped article. The article is of substantially uniform thickness and has a patterned surface. The patterned surface provides substantially skinless areas having high microporosity and skinned areas or reduced porosity.

Abstract: A method for preparing an oriented microporous shaped article is provided. The method comprises the steps of melt blending thermoplastic polymer with a solubilizing amount of a compatible liquid to form a homogeneous solution, forming a shaped article from the solution, cooling the shaped article at a rate and to a temperature sufficient to initiate thermodynamic, non-equilibrium liquid-liquid phase separation and then to solidify the thermoplastic polymer, stretching the article in a first direction sufficient to permanently attenuate the article and effect orientation of the polymer, and removing at least a substantial portion of the compatible liquid before or after the stretching step to form an oriented microporous shaped article.

Abstract: An article comprising compressed particles of polyolefin microfibers is provided. The article has a solidity of at least 20% is particularly suitable as a container for shipping and storing hazardous liquid materials or a cryogenic container.

Abstract: The invention provides polymers or copolymers which are prepared by the polymerization of the reaction product of a diisocyanate with a perfluoro compound or an epichlorhydrinadduct thereof and (meth)acrylic esters of a three hydroxyl groups containing compound. Furthermore, the invention relates to fluoroacrylic monomers, a process for preparing the polymers or copolymers and a treatment agent comprising the polymers or copolymers of the invention and an environmentally acceptable solvent. Polymers and copolymers of the invention can be used for making textiles, papers, non-woven articles, leather, plastic, wood, metal, stone and cement water and oil repellent.

Abstract: Perfluoro(cycloaliphatic methyleneoxyalkylene) compositions are provided. These compositions comprise perfluoro(cycloaliphatic methyleneoxyalkylene) carbonyl fluoride compounds having (a) a perfluorocycloaliphatic moiety which can have up to two perfluoroalkyl substituents and a perfluoroalkylene substituent, and (b) a perfluoromethyleneoxyalkylene carbonyl fluoride radical, the methylene group of the radical being bonded to a ring carbon atom or the perfluoroalkylene substituent of the moiety and the alkylene group of the perfluoromethyleneoxyalkylene carbonyl fluoride being a perfluoro(methyl)methylene group, a perfluoroisopropyleneoxy(methyl)methylene group, or a poly(perfluoroisopropyleneoxy)perfluoro(methyl)methylene group having up to about 10 perfluoroisopropyleneoxy units.

Abstract: A device for compressing slow recovery earplugs is provided. The device comprises a flexible strip having an elongate compression portion having first and second ends and a base portion at the first end of the compression portion, the base portion having a width greater than that of the compression portion, an opening proximate the compression portion and having a width transverse of the compression portion larger than the width of the compression portion, the compression portion being at least 15 mm wide and of sufficient length that the second end can pass through the opening to form a tubular compression means having a diameter at least that of a slow recovery earplug.

Abstract: A refastenable adhesive closure is provided. The closure has a pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing fastening tab and a target portion, or target strip, having a working face for contact with the adhesive-bearing fastening tab. The working face of the target strip is formed with peaks and valleys, the height of the peaks above the valleys being substantially uniform and from about 40 to 300 .mu.m, the spacing between adjacent peaks being from about 50 to 500 .mu.m, the back face of the target portion being substantially flat, and the thickness of the adhesive layer of the tab being no more than about 90% of the height of the peaks above the valleys. The closure is resistant to contamination by dust and other fine particulate matter and is especially useful for refastenable disposable diaper closures and refastenable envelope closures.

Abstract: Perfluoro (cycloaliphatic methyleneoxyalkylene) compositions are provided. These compositions comprise perfluoro(cycloaliphatic methyleneoxyalkylene) carbonyl fluoride compounds having (a) a perfluorocycloaliphatic moiety which can have up to two perfluoroalkyl substituents and a perfluoroalkylene substituent, and (b) a perfluoromethyleneoxyalkylene carbonyl fluoride radical, the methylene group of the radical being bonded to a ring carbon atom or the perfluoroalkylene substituent of the moiety and the alkylene group of the perfluoromethyleneoxyalkylene carbonyl fluoride being a perfluoro(methyl)methylene group, a perfluoroisopropyleneoxy)perfluoro(methyl)methylene group having up to about 10 perfluoroisopropyleneoxy units. Also provided are functional derivatives of the perfluoro(cycloaliphatic methyleneoxyalkylene) carbonyl fluoride compounds and nonfunctional derivatives of the perfluoro(cycloaliphatic methyleneoxyalkylene) carbonyl fluoride compounds.

Abstract: A primed polymeric article is provided. The article comprises a polymeric substrate having graft polymerized thereon at least one organic nucleophilic graft-polymerizable monomer or salt thereof which is capable of accelerating the cure of a cyanoacrylate adhesive. The invention also provides an article wherein the primed polymeric article is adhered to a substrate with a cyanoacrylate adhesive and a method for adhering a polymeric first substrate to a second substrate with a cyanoacrylate adhesive.

Abstract: Compositions for imparting water- and oil-repellency to fabrics are provided. They contain a fluorochemical water- and oil-repellant agent, a carbodiimide compound, and at least one of the following: plasticizer, metal alcoholate or ester, zirconium salt, alkylketen dimer, aziridine, and alkenyl succinic anhydride. The compositions may also contain a silicone water-repellent.

Abstract: An article is provided which comprises a polyolefin first substrate adhered to a second substrate with an epoxy adhesive. The polyolefin first substrate has graft-polymerized thereto at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of sulfonic and carboxylic acids and alkyl esters thereof containing fewer than eight carbon atoms in the ester group, amides and mono- and di-substituted amides, alcohols, amines, and 5-, 6-, and 7-membered heterocyclic rings having at least one oxygen and/or nitrogen atom in the ring, with the proviso that said monomer contain an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable moiety. The graft-polymerized monomers are in a layer less than 5 micrometers in thickness and contact the epoxy adhesive.

Abstract: A microporous particulate-filled thermoplastic polymeric article is provided. The article can be in the form of a film, a fiber, or a tube. The article has a thermoplastic polymeric structure having a plurality of interconnected passageways to provide a network of communicating pores. The microporous structure contains discrete submicron or low micron-sized particulate filler, the particulate filler being substantially non-agglomerated.

Abstract: A microporous polyolefin shaped article is provided. The article comprises a polyolefin substrate of substantially uniform thickness having a patterned surface, the patterned surface providing substantially skinless areas having high microporosity and skinned areas of reduced microporosity. A method for preparing the article is also provided.

Abstract: Pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions and an improved refastenable tape closure system comprising a release tape and a fastening tape wherein the fastening tape has a balance of properties such that the tape exhibits a maximum in the peel force between peel rates of 10 cm./minute and 400 cm./minute when peeled from a polyolefin substrate as found in disposable diaper back sheets are disclosed. The adhesive of the fastening tape comprises a specific range of compositions including an elastomeric component based on an A-B-A block copolymer wherein the A blocks are derived from styrene or alphamethylstyrene and the B block are derived from isoprene, butadiene, or hydrogenated versions of these or an (AB) block copolymer of the same type of composition in another geometry such as a tapered block copolymer or a radial block copolymer, a solid tackifier resin, a liquid tackifier resin, and an end block reinforcing resin.

Abstract: A process for preparing tertiary perfluoroamines is provided. The process comprises electrochemically fluorinating a tertiary thioamide precursor, said thioamide precursor having at least one thioamide moiety, ##STR1## and terminal portions which can be alkyl or cycloalkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, aryl having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, or combinations thereof, with the proviso that when more than one thioamide moiety is present, the thioamide moieties are bonded together by alkylene, cycloalkylene or arylene groups. Also provided are tertiary thioamides and tertiary perfluoroamines.