Abstract: A melt extrusion composition made by combining about 99.9 to about 98.5 weight percent of at least one polyester and about 0.1 to about 1.5 weight percent additive provides for a polyester or copolyester non-circular cross-sectional fiber having at least four percent improved shape retention as compared to the same fiber made from a melt extrusion composition without the additive. The additive is present at the air-polymer interfacial surface during melt spinning. A method of making the fiber is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method for removing dimethyl ester vapors or particles emitted from a molten dimethyl ester storage tank, a gaseous mixture containing dimethyl ester vapors or particles and an inert gas are supplied to an inlet port of a water scrubber. Water is continuously sprayed through downstream spray nozzles located inside the water scrubber whereby the water and air mix with the gaseous mixture to form a foamy mixture of dimethyl ester, air and water. Water through an upstream spray nozzle located inside the water scrubber is intermittently sprayed to wash an inner wall of an elongated body and the inlet port of the water scrubber to remove buildup of dimethyl ester particles. The foamy mixture is continuously removed from an outlet port. The water scrubber utilized in the method has an elongated body having an inner wall, a top with an orifice for receiving air, and a bottom with an outlet port. The inlet port is positioned on the body between the top and the bottom of the water scrubber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an essentially odorless water dissipatable or dispersible adhesive composition that is useful in forming paper articles and other products that can be recycled through repulping in both neutral and alkaline media. The water dispersible adhesive composition is preferably a hot melt adhesive that is a low molecular weight, branched copolyester containing a sulfomonomer. The copolyester adhesive composition can be used neat or formulated and exhibits broad compatibility with a variety of adhesive additives, including non polar tackifiers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for forming a layered structure of metal sheet and polyester by heating the metal sheet, extrusion coating a thin layer of polyester on at least one side of the metal sheet, passing the coated sheet through nip rolls and optionally quenching the coated sheet to ensure the polyester coating(s) is in an amorphous state.

Abstract: Synthetic fiber that are capable of spontaneously transporting water on their surface satisfy the equation(1-X cos .theta..sub.a)<0,wherein.theta..sub.a is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment, if any,X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation ##EQU1## wherein P.sub.W is the wetted perimeter of the fiber and r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimension across the fiber cross-section,and wherein the uphill flux value of said fiber is from 2 to 60 cc/g/hr when measured from a reservoir of synthetic urine test fluid along a 20 cm long ramp to an absorbant on an attached platform at 10 cm height.

Abstract: Disclosed are fibrous structures comprised of shaped fibers wherein the thickness of the compressed fibrous structure at 1.00 psi is .gtoreq.1.3 times that of a similar compressed structure having the same area density and made from round cross section fibers of the same dpf as the shaped fibers. The invention is useful in articles such as coats, gloves, boats, shoes, etc. made using the structures disclosed herein. The surprising feature of structures according to the present invention is the thickness retention at high pressures. This retained thickness under pressure translates directly into decreased heat transfer or improved insulation.

Abstract: Spinnerets are used to make synthetic fibers having the unique property of spontaneously transporting water on their surface. The synthetic fibers satisfy the equation(1-X cos .theta..sub.a)<0,wherein.theta..sub.a is the advancing contact angle of water measured on a flat film made from the same material as the fiber and having the same surface treatment, if any,X is a shape factor of the fiber cross-section that satisfies the following equation ##EQU1## wherein P.sub.w is the wetted perimeter of the fiber and r is the radius of the circumscribed circle circumscribing the fiber cross-section and D is the minor axis dimension across the fiber cross-section, and wherein the uphill flux value of said fiber is from 2 to 60 cc/g/hr when measured from a reservoir of synthetic urine test fluid along a 20 cm long ramp to an absorbent on an attached platform at 10 cm height.

Abstract: A thermoforming process window of a rectangular sheet of a thermoplastic material is determined by calculating its Sag Number during heating. The Sag Number is a function of the sheets length, width and apex depth at the center of sag. Upon the Sag Number being between 10 and 40, preferably 15 and 35, and more preferably 19 and 28, the sheet is ready for forming into an end product.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing foamable branched polyester compositions having increased melt viscosity and melt strength, and a reduced level of unreacted monomeric branching agent. The process involves melt blending (A) a composition containing a polyolefin and branching agent, (B) a nucleating agent either in powder form or (B') in the form of a composition containing a polyolefin and nucleating agent, and a polyester.

Abstract: An improved clarity copolyester of a diethylene glycol modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) has a b* value of less than 15, preferably less than 10. The copolyester composition has an inherent viscosity of about 0.4 to 1.0 dL/g and comprises (A) 100 mol percent dicarboxylic acid residue component, (B) 100 mol percent diol residue component, (C) catalyst residues and (D) color control agent residues. The dicarboxylic acid residue component comprises at least 75 mol percent of terephthalic acid residues. The diol residue component comprises 10 to 50 mol percent diethylene glycol residue and 50 to 90 mol percent ethylene glycol residue. The catalyst residues comprise 20 to 100 ppm manganese, 50 to 300 ppm antimony, 0 to 100 ppm titanium and 40 to 150 ppm phosphorus, based on the weight of the copolyester.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spectroscopic probe apparatus useful for Raman, near infrared, luminescence, ultraviolet or visible spectroscopies that is formed with a robust method of construction using a molten metal soldering technique. The disclosed method and apparatus provides an optical probe that is easy to manufacture yet able to withstand drastic environmental conditions without damage and produce useful spectroscopic results under such conditions.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a 1,2-diacetoxy ester comprises acetylation of an epoxide with an acetic anhydride in the presence of a quaternary phosphonium acetate catalyst or its complex with acetic acid.

Abstract: A branched random aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters suitable for foaming has increased melt viscosity and melt strength during extrusion and comprises repeating units of:[-{(O--R.sup.1 --O).sub.a --(CO--R.sup.2 --CO).sub.b }-{(O--R.sup.3 --O).sub.c --(CO--Ar--CO).sub.d }-](BA).sub.x.The mole percent of the acid components and diol components are each based on 100 mole percent. The aliphatic acid residue, --CO--R.sup.2 --CO--, is present in an amount b ranging from 30 to 95 percent and the aromatic acid residue, --CO--Ar--CO--, is present in an amount d ranging from 5 to 70 percent. The diol residues, --O--R.sup.1 --O-- and --O--R.sup.3 --O--, are present in an amount a of 0 to 100 mol percent and in an amount c of 100 to 0 mol percent, respectively. The branching agent, BA, is present in an amount x of 0.01 to 10 weight percent based on the total weight of acid residues, diol residues and branching agent. A foamed article of the branched random aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spectroscopic probe apparatus useful for Raman, near infrared, luminescence, ultraviolet or visible spectroscopies that is formed with a robust method of construction using a molten metal soldering technique. The disclosed method and apparatus provides an optical probe that is easy to manufacture yet able to withstand drastic environmental conditions without damage and produce useful spectroscopic results under such conditions.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively monitoring in situ by Raman spectrometry one or more selected constituents of a chemical composition comprises: simultaneously irradiating with a substantially monochromatic radiation source a reference material and a chemical composition containing one or more constituents, the radiation being transmitted from the source to the chemical composition by an excitation conduit connecting the source to an optical probe that interfaces with the composition; simultaneously acquiring at more than one wavelength convolved Raman spectra of the reference material and the chemical composition by means of a spectrograph, which is connected to the optical probe by a collection conduit; choosing the standard Raman spectrum of the reference material; determining the convolution function of the convolved spectra from the convolved Raman spectrum and the standard Raman spectrum of the reference material; applying the convolution function to adjust the convolved Raman spectrum of the composition to

Abstract: A polymeric film for use in absorbent structures comprises a planar surface having a frontside, a backside and a plurality of apertures. Walls extend from the perimeter of the apertures and outwardly from the backside. The walls and the backside form a capillary system on the backside. The walls form channels which connect the frontside of the film to the capillary system on the backside. The walls have at least one cut out portion extending the length of the walls. A fluid contacting the frontside of the film will spontaneously invert to the capillary system on the backside of the film through the cut out portions of the walls.

Abstract: This invention relates to a solid surface which is prepared from a copolyester laminated onto an image layer. More particularly, the solid surface contains an outer layer of transparent PETG copolyester, a polymeric film with a high resolution image printed thereon, and a backing layer. The image can be selected to give the solid surface the appearance of natural building materials, such a wood and stone.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively monitoring in situ by Raman spectrometry one or more selected constituents of a chemical composition comprises: simultaneously irradiating with a substantially monochromatic radiation source a reference material and a chemical composition containing one or more constituents, the radiation being transmitted from the source to the chemical composition by an excitation conduit connecting the source to an optical probe that interfaces with the composition; simultaneously acquiring at more than one wavelength convolved Raman spectra of the reference material and the chemical composition by means of a spectrograph, which is connected to the optical probe by a collection conduit; choosing the standard Raman spectrum of the reference material; determining the convolution function of the convolved spectra from the convolved Raman spectrum and the standard Raman spectrum of the reference material; applying the convolution function to adjust the convolved Raman spectrum of the composition to

Abstract: A thermoplastic film is comprised of an admixture of 20 to 85 weight percent cellulose ester fibers and 80 to 15 weight percent cellulose fibers and a functional amount of a cellulose ester plasticizer. The film has an opacity in the range of 10 to 85 percent, a thickness in the range of 0.002 to 0.010 inch, a porosity in the range of 0.0 to 50 ml/min/cm.sup.2 at a 1.0 centibar pressure drop and a compostability of less than 65 days fragmentation. The film is prepared by making a paper comprised of 20 to 85 weight percent cellulose ester fibers and 80 to 15 weight percent cellulose fibers and saturating the paper with a functional amount of a cellulose ester plasticizer. The saturated paper is subjected to heat and pressure for a period of time to obtain the thermoplastic film. The thermoplastic film is prepared without the use of solvents and is economically attractive since it is compatible with conventional paper printing materials and techniques.

Abstract: A segmented copolyester-ether polymer comprises 9.5 to 33 percent by weight hard segment residues of polybutylene terephthalate and 0.5 to 67 percent by weight soft segment residues of a polyether polyol comprised of n units of residue (1) and m units of residue (2), wherein the total value of n+m is in the range 2 to 70, m/(n+m) is in the range 0.05 to 0.98, and residues (1) and (2) have the structures: ##STR1## The polyether polyol is further characterized in that at least 95 percent of the hydroxyl groups are primary hydroxyl groups.