Abstract: Disclosed are solvent borne thermosetting coating compositions that contain a curable polyester resin blended with an acrylic copolymer, a crosslinker, and a solvent. The polyester resin contains 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol and exhibits good dry time, compatibility with acrylic resins, sag resistance and hardness development in a coating composition. The coating compositions can be used to prepare clear coat or pigmented coatings for automotive OEM, auto refinish, and other applications.

Abstract: Disclosed are polyester resins and solvent borne thermosetting coating compositions that include these resins in combination with at least one crosslinker. The polyester resins contain 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol and exhibit a combination of good solubility in organic solvents and high hardness with good flexibility in a coating composition.

Abstract: Described are thermoformed films or sheets comprising polyester compositions comprising polyesters which comprise (a) a dicarboxylicacidcomponent having terephthalic acid or an ester thereof; optionally, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or esters thereof; 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol; and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of multilayered, shaped articles having high transparency and low haze having at least one layer contains one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from polyesters, polycarbonates, and homogeneous blends thereof, and a separate layer which contains a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides. The thermoplastic polymer components and the polyamide components have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about ?0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into one or more of the layers of the article while maintaining high clarity. These articles can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. Metal catalysts can be incorporated into one or more layers to impart oxygen-scavenging properties.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of acetic acid or mixtures of acetic acid and acetic anhydride in a carbonylation process wherein a mixture comprising methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether and methyl iodide is contacting in the liquid phase with carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst at elevated pressures and temperatures. Methanol, water, or a mixture thereof is added to an acetic anhydride-containing stream within a flash evaporation zone to convert some or all of the acetic anhydride to acetic acid and optionally methyl acetate and to provide heat for the evaporation of a portion of the product effluent produced by the carbonylation process.

Abstract: Described as one aspect of the invention are polyester compositions comprising at least one polyester which comprises: (a) a dicarboxylic acid component comprising: (i) about 90 to about 100 mole % of terephthalic acid residues; (ii) about 0 to about 10 mole % of aromatic and/or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 20 carbon atoms; and (b) a glycol component comprising: (i) about 20 to about 40 mole % 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; and (ii) about 20 to about 40 mole % cyclohexanedimethanol residues; (iii) ethylene glycol residues, and (iv) less than about 2 mole % of a modifying glycol having from 3 to 16 carbon atoms; wherein the total mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component is 100 mole %, and wherein the total mole % of the glycol component is 100 mole %; and wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyester is from 0.50 to 1.2 dL/g as determined in 60/40 (wt/wt) phenol/tetrachloroethane at a concentration of 0.25 g/50 ml at 25° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for humidifying syngas to achieve a water to carbon monoxide molar ratio in the product syngas within a desired range and in which the molar ratio which can be varied over time in response to changes in downstream syngas requirements. The raw syngas is produced by reacting a carbonaceous material with oxygen, water, or carbon dioxide and can be combined with a diluent to produce a diluted syngas stream which can be cooled and contacted with liquid water to give a humidified syngas. The H2O:CO molar ratio of the humidified syngas may be adjusted in response to time-varying downstream syngas requirements by changing the amount and/or temperature of the diluent that is combined with the raw syngas stream, by adjusting quench and heat exchange conditions, or a combination thereof. The application of the process to the coproduction of chemicals and power are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a class of compounds that can be both monodentate and bidentate in their association with a transition metal to form a catalyst for reactions such as the hydroformylation of olefins to produce aldehydes. The compounds contain two phosphorus atoms having different steric and/or electronic nature. In hydroformylation catalysts, the compounds advantageously can produce a variable n/iso product mixture of aldehyde products that can be varied by simply changing process variables such as [H2]/[CO] partial pressure gas ratio or temperature/inert gas partial pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrocarboxylation process for the production of carboxylic acid from olefins wherein an olefin, water, a Group VIII metal hydrocarboxylation catalyst, an onium salt compound are combined in a reaction zone and contacted with carbon monoxide under hydrocarboxylation conditions of pressure and temperature The process does not require or utilize the addition of a hydrogen halide or an alkyl halide exogenous or extraneous to the hydrocarboxylation process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 1,2-glycols by hydrogenation of 1,2-dioxygenated organic compounds in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising a ruthenium compound, a trivalent phosphorus compound selected from 1,1,1-tris(diarylphosphinomethyl)alkyl or substituted alkyl, and a promoter selected from Lewis acids, protic acids having an ionization constant (Ki) of 5×10?3 or greater, and onium salts. The process is useful for the hydrogenation of glycolic acid or derivatives thereof to ethylene glycol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carbonylation process for the production of carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid esters and/or carboxylic acid anhydrides wherein a carbonylation feedstock compound selected from one or more organic oxygenates such as alcohols, ethers, and esters is contacted with carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst and one or more onium compounds. The carbonylation process differs from known carbonylation processes in that a halide compound such as a hydrogen halide, typically hydrogen iodide, and/or alkyl halide, typically methyl iodide, extraneous or exogenous to the carbonylation process is not fed or supplied separately to the process.

Abstract: Disclosed are catalysts comprising copper chromite, palladium and lanthanum having hydrogenation activity. The combination of copper chromite with palladium and lanthanum enhances catalyst activity more than the presence of either palladium alone or palladium in combination with alkali or alkaline earth metals. The catalysts are useful for the preparation of methanol from carbon monoxide and hydrogen and for the hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds such as, for example, aldehydes, ketones, and esters, to their corresponding alcohols. The catalysts may be used for the preparation of cyclohexanedimethanols from dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylates or of ethylene glycol from alkyl glycolates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for humidifying syngas to achieve a water to carbon monoxide molar ratio in the product syngas within a desired range and in which the molar ratio which can be varied over time in response to changes in downstream syngas requirements. The raw syngas is produced by reacting a carbonaceous material with oxygen, water, or carbon dioxide and can be combined with a diluent to produce a diluted syngas stream which can be cooled and contacted with liquid water to give a humidified syngas. The H2O:CO molar ratio of the humidified syngas may be adjusted in response to time-varying downstream syngas requirements by changing the amount and/or temperature of the diluent that is combined with the raw syngas stream, by adjusting quench and heat exchange conditions, or a combination thereof. The application of the process to the coproduction of chemicals and power are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for the preparation of glycolaldehyde in which formaldehyde is contacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a rhodium catalyst and a solvent containing at least one N,N-dihexylbutyramide. The glycolaldehyde product is recovered by extraction with water. The process provides high selectivity to glycolaldehyde and efficient separation of hydroformylation products from the solvent and rhodium catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed are radiation-curable, abrasion resistant coating compositions for thermoplastic substrates which provides superior abrasion, chemical, and impact resistance properties. The coating composition includes at least one flexible diacrylate component, at least one aromatic diacrylate component, and at least one urethane acrylate. Also disclosed are shaped articles having the coating composition applied to at least one surface and cured by exposure to radiation.

Abstract: Disclosed are catalyst solutions for the hydroformylation of formaldehyde comprising one or more fluorophosphite compounds, rhodium and a hydroformylation solvent comprising at least one N,N-disubstituted amide, N-substituted cyclic amide, or a mixture thereof. Also disclosed are hydroformylation processes wherein formaldehyde is contacted with carbon monoxide, hydrogen one or more fluorophosphite compounds, rhodium and a hydroformylation solvent to produce glycolaldehyde. The fluorophosphite-based catalysts provide good reaction rates and high selectivity to glycolaldehyde.

Abstract: Flame retardant polyester compositions suitable for calendering may be prepared from polyesters having crystallization half time of at least 5 minutes, a plasticizer, a phosphorus-containing flame retardant miscible with the plasticized polyester, and an additive effective to prevent sticking of the polyester to the calendar rolls. Also disclosed are processes for flame retardant films or sheets by calendering the above compositions and the flame retardant films or sheets produced therefrom. These films and sheets have excellent appearance, flexibility, and flame retardancy, and can be used in a wide range of decorative and packaging applications.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel compositions for the preparation of void-containing articles comprising a polymer matrix and a voiding agent The voiding agent comprises at least one first polymer and at least one second polymer, which are selected on the basis of physical properties such as glass transition temperature, tensile modulus, melting point, surface tension, and melt viscosity. Shaped articles such as sheet, film, bottles, tubes, labels, and sleeves may prepared from these compositions. Also disclosed are polyester shrink films prepared using a voiding agent comprising a novel blend of cellulosic and olefinic polymers. The resulting shrink films have better opacity, lower density, reduced shrink force, and improved printability as compared with most standard voiding agents. The films are useful for sleeve label and other shrink film applications and their lower density allows them to be readily separated from soft drink bottles, food containers and the like during recycling operations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carbonylation process wherein a mixture of a dialkyl carbonate and halide compound is contacted with carbon monoxide in the presence of a metal selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table to co-produce carbon dioxide and a carbonyl compound selected from a carboxylic acid, an alkyl carboxylate ester, a carboxylic acid anhydride or a mixture of any two or more thereof. The carbon dioxide co-product of the process may be recovered, and sold or further reacted with a suitable substrate to produce useful chemicals such as urea or cyclic carbonates.

Abstract: Disclosed are blends of aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters with poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) copolymers and shaped articles prepared therefrom. These blends have higher melt strength than the aliphatic-aromatic copolyester alone and exhibit increased melt strength and better processability. In addition, the blends and shaped articles show bio-disintegration and/or biodegradability in a composting environment.