Abstract: The invention provides partially oriented polyester yarn finishes capable of substantially reducing the level of broken filaments resulting from polyester yarn texturing. Finishes of the invention are a stable oil-in-water emulsion with the oil phase including a polyester yarn texturing lubricant. The emulsion finish has a pH of at least 9.0, preferably between about 10 and about 11.5.

Abstract: Polyester polymer is extruded at different speeds through groups of parallel closely spaced orifices at relatively high spinning speeds. The resulting filament have high and low shrinkage regions substantially regularly spaced apart along their length. A yarn including a number of these filaments spontaneously develops crimp when relaxed.

Abstract: A two stage process for the production of benzimidazole/aromatic amide polymers and copolymers and wholly aromatic polyamides is provided wherein an aromatic amine component comprising an aromatic diamine or triamine and optionally, an aromatic tetraamine is reacted with an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and/or ester. The reactants are heated with agitation in a first stage to a temperature at least sufficient to initiate condensate evolution. The agitation is then discontinued and the reaction is allowed to proceed, in many cases with the formation of a foam while heating is continued. The reaction mass is then allowed to solidify by cooling and is crushed to a ground prepolymer which is heated with agitation in a second stage to a temperature higher than that of the first stage until the desired polymer is obtained. The invention also includes certain benzimidazole/aromatic amide polymers and copolymers as new compositions of matter.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting and/or controlling tension of a moving web, for example, a filamentary tow, in a preselected zone of a longitudinal path traversed by the moving web. A sensing roller is journally supported by roller support structure, the latter having an opposing pair of deflection arms each of which is defined by edges which diverge from one another between inner supported and outer unsupported ends of the arms so that a region of reduced width (as measured in the general longitudinal direction of the web) is provided near each inner supported end. A reaction force which is indicative of the web's tension will thus be exerted against the sensing roller and transferred to the roller support structure so as to responsively cause the deflection arms to be resiliently flexed in the general direction of the reaction force.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the continuous manufacture of high stress, high denier industrial yarn spun from polyethylene terephthalate polyester. A control system continuously measures melt viscosity of the polymer both at the outlet from a polymerization zone and at a downstream location adjacent a manifold immediately preceding a plurality of spinnerettes through which the polymer is drawn into filamentary material. Adjustments are continuously made to a meaningful operating condition within the polymerization zone, such as the magnitude of the vacuum therein, whenever IV inferred from operating data strays from a pre-established level. Adjustments are also regularly made at discrete short term intervals, for example, minute by minute, whenever viscosity at the outlet from the polymerization zone strays from the pre-established level.

Abstract: A two stage process for the production of polybenzimidazoles is provided wherein an aromatic tetraamine, e.g., 3,3',4,4'-tetraaminobiphenyl, is reacted with a dicarboxylic component consisting of at least one compound having the formula: ##STR1## in which R' is a divalent organic radical and may be the same or different in the various molecules making up the dicarboxylic component and the Y's may be the hydrogen, aryl or alkyl, with no more than 95% the Y's being hydrogen or phenyl. The reactants are heated with agitation in a first stage to a temperature above the melting point of the tetraamine until the viscosity of the mixture rises as indicated by an agitator torque of at least 1.5 times that before the rise in viscosity. The agitation is then discontinued and the reaction mixture is allowed to foam while heating is continued. The foam is then allowed to cool to a friable mass and is crushed to a ground prepolymer which is heated with agitation in a second stage until the desired polymer is obtained.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of a polyester oligomer capable of being further polymerized to a high polymer wherein a glycol-dicarboxylic acid ester feed is treated in a secondary esterification zone under conditions such that the partial vapor pressures of water and glycol are maintained at a cumulative level of less than 740 Torr, with water and glycol vapors being continuously removed from the secondary esterification zone, and free glycol being added to the secondary esterification zone in an amount sufficient to maintain a stable amount of liquid glycol in the secondary esterification zone.

Abstract: Polyester polymer is extruded at different speeds through groups of parallel closely spaced orifices at relatively high spinning speeds. The resulting filament have high and low shrinkage regions substantially regularly spaced apart along their length. A yarn including a number of these filaments spontaneously develops crimp when relaxed.

Abstract: Novel microporous particles of polybenzimidazole (PBI) resin, characterized by a reduced bulk density, a surface area of at least 10 m.sup.2 /g, a porosity of at least about 10%, and an average pore diameter of from about 50 to 500 Angstroms are provided by emulsification-precipitation or atomizing-non-solvent quenching techniques. The disclosed microporus PBI particles are particularly suitable for use as substrates in chromatographic processes such as ion-exchange, separations, purifications, etc., as well as catalysts or chemical reagents in polymer supported reactions. Microporous PBI particles of varying acidity/basicity and/or anionic/cationic exchange characteristics, and/or containing various functional groups for use in chemical conversions, may be obtained by treatment of the PBI resin with various organic and inorganic acids, either during particle formation or subsequent thereto.

Abstract: Continuous processes for the preparation of electrets and the products produced thereby, including filter fabrics, are disclosed. The process employs a continuous film or continuous filaments in the form of a tightly packed warp having a warp density as determined by light transmission of not more than 40%. The continuous film or continuous filament in the form of a tightly packed warp are continuously fed one or more times through a corona charging station having electrodes disposed on both sides of the material being treated, the material being treated being simultaneously heated while being subjected to a corona discharge of from 6 KV to 20 KV direct current.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for reducing the reaction time in the hydrolysis of a condensation polymer wherein molten condensation polymer is intimately admixed with a depolymerizing agent which is either (i) one of the products resulting from the complete hydrolytic depolymerization of the condensation polymer; or (ii) water. The depolymerization agent is present in the mixture in an amount which is less than the weight of the condensation polymer and the materials are intimately admixed for a time sufficient that the molecular of the condensation polymer is reduced by at least 50%. The treated condensation polymer of lower molecular weight is thereafter subjected to neutral hydrolysis. In addition to decreasing the overall time required to effect complete hydrolytic depolymerization, this process additionally permits the use of a smaller hydrolysis vessel, thereby reducing the fabrication cost of the hydrolysis unit.

Abstract: A novel catalyst composition comprising a solid cracking catalyst and a diluent containing substantially catalytically inactive crystalline aluminosilicate.

Abstract: A melt-spinning apparatus is disclosed for reducing the birefringence variability of melt-spun yarn made at high pack throughputs. It involves extruding polymer at an average mass-flow rate through a first group of orifices (defined by specific location in the spinnerette), that is greater than the mass-flow rate of polymer through a second group of orifices (also defined by location in the spinnerette). The apparatus comprises a spinneret having concentric rows of orifices and a centrally located quench means, with the diameter, d.sub.1, of the orifices in the row closest to the quench means being greater than the diameter, d.sub.2, of the orifices in the row furtherest from the quench means by an amount such that d1/d2 is in the range from 1.03 to 1.20.

Abstract: A process for the neutral hydrolytic depolymerization of condensation polymers is described. The process is conducted in a continuous manner and comprises introducing condensation polymer waste material into an aqueous hydrolysis zone at a temperature of between 200.degree. C. and 300.degree. C. and superatmospheric pressure of at least 15 atmospheres. High pressure steam is introduced into the lower portion of the hydrolysis zone underneath the level of the condensation polymer waste material. The steam serves as the principal source of heat for the hydrolysis zone. By being introduced underneath the level of the condensation polymer waste material, the steam agitates the waste material to provide heat transfer to accelerate the hydrolysis reaction. Further, a portion of the steam condenses to provide water which is a reactant in the hydrolysis reaction. An aqueous solution of the product(s) of the hydrolysis reaction is withdrawn from an upper portion of the hydrolysis zone.

Abstract: A process is described for reducing the amount of low molecular weight oligomers formed during the hydrolysis of a condensation polymer. This process comprises the neutral aqueous hydrolysis of a condensation polymer in which conditions are controlled such that the following two conditions are met:(1) the amount of water and the condensation polymer present in the hydrolysis zone are such that the least soluble final depolymerization product would not exceed its solubility limits, assuming all of the polymer is converted to final depolymerization products; and(2) temperature conditions and aqueous concentration of final depolymerization products are controlled so that at equilibrium, the amount of low molecular weight oligomers is no greater than 7% of the theoretical, based on the amount of polymer added.

Abstract: Melt extruded poly(6-oxy-2-naphthoate-4-oxybenzoate) shaped articles of relatively high strength and modulus are produced in a lesser period of time than commonly heretofore required in the prior art. The required polymer is capable of exhibiting an anisotropic melt phase and is formed through the reaction of 6-acetoxy-2-naphthoic acid and 4-acetoxybenzoic acid under a combination of melt polymerization conditions which surprisingly has been found to yield a shaped article following melt extrusion which may be heat strengthened in an unusually brief period of time (i.e. two hours or less). The polymerization is catalyzed by a potassium salt (e.g. potassium acetate), and the polymerization conditions require a relatively highly elevated final polymerization temperature. Substantially all of the acetic acid by-product is removed from the polymerization zone prior to concluding the polymerization under reduced pressure conditions.

Abstract: A novel cement composition comprising (1) cement, (2) at least one polysaccharide, and (3) a viscosity modifying amount of a 1,2-dicarbonyl; aqueous slurries prepared from these novel cement compositions and a method of cementing casing in the borehole of a well using such novel aqueous cement slurries.

Abstract: Heavy or refractory oils are hydroprocessed in the presence of added water and added hydrogen sulfide with or without a slurry catalyst comprising molybdenum sulfide. The water and hydrogen sulfide may originate from the catalyst preparation procedure.

Abstract: A process for preparing novel catalysts of increased activity, which comprises mixing alumina with (1) at least one metal compound and (2) an aqueous solution containing at least one dissolved compound therein that imparts to said aqueous solution a pH below 6.

Abstract: A one-step solution technique for preparing an aromatic polyimide acid which comprises reacting an aromatic dianhydride with an aromatic diamine in the presence of diglyme and a sufficient amount of a co-solvent to maintain the polyimide acid in solution, said co-solvent having the formula:ROHwhere R is H, an aliphatic branched or straight-chain hydrocarbon having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a methoxy substituted aliphatic branched or straight-chain hydrocarbon having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.