Abstract: An alkali metal cyanide added to alkaline borate buffered liquid fungicide concentrates of chlorophenates and organic or inorganic salts of mercury, lead, tin, copper and zinc provides a non-linial enhancement of fungistatic performance when used in the treatment of lumber and veneer and improved stability of the concentrates.

Abstract: Tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, all weather running tracks and other similar recreational areas having defects in their surfaces are resurfaced by laying multiple layers of a free floating flexible material over the defective surface and then applying a standard asphalt resurface over the top layer of free floating flexible material. Surfaces prepared in this manner have improved freeze thaw stability, longer life and do not develop reflective cracking.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a method for preparing 5-sec-alkyl-m-cresol in high concentrations and yields comprising alkylating m-cresol with an alkene over a solid catalyst selected from finely divided silica alumina clays and finely divided molecular sieves and then isomerizing the alkylated m-cresol product over the same catalyst for at least two hours at temperatures of at least about 250.degree. C. The ratio of alkene to m-cresol is from about 0.5:1.0 to about 1.0:1.0. The resulting isomerized alkylated m-cresol contains a ratio of 5-alkyl-m-cresol to 6-alkyl-m-cresol of at least 2.5:1 and a ratio of 5-alkyl-m-cresol to 4-alkyl-m-cresol of at least 3.0:1.0. The desired 5-alkyl-m-cresol may be obtained from the isomerized alkylated-m-cresol reaction product by fractional distillation. The undesired alkylated-m-cresol isomers and unreacted m-cresol may be recycled into the alkylation and/or isomerization step. The method is particularly useful for preparing 5-isopropyl-m-cresol(m-thymol).

Abstract: Chemical compositions are disclosed for imparting fire retardancy to wood comprising an aqueous solution of partially reacted monomethylol dicyandiamide, melamine and phosphoric acid having a molar ratio of ingredients of monomethylol dicyandiamide to melamine of from about 11.5:1.0 to about 3.0:1.0 and a mole ratio of phosphoric acid to monomethylol dicyandiamide plus melamine of from about 1.0:1.0 to 1.0:1.5. The wood is impregnated with dilute aqueous solutions of the partially reacted chemical composition and then cured in the wood to impart to the wood low hygroscopic, leach resistant, fire retardant properties.

Abstract: Alpha-resorcylic acid is produced by the hydrolysis of 3,5-diamino benzoic acid in an aqueous solution of ammonium bisulfate. The reactants are contacted at an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to hydrolyze the 3,5-diamino benzoic acid to alpha-resorcylic acid and the alpha-resorcylic acid so produced is separated from the reaction mixture. The ammonium sulfate is regenerated to ammonium bisulfate by removing the water and thermally decomposing the by-product ammonium sulfate at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method for preparing anhydrous nitric acid comprising extracting an aqueous mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid with methylene chloride to yield a solution of anhydrous nitric acid in methylene chloride. The anhydrous nitric acid can be isolated from the methylene chloride by distillation or crystallization. Alternatively, the anhydrous solution of nitric acid in methylene chloride may be used directly. The methylene chloride extract of the nitric acid-sulfuric acid mixture is a useful nitrating agent.

Abstract: An improved creosote wood preservative that has a light color and that forms a non-sticky crud deposit is prepared from a coal tar creosote. The coal tar creosote is reacted with one or more of the following groups of neutral compounds: paraformaldehyde, trioxane; or nitrobenzene, nitrotoluene, nitroxylene, tris (hydroxymethyl) nitromethane; or aluminum, zinc or sulfur, to produce a reacted creosote. This reacted creosote is distilled to yield a distillate, which is the improved creosote wood preservative, and a pitch residue.

Abstract: Method of making pearlescent button blanks by casting and polymerizing a liquid polymerizable resin containing light-reflecting platelets in cavities having the desired form of the button blanks. Pearlescence is imparted to the button blanks by orienting the light-reflecting platelets parallel to the surfaces of the blanks by scuffing a surface of the resin in the cavities during polymerization of the resin. Apparatus for producing buttons by the method of the invention includes a continuous perforated belt and two continuous solid belts that sandwich the perforated belt. The scuffing action for orienting the light-reflecting platelets is produced by sliding the solid belts across the surfaces of the perforated belt.

Abstract: A mixture of monosubstituted and polysubstituted isopropylnaphthalenes is produced by treating naphthalene with concentrated sulfuric acid and propylene. Concentrated sulfuric acid is added to naphthalene in an amount of at least 3% based on the amount of naphthalene used, and at a temperature in the range of 150.degree. - 200.degree.C to form a mixture containing naphthalene sulfonic acids and naphthalene. Propylene is added to this mixture at a temperature of 150.degree. - 220.degree.C. The propylated mixture is neutralized with caustic and distilled to remove naphthalene and to produce a mixture of isopropylnaphthalenes.

Abstract: An improved creosote wood preservative that has a light color and that forms a non-sticky crud deposit is prepared from a coal tar creosote. The coal tar creosote is distilled to an end temperature in the range of 395.degree. to 410.degree.C. at atmospheric pressure. This distillation produces a distillate and a pitch residue. The distillate is contacted with at least 1% by weight of one or more of the following caustic compounds: alkali metal alcoholates of alkali metal hydroxides to produce the improved creosote wood preservative. The pitch residue from distillation is recovered and it is utilized in the production of various pitch products or in combustion for its fuel value.

Abstract: Chromated copper arsentate wood preserving solutions in which the ratio of hexavalent chromium to trivalent chromium in the solution is between about 4.0:1.0 to about 1.0:1.0 give improved penetration into the wood, better retention of preservative in the wood, and improved stability of the treating solution. The solutions contain an acid to maintain the required pH, prevent corrosion, and further improve the solution stability.

Abstract: An improved creosote wood preservative is produced that has a reduced crystal content, a light color and that makes a creosote-pentachlorophenol preservative less corrosive to metals. This improved creosote is produced by mildly hydrogenating a conventional coal tar creosote to reduce the aromaticity index, I.sub.A, by 10-62%. This is accomplished by hydrogenating the creosote at a temperature in the range of 250.degree.-450.degree.C. in the presence of a sulfur resistant hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: Wood veneers are compression treated by passing the veneers between compression rollers while submerged in a treating solution. The veneers are passed between the rollers in multiple layers with the direction of feed being parallel to the grain or cell orientation of the veneers. The veneers have an original moisture content above the fiber saturation point and are compressed to about one-half their original thickness.

Abstract: Hydroquinone is made by electrolytically reducing nitrobenzene in an aqueous acid medium and thereafter maintaining the reaction medium containing the amino product, at a temperature of 200.degree. to 300.degree.C. for a sufficient time to hydrolyze the amino product to hydroquinone, and extracting the hydroquinone from the aqueous reaction medium.

Abstract: Hydroquinone is made by contacting nitrobenzene in an aqueous acid medium with hydrogen at elevated temperatures and pressures in the presence of an acid resistant reducing catalyst until hydrogen absorption ceases, removing any unreduced nitrobenzene from the reaction medium, removing the catalyst from the reaction medium, thereafter maintaining the reaction medium containing the hydrogen reduction product at a temperature of 200.degree. to 300.degree.C. for a sufficient time to hydrolyze the reduction product to hydroquinone, and extracting the hydroquinone from the aqueous reaction medium.

Abstract: Methyl resorcinols are produced by the hydrolysis of toluene diamines in an aqueous excess of ammonium bisulfate. The reactants are contacted at an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to hydrolyze the toluene diamines to methyl resorcinols. The methyl resorcinols so produced are separated from the reaction mixture. The ammonium sulfate is regenerated to ammonium bisulfate by removing the water and thermally decomposing the by-product ammonium sulfate at an elevated temperature.