Abstract: A method for preparing a polyurethane foam which comprises reacting inorganic polyisocyanate and a polyol in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising a blowing catalyst and a gelling catalyst, the improvement which comprises employing a blowing catalyst consisting essentially of(a) 25 to 80 wt % pentamethyldiethylenetriamine and(b) 20 to 75 wt % bis(dimethylaminopropyl)methylamine.The catalyst composition provides the resulting polyurethane foam with improved breathability.

Abstract: A method for preparing a high solids, aqueous paper coating composition which comprises adding dry particulate solids of a partially hydrolyzed, low molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol to a high solids, aqueous paper coating composition and mixing without external heating until dissolved, preferably by mixing the polyvinyl alcohol solids into the aqueous pigment dispersion followed by the addition of binders and other additives to make the paper coating composition.

Abstract: An integrated process for utilizing waste heat from a glass making furnace. The hot off-gas from the furnace is initially partially cooled, then fed to a reformer. In the reformer, the partially cooled off-gas is further cooled against a hydrocarbon which is thus reformed into a synthesis gas, which is then fed into the glass making furnace as a fuel. The further cooled off-gas is then recycled back to absorb the heat from the hot off-gas to perform the initial cooling.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the cooldown and steady-state operation of a tunnel type cryogenic freezer by providing auxiliary cryogen to one or more gas recirculating zones of the freezer and controlling the supply of the auxiliary cryogen by sensing the temperature of the gas recirculating zone and comparing the temperature to a pre-set level.

Abstract: Diamine compounds having the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a methyl or ethyl group, can be used in preparing various polymers which are useful components in gas separation membranes. The combined effect of specific substituents ortho to the amino groups and the fluorenylidene bridging group imparts useful properties to polymeric membranes formed with these monomers.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for controlling the combustion and temperature in an solid waste-to-steam incineration system comprising a grated combustion zone and a steam boiler. This control is achieved by a synergistic combination of oxygen enrichment of an air stream and liquid quench fed to the combustion zone. The disclosed process includes the steps of adjusting the amount of solid waste passing into the combustion zone in order to maintain a constant flow of steam leaving the steam boiler, adjusting the amount of liquid quench to the incinerator in order to maintain a constant temperature in the combustion zone and adjusting the amount of oxygen enrichment of the air stream in response to a change in flow of the liquid quench to the incinerator. An apparatus for accomplishing the foregoing is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved capacitively coupled radio frequency-plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) apparatus and process are disclosed for depositing a uniform coating of material on substrates. The apparatus includes a secondary electrode defining a reaction zone within an outer chamber and an RF electrode in concert with the secondary electrode for generating a plasma within the reaction zone. The electrode comprising a base and a finger extending through the reaction zone for distributing a plasma field uniformly throughout the reaction zone. The process comprises heating a substrate to a deposition temperature in the range of about 300.degree. to 650.degree. C. Reactant gases are introduced into the PECVD reactor and a coating of about 0.2 to about 20 .mu.m is deposited onto the heated substrate. This low temperature process is particularly adapted to coating three-dimensional objects of metals, metal alloys and mixtures of metals.

Abstract: A wiped film evaporation process for reducing the amount of residual toluene diisocyanate in a polyurethane prepolymer reaction product mixture. An inert sweeping gas is added to the evaporation process, preferably after first passing through a holdup volume of the prepolymer which has passed through the evaporation zone.

Abstract: A method for extruding polyvinyl alcohol which includesadding sufficient energy to the polyvinyl alcohol to both melt it and essentially eliminate the crystallinity in the melt, andsimultaneously removing energy from the melt at a rate sufficient to avoid decomposition of the polyvinyl alcohol andrapidly cooling the extruded melt reduces the heat history and improves the resulting color of the extrudable polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive composition having good low temperature and room temperature performance comprising (a) a 2-ethylhexyl acrylate/polar monomer copolymer emulsion, the copolymer having a Tg from -70.degree. to -40.degree. C. and (b) 3 to 9 wt %, based on copolymer, nonionic poly(ethyleneoxy) ethanol having at least 70 ethyleneoxy units.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement for the production of ultra-high purity oxygen from cryogenic air separation processes which produce nitrogen and/or commercial purity oxygen products. In particular, the improvement comprises removing or producing an oxygen-containing but heavy contaminant-lean (free, stream from one of the distillation columns of a single or multiple column cryogenic air separation facility and further stripping the removed or produced oxygen-containing stream in a fractionator to produce ultra-high purity oxygen (i.e., contaminant concentration <10 vppm).

Abstract: The present invention involves an efficient process for separating selected components of a gas stream by integrating a cryogenic separation unit and a membrane separation unit. Two embodiments provide for the concurrent generation of an argon-rich stream in the gas or liquid phase, along with a nitrogen-rich product stream, both being produced from a stream normally comprising oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, e.g., air.Broadly, the novel system uses a membrane means to preferentially reject the oxygen component from the recycle stream of the cryogenic unit, concurrently accumulating the argon component to allow its separation as an argon-enriched product stream.

Abstract: A gas piston liquid flow controller comprising a pumping chamber of fixed volume, means to separately introduce into said chamber pressurized gas and liquid, means to detect the presence of liquid at predetermined upper and lower levels in said chamber, means to withdraw a stream of liquid from said chamber for delivery to a point of use and a controller to maintain liquid in said chamber to effect constant delivery of liquid to the point of use.

Abstract: The present invention is a class of semi-permeable polyimide membranes and a process for using such membranes to separate one or more components of a gaseous mixture. The membranes are prepared from a polyimide having surface-modifiable functionalities comprising repeating units formed from an aromatic dianhydride and a bridged alkylated bisaniline wherein the bridging group of the diamine possesses restricted, rotatable rigid or low Van Der Waal energy substituents which are orthogonal to the polymer backbone. The membranes formed therefrom are contacted in the presence of an oxygen source with an activating force such as high energy electromagnetic irradiation to effect modification of the polymer surface. The surface-modified polyimide membranes exhibit high gas perm-selectivities and are especially useful in effecting the separation of oxygen and nitrogen from air.

Abstract: A rocket motor having case segments which are attached together. A retaining member extends circumferentially thereabout to maintain attachment of the segments together. The retaining member is characterized by sensitivity to a predetermined temperature greater than ambient temperature and less than the ignition temperature of propellant material in the rocket motor to lose strength whereby the retaining member is released and the rocket motor may safely be rendered non-propulsive during a hazard such as a fuel fire or slow cook-off.

Abstract: The present invention is a class of semi-permeable polyimide membranes and a process for using such membranes to separate one or more components of a gaseous mixture. The membranes are prepared from a polyimide having surface-modifiable functionalities comprising repeating units formed from an aromatic dianhydride and an alkyl-substituted phenylenediamine having at least one hydrogen atom located on a ring position ortho to an amine nitrogen. The membranes formed therefrom are contacted in the presence of an oxygen source with an activating force such as high energy electromagnetic irradiation to effect modification of the polymer surface. The surface-modified polyimide membranes exhibit high gas perm-selectivities and are especially useful in effecting the separation of oxygen and nitrogen from air.

Abstract: An improved cross-flow membrane module having a cylindrical housing containing semi-permeable membranes for separating a feed fluid is provided wherein a seal device is positioned in the permeate compartment of the module to separate the permeate stream passing through the semi-permeable membranes into two or more streams having differing component concentrations.

Abstract: A container for high purity chemicals has a quartz or glass breakseal tube, the end of the tube interior of the container forming a thin annular edge, and a glass or quartz disk fused to said thin annular edge closing the tube. The glass or quartz tube is constructed and adapted to receive, in use, an inner tube disposed in the glass or quartz tube; the disk, glass or quartz tube being of such construction that, in use, the disk is broken off the thin annular edge upon application of force thereto by the inner tube.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polyurethane foam which comprises reacting inorganic polyisocyanate and a polyol in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising a blowing catalyst and a gelling catalyst, the improvement which comprises employing a blowing catalyst consisting essentially of(a) 25 to 80 wt % pentamethyldiethylenetriamine and(b) 20 to 75 wt % bis(dimethylaminopropyl)methylamine.The catalyst composition provides the resulting polyurethane foam with improved breathability.

Abstract: A freezer (1) which comprises a drum (2) is characterized in that a cylinder (12) is disposed in said drum (2), and a fan (14) is provided for circulating cryogen through the space (20) between the outer surface of the cylinder (12) and the inner surface of the drum (2). The outer surface of the drum (2) is provided with a plurality of grooves (4) of parabolic cross-section. In use, droplets (23) of liquid egg are dropped on to the grooves (4) where they freeze individually. The frozen particles fall away from the drum as they approach the lowermost point of travel of the drum (2) and form an attractive granular product.