Abstract: A heat sealable film laminate having a first layer of a major amount of high density polyolefin, a minor proportion of an adhesion promoting ionomer and a heat seal promoting proportion of a metal salt of a fatty acid; and a second layer adhering to the first layer, said layer comprising a polyamide. A food storage and heating bag formed from said laminate and a method of heat sealing said laminate.

Abstract: A thermoplastic bag characterized by having handles formed on opposite ends of the bag mouth which is characterized by having structural features immediately adjacent the mouth of the bag to provide stress relief at those positions on the bag mouth where maximum stress is concentrated when such bags are being filled with product and eventually carried by the user. The stress redistribution feature is characterized by an area or areas, immediately adjacent the mouth portion of the bag and the base of the handle members, which are characterized by having a plurality of narrow pleats which are impressed into the bag structure by die members during formation of the individual bag.

Abstract: This invention is a comminution process for treating coal with a drying gas to form fractures which weaken the structure of the coal and make it easier to disintegrate mechanically, chemically or by fluid force. Another aspect of this invention is a process for treating an underground formation of coal with a dry gas for a time sufficient to form cracks and fractures in a portion of the formation in order to increase the permeability of the coal formation to the flow of fluids therethrough. Processes for in-situ combustion of the coal formation are therefore more efficient since the coal formation is more permeable to the flow of gas therethrough.

Abstract: This present invention relates to novel coextruded thermoplastic film and the employment of such multi-layer film as stretch-wrap material for packaging of goods, including relatively large palletized loads of material. More specifically, such coextruded stretch-wrap films comprise three-layer laminations having a relatively thin skin layer and a relatively thicker core layer. Suitable skin layers include highly-branched low-density polyethylene, and suitable core layers include linear low-density polyethylene co-polymers, such as ethylene co-polymerized with a minor amount of at least one C.sub.4 to C.sub.10 alpha-olefin, such as octene-1 and 4-methyl-pentene-1, and butene-1.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method where the soak time, required for solvent and crude oil mixing in the gravity assisted solvent flooding process, is significantly reduced. This is accomplished by inducing vertical flow of solvent into the heavy crude oil part of the reservoir through the use of intermediate wells drilled between injection and production wells and completed in the top of the oil reservoir. Steam or gas may be used prior to the introduction of the solvent to reduce the resistance to subsequent solvent flow.

Abstract: In-situ combustion of heavy subterranean oil formations, e.g., tar sands, is improved by introducing into the oil formation a stream of a combustible gas. The stream of gas may contain a small proportion of hydrocarbons condensable at temperature and pressure conditions of the formation. The improvement is applicable to both forward and reverse in-situ combustion processes.

Abstract: A process is described for restoring and maintaining the total ion exchange capacity of the resin used for uranium recovery in in situ uranium leaching. The used resin of lowered exchange capacity is treated with a solution containing Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 or NaHCO.sub.3, or admixtures thereof. The process preferably is used in conjunction with acid elution of the uranium from the resin.

Abstract: A system and method for splitting a stream of wet steam into at least two streams of equal quality for injection into separate wells wherein the steam is utilized as a thermal recovery fluid in an in situ oil recovery process. The method comprises generating wet steam having a vapor phase and a liquid phase, thoroughly mixing the two phases of the steam in a motionless mixer, immediately passing the mixed wet steam into a flow splitter which splits the stream of wet steam into at least two streams of wet steam having equal quality, and injecting each stream of wet steam into separate wells at a controlled rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the phase behavior of gas/oil mixtures at preselected controlled high temperatures and high pressures wherein a stream of oil and gas under controlled conditions of volume rate and pressure are separately introduced into a mixing chamber and then into a separator wherein the liquid oil phase separates by gravity into the bottom of the separator and the gas phase migrates by gravity to the top of the separator. The gas phase of the separator is in fluid communication with a pressure control system. Samples of oil and gas are separately withdrawn from the separator after thermo-dynamic equilibrium is reached in the mixing chamber and each sample is analyzed to measure the gas/oil ratio.

Abstract: A method for conditioning a coal seam prior to in-situ gasification to increase the permeability of the coal seam to the flow of combustion-supporting gas therethrough and thus increase the efficiency of gasification wherein a wettability alteration fluid is injected into the coal seam via an injection well and fluids including the wettability alteration fluid are recovered from a spaced apart production well. Injection of the wettability alteration fluid is continued into the coal seam until the permeability thereof to the flow of the combustion-supporting gas therethrough has increased to a maximum extent. Suitable wettability alteration fluids include carbon dioxide, volatile amines, aqueous solutions containing phosphates, phenols, flue gas and alcohols, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for recovering heavy oil from a subterranean, permeable, heavy oil-containing formation comprising injecting steam into the lower portion of the formation, injecting a controlled amount of unheated water into the upper portion of the formation and displacing the oil through the formation toward a production well where the oil is produced. The steam injection releases heat (BTU) to the heavy oil and formation reducing the viscosity of the oil and increasing its mobility for recovery. The sequence of injection of the water and steam is designed to yield the maximum oil recovery per BTU injected by increasing the volume of the formation subjected to heating and increasing the vertical sweep.

Abstract: Acrylonitrile polymer film is treated with non-volatile water-miscible glycol plasticizer to improve toughness and other film properties. In a unique, continuous, steady state process polyacrylonitrile aquagel strip is treated with plasticizer additive in concentrated aqueous solution. Aquagel strip is passed at substantially constant rate through a solution treatment bath. The aquagel strip, which may contain at least about 40 weight % water uniformly dispersed in the polyacrylonitrile, is contacted with the aqueous solution during a predetermined residence time in the bath. After passing the treated aquagel strip from the bath, excess aqueous additive solution is removed. The plasticizer additive can be metered to the aqueous solution at concentration greater than the aqueous additive solution of the bath at a rate substantially proportionate to desired steady state uptake of additive for the aquagel strip.

Abstract: A process is described for improving yield and leaching rates of mineral values in uranium-bearing formations associated with high brine aquifers by using high pressure CO.sub.2 /oxidant in the leaching solution. The high pressure CO.sub.2 overcomes the inhibiting effect of NaCl on the rate of leaching. Uranium is recovered at the well head by ion exchange at a pH of about 4.5 to about 5.0 either under pressure to keep the CO.sub.2 in solution or with provision for CO.sub.2 recovery and recycle.

Abstract: Laminar thermoplastic film constructions comprising a layer of low density polyethylene bonded to a layer of a dissimilar polymer blend comprising high density polyethylene and polyethylene copolymers. In particular such copolymers comprise polyethylene copolymerized with another alpha olefin containing from about 3 up to about 15 carbon atoms. Such copolymers are also characterized by being linear, low density polymers having densities which are below about 0.94 grams/cc.

Abstract: A plasticized polyacrylonitrile composition and a film thereof containing a plasticizing proportion of a liquid polyether prepared by reacting ethylene oxide and propylene oxide with at least one monohydric alcohol active hydrogen compound initiator having about one to about ten aliphatic carbon atoms to yield a heterized copolymer. The invention is also concerned with a continuous process for the introduction of the plasticizing proportion of said liquid polyether into the polyacrylonitrile aquagel film.

Abstract: A flexible film laminate and retortable pouch therefrom comprising a first layer of heat-sealable polyolefin film; a first adhesive layer contacting said polyolefin film, said first adhesive being a maleic acid anhydride adduct of an ethylene-propylene copolymer; a second adhesive layer contacting said first adhesive layer, said second adhesive being a combination of a styrene-butadiene block copolymer and a random terpolymer, said second adhesive also contacting; a second layer of a polyacrylonitrile homopolymer film; said laminate having been subjected to ultra violet radiation through said second layer to an extent resulting in a greater bond strength between layers than in the absence of said radiation.

Abstract: A flexible film laminate and retortable pouch therefrom comprising a first layer of heat-sealable polyolefin film; a syndiotactic poly-1,2-butadiene adhesive be bonding said first layer to a second layer of polyacrylonitrile homopolymer film; said laminate having been subjected to conditions sufficient to effect the generation of free radicals in the system to an extent resulting in greater bond strength between layers than in the absence of said conditions.

Abstract: A system for producing coated, oriented polymer film. Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a continuous film of the polymer with water uniformly dispersed therein and applying an aqueous coating composition to at least one surface of the film. The film is oriented and dried under constraint to remove water from the substrate film and coating.

Abstract: Continuous film production from a high pressure feed stream is achieved in a system which provides methods and means for maintaining pressurized gas in an extrusion zone wherein the extrudate may be cooled to form a solid polymeric film. The product film is withdrawn from the extrusion zone continuously through a standing liquid column in fluid communication with the extrusion zone. The film is passed downwardly into a liquid leg below the extrusion zone and upwardly through the liquid column, which has an upper exit end elevated above the pressurized zone thereby exerting super-atmospheric pressure. The product is recovered from the liquid sealing medium, advantageously water, at ambient pressure. Hot aqueous solutions of polyacrylonitrile may be extruded at elevated pressure onto a cooled casting drum in a gaseous environment wherein flashing of the hot solvent is prevented.