Abstract: A pigment dispersion comprising pigment, an aqueous carrier selected from water and a mixture of water and at least one organic solvent, and a pigment dispersant is described. The pigment dispersant has core and arm star-type architecture, and is prepared by controlled radical polymerization, e.g., atom transfer radical polymerization, using (i) arm-core, (ii) arm-core-arm, (iii) core-arm, or (iv) concurrent core and arm methods. The arms of the pigment dispersant each have hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymeric chain segments.

Abstract: The invention provides a monolayered thermoplastic hot-melt adhesive film without a separating layer which can be rolled up and unrolled without the additional use of a separating layer and in which the polymer matrix of copolyamides and/or copolyesters contains an additive combination of 0.4 wt. % to 8.0 wt. % of a spacer and 0.05 wt. % to 1.0 wt. % of a separating and lubricating agent, and optionally up to 1 wt. % of other additives, each with respect to the total mixture.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module that contains one or more layers of a multi layered composite film is disclosed. The multilayered film contains at least one layer of polycarbonate and at least one layer of fluorine-containing polymer. The photovoltaic module of the invention features improved printability and mechanical properties.

Abstract: A pigment dispersion which includes a pigment, an aqueous carrier and a pigment dispersant. The pigment dispersant is prepared by controlled radical polymerization initiated in the presence of a monomeric initiator having at least two radically transferable groups. The pigment dispersant has at least one of the following polymer chain structures: &phgr;-[(G)p—(E)s—T]z and &phgr;-[(E)3—(G)p—T]z where G is a hydrophobic residue of at least one radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer; E is a hydrophilic residue of at least one radically polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer; &phgr; is a residue of or derived from the initiator, and is free of the radically transferable group; T is or is derived from the radically transferable group of the initiator; z is 2 to 10; p and s are at least one and are selected such that the pigment dispersant has a number average molecular weight of at least 500.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition is provided comprising: (a) a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups that are reactive with hydroxyl groups; and (b) a non-gelled, hydroxyl functional polymer prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization, in the presence of an initiator having at least one radically transferable group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new, particularly economic process for preparing pulverulent polysaccharide derivatives, in particular cellulose derivatives, having a thermal flocculation point; the process comprises soaking or dissolving the polysaccharide derivative in a solvent or mixed solvent, dividing/comminuting the soaked or dissolved polysaccharide derivative by thermal and/or mechanical liquid separation and an optional drying step.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition is provided comprising: (a) a crosslinking agent having at least two functional groups that are reactive with epoxides; and (b) a non-gelled, epoxy functional polymer prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization, in the presence of an initiator having at least one radically transferable group.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition comprising a co-reactable solid, particulate mixture of (a) capped polyisocyanate crosslinking agent, e.g., a trimer of 1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane capped with e-caprolactam or 1H-2,5-dimethyl pyrazole, and (b) hydroxy functional polymer, is described. The hydroxy functional polymer is prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization and has well defined polymer chain architecture and polydispersity index of less than 2.5. The thermosetting compositions of the present invention have utility as powder coatings compositions.

Abstract: Polymerizable compositions comprising a major amount of a first allyl functional monomer, which is an aliphatic polyol (allyl carbonate) monomer, e.g., diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate), and a minor amount of a second allyl functional monomer, which is an aromatic polyol (allyl carbonate) monomer, e.g., 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol bis(allyl carbonate), are described. The second allyl functional monomer is present in the polymerizable composition of the present invention in at least an amount to provide a polymerizate of the composition having (i) reduced cracking relative to a polymerizate prepared from a comparative composition that is free of the second allyl functional monomer, and (ii) a refractive index of less than 1.530. Polymerizable compositions according to the present invention may optionally comprise static dyes and/or photochromic substances.

Abstract: Conjugated diolefins, optionally in combination with other unsaturated compounds which may be copolymerized with the diolefins, are polymerized by performing the polymerization of the diolefins in the presence of catalysts based on cobalt compounds, organoaluminum compounds and modifiers in the presence of aromatic vinyl compounds at temperatures of −30° C. to +80° C. By means of the process according to the invention, it is possible straightforwardly to produce solutions of polydiolefins, such as polybutadiene, having different 1,2 unit contents in aromatic vinyl compounds, which solutions may then, for example, be further processed to yield ABS or HIPS.

Abstract: A method of forming a liquid-permeable asbestos-free diaphragm for use in an electrolytic cell (e.g., a chlor-alkali cell) is described. The method comprises, (a) forming a liquid-permeable diaphragm base mat of asbestos-free material on a foraminous structure (e.g., a foraminous cathode structure); (b) drawing through the base mat a topcoat slurry comprising an aqueous medium (e.g., deionized water), water-insoluble inorganic particulate material (e.g., attapulgite clay) and alkali metal polyphosphate (e.g., tetrasodium pyrophosphate decahydrate); and (c) drying the formed diaphragm. The inorganic material of the topcoat slurry is deposited on and within the diaphragm base mat.

Abstract: A method of operating a chlor-alkali electrolytic cell comprising a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, an anolyte compartment containing an anode, and a liquid-permeable diaphragm partitioning the catholyte and anolyte compartments, is described. The method comprises adding water-insoluble inorganic particulate material, e.g., clay mineral, and alkali metal polyphosphate, e.g., tetrasodium pyrophosphate, to the anolyte compartment of the electrolytic cell while the cell is operating. The water-insoluble inorganic particulate material and alkali metal polyphosphate may be added to the anolyte compartment in the form of an aqueous slurry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mixtures of cyclic oligocarbonates, to their production by way of mixtures of bischloroformates, and to their use for the production of linear polycarbonates and for the modification of other linear polycarbonates.

Abstract: Described is a process for preparing an aromatic carbonate, e.g., diphenyhl carbonate, in which an aromatic hydroxy compound, e.g., phenol, is reacted with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the resence of a supported catalst prepared by a sol-gel process, a quatermary ammonium or phosphonium salt and a base. The sol-gel supported catlyst comprises: (i) a first metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide and mixtures thereof; (ii) a second metal oxide selected from the group consisting of oxides of the elements of groups 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, the iron group (atomic numbers 26 to 28), the rare-earth metals (atomic numbers 58 to 71) and mixtures thereof; and (iii) a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum metals, compounds of platinum metals (atomic numbers 44 to 46 and 77 and 78) and mixtures thereof. The sol-gel supported catlyst is aged, dried and optionally annealed prior to use in the process of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel phenyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols of the formula (I) in which Het represents one of the groups  and G, V, W, X, Y and Z are each as defined in the description, to processes and intermediates for their preparation and to their use as pesticides and herbicides.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel substituted 2-amino-4-alkylamino-1,3,5-triazines of the formula (I) in which R1 represents optionally substituted methyl, R2 represents hydrogen or alkyl, Y represents in each case optionally substituted benzyl, naphthylmethyl, heterocyclylmethyl or heterocyclyloxy, and Z represents hydrogen, represents halogen or represents in each case optionally substituted alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylthio, alkylsulphinyl, alkylsulphonyl, alkenyl or alkinyl, to processes and to novel intermediates for their preparation and to their use as herbicides.

Abstract: A multi-layered laminate suitable for production of thermoformed packaging is disclosed. The laminate contains a polyamide-containing layer, a sealing layer and optionally an EVOH-containing layer and is characterized in that it contains water in an amount of 0.5 to 2.5 percent.

Abstract: A plasticized composition comprising 40 to 82 percent cellulose nitrate, having nitrogen content of less than 12.6% relative to the weight of said cellulose nitrate, and 18 to 60 percent formylated polyurethane, said percent, both occurrences, being relative to the weight of the composition, is disclosed. The plasticized composition is suitable for use in preparing paints.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat sealable, unoriented multi-layer film consisting of a sequence of layers (I) comprising one or more plies on the outer side of the film, a sequence of layers (II) also comprising at least one ply, denoted the heat sealable layer, on the other outer side of the film, optionally together with a coupling sequence of layers (III), also of one or more plies, between the sequences of layers (I) and (II), wherein the multi-layer film is characterized in that the sequence of layers (I) contains at least one layer (i) of a linear alternating copolymer (1) of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated olefin, optionally together with one or more layers (ii) containing polyamide, characterised in that the ratio between the thicknesses of the sequence of layers (I) and the total multi-layer film is no greater than 0.6 and no less than 0.

Abstract: Describes a polymerizable organic composition comprising a polyol(allyl carbonate), e.g., diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate), and from 0.1 percent to 10 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of an allyl ester terminated nonaromatic polyester, e.g., diallyl 4-methyl-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylate oligomer with 1,4-butane diol. Polymerizates prepared from polymerizable organic compositions of the present invention have a refractive index of less than 1.53, e.g., from 1.49 to 1.50, and are substantially free of defects due to tinting failure.