Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for modifying articles and/or semi-finished products made from polymer resin moulding compositions, wherein said articles and/or semi-finished products, which substantially consist of moulding compositions comprising mixtures of thermoplastic polymers where exhibit good biodegradability and thermoplastic polymers which exhibit poor biodegradability, are subjected to biodegradation.

Abstract: The present invention provides the composition for novel triazoyl disulphides, the acid addition salts and metal salt complexes of the triazolyl disulphides, a process for their preparation, and a method for their use as microbicides.

Abstract: A method of enriching chlorine gas is described, which method comprises: (a) providing a supported ceramic membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; (b) bringing a feed gas comprising chlorine gas and contaminant gas into contact with the feed side of the ceramic membrane; (c) removing a gaseous permeate depleted in chlorine from the permeate side of the ceramic membrane; and (d) recovering a gas enriched in chlorine from the feed side of the ceramic membrane. The supported ceramic membrane has pore diameters in the range of from 3 angstroms to 12 angstroms. Preferably, the supported ceramic membrane is a substantially cylindrical supported ceramic membrane having a substantially cylindrical internal coaxial passage.

Abstract: Describes a method of producing N-1-alkenyl carbonylamino compounds represented by the following general formula I, ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is the residue of an active hydrogen functional material, n is a number from 1 to a number equal to the number of active hydrogen groups of said active hydrogen functional material, X is selected from O, S and N(R.sub.5), R.sub.5 being hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, or R.sub.5 and R.sub.1 may together form a cyclic ring, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl and C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenyl.

Abstract: Describes a chemical feeder for supplying chemical treating agents, e.g., calcium hypochlorite, to a liquid stream, e.g., an aqueous stream. The chemical feeder includes (a) a housing 11 having a chamber 12 therein for receiving solid chemical material, and a single principal opening 33 in the base 87 of the housing, (b) a valve casing 42 positioned below housing 11 and having a single first opening 36, a single second opening 39, a valve chamber 90 that provides fluid communication between openings 36 and 39, and a valve body 57 that is moveable within valve chamber 90 for selectively regulating the flow of fluid between openings 36 and 39, and (c) a fluid conduit 69 positioned below valve casing 42 and having a fluid inlet 72, a fluid outlet 75 and a feeder opening 84. First opening 36 of valve casing 42 is in fluid communication with opening 33 in base 87 of housing 11, and feeder opening 84 of fluid conduit 69 is in fluid communication with second opening 39 of valve casing 42.

Abstract: Described is a printable microporous material exhibiting enhanced readability of one or more images, e.g., printed indicia, patterns, and designs, applied thereupon. The printable microporous material of the present invention comprises: a matrix of substantially water-insoluble thermoplastic organic polymer, e.g., ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, finely divided, substantially water-insoluble non-color producing particulate filler, e.g., precipitated silica, a network of interconnecting pores communicating substantially throughout the material, and an amount of blue colorant sufficient to improve the readability of printing, e.g., two-dimensional bar codes, present thereon.

Abstract: Describes a free flowing particulate composition comprising, in combination, particulate amorphous precipitated silica, e.g., in the form of granules, hydrocarbon process oil, e.g., an aromatic process oil, and organic carboxylic acid having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms, e.g., stearic acid. The hydrocarbon process oil and organic carboxylic acid are sorbed on the silica and are present in amounts sufficient to measurably improve the dispersibility of the particulate amorphous precipitated silica into an elastomer as measured by percent white area. Optionally, an organosilane coupling agent may also be present in said composition. The free flowing particulate composition of the present invention is useful in reinforcing elastomers, e.g., rubbers used in vehicle tires and the soles of athletic foot wear.

Abstract: Described is a polymerizable organic composition comprising a polyol(allyl carbonate), e.g., diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate), and an additive represented by the general formulaR.sub.2 --O--(R.sub.3 O).sub.m --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n-1 --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --Xwherein R.sub.2 is a monovalent organic radical having a terminal ethylenically unsaturated group, e.g., allyl, R.sub.3 O is a divalent radical derived from an epoxide other than ethylene oxide, e.g., butylene oxide, m is a number from 0 to 100, n is a number between 3 and 100, and X is selected from halide, hydroxyl, quaternary ammonium groups, the acid groups acetic acid, sulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, isethionic acid and phosphoric acid, salts of said acid groups, alkoxy groups and carboxylic acid ester groups. The additive is present in the composition in an amount at least sufficient such that a polymerizate, e.g., a plus lens, obtained from said composition is substantially free of tinting defects, e.g., ferns and/or moons.

Abstract: A method of preparing a shaped article having a photochromic coating thereon, and curable photochromic powder coating compositions are described. The method includes: applying at least one curable powder coating composition to at least a portion of the interior of a mold, e.g., a lens mold, wherein at least one of the applied powder coating compositions includes a photochromic amount of photochromic material; curing at least partially the applied photochromic powder coating; charging a polymerizable organic casting composition into the mold; polymerizing the casting composition; and removing a shaped article having a photochromic coating on at least a portion of its surface from the mold.

Abstract: A method of forming a liquid-permeable asbestos-free diaphragm on a cathode structure is described. The method comprises forming a liquid-permeable diaphragm base mat comprising fibrous synthetic polymeric material, e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene, on a cathode structure, e.g., a foraminous cathode; drawing a liquid slurry comprising an aqueous medium containing a wetting amount of surfactant and water-insoluble inorganic particulate material through the base mat, thereby to deposit said inorganic particulate material on and within the pre-formed base mat; and drying the resultant diaphragm at temperatures less than the temperature at which decomposition by-products of the surfactant are formed. The liquid slurry is substantially free of alkali metal halide and alkali metal hydroxide; and the inorganic particulate material comprises at least one oxide or silicate of a valve metal, e.g., zirconium oxide, having a median diameter of 0.

Abstract: Described is a method of electrochemically converting .alpha.-halohydrins, e.g., 1-chloro-2-hydroxypropane and 1,3-dichloro-2-hydroxypropane, to epoxides, e.g., propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin. A three compartment electrolytic cell is provided having (1) a catholyte compartment containing a cathode assembly comprising a cathode and an anion exchange membrane, (2) an anode compartment containing an anode assembly comprising either (a) a hydrogen consuming gas diffusion anode and a current collecting electrode or (b) a hydrogen consuming gas diffusion anode which is fixedly held between a hydraulic barrier and a current collecting electrode, and (3) an intermediate compartment separated from the catholyte and anode compartments by the anion exchange membrane and either (i) the hydrogen consuming gas diffusion anode or (ii) the hydraulic barrier respectively. An aqueous solution of .alpha.

Abstract: Describes a method of electrochemically converting .alpha.-halohydrins, e.g., 1-chloro-2-hydroxypropane and 1,3-dichloro-2-hydroxypropane, to epoxides, e.g., propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin. A three compartment electrolytic cell is provided having (1) a catholyte compartment containing a cathode assembly comprising a cathode and anion exchange membrane, (2) an anolyte compartment containing an anode assembly comprising an anode and a cation exchange membrane, and (3) an intermediate compartment partitioned from the catholyte and anolyte compartments by the anion and cation exchange membranes respectively. An aqueous solution of .alpha.-halohydrin is charged to the catholyte compartment, while hydrogen halide solutions are charged to the intermediate and anolyte compartments. Direct current is passed through the electrolytic cell and an aqueous solution comprising epoxide is removed from the catholyte compartment.

Abstract: A method of preparing photochromic materials useful for optical applications, and photochromic materials prepared by such method, are described. Such method comprises polymerizing a blend of a polyol[(meth)acryloyl terminated carbonate] monomer and a photochromic amount of an organic photochromic substance, thereby forming a photochromic material. A preferred polyol[(meth)acryloyl terminated carbonate] monomer is diethylene glycol bis[(methacryloyloxy)ethylene carbonate]. Polymerization may be performed by free radical initiation using thermal initiators, photoinitiators or a combination of such initiators. Photochromic materials prepared by such method may be used in optical applications, e.g., photochromic lenses.

Abstract: Describes a polymerizable organic composition comprising at least one polymerizable monomer having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups, e.g., divinyl benzene, and a polythiol monomer represented by the following general formula, ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain alkylene, e.g., methylene or ethylene, cyclic alkylene, phenylene and C.sub.1 -C.sub.9 alkyl substituted phenylene. Optionally, a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer, e.g., phenoxyethyl methacrylate, and/or an anhydride monomer, e.g., methacrylic anhydride, may also be present. Polymerizates prepared from polymerizable organic compositions of the present invention have a refractive index of at least 1.57, an Abbe number of at least 33 and an initial Barcol hardness of at least 1. Also described are photochromic articles prepared from such compositions.

Abstract: Describes a method of electrochemically converting .alpha.-halohydrin, e.g., 1-chloro-2-hydroxypropane and 1,3-dichloro-2-hydroxypropane, to epoxide, e.g., propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin. An aqueous solution of .alpha.-halohydrin is charged to the catholyte compartment of an electrolytic cell, which contains a cathode, hydrogen gas is charged to the anode compartment of the cell, which contains an anode assembly comprising a hydrogen consuming gas diffusion anode fixedly held between a current collecting electrode and an anion exchange membrane. The catholyte and anode compartments of the cell are separated by the anion exchange membrane. An aqueous solution containing epoxide is removed from the catholyte compartment.

Abstract: Describes polymerizable organic compositions of a major amount of a first monomer component which is a polyol(allyl carbonate), e.g., diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate), and from about 2 to 35 weight percent of a second monomer component which is an alkoxylated bisphenol (or hydrogenated bisphenol) having acrylate or methacrylate groups, e.g., dimethacrylate of bisphenol A having 25 to 35 ethoxy units. Substantially completely cured polymerizates prepared from such compositions may be used to prepare photochromic articles, e.g., lenses, by incorporating a photochromic substance, e.g., by thermal transfer, into the polymerizate.

Abstract: Describes polymerizable organic compositions of from about 30 to 95 weight percent of a first monomer component which is a polyol[(meth)acryloyl terminated carbonate], e.g., diethylene glycol bis[(methacryloyloxy)ethylene carbonate)]; and from about 5 to 70 weight percent of at least one monomer component selected from: (i) an alkoxylated diol, e.g., alkoxylated bisphenol, having acrylate or methacrylate groups, e.g., dimethacrylate of bisphenol A having 25 to 35 ethoxy units, (ii) a bis[(meth)acryloyl-terminated]polyethylene glycol, and (iii) a monomer having at least three ethylenically-unsaturated terminal groups. Substantially completely cured polymerizates prepared from such compositions may be used to prepare photochromic articles, e.g., lenses, by incorporating a photochromic substance, e.g., by thermal transfer, into the polymerizate.

Abstract: A method of controlling the amount of conductivity increasing substances, e.g., free available halogen, in particular free available chlorine, present in an aqueous medium is described. In accordance with the method of the present invention, an aqueous medium is provided and its conductivity determined. A source of at least one conductivity increasing substance is introduced controllably into the aqueous medium, and a second conductivity measurement is made. The determined conductivities are compared, and in response to this comparison, the amount of conductivity increasing substance added to the aqueous medium is adjusted. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the aqueous medium is an aqueous stream, and the source of conductivity increasing substance is calcium hypochlorite, which is introduced into the aqueous stream through the use of a feeder unit, i.e., a chlorination unit.

Abstract: Described is a polymerizable organic composition comprising at least one capped polyisocyanate having nonfugitive capping groups, e.g., a 1H-azole, a polythiol having two or more thiol groups, and optionally a reactive hydrogen compound selected from polyols, compounds having both hydroxy and thiol groups, and mixtures thereof. A polymerizate, having a thickness of at least 0.5 millimeters, e.g., an optical lens, obtained from the composition of the present invention has an initial Barcol hardness of at least 1, a refractive index of at least 1.57 and an Abbe number of at least 33. Also described are photochromic articles prepared from such polymerizates.

Abstract: Describes a method of preparing a polymerizate by polymerizing a two-component organic composition comprising: a first component containing a polyfunctional reactant having two or more functional groups selected from isocyanate, isothiocyanate and combinations of isocyanate and isothiocyanate groups; and a second component containing a polythiol represented by the following general formula I, ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain alkylene, e.g., methylene and ethylene, cyclic alkylene, phenylene and C.sub.1 -C.sub.9 alkyl substituted phenylene. The second component may also optionally contain a reactive hydrogen compound that is different than the polythiol of general formula I. Polymerizates prepared according to the present invention are useful as ophthalmic lenses and have a refractive index of at least 1.57, an Abbe number of at least 33 and an initial Barcol hardness of at least 1.