Abstract: Disclosed is a method for sizing paper at a pH of about 5.0-8.5 by incorporating a sizing composition consisting essentially of (1) rosin, (2) a cationic polyamine resin at a weight ratio of rosin to cationic polyamine of about 5:1 to about 1:2, and (3) up to 0.3% alum. The cationic polyamine resin is selected from the group consisting of polyalkyleneamine-epihalohydrin resins, polyalkyleneamine-dicyandiamide-epihalohydrin resins, poly(diallylamine.HCl)-epihalohydrin resins, poly(methyldiallylamine.HCl)-epihalohydrin resins, epihalohydrin-modified polyethyleneimine resins, amine-modified poly(methyldiallylamine.HCl)-epihalohydrin resins and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for creping fibrous webs comprises: (1) applying to a drying surface for the fibrous web a polyamine/epihalohydrin resin creping adhesive; (2) applying a creping release agent that is a plasticizer for the polyamine/epihalohydrin resin and has a swelling ratio of at least 0.10 and a solubility parameter of greater than 20 MPa.sup.1/2 ; (3) pressing the fibrous web against the drying surface to adhere the web to the drying surface, and (4) dislodging the web from the drying surface with a creping device to crepe the fibrous web.

Abstract: A laminate comprising (1) at least one layer of a textile structure comprising linear low density polyethylene fiber and (2) at least one layer of a textile structure comprising nomnelting fiber or fiber having a melting point higher than the linear low density polyethylene fiber, needlepunched and thermally consolidated together.

Abstract: The color of hydrocarbon resins having carbon-carbon double bonds and containing color bodies is lightened by a hydrotreating process consisting essentially of contacting the resin with hydrogen at a hydrogen pressure of 1 to about 20 bar (14.5 to about 290 psi) in the presence of a catalyst that promotes the hydrogenation of the color bodies without substantially changing the softening point or the content of carbon-carbon double bonds in the resin. The preferred catalyst is nickel/zinc oxide on SiO.sub.2.

Abstract: A fabric comprising a warp yarn and a filling yarn, wherein the filling yarn comprises linear low density polyethylene fiber and the warp yarn comprises nonmelting fiber or fiber having a melting point higher than the linear low density polyethylene fiber.

Abstract: A fiber comprising at least about 80% by weight linear low density polyethylene and having a melting point >109.degree. C. is disclosed. Also disclosed are thermally consolidated fiber structures comprising (1) at least about 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the structure, of lower melting binder fibers comprising at least 80% by weight linear low density polyethylene, and (2) not more than 97% by weight, based on the total weight of the structure, of nonmelting fibers, or fibers having a melting point higher than the linear low density polyethylene fibers. The fiber structures can be in the form of multifilament yarns, woven or nonwoven textile fabrics, carpets, or laminates. The linear low density polyethylene binder fibers in the structures preferably have a melting point <109.degree. C.

Abstract: A composition for creping fibrous webs comprises (1) a polyamine/epihalohydrin resin creping adhesive, and (2) a creping release agent that is a plasticizer for the polyamine/epihalohydrin resin and has a swelling ratio of at least 0.10 and a solubility parameter >20 MPa.sup.1/2. Also disclosed is a process for creping fibrous webs in which the creping adhesive and the release agent can be applied together or separately to a drying surface for the fibrous web.

Abstract: Wet strength resins for paper are prepared by a process comprising the following steps in sequence: (1) reacting a polyamidoamine with an epihalohydrin until the amount of unreacted epihalohydrin present is less than about 10% by weight of the amount of epihalohydrin charged, (2) adding a water-soluble, nonpolymeric amine in an amount of about 0.1 to about 50 mole %, based on the amine in the polyamidoamine, and (3) heating to effect crosslinking. An optional amine additive reaction step can be included after step (2). A nonhalogen acid such as sulfuric acid can be added toward the end of the crosslinking step to decrease the total organic halogen content and increase the wet strengthening effectiveness.

Abstract: A method and corresponding product whereby hydrophobic polyolefin-containing nonwoven materials are provided with sustainable hydrophilic properties for rewet purposes by incorporation into the appropriate spin melt composition an effective amount of an alkoxylated fatty amine in optional combination with up to 60% by weight of primary fatty acid amide.

Abstract: A gamma-sterilizable barrier fabric comprises (1) at least one layer of a gamma-sterilizable nonwoven material comprising cardable multiconstituent staple fibers, at least 50% by weight of the nonwoven material comprising a gamma-sterilizable polymer, and (2) at least one layer of gamma-sterilizable barrier material selected from film, wet-laid fabrics, and melt-blown webs, at least 50% by weight of the barrier material comprising a gamma-sterilizable polymer.

Abstract: A water-soluble terpolymer for use as a dry strength additive for paper consists essentially of the following units: (a) (meth)acrylamide, (b) an ethylenically unsaturated, aliphatic carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, and (c) a water-soluble, polyvinyl monomer, wherein (c) comprises <0.07 mole % based on total monomers; a 1% solution of the terpolymer is capable of passing through a 200 mesh screen substantially without retention of polymer solids, and the terpolymer has a reduced specific viscosity of about 3.0 deciliters/g or less. The process for preparing the polymer includes the step of continuously adding both components of a redox initiator at a controlled rate to provide better control of polymerization and heat evolution.

Abstract: The fabrics of this invention have a unique combination of liquid barrier properties and high air permeability and comprise at least one carded nonwoven web comprising at least 10% by weight, based on the total weight of cardable fibers, of cardable polyolefin fibers having a fiber fineness of about 0.5 to about 1.2 decitex. Preferably the polyolefin fibers are hydrophobic polyolefin fibers, and the nonwoven material is thermally bonded. Laminates comprising at least one layer of the fabrics of this invention and at least one layer of another nonwoven material have the same unique combination of properties.

Abstract: Chopped fiber strands are produced by (1) wetting a continuous unsized fiber tow with a volatile sizing agent, (2) chopping the wet fiber tow into predetermined lengths, and (3) exposing the chopped fibers to conditions of temperature and pressure that remove the sizing agent by volatilizing but do not cause any structural changes in the fiber. Bundles of the unsized fibers have a high bulk density and are easily dispersible in air or other media to individual filaments or groups of small numbers of individual filaments. The process is especially useful for producing high bulk density packages of polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers.

Abstract: A process for making wet strengthened paper comprises (1) treating an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers with a composition comprising (a) a cationic polymer that cures at a neutral pH and is capable by itself of conferring wet strength to paper, the resin having a multiplicity of 3-hydroxyazetidinium ion groups along the polymer chain, and (b) a water-soluble carboxyalkylated polyamine polymer or a carboxylic acid salt thereof.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon resin is prepared by (1) thermally polymerizing a mixture consisting essentially of (a) about 40% to 90% by weight based on total monomers of a cyclic diolefin component comprising at least about 50% by weight dicyclopentadiene, and (b) about 60% to 10% by weight based on total monomers of a specified vinyl aromatic component, preferably alpha-methylstyrene; para-methyl-.alpha.-methylstyrene; 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene, or mixtures thereof, and (2) recovering a product having a Ring and Ball softening point of about 70.degree. to about 150.degree. C. Hydrogenation of this resin produces light colored, thermally stable products that are useful as tackifiers in adhesives.

Abstract: The color of hydrocarbon resins having carbon-carbon double bonds and containing color bodies is lightened by a hydrotreating process comprising contacting a resin having a weight average molecular weight Mw of 250-10,000 with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst that promotes the hydrogenation of the color bodies without substantially changing the content of carbon-carbon double bonds in the resin. The preferred catalysts are copper chromite and copper/zinc.

Abstract: Disclosed are organosilicon crosslinked polymers and crosslinkable prepolymers that are the reaction product of (a) a cyclic polysiloxane in which each silicon atom is substituted with (i) a saturated, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy group or a substituded or unsubstituted aryl or aryloxy group, and (ii) a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group having at least one carbon-carbon double bond that is reactive in hydrosilation, (b) at least one organosilicon compound having at least two .tbd.SiH groups, and optionally (c) a hydrocarbon polyene having at least two nonaromatic carbon-carbon double bonds that are reactive in hydrosilation. A process for preparing the polymers and prepolymers and for preparing the cyclic polysiloxanes is also disclosed.

Abstract: The alkylation resins of this invention comprise the alkylation reaction product of (a) at least one substituted or unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic compound and (b) at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon monomer having at least two carbon-carbon double bonds that reacts with the polycyclic aromatic compound by alkylation in the presence of an acid catalyst, wherein the ratio of (a) to (b) in the resin is about 1:9 to about 3:1 by weight. The resins have a weight average molecular weight of less than 10,000 measured by size exclusion chromatography, and a Ring & Ball softening point of about 50.degree. to about 250.degree. C. Because of their high softening point and low molecular weight, the resins are useful in a variety of applications such as flow rate modifiers for engineering polymers, tackifiers for adhesives, and flushing agents for inks.

Abstract: Disclosed are organosilicon crosslinked polymers and crosslinkable prepolymers that are the reaction product of (a) a cyclic polysiloxane in which each silicon atom is substituted with (i) a saturated, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or aryloxy group, and (ii) a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group having at least one carbon-carbon double bond that is reactive in hydrosilation, (b) at least one organosilicon compound having at least two .tbd.SiH groups, and optionally (c) a hydrocarbon polyene having at least two nonaromatic carbon-carbon double bonds that are reactive in hydrosilation. A process for preparing the polymers and prepolymers and for preparing the cyclic polysiloxanes is also disclosed.

Abstract: Epoxy resin compositions having improved storage stability before curing and improved thermal and mechanical performance after curing comprise a mixture of a polyepoxide and a curing agent that is reactive with the polyepoxide. The epoxy resin composition is characterized by a glass transition temperature of less than 20.degree. C., measured under standard conditions, after subjecting the epoxy resin composition to a specified thermal cycle. The preferred curing agents are aromatic diamines, for example, 3,7-diaminodibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide; 3,7-diaminophenothiazine sulfone, 3,7-diamino-N-methylphenothiazine sulfone; 2,7-diamino-9-fluorenone and 2,4,6,8-tetramethyl-3,7-diaminothioxanthene sulfone.