Abstract: Process of detecting the presence of certain gases, including certain pollutants, in small concentrations; or to cause partial polymerization of certain polyacetylene compositions for use in time/temperature history indicators or radiation dosage indicators. The process involves contacting a reactive gas, such as a nitrogen oxide, a halide or ozone, with a crystalline substituted acetylenic monomer containing at least two conjugated triple bonds and substituents having at least one atom of oxygen or nitrogen. In particular the acetylenic compound is 2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-bis(phenylurethane) crystallized from tetrahydrofuran or acetone.

Abstract: Ultra-high molecular weight poly(N-propionylethylenimines) are disclosed that are useful as water purification agents. The polymers of this invention include partially deacylated poly(N-propionylethylenimines) derived from poly(N-propionylethylenimines) having a weight average molecular weight, M.sub.w, between about 1 million and about 20 million. The polymers have a degree of deacylation that ranges from about 10% to about 90%.

Abstract: Silicon tetrafluoride gas is produced by reacting aqueous fluosilicic acid and concentrated sulfuric acid in a vertical column. The fluosilicic acid is fed to an intermediate point of the column and the sulfuric acid to the top of the column. Silicon dioxide, both dissolved and suspended, is fed with fluosilicic acid in some forms so as to produce a by-product acid substantially free of silicon and fluoride values.

Abstract: A polymer solution is formed from a sulfur- or oxygen-containing aromatic polymer solute such as poly(phenylene sulfide) or poly(phenylene oxide), a Lewis Acid solute derivative (dopant) such as arsenic hexafluoride and a strong acid solvent such as sulfuric acid. Solvents such as fluorosulfonic acid may also serve to generate the dopant. The solutions are especially useful for casting polymer articles.

Abstract: Pyromellitate diester-diacid chlorides are disclosed that are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of a variety of soil and water repelling compounds. The pyromellitates of this invention characteristically contain two ester moieties wherein said ester moieties contain a fluorinated or saturated hydrocarbon alkyl moiety. The pyromellitates additionally contain two acid chloride moieties which are capable of reacting with various compounds to produce various products useful as surfactants.

Abstract: Articles such as vests, helmets and structural elements containing a network of ultrahigh molecular weight, high strength, high modulus polyethylene or polypropylene fibers. The fibers, and especially polyethylene fibers of 15, 20, 25, 30 or more g/denier tenacity, and 300, 500, 1,000, 1,500 or more g/denier tensile modulus impart exceptional ballistic resistance to the articles in spite of the melting points, e.g. 145.degree.-151.degree. C. for the polyethylene fibers and 168.degree.-171.degree. C. for the polypropylene fibers, which are high for these polymers, but substantially lower than the 200.degree. C. or more melting point previously thought necessary for good ballistic resistance.

Abstract: Tetraesters of pyromellitic dianhydride are disclosed wherein two ester moieties are saturated hydrocarbon groups and two ester moieties are halohydroxyalkyl groups. The compounds may be used as diluents for fluorinated pyromellitates that are useful as soil and water repelling agents. Mixtures formed by dissolving the compounds of this invention and known fluorinated pyromellitates in a common solvent are capable of imparting soil and water repelling properties to various fibers that are essentially equivalent to soil and water repelling properties imparted to such fibers by fluorinated pyromellitates alone. Additionally, the hydrocarbon pyromellitates of this invention may be used alone as water repellents.

Abstract: Fibers prepared by spinning, drawing and drying dilute solutions of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene or polypropylene are modified by including in the dilute solution a polymeric additive. The polyethylene fibers so prepared have melting points above 140.degree. C. and exhibit improved adherence to matrices, resistance to fibrillation and other advantageous properties. Additives include lower molecular weight polyolefins, oxidized polyolefins, olefin copolymers, polyolefin graft copolymers and polyoxymethylenes.

Abstract: Methanol is reacted with branched monoolefins such as isobutylene, or mixtures of hydrocarbons such as mixed C-4's from or in a refinery, in the presence of methanesulfonic acid. A column (10) operation is described wherein methanesulfonic acid (11) and methanol (12) are fed in countercurrent fashion to hydrocarbons (13). Crude product ether is removed as a liquid sidestream (25) above the feed of methanesulfonic acid (11), while hydrocarbons depleted of the reactive branched monoolefins (24) are removed overhead. The methanesulfonic acid suppresses the vapor pressure of methanol relative to product ether.

Abstract: Polydiacetylene gel compositions, comprised of a polydiacetylene and a gel-forming liquid therefor, are described which undergo a change in color and in physical state to a solution when heated to a predetermined temperature. The gel compositions exhibit hysteresis temperature characteristics which allow the original color change to be maintained and recorded until the solution is cooled below the predetermined temperature. Thus, the gel compositions are useful in temperature-indicating devices for reversibly monitoring a wide range of temperatures. A novel class of polydiacetylene compounds is also described, useful in forming the gel compositions, formed from monomeric diacetylenediol bis(alkoxycarbonylmethylurethanes).

Abstract: A polymer solution is formed from a sulfur- or oxygen-containing aromatic polymer solute such as poly(phenylene sulfide) or poly(phenylene oxide), a Lewis Acid solute derivative (dopant) such as arsenic hexafluoride and a liquid halide solvent such as arsenic trifluoride. The solutions are especially useful for casting conductive polymer articles.

Abstract: Pyromellitate tetraesters are disclosed that are useful as water repellents. The pyromellitates of this invention characteristically contain two ester moieties wherein said ester moieties contain a fluorinated or saturated hydrocarbon alkyl group. Additionally, pyromellitates of this invention contain two ester moieties which contain siloxyl groups.

Abstract: Polyvinyl alcohol of molecular weight over 500,000 (i.e. 1,500,000 to 2,500,000) is spun as a dilute solution (2-15%) in a relatively non-volatile solvent such as glycerin. The resultant gel fiber is extracted with a volatile solvent such as methanol and dried. Upon stretching at one or more stages during the process, fibers of tenacity above 10 g/denier and modulus above 200 g/denier (e.g. 18 and 450, respectively) are produced.

Abstract: A novel class of compounds, anionic Group VIII metal hydrides containing phosphorus, arsenic and antimony organoligands is described, such as potassium tris and bis(triphenylphosphine) ruthenium hydride. The compounds are useful as homogeneous catalysts in the hydrogenation of aldehydes, ketones, olefins or alkynes. Processes for producing the compounds are also described.

Abstract: A process for preparing quasi-random copolymers is described which involves heating a mixture of polyamides in the presence of one or more phosphite promotor(s). The process is conducted at temperatures between about 265.degree. C. and 315.degree. C. with the process time generally ranging from about 2 to about 20 minutes. The process is especially useful for preparing copolymers from a mixture of poly(caproamide) and poly(hexamethylene adipamide). The copolymer products prepared in accordance with the process are particularly suitable for the production of plastic films which have improved properties as compared to either of the homopolymers.

Abstract: An extractive distillation process is provided for the separation of phenol and/or cresol from mixtures with high boiling oxygenated compounds such as alkanols, alkanones, cycloalkanones, cycloalkanols, aryl alcohols, aryl ketones or mixtures thereof that have a boiling point of at least about 175.degree. C. The process involves distilling the phenol and/or cresol-high boiling oxygenated compound mixture in the presence of at least one extractive solvent comprising a substituted phenol and/or substituted cresol that has a boiling point between about 195.degree. C. and about 400.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the production of oligomeric mixtures useful as surfactants is disclosed. The initial step of the process comprises reacting pyromellitic dianhydride with a fluoroalcohol using a mole ratio of about one mole pyromellitic dianhydride per two moles of fluoroalcohol to produce an intermediate which contains two fluorinated ester moieties and two free acid moieties. Thereafter, the intermediate diester-diacid is reacted with an excess of an oxirane compound such as epichlorohydrin, epibromohydrin or propylene oxide wherein said oxirane compound reacts with the free acid moieties to produce ester moieties containing a primary or secondary alcohol moiety. In the final step of the process, additional pyromellitic dianhydride is added to the reaction mixture so that the alcohol moieties may react with anhydride moieties to produce ester linking groups (between pyromellitate nuclei) and additional free acid moieties capable of reacting with the oxirane compound.