Abstract: Impact modified polyamide/polyether block copolymers have increased impact strength for corresponding polyol concentration, which can be achieved using certain difunctional and tri-functional symmetrical triazine derivatives as the co-catalyst/coupling agent, and lactamyl salts as the catalyst. Also disclosed is an improved anionic polymerization process, especially suitable for reaction injection molding.

Abstract: Crude hexafluoroacetone containing as impurities nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide is purified by admixing with water to form an aqueous solution, admixing the aqueous solution with concentrated sulfuric acid or oleum to form a vapor and scrubbing the vapor with liquid concentrated sulfuric acid to produce purified anhydrous hexafluoroacetone. The sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides interact with the aqueous solution and concentrated sulfuric acid so as not to be found in the purified product, thus obviating the need for a neutralization step.

Abstract: Mixed oxides of bismuth with other metals of the perovskite structure and having vacant lattice sites in the same lattice positions occupied by bismuth are disclosed as partial oxidation and ammoxidation catalysts. Such oxides are used as catalysts in the improved method of oxidizing an acyclic hydrocarbon of 1-10 carbons having at most one olefinic unsaturation by reacting the acyclic hydrocarbon in the vapor phase with oxygen in the presence of the solid catalyst to form products having carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: An improved poly(vinyl acetate) which on hydrolysis and reacetylation has an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 5 dL/g and an improved poly(vinyl alcohol) which on acetylation yields poly(vinyl acetate) having an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 5 dL/g. Such poly(vinyl acetate) can be prepared by photo-initiated free radical bulk polymerization of vinyl acetate with controlled low initiator concentration, polymerization temperature and reaction time. Such poly(vinyl alcohol) can be prepared by conventional alcoholysis of the poly(vinyl acetate).

Abstract: A novel process for producing hydrogen and sulfur via the thermal decomposition of hydrogen sulfide is disclosed. The thermal decomposition of hydrogen sulfide is accomplished by passing a hydrogen sulfide containing gas through a reaction chamber containing a refractory material that has been preheated to a temperature between about 982.degree. C. and about 1816.degree. C. so that a gas stream comprising hydrogen, sulfur and hydrogen sulfide is produced. While one reaction chamber is used for decomposition, another is being preheated with hot gases such as a sulfur dioxide-oxygen mixture from a sulfur burner. When the peak temperature in the first reaction chamber declines to a selected value, the functions of the two reaction chambers are reversed.

Abstract: Ethanol is concentrated from ethanol-water mixtures by extraction or extractive distillation with a solvent which is a cyclic ketone of at least seven carbons or cyclic alcohol of at least eight carbons such a cyclohexylcyclohexanone or cyclohexylcyclohexanol. In the extractive distillation process, a first overheads is produced which can be made to be steam with minimal ethanol content and a second overhead is produced which can be made to be essentially pure ethanol. The preferred solvents are also non-toxic, such that the alcohol can be used for human consumption.

Abstract: Nickel electrodes having selenium and/or tellurium electrochemically deposited thereon are disclosed. The nickel electrodes of this invention may be employed in primary or secondary alkaline batteries, and said electrodes exhibit improved currents and charges (i.e. with respect to pure nickel electrodes) when said electrodes are employed in primary or secondary batteries.

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 process for rapidly and substantially decreasing the melt index and increasing the viscosity of polymers of caprolactams during melt processing by forming a molten mixture of the polymer and a phosphite compound and heating the mixture until the desired change in melt index and viscosity are obtained.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating low molecular weight alcohols, especially ethanol, from aqueous mixtures. The process involves subjecting alcohol-water mixtures to extraction and/or extractive distillation procedures. Extractive solvents useful for the process of this invention include phenols having at least six carbon atoms and a boiling point between about 180.degree. C. and about 350.degree. C.

Abstract: The arsenic trifluoride content of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is reduced by diffusion in one or more stages through a non-porous fluoride-resistant film, such as a thin fluoropolymer film.

Abstract: A process for preparing block, and/or graft copolymeric compositions by forming an intimate mixture of two or more polymers, at least one of which includes one or more amino junctions and at least one of the remaining polymers includes one or more carboxylic acid junctions and an effective amount of a phosphite compound, and thereafter heating the intimate mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form the desired block, and/or graft copolymers.

Abstract: A process for preparing substituted or unsubstituted benzoxazoline compound by reacting ammonia, a cycloalkanone and oxygen in the presence of metal cations.

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: Formed from trifunctional units (M) having attached, to one of the two terminal carbon atoms of an alkylene hydrocarbon diradical, the functional group A', and having attached, to the other terminal carbon atom, a different functional group B' reactive with A' to form a linkage AB; and having attached, to a third carbon of the skeleton of unit (M), the functional group A" (preferably the same as A') reactive with B' whereby a macromolecule is built up of successive layers of units (M). The process involves successive stages in the first of which, the functional groups A' are blocked and group B is blocked with a "source" unit (S); then groups A' are liberated to form Compound I. In the second stage, Compound II is formed from the starting material (such as lysine) by first blocking groups A', then converting group B' to a form reactive with A'.

Abstract: Silicon tetrafluoride is reacted with sodium hydride in a cyclic ether reaction medium such as tetrahydrofuran or 1,4-dioxane or in dimethoxyethane. Sodium aluminum hydride is dissolved in the solvent and catalyzes the reaction in amounts of 4-25%, by weight of combined sodium hydride and sodium aluminum hydride.

Abstract: A process for decreasing the melt index and increasing the viscosity of polyamide compositions by adding thereto an effective amount of an aryl phosphate compound, and thereafter heating the composition until the desired changes in melt index or viscosity are attained.

Abstract: A recording device is described, useful as an integrated time-temperature or radiation-dosage history indicator. The device contains a substrate having deposited thereon at least two indicating units, one being unreacted and representing zero time of exposure and the other unit being pre-reacted. Each unit is comprised of an acetylenic compound containing at least one --C.tbd.C--C.tbd.C-- group, capable of reacting by 1,4-addition polymerization thereby forming an end-point color after an irreversible, progressive color change upon thermal annealing or exposure to actinic radiation. The end-point color represents an integrated time-temperature history of thermal annealing or radiation-dosage history. Each unit is constructed such that the time required to form the end-point color by thermal annealing at a given temperature or for a known thermal history, or exposure to actinic radiation at a given average radiation dosage rate, is predetermined.

Abstract: In the reduction of di- or polynitro aromatic compounds by gaseous H.sub.2 S over a solid catalyst, addition of CO gas promotes formation of amino groups from all nitro groups in the molecule. A preferred embodiment is reduction of 2,4- and/or 2,6-dinitrotoluene in vapor phase at 325.degree. C. over a supported iron or supported cobalt catalyst on a support comprising alumina. The amino products are useful for production of polyurethane resins.

Abstract: A composition is described comprising at least two co-crystallized acetylenic compounds, of different chemical structures, each containing at least one --C.tbd.C--C.tbd.C-- group and substituents selected from the group consisting of sulfonate, urethane and alcohol radicals, at least one of the compounds capable of ungergoing a contrasting color change upon exposure to actinic radiation or thermal annealing, wherein the composition exhibits a substantially different thermogram than the sum of thermograms of the individual components as obtained by differential scanning alorimetry.A device is also described useful for measuring the time-temperature or radiation-dosage history of an article comprising a substrate having deposited thereon the described composition.A process is also described for producing the composition of this invention.