Abstract: The invention concerns an electrode device comprising an ion selective material, a solid state, inner reference system of sodium vanadium bronze and a contact material, where sodium may be reversibly intercalated, in the bronze. Such an electrode device may for instance be sensitive to ions, such as H+, Na+, K+and Ca2+. It may also include a reactive material in which a particular analyte is reacted to form an ion product, to which the ion selective material is sensitive, such as in electrode devices of the Severinghaus-type or in biosensors. The electrode device according to the invention can be prepared by thick film printing.

Abstract: A method for detection of a bubble in a liquid which is placed in a measuring chamber and is in contact with a sensor for measuring the partial pressure of a particular gas in a liquid is provided. The method includes performing a first measurement of the partial pressure of the particular gas in the liquid at a first pressure in the measuring chamber. Next, the pressure in the measuring chamber is changed to a second pressure. A second measurement of the partial pressure of the gas in the liquid at the second pressure in the measuring chamber is performed. An expected result of the second measurement based on the first measurement and assuming that no bubbles are present in the measuring chamber during any of the measurements is provided. The actual result of the second measurement is compared with the expected result and a conclusion is drawn on the presence of a gas bubble in the liquid based on the comparison. An apparatus for measuring the content of a particular gas in a liquid is also provided.

Abstract: The apparatus for analysis of physiological fluids of the invention contains equipment for automatic introduction of reference fluids to a sample aggregate inlet of the apparatus. The apparatus also contains equipment for analyzing the samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining at least one parameter of samples of physiological liquids, to test devices which may be used in the method, to a holder comprising a plurality of such test devices, and to a measuring apparatus adapted to accommodate the holder and to be used in the method and to a system comprising the apparatus and the holder.

Abstract: The reference electrode comprises an electrode plug and a chamber (16) closed at the rear containing an electrolyte. The chamber (16) has an aperture (23) covered by a membrane (26) of a material permitting diffusion of ions therethrough, but whose surface is closed for proteins and similar macromolecular substances. A diffusion tight diaphragm element (27) having a through-going orifice (30) located radially within the aperture is situated on the outer side of the ion diffusion membrane (26) relative to the chamber, and the orifice (30) is smaller than the aperture (23).

Abstract: Process for gas-phase polymerization carried out in two interconnected polymerization zones, to which one or more &agr;-olefins CH2═CHR are fed in the presence of catalyst under reaction conditions and from which the polymer product is discharged. The process is characterized in that the growing polymer flows through a first polymerization zone under fast fluidization conditions, leaves said first zone and enters a second polymerization zone through which it flows in a densified form under the action of gravity, leaves said second zone and is reintroduced into the first polymerization zone, thus establishing a circulation of polymer around the two polymerization zones. The novel process allows olefins to be polymerized in the gas phase with high productivity per unit volume of the reactor without incurring the problems of the fluidized-bed technologies of the known state of the art.

Abstract: It is disclosed a new class of bridged metallocene compounds of formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 can be hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl radicals; R3 and R4 form a condensed, 5- to 8-membered, aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic ring; M is a transition metal of groups 3, 4, 5, lanthanide or actinide; X is hydrogen, halogen, —R, —OR, —OSO2CF3, —OCOR, —SR, —NR2 or PR2, wherein R is an hydrocarbon substituent; and p is 0-3. Furthermore, a catalyst system for olefin polymerization based on the above bridged metallocene compounds and the ligands for their preparation are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to solid catalyst components for the polymerization of olefins CH2═CHR, in which R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl radical with 1-12 carbon atoms, comprising Ti, Mg, halogen and an electron donor compound selected from cyanoesters of formula (I): wherein R1 is a C1-C20 linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkylcycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl or alkylaryl group; n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently selected from hydrogen or C1-C20 linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkylcycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl or alkylaryl groups; two or more of R2 and R3, and R4 and R5, can be joined to form a cycle. Said catalyst components when used in the polymerization of olefins are characterized by an excellent response to hydrogen and capability to produce polymers with broad Molecular Weight Distribution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions based on elastomeric polymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropene and optionally tetrafluoroethylene suitable for providing microcellular foamed vulcanized articles by extrusion or compression molding. In the case of the production of extruded articles based on vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropene copolymers, the compositions comprise: the copolymer, bisphenol AF, a quaternary phosphonium or aminophosphonium salt, azodicarbonamide, MgO, Ca(OH)2, zinc stearate and a plasticizer, each of the components being contained in an exactly defined proportion.

Abstract: Process for the gas-phase polymerization of olefins of the formula CH2═CHR where R is hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl radical with 1 to 8 carbon atoms carried out in one or more reactors having a fluidized or mechanically agitated bed, using a catalyst obtained by reaction of a titanium halide or haloalcoholate and optionally an electron-donor compound supported on an active Mg-dihalide with an Al-trialkyl compound and optionally an electron-donor compound, comprising the steps of: a) contacting the catalyst components in the absence of polymerizable olefin or optionally in the presence of said olefin in an amount to from up to 3 g per g of solid catalyst component; b) prepolymerizing propylene or mixtures of propylene with ethylene or an alpha-olefin to form a propylene polymer having an insolubility in xylene of at least 60% by weight, in an amount of from 5 g of polymer per g of solid catalyst component to 10% by weight of the final catalyst yield; and c) polymerizing one or more CH2═CHR olefins

Abstract: Amorphous copolymers of ethylene with propylene, and optionally with minor amounts of polyenes, have the following characteristics: (A) the % content by mole of propylene in the copolymer (%P) and the triads ratio EPE/(EPE+PPE+PPP) satisfy the following relationship: 0.01%P+EPE/(EPE+PPE+PPP)≧1 (B) less than 2% of the CH2 groups in the chain are in sequences (CH2)n, wherein n is an even number. These copolymers are obtainable by operating in the presence of particular metallocene catalysts having two fluorenyl groups joined together through a bridging group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to MgCl.sub.2.mROH.nH.sub.2 O adducts, where R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, 2.ltoreq.m.ltoreq.4.2, 0.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.0.7, characterized by an X-ray diffraction spectrum in which, in the range of 2.theta. diffraction angles between 5.degree. and 15.degree., the three main diffraction lines are present at diffraction angles 2.theta. of 8.8.+-.0.2.degree., 9.4.+-.0.2.degree. and 9.8.+-.0.2.degree., the most intense diffraction lines being the one at 2.theta.=8.8.+-.0.2.degree., the intensity of the other two diffraction lines being at least 0.2 times the intensity of the most intense diffraction line. Catalyst components obtained from the adducts of the present invention are capable to give catalysts for the polymerization of olefins characterized by enhanced activity and stereospecificity with respect to the catalysts prepared from the adducts of the prior art.

Abstract: A class of metallocene compounds having two substituted cyclopentadienyl rings bridged by an alkylidene group wherein the cyclopentadienyl groups can be indenyl groups. The metallocene compounds have the following structures: ##STR1## The metallocenes are characterized by three principal features: (i) the cyclopentadienyl groups are substituted at the 3-position with a substituent other than hydrogen, while R.sup.2 in the 2-position bears a hydrogen (formula (I)) or is part of a condensed benzene ring (formula (II)); (ii) the bridge is a substituted-methylene bridge, i.e. a methylene group bearing at least one substituent other than hydrogen (R.sup.6 is always different from hydrogen); and (iii) the cyclopentadienyl groups are identically substituted (page 2, line 23). These metallocene compounds can be suitably used as catalyst components for the polymerization of olefins.

Abstract: A class of cross-linked fluorinated polyurethanes, which can be used for protecting and reinforcing coatings on films, sheets, laminates and similar thin structures made of cellulose, graphite, mica, kaolin, leather etc. as well as for adhesive and reinforcing material in multi-layer structures made of films, sheets, laminates and similar thin structures made of graphite, mica, kaolin, etc. These polyurethanes can be obtained starting from the following components:(A) a polyisocyanate consisting of a perfluoropolyether chain bound to the --NCO terminal groups through an aromatic or cycloaliphatic radical; and(B) a polyol consisting of a perfluoropolyether chain bound to the --OH terminal groups through an aromatic or cycloaliphatic radical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of homopolymers of ethylene and copolymers of ethylene with olefins CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHR, wherein R is an alkyl or aryl radical having a number of carbon atoms of from 1 to 10, and having a density greater than 0.86 g/cm.sup.3, comprising at least one (co)polymerization step in the gas phase, in the presence of an active catalyst obtained from a titanium compound supported on a magnesium halide in active form and an Al-alkyl compound. The process is characterized in that a small amount compared with the polymer is fed to the gas-phase reactor of a polyfunctional compound having at least two groups, the same or different, capable of reacting with the alkyl aluminum compound and capable of selectively inhibiting the reactivity of the polymer particle fines compared with the average granulometric size of the polymer present in the bed of a gas-phase polymerization reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to additives for lubricating oils and greases which endow said lubricating oils and greases extremely good performance characteristics under boundary lubrication conditions. Such additives are derivatives of monofunctional or difunctional perfluoropolyethers constituted by mercaptans, sulfides, disulfides, phosphines, phosphine-oxides and phosphoric acid triesters.