Abstract: A method of forming a granular siloxane gel having reduced chloride content. The method comprises contacting a chlorosilicon mixture with an aqueous medium at a temperature within a range of about 50.degree. C. to 180.degree. C. to form a granular siloxane gel, and washing the granular siloxane gel with an aqueous solution comprising a surfactant having a HLB number within a range of about 1 to 28.

Abstract: A catalyst composition for use in the preparation of an organopolysiloxane comprises a .gamma.-butyrolactone carrier and a phosphonitrile catalyst. Preferred phosphonitrile catalysts comprise Cl.sub.3 PNPCl.sub.2 NPCl.sub.3.PCl.sub.6, (Cl.sub.3 P.dbd.N--(PCl.sub.2 .dbd.N).sub.d --PCl.sub.3).sup.+ (SbCl.sub.6).sup.- wherein d is 1 to 4, and compounds of the formula Y(PX.sub.2 .dbd.N).sub.a PX.sub.2 O) wherein X is chlorine, hydroxyl or an organosilicon radical bonded to phosphorous via oxygen, and a is 1 to 5. Also disclosed is a method for producing an organopolysiloxane by polymerisation reaction in the presence of a said catalyst composition, and use of .gamma.-butyrolactone as a carrier for a phosphonitrile catalyst in the preparation of an organopolysiloxane.

Abstract: A method for grinding silicon metalloid comprising grinding silicon metalloid in the presence of an effective amount of a grinding aid selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids comprising at least 8 carbon atoms, alkali metal salts of carboxylic acids comprising at least 8 carbon atoms, and polydiorganosiloxanes.

Abstract: A process for the production of monosilanes from the high-boiling residue resulting from the reaction of hydrogen chloride with silicon metalloid in a process typically referred to as the "direct process." The process comprises contacting a high-boiling residue resulting from the reaction of hydrogen chloride and silicon metalloid, with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalytic amount of aluminum trichloride effective in promoting conversion of the high-boiling residue to monosilanes. The present process results in conversion of the high-boiling residue to monosilanes. At least a portion of the aluminum trichloride catalyst required for conduct of the process may be formed in situ during conduct of the direct process and isolation of the high-boiling residue.

Abstract: A process for redistributing an alkyl-rich silalkylene-containing residues. The process comprises contacting an alkyl-rich silalkylene-containing residue with a halosilane selected from the group consisting of alkyltrihalosilanes and tetrahalosilanes in the presence of an effective amount of a redistribution catalyst at a temperature within a range of about 150.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. thereby forming a redistribution product comprising dialkyldihalosilane. At least a portion of the catalyst in the present process may be formed in situ during conduct of the direct process and isolation of the resulting monosilanes.

Abstract: A process for treating a plurality of by-product streams containing chlorosilicon compounds. The process comprises the steps of determining the average SiCl functionality of a plurality of by-product streams comprising chlorosilicon compounds, blending at least two of the by-product streams to form a blended by-product stream having an average SiCl functionality greater than or equal to 2.8, adding to the blended by-product stream a surfactant having a HLB number within range of about 3 to 28, and contacting the blended by-product stream with an aqueous medium at a temperature within a range of about 50.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. to form a granular siloxane gel.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a siloxane compound described by formula R.sup.1.sub.m Si{OSi(CH.sub.3).sub.2 H}.sub.(4-m) comprising reacting a silane compound or condensation product of a silane compound described by formula R.sup.1.sub.m Si(OR.sup.2).sub.(4-m), where R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, alkyl groups and alkoxyalkyl groups, and m is an integer from 0 to 3, with 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane in an aqueous solution of an acid in which the acid concentration is 1.0 wt % or less, and the molar ratio of the aqueous solution to the 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane is in the range of 0.5 to 1.5. The method is particularly useful for manufacturing siloxane compounds having dimethylhydrodosiloxy groups.

Abstract: A novel branched siloxane-silalkylene copolymer containing a plurality of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms or silicon-bonded alkoxy groups in the molecule. The copolymers are used to improve properties, such as, mechanical strength, adhesiveness, and durability of an end product.

Abstract: A process for converting a high-boiling fraction resulting from the reaction of methyl chloride with silicon metalloid in a process typically referred to as the "direct process" to monosilanes. The process comprises contacting a high-boiling fraction comprising polymeric silicon containing compound resulting from the reaction of methyl chloride with silicon metalloid, with hydrogen gas in the presence of an amount of lithium aluminum hydride catalyst effective in promoting conversion of the polymeric silicon containing compounds to monosilanes.

Abstract: A hydrosilation method comprising contacting a silicon hydride with an unsaturated reactant in the presence of a catalysts selected from the group consisting of amine borane complexes and phoshineborane complexes. The catalysts are especially useful for selectively hydrosilating unsaturated organic compounds with an internal unsaturated bond to increase the desired hydrosilation product yield.

Abstract: An improved structured packing for use in a liquid-vapor contact column. More specifically in a structured packing for liquid-vapor contact where the structured packing comprises laterally orientated channels having peripheral openings, the improvement comprises substantially occluding the peripheral openings with a barrier film. The present invention also includes an improved liquid-vapor contact column comprising a column shell having positioned within a structured packing comprising an outer surface in non-occlusive proximation to the column shell and laterally orientated channels having peripheral openings through the outer surface, the improvement comprising substantially occluding the peripheral openings with a barrier film.

Abstract: A method of preparing an alkoxysilane having reduced halide content. The method comprises contacting a mixture comprising an alkoxysilane and residual halide with a mixture comprising about 1.5 to 15 moles of an alkyl alcohol per mole of residual halide, the alkyl alcohol comprising 1 to about 4 carbon atoms and about 0.1 to 5 moles of an orthoformate per mole of residual halide, to form a mixture comprising additional alkoxysilane and lower boiling species, and separating the lower boiling species and the alkoxysilane. Remaining residual halide may be contacted alkali metal to further reduce the halide content. Alkoxysilanes are useful as catalyst modifiers to manufacture polypropylene.

Abstract: A process for converting a high-boiling fraction resulting from the reaction of methyl chloride with silicon metalloid in a process typically referred to as the "direct process" to monosilanes. The process comprises forming a mixture comprising a low-boiling fraction comprising monosilanes and a high-boiling fraction comprising polymeric silicon containing compounds and contacting the mixture with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst effective in promoting conversion of the polymeric silicon containing compounds to monosilanes. The process results in conversion of the high-boiling fraction to monosilanes. At least a portion of the catalyst present may be formed in situ during conduct of the direct process and isolation of the fractions.

Abstract: A process for the use of water granulated silicon in the preparation of alkylhalosilanes. The process comprises contacting an alkyl halide described by formula RX, with a particulate water granulated silicon containing greater than 0.5 to about 5.0 weight percent iron, in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising copper, at a temperature within a range of about 250.degree. C. to 350.degree. C. where R is selected from the group consisting of alkyls comprising one to about four carbon atoms and X is a halogen.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of tertiary-hydrocarbylsilyl compounds. The method comprises contacting a mixture comprising diethylene glycol dibutyl ether, and a Grignard reagent described by formula RMgX with a silicon compound described by formula R.sup.1.sub.a SiX.sub.4-a, where R is a tertiary-hydrocarbyl group comprising four to about 20 carbon atoms, each R.sup.1 is an independently selected substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group comprising one to about 20 carbon atoms, each X is an independently selected halogen atom, and a is an integer with a value of zero to three, in the presence of an effective amount of a copper compound catalyst. The present invention provides a method for making sterically hindered organosilicon intermediates useful in the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of potassium silanolates comprising reacting a mixture comprising solid potassium hydroxide and a polyorganosiloxane described by formula R.sup.1 R.sup.1 R.sup.2.sub.2 SiO(R.sup.2.sub.2 SiO).sub.m R.sup.3 or (R.sup.2.sub.2 SiO).sub.n, where m is an integer from 1 to about 1000, n is an integer from 3 to about 20, R.sup.1 a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group comprising from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or an independently selected substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group comprising from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the presence of an organic solvent which forms an azeotrope with water at a temperature within a range of about 90.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. thereby forming a potassium silanolate.

Abstract: A method for neutralizing a polyorganosiloxane mixture. The method comprises (A) contacting a mixture comprising a polyorganosiloxane and a base with a neutralizing amount of a solid organic acid at a mixture temperature above the melting temperature of the solid organic acid forming a molten organic acid and forming an insoluble adduct of the base with the molten organic acid, (B) lowering the mixture temperature to effect solidification of residual molten organic acid to residual solid organic acid, and (C) effecting separation of the insoluble adduct and the residual solid organic acid from the polyorganosiloxane mixture. The present invention is especially useful for neutralizing mixtures comprising polyorganosiloxane mixtures where the polyorganosiloxane comprises hydrocarbyl groups bonded to silicon.

Abstract: A process for reducing the chlorocarbon content of a mixture comprising an organochlorosilane, a chlorocarbon, and a hydrosilane. The process comprises contacting a mixture comprising as a major portion an organochlorosilane and as a minor portion a chlorocarbon and a hydrosilane with an alumina-zirconia cogel to effect formation of a mixture having reduced chlorocarbon content. When the mixture is contacted with the alumina-zirconia cogel the chlorocarbon reacts with the hydrosilane to form a hydrocarbon that is easily separated from the organochlorosilane. The process improves chlorocarbon removal efficiency while maintaining high throughput rates.

Abstract: A method for preparation of alkenylsilanes comprising contacting magnesium metal with a mixture comprising diethylene glycol dibutyl ether, an alkenyl halide, and a halosilane at a temperature within a range of about 5.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. The method provides a high yield of alkenylsilane product that is easily recoverable and also provides for high ratios of alkenylsilane to diethylene glycol dibutyl ether.

Abstract: A hydrosilation process where a silicon hydride is reacted with an unsaturated reactant in the presence of a platinum catalyst and an accelerator selected from the group consisting of 1,7-octadiyne, 1,5-hexadiyne, cyclooctadiene, 5-vinyl-2-norbornene, 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene, 2,5-bis(t-butylperoxy)-2,5-dimethylhexane, furan, 4H-Pyran-4-one, cis-4,7-dihydro-1,3-dioxepin, maleic anhydride, and dimethyldiallylmalonate. The accelerators are especially useful for facilitating the hydrosilation of unsaturated reactants where the unsaturation is in the internal portion of the reactant's structure, for example, as in cyclopentene and cyclohexene.