Abstract: The invention describes rolled electroactive polymer devices. The invention also describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods for their fabrication. A rolled electroactive polymer device converts between electrical and mechanical energy; and includes a rolled electroactive polymer and at least two electrodes to provide the mechanical/electrical energy conversion. Prestrain is typically applied to the polymer. In one embodiment, a rolled electroactive polymer device employs a mechanism, such as a spring, that provides a force to prestrain the polymer. Since prestrain improves mechanical/electrical energy conversion for many electroactive polymers, the mechanism thus improves performance of the rolled electroactive polymer device.

Abstract: Methods for calculating and displaying premium freight costs are provided. The methods comprise the steps of: A) selecting a time period of interest; B) selecting all shipments occurring within the selected time period and indexing the shipments into a list; C) for each shipment in the list, evaluating whether the shipment was delivered in the optimal mode, optimal source, and/or optimal carrier, and if a non-optimal mode, source or carrier was used, calculating premium freight cost; D) if the premium freight cost is not negative, adding the premium freight cost to a lane for the non-optimal mode; and E) displaying the premium freight cost by lane on a computer screen. Information for carrying out the methods of the present invention is contained in various databases containing shipment data and optimality tables.

Abstract: A rigid polyurethane foam having lose density without an increased k-factor can be produced by adding small amounts of butyl alcohol to a polyurethane composition containing an isocyanate, at least one polyol, a catalyst and a gaseous blowing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous copolymer dispersions containing A) one or more hydroxy-functional copolymers synthesized from a) one or more OH-free (meth)acrylic esters and/or vinylaromatics, b) one or more hydroxy-functional (meth)acrylic esters, c) one or more ionic and/or potential ionic monomers capable of free-radical copolymerization, and d) one or more optionally monomers other than components a) to c) that are capable of free-radical copolymerization, and B) one or more hydroxy-functional polycarbonate polyols as reactive diluent. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing these aqueous copolymer dispersions and to their use in coating compositions.

Abstract: A method of producing a polyurethane molded article is provided, in which one molding machine which can provide distinctly polyisocyanate component(s) and two kinds of polyol components is used, and prior to completion of the feed of a first polyurethane mixture liquid containing a polyisocyanate and a polyol component without a blowing agent into a mold, a second polyurethane mixture liquid containing a polyisocyanate and a second polyol component with a blowing agent is fed into the mold. The method produces, in a single stage, a polyurethane foam molded article having the skin or high density portion selectively formed on portions of the molded article actually requiring them, where the proportions of the skin and the high density portion and the foamed core can be varied freely.

Abstract: A transparent antimicrobial thermoplastic molding composition is disclosed. The composition contains aromatic polycarbonate resin and 0.01 to 3.8 of an antimicrobial compound conforming to formula (I) AgaM1bM22(PO4)3??(I) wherein M1 is at least one ion selected from the group consisting of alkali metal ion, alkaline earth metal ion, ammonium ion and hydrogen ion, M2 a tetravalent metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr and Sn, and where a and b are positive numbers where a+mb=1 where m is a valence of M1, the percent being relative to the weight of the polycarbonate. The composition is suitable for molding articles having good appearance and surface qualities.

Abstract: The invention provides aqueous preparations having soft-feel properties, foams obtainable by mechanically foaming these preparations, and soft-feel coatings based on the foams. The preparations comprise aqueous polyurethane-polyurea dispersions, hydroxy-functional, aqueous or water-dilutable binders, polyisocyanates which may have been hydrophilically modified, and foam stabilizers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a one-stage process for the production of polyoxyalkylene containing polyols having equivalent weights of about 150 to about 6000 and functionalities of about 2 to 8. The process comprises (1) mixing (a) an organic compound having a hydroxyl functionality of about 2 to about 8 and an equivalent weight of about 35 to about 575, with (b) a hydroxyl functional compound having an equivalent weight of about 100 to about 6000 and a functionality of about 2 to 8; and (2) alkoxylating the mixture with (c) one or more alkylene oxides, in the presence of (d) one or more double metal cyanide catalysts. Suitable compounds to be used as (a) the organic compound having a hydroxyl functionality of about 2 to about 8 and an equivalent weight of about 35 to about 575 in the present invention include bisphenol-A, Bisphenol TMC, tetrabromobisphenol A, and novolak phenolic resins.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for preparing diamines and polyamines from the diphenylmethane series by reacting aniline and formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst, the improvement involving the aniline containing less than about 3 wt. % of diamines and polyamines from the diphenylmethane series, based on the weight of the aniline.

Abstract: A thermoplastic molding composition containing polycarbonate, polyalkylene terephthalate and an elastomeric impact modifier is disclosed. The impact modifier that exhibits pH value of less than 7 and contains less than 500 ppm of sodium ions, is characterized in its core/shell morphology, where the core contains polymerized butadiene structural units and shell contains polymerized methacrylate structural units. The core is present in an amount of 40 to 70 percent relative to the weight of the impact modifier, and the glass transition temperature of the shell is greater than 23° C. The composition is characterized in its improved surface quality and toughness at low temperatures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of Raney nickel catalysts. In this process, the melt of an alloy comprising from 40 to 95 wt. % aluminum, from 5 to 50 wt. % nickel, 0 to 20 wt. % iron, from 0 to 15 wt. % of one or more transition metals selected from the group consisting of cerium, cerium mixed metal, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum and manganese, and, optionally, additional glass-forming elements, is brought into contact with one or more rotating cooling rollers or cooling plates and is allowed to cool and solidify thereon. The cooling rollers have a surface structured by means of transverse grooves, and the cooling plates have a surface structured by means of grooves extending outwards from the axis of rotation. The rapidly solidified alloy on the cooling rollers or the cooling plates is then subjected to treatment with one or more organic or inorganic bases.

Abstract: Powder coating binders having a glass temperature of ?35° C. containing at least one polymer and one or more radiation-curing reactive thinners, a process for the production of these powder coating binders and their use as a component of powder coatings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of toluenediamine, in which dinitrotoluene is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. The dinitrotoluene required by this process has a content of carbon dioxide, in either physically dissolved or chemically bonded form, of not more than 0.175 mol %, based on the molar amount of the dinitrotoluene.

Abstract: In the method of the present invention at least a portion of the surface of a plastic article (e.g., a molded article of thermoplastic polycarbonate) is contacted with (e.g., immersed in) a treatment composition which includes one or more performance additives. The treatment composition contains: (i) at least one performance additive (e.g., an ultraviolet light absorber); (ii) water; (iii) at least one carrier represented by the following general formula I, wherein R1 is a radical selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl, benzyl, benzoyl and phenyl, R2 is a radical selected from the group consisting of linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl, benzyl, benzoyl, phenyl and H, n is 2, 3 or 4, and m is 1 to 35; and (iv) a diol selected from at least one of linear or branched C2-C20 aliphatic diols, poly(C2-C4 alkylene glycol), cycloaliphatic diols having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms in the cyclic ring, monocyclic aromatic diols, bisphenols and hydrogenated bisphenols.

Abstract: Aqueous, hydroxy-functional binder dispersions with a low solvent content and based on hydroxy-functional copolymers. The binders are prepared by subjecting one or more vinyl monomer mixtures containing OH-free (meth)acrylic esters and/or vinylaromatics, hydroxy-functional vinyl monomers and/or hydroxy-functional (meth)acrylic esters, and ionic and/or potentially ionic monomers capable of free-radical copolymerization, to free-radical polymerization in the presence of at least one compound containing lactone groups and subsequently dispersing the resultant copolymer before or after addition of a neutralizing agent in water. The binder combinations can be used in coating materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of MDI fractions containing 2,4?-MDI, and in which the 2,2?-MDI component from the MDA production is largely removed from the isomer mixture. Highly reactive monomeric MDI products can be produced in this way. These MDI products are characterised in their processing by significantly reduced emissions of MDI monomers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of an alkylphenol ethoxylate involving charging a portion of product from a previous preparation (a “heel”) or an ethoxylate to a reactor, optionally, charging from about 0.2 wt. % to an amount equal to or greater than the weight of the heel of an alkylphenol starter to the reactor, charging ethylene oxide to activate a double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst, adding the alkylphenol starter simultaneously with ethylene oxide for a portion of the process and continuing ethylene oxide addition following completion of the simultaneous alkylphenol starter and ethylene oxide addition. The process of the present invention provides significant improvements in cycle time and safety in producing ethoxylates which may find use in or as surfactants.

Abstract: Binder combinations containing polyisocyanates, special lactone-based polyols and polyester polyols and to their use for producing coatings, preferably on plastics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an aqueous polyurethane dispersion suitable for use in personal care products, wherein the polyurethane is based on one or more polycarbonate polyols.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous polyurethane dispersion suitable for use in personal care products, the dispersed polyurethane comprising the reaction products of: A) a prepolymer according to the formula: wherein R1 represents a bivalent radical of a dihydroxyl functional compound, R2 represents a hydrocarbon radical of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate, R3 represents a radical of a low molecular weight diol, optionally substituted with ionic groups, n is from 0 to 5, and m is >1; B) at least one chain extender according to the formula: H2N—R4—NH2 wherein R4 represents an alkylene or alkylene oxide radical not substituted with ionic or potentially ionic groups; and C) at least one chain extender according to the formula: H2N—R5—NH2 wherein R5 represents an alkylene radical substituted with ionic or potentially ionic groups.