Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of a foamed polyester which comprises initiating a reaction between a poly-terminal epoxide, a mono-terminal epoxide and a cyclic diacid anhydride in the presence of a catalytically effective quaternary salt and a blowing agent, heating to a point at which the reaction becomes a self-sustaining exothermic reaction and controlling the reaction such that the temperature of the mixture is not reduced until after the exothermic reaction has begun to subside.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of a polyester having an acid number which is not greater than 65 which comprises reacting an acid anhydride with a monoterminal epoxide in such a way that a self-sustaining reaction is initiated within 200 seconds of the reactants being mixed together and said reaction results in the attainment of a maximum temperature in excess of 200.degree. C within 200 seconds of initiation.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymeric material comprising a polyester prepared by initiating a reaction between a poly-terminal epoxide, a mono-terminal epoxide and a cyclic diacid anhydride in the presence of a catalytically effective quaternary salt, heating to a point at which the reaction becomes a self-sustaining exothermic reaction and controlling the reaction such that the temperature of the mixture is not reduced until after the exothermic reaction has begun to subside and an inert filler material.

Abstract: The prior art discloses a number of polymerization inhibitors for acrylic acid, acrylates and derivatives thereof, but such polymerization inhibitors have low vapor pressures. Consequently, when acrylic acid is vaporized, it tends to polymerize on cooling surfaces causing undesirable deposits on storage vessels and the like. However, when a polymerization inhibiting amount of 2,4-pentanedione is added to the monomer, the polymerization of acrylic acid on cooling surfaces is inhibited.

Abstract: Microwaves are used to detect the level of a liquid in a vessel. An external chamber, constructed of a material essentially invisible to microwaves, is connected to the vessel and is open to the interior of the vessel above and below the level to be detected. Microwaves are directed through the external chamber and the unabsorbed energy of the microwaves passing through the external chamber is measured and converted to a signal representative of the liquid level in the vessel. Known electrical circuitry is used to generate the microwaves, to measure the unabsorbed microwave energy, and to convert the measured energy to a standard instrument signal representative of the liquid level in the vessel.

Abstract: A method is provided for the removal of contaminating alkanes from the vaporized carbonylation products of a process wherein carboxylic acids are produced by the reaction in the liquid phase of an alcohol or an ester, halide or ether derivative of said alcohol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system containing a rhodium or iridium component and an iodine or bromine component. The method involves distillation of the alkane-containing vaporized carbonylation products, phase separation of the overhead from said distillation, further distillation of a slipstream of the resulting heavy phase using carbon monoxide as stripping gas and removal of the alkanes as the bottoms stream from the latter distillation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of dicarboxylic acids, specifically by the reaction of non-vicinal glycols; halogen containing derivatives in which the OH radical of the glycol is substituted by Cl, Br, or I; ester derivatives of glycols; and cyclic ether derivatives of glycols; with carbon monoxide in the presence of catalyst compositions essentially comprising rhodium or iridium compounds and complexes, together with a halide promoter.

Abstract: An oxygen carrier composition based on the metals lead, magnesium and aluminum and a vapor phase process for dehydrocoupling toluene and/or toluene derivatives to form stilbene and/or stilbene derivatives and for demethylating toluene and/or toluene derivatives to form benzene and/or benzene derivatives.

Abstract: Toluene and toluene derivatives are dehydrocoupled to stilbene and stilbene derivatives in a vapor phase reaction in the presence of a metal oxide. The stilbene products are purified of by-product polar impurities. The purified stilbene can be catalytically reacted in the vapor phase with ethylene to produce styrene.

Abstract: Oxidation of an unsaturated amine to an unsaturated nitrile is carried out in presence of cuprous chloride, a nitrogen base and a halide salt soluble in the nitrogen base.