Abstract: An automatic, low level floor lighting system includes a light unit including a light operable to produce visible light when energized by a power source and a control means for allowing a user to adjust an intensity of the visible light. The light unit also includes an ambient light sensor to inhibit the light from being energized when an ambient light is above a predetermined level. The light unit further includes a receiver for receiving an activation signal to energize the light and a deactivation signal to de-energize the light. A transmitter transmits the activation and deactivation signals to an additional light unit. The system also includes a remote activation unit for transmitting the activation and deactivation signals to the receiver when the user engages the remote activation unit where the user can remotely turn the light on and off when the ambient light is below the predetermined level.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical fuel cell is provided. More particularly, an electrode formed of a sheet of a compressed mass of expanded graphite particles having a plurality of transverse fluid channels passing through the sheet between first and second opposed surfaces of the sheet, is provided. The electrode is treated with a water resistant additive sufficient to provide utility as a cathode in an electrochemical fuel cell.

Abstract: Fluid permeable graphite article in the form of a glassy carbon coated perforated flexible graphite sheet useful as an electrode and electrically conductive backing material in flow-through type electrical capacitors.

Abstract: A method enables preparation of a stock or starting material having improved catalytic properties. These materials will be useful in the formation of articles adapted for use in electrochemical fuel cells.

Abstract: A process and composition for MBS modifiers having (A) a rubbery core, (B) an inner graft stage comprised mainly of a hard polymer, (C) an intermediate sealer stage comprised mainly of an alkyl acrylate monomer and/or a polyunsaturated crosslinker, and (D) an outer shell to provide compatibility of the core-shell polymer with the matrix polymer, is disclosed. A process for preparing MBS impact modifiers having suprisingly improved impact performance in matrix polymers is also disclosed. Articles prepared from blends of matrix polymers and the MBS core-shell polymers described herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention pertains to compositions which can be coated onto substrates. These compositions include a combination of a resin blend comprising a first polyester resin and a second polyester resin, wherein the first polyester is different from the second polyester, an aminoplast crosslinking resin, an acid catalyst, and a urea-aldehyde resin. Films prepared from coating compositions made in accordance with the present invention having improved stain resistance. In many instances, films prepared from coating compositions made in accordance with the present invention not only have improved stain resistance, but also have low temperature flexibility.

Abstract: Coating compositions and coated substrates with the cured coatings of at least one curable film-forming resinous material along with an effective degassing amount of a material having the structure: and dimer derivatives thereof wherein R and R′ are the same or different and are primary alkyl groups with 1 to 6 carbon atoms including methyl or an aromatic group containing at least one heteroatom. Coating compositions like powder coating compositions have the resinous material and material of Structure I and/or dimer derivatives thereof along with one or more crosslinking agents. Optionally, the coating composition like a powder coating can have pigment(s), flow control agent(s), microcrystalline wax(es), light stabilizing agent(s), and/or antioxidant(s) and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel coating composition which includes: (a) a polyester-based resin component, (b) an epoxy component, (c) a crosslinker component, (d) a catalyst component, and (e) a diluent component. The polyester-based resin component includes at least one phosphatized polyester resin; and the epoxy component includes at least one phosphatized epoxy resin. These coating compositions are particularly suitable as primers, and especially as primers for use used in conjunction with coating composition which include fluorocarbon polymers. Also provided is a method of providing a substrate with a multilayer coating system. This method includes: (a) applying at least one layer of the aforementioned novel primer onto a substrate; and (b) applying at least one layer of a second coating composition over the primed substrate of step (a).

Abstract: The present invention pertains to durable, chemically-resistant films made from terpolymers. These terpolymers include repeating units of a fluorinated unsaturated monomer, a diester of an unsaturated anhydride with at least one hydroxyl group, and an olefin. The novel films result from curing a coating composition which include: (a) a polymeric component which includes the terpolymers described above, and (b) a crosslinking component. The films of the present invention have many of the excellent physical properties typically associated with those derived from hydroxy-functional fluoropolymers.

Abstract: The present invention is a positive acting photoresist composition which includes a positive acting photoactive component and a dimethyl aniline component. The positive acting photoactive component includes at least one positive acting photoactive polymeric compound. The photoactive polymeric compound contains groups having the 2,6-dinitro structure ##STR1## or a 2,5-dinitro structure ##STR2## where X and Y may be the same or different member selected from the group consisting of: halogen, --OR, --O--SO.sub.2 R, --SR, --NRR', --OC.dbd.ONHR, --OC.dbd.OOR, --OSiRR'O and --OC.dbd.OR; and where R and R' may be hydrogen or any of a wide variety of organic substituents, including substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, substitutents. The photoactive component may also include a photoactive monomeric compound which contains groups having the 2,6-dinitro structure (1) and/or the 2,5-dinitro structure (2) set out above. The dimethyl aniline component includes a N,N-dimethyl aniline compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a powder coating for application to packaging containers,1) the powder coating comprisingA) at least one thermoplastic,B) if desired, at least one thermoset, preferably an epoxy resin having an epoxy equivalent weight of from 400 to 3000,C) if desired, pigments, fillers, catalysts, typical powder coating additives such as degassing agents, levelling agents, free-radical scavengers and antioxidants, and2) the powder coating having a particle-size distribution such thata) at least 90 percent by mass of the powder-coating particles have a size of between 1 and 120 .mu.m,b) the maximum size of the powder-coating particles is .ltoreq.150 .mu.m for at least 99 percent by mass of the particles, andc) the mean size of the powder-coating particles in between 1 and 60 .mu.m, preferably from 1 to 30 .mu.m.

Abstract: Cured thermoset multilayered composite coatings with a powder clear coat and a waterborne base coat have improved chip resistance for the coating. The waterborne base coat composition has one or more crosslinkable film-forming polymers, one or more crosslinking agents for crosslinking the film-forming polymer, and one or more pigments. This basecoat is applied to a bare or previously painted substrate to give a film thickness in the range of about 0.1 to 3 mils (2.54 to 76.2 microns). The basecoat is dehydrated from treatment at a temperature from ambient to an elevated temperature of up to about 90.degree. C. for up to about 15 minutes before it is contacted with powder clear coating composition. The powder clear coating composition has a predominant amount of one or more crosslinkable, meltable and mobile film-forming polymer and/or copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of one or polymers/copolymers in the range of about 2000 to about 6000.

Abstract: A liquid, radiation curable composition is disclosed that includes a reactive diluent to lower initial application viscosity without substantial reduction of cure rate. The composition of the present invention comprises: (a) an unsaturated polyester polymer; (b) a non-polymerized, cocurable polyfunctional vinyl ether component; and (c) a reactive diluent which is an unsaturated dioic acid ester having the following structural formula: ##STR1## wherein at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is a group that includes an oxygen with a carbon adlacent thereto and an abstractable hydrogen attached to the carbon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypropylene film-adhesion promoter-metal laminates, adhesion promoter used being polypropylene modified with carboxyl groups and/or anhydride groups. Polypropylene random copolymers of 90 to 99% by weight, preferably 93 to 99% by weight, of propylene and 1 to 10% by weight, preferably 1 to 7% by weight, of comonomers, having a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w :M.sub.n in the range from 2 to 10, preferably 3 to 6, and a melt flow index MFI 230.degree. C./2.16 kg in the range of 1 to 20 g/10 min, preferably in the range from 4 to 15 g/10 min, are used for the production of the polypropylene film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a closure giving a tight mechanical seal and preferably made from metal or plastic, with an insert on its inner side as a sealing element for containers, in particular for bottles and glassware, where the insert is composed of at least one polyolefin which can be prepared using catalysts selected from the class consisting of the metallocenes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radiation curable composition which includes: (a) an unsaturated ester compound, and (b) a pulverizable vinyl ether compound. The unsaturated ester compound is characterized as having a plurality of unsaturated ester groups per molecule. The pulverizable vinyl ether compound is characterized as including at least one of the following: (a) a compound having an average of greater than 1.0 reactive vinyl ether groups per molecule, and (b) a vinyl ether-containing group bonded to the unsaturated ester compound such that there is an average of at least 1.0 reactive vinyl ether group per molecule. The unsaturated ester compound, the vinyl ether compound and/or a mixture thereof is treated with a reducing agent so as to decompose destabilizing agents present therein that would initiate premature polymerization of the vinyl ether compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multilayer packaging material which is suitable for use as a container for malt beverages and which is tinted so as to block at least 90% of light with wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation ranging from 300 nm to 500 nm. The tinted multilayer packaging materials of the present invention includes: (a) at least one layer of a carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2)-permeable polymeric packaging material, and (b) at least one layer of a CO.sub.2 -treated gas barrier coating, which has an oxygen permeability constant not more than 0.05 cubic centimeter-mil/100 square inches/atmosphere/day. The CO.sub.2 -permeable packaging material can be any polymeric material through which CO.sub.2 can pass and which can be used as a packaging material for food or beverages. The gas barrier coating has an oxygen permeability constant, before CO.sub.2 treatment, of less than 0.3. This gas barrier coating includes the reaction product of a polyamine (A) and a polyepoxide (B).

Abstract: A curable, film-forming composition is provided which includes: (a) a hydroxyl-containing acrylic solution polymer, and (b) a polyisocyanate crosslinking agent. The hydroxyl-containing acrylic solution polymer is present in an amount ranging from between about 60 to about 90 weight percent; and, the polyisocyanate crosslinking agent is present in an amount ranging from between about 10 to about 40 weight percent. The acrylic solution polymer is the reaction product of: (a) a cycloaliphatic and/or aromatic ester of (meth)acrylic acid having at least 6 carbon atoms in the cycloaliphatic and/or aromatic group, and (b) a hydroxyl functional acrylic monomer component. The hydroxyl functional acrylic monomer component is present in an amount such that the hydroxyl number of the resulting acrylic solution polymer is less than 60. This invention also provides a color-plus-clear coating system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gas barrier coating and multilayer packaging materials made therefrom. The gas barrier coating includes a polyamine (A), a polyepoxide (B), and a filler (C). Polyamine (A) includes at least one of the following: (a) an initial polyamine, and (b) an ungelled polyamine adduct which is the reaction product of the initial polyamine and epichlorohydrin and/or a polyepoxide having a plurality of glycidyl groups linked to an aromatic member. Polyepoxide (B) includes a polyepoxide having a plurality of glycidyl groups linked to an aromatic member. Filler (C) includes a platelet-type filler with the following particle size distribution: (a) a number mean particle diameter in the range from about 5.5 to about 15 microns, and (b) a volume mean particle diameter in the range from about 8 to about 25 microns. In addition, the present invention provides glossy, multilayer packaging materials containing an oxygen barrier material layer having an oxygen permeability constant not more than 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for controlling the spray of positively-charged coating particles towards a grounded or negatively-charged dielectric material having a dielectric constant less than 4.0 and in the form of a hollow container.