Abstract: A polymer composite comprises a polymer matrix having, dispersed therein, layers of an inorganic material derived from a multilayered inorganic material such as clay intercalated with an inorganic intercalant. The multilayered inorganic material may also be intercalated with an organic material.

Abstract: A sample handling device for automatically handling a multiplicity of samples, particularly the encapsulated samples for evaluation using a differential scanning calorimeter, on an individual basis. The device comprises a vacuum means, which is capable of transferring a new sample to be substituted for a tested sample, a transfer means, which is capable of removing and replacing a cover means to allow the transfer of the new sample to be substituted for the tested sample.

Abstract: A rubber-reinforced copolymer comprising a copolymer matrix derived from one or more monovinylidene aromatic compounds and one or more unsaturated nitrile compounds having at least 6 percent of a rubber which exhibits a viscosity, as a 5 weight percent solution in styrene, of at least 120 centipoise dispersed as discrete particles throughout the copolymer matrix at a particle size of less than 1.5 micron.

Abstract: A coating composition, comprising an aqueous dispersion of a pigment such as clay and a binder such as a latex of a copolymer of styrene and butadiene thickened with a water-soluble copolymer of an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid such as acrylic acid, an ethylenically unsaturated carboxamide such as acrylamide and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having limited solubility in water such as acrylonitrile, is effectively employed in coating paper and other cellulosic web materials.

Abstract: The performance of epoxy resins in several end-uses is enhanced by the presence of small quantities of hydrolyzed resin terminated by .alpha.-glycol groups. The invention is a process in which a mixture that contains liquid epoxy resin and water is reacted at elevated temperatures in order to hydrolyze epoxy groups into .alpha.-glycol groups, characterized in that: (1) the reaction temperature is between 130.degree. C. and 200.degree. C; (2) the reaction mixture contains 0.5 and 10 parts water per 100 parts resin by weight; and (3) the mixture contains 0 to 1 weight percent organic solvents and 0 to 100 ppm each of: organic acids, organic diacids, phosphonium compounds, and alkali or alkaline earth metals and their salts. The process raises the level of .alpha.-glycol groups in the resin, but uses no solvents or catalysts, so that it is easy to clean up the resulting resin.