Abstract: The invention relates to a process to produce brine of improved purity wherein a salt source, contaminated with sulphate ions and alkaline (earth) metal ions, is dissolved in water in the presence of an effective amount of a retarding agent comprising at least one low and at least one high molecular weight retarding agent. Said retarding agent effectively reduces the level of the alkaline (earth) metal sulphate dissolved in the brine, particularly the amount of calcium and sulphate. Preferably, the combination of the low and high molecular weight retarding agents is synergetic in the reduction of dissolved alkaline-earth metal sulphate.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process wherein initiators and protective colloids are both metered to a polymerization mixture. This manner of metering allows for improved control of the polymerization rate and an improved reactor space-time yield, and the process will render a polymer with a relatively high porosity.

Abstract: The invention relates to peroxides derivable from The invention further relates to the process to make these peroxides as well as to their use in polymerization, curing, and modification reactions.

Abstract: A plastic container for the storage and transport of liquids, particularly aggressive liquids, comprising a practically rectangular bottom, a top wall with a filling or pouring hole, and standing walls which each connect to the circumferential seam of both the bottom and the top, and four standing edge strips each connecting two walls, which container is manufactured by the blow-molding process, wherein the standing wall portions have a convex form, wherein either the standing edge strips widen at the top and the bottom and, as seen in a cross-section running parallel to the bottom, the standing edge strips have a radius of curvature equal to or greater than that of the standing wall portions to which they are connected.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic foil comprising a TCO layer, a photovoltaic layer, and a back electrode, which method comprises the following steps: providing a conductive temporary substrate; applying a TCO layer on the temporary substrate; applying a photovoltaic layer on the TCO by means of electrodeposition, with the current during the electrodeposition being supplied at least through the temporary substrate; applying a back electrode; if so desired, applying a permanent substrate; removing the temporary substrate. The crux of the invention is that the unit of the conductive temporary substrate and the TCO functions as electrode during the electrodeposition of the photovoltaic layer. Because of this, the rate of deposition of the photovoltaic layer can be increased compared with that of the prior art. Furthermore, a photovoltaic layer with a more homogenous layer thickness is obtained.

Abstract: A stabilizer composition, suitable for use in polyvinyl chloride compositions, can be formed by reacting a mixture of monoalkyltin trichloride, such as butyltin trichloride, and dialkyltin dichloride, such as dibutyltin dichloride, with at least one carboxylic acid, such as 2-ethylhexanoic acid, and 2-mercaptoethanol, in the presence of base, followed by reaction of the resulting product with a sulfide reagent, such as sodium sulfide. The final composition comprises a complex mixture of alkyl tin carboxylates and/or mercaptides, and of monoalkyltin sulfides and dialkyltin sulfides.

Abstract: The invention relates to an evaporative crystallization process to make salt compositions that includes a step wherein a mother liquor is formed that contains an effective amount of a crystal growth inhibitor that is selected from oligopeptides, polypeptides, and polymers bearing two or more carboxylic acid groups or carboxyalkyl groups and optionally further phosphate, phosphonate, phosphino, sulfate, and/or sulfonate groups, such as carboxymethyl cellulose with phosphate groups, to form salt crystals with a (111) face. The salt can be washed with a reduced amount of washing water while still containing lower amounts of K, Br, SO4, and/or Ca. A wet salt can be obtained by partially drying the salt crystals that are formed.

Abstract: A process for sizing paper comprising adding to an aqueous suspension containing cellulosic fibers, and optional fillers, an anionic or cationic sizing dispersion, and a sizing promoter comprising a cationic organic polymer having an aromatic group; and an anionic polymer having an aromatic group selected from step-growth polymers, polysaccharides and naturally occurring aromatic polymers, wherein the sizing dispersion and sizing promoter are added separately to the aqueous suspension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process to produce brine of improved purity by dissolving salt that contains a calcium sulfate source in water, in the presence of a retarding agent, while using one or more co-retardants to bind contaminants that could interfere with the retarding agents.

Abstract: A process for sizing paper comprising adding to an aqueous suspension containing cellulosic fibres, and optional fillers, a sizing dispersion comprising a polymer having an aromatic group, and a sizing promoter comprising a polymer having an aromatic group, wherein the sizing dispersion and the sizing promoter are added separately to the aqueous suspension.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aqueous powder coating dispersion comprising components A and B, wherein component A is a binder resin or a mixture of binder resins and component B is a crosslinker or a mixture of crosslinkers or component A is a crosslinker or a mixture of crosslinkers and component B is a binder resin or a mixture of binder resins, wherein the process comprises the steps of: a) dispersing a composition comprising component A by the addition of an aqueous medium in a phase inversion emulsification process, b) adding component B simultaneously with or after the addition of the aqueous medium, and c) optionally mixing the obtained composition to obtain a dispersion comprising components A and B. The process enables the preparation of stable powder coating slurries with particles in the range from 50 to 800 nm.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a solar cell unit comprising a back electrode, a photovoltaic layer, a front electrode, and a transparent top layer, characterized in that on top of the top layer at least one removable transparent polymer film is present. Preferably, two to ten, more preferably three to five, removable transparent polymer films stacked one on top of the other are present on the top layer. On the bottom side the transparent polymer films may be provided with an adhesive layer that displays greater adhesion to the polymer film itself than to the underlying layer. Preferably, the solar cell unit is also provided with a substrate at the back of the back electrode. The presence of a transparent removable top layer enables easy removal of a surface once it has got dirty.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to safely produce, handle and transport packaged organic peroxide formulations comprising a reactive phlegmatiser and to the use of such packaged material in polymerisation and polymer modification processes, particularly the high-pressure (co)polymerisation process of ethylene and/or the suspension (co)polymerisation process of styrene.

Abstract: The invention relates to specific non-caking salt (NaCl) compositions with a pH of 1-10 comprising at least one metal (iron, titanium and/or chromium) complex of a hydroxypolycarboxylic acid, a process to make such compositions, as well as the use of such compositions in table salt, road salt, or electrolysis salt. Preferred compositions comprise an iron complex of (meso)tartaric acid for use in membrane electrolysis operations.

Abstract: The isomerization of an alkylated phenol composition that contains an ortho-alkyl substituted phenol component to isomerize and reduce the level of ortho-alkyl substituted phenol component therein can be accomplished by heating that composition in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a solid acid catalyst to carry out such isomerization and reduction in the level of ortho-alkyl substituted phenol. Examples of suitable solid acid catalysts can be selected from the H-form zeolites, the supported sulfonic acids, and the heteropoly acids. The resulting isomerized product can be subsequently phosphorylated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a preparation process for making peroxy esters and peroxy carbonates, peroxy ester peroxy carbonates, mixed diperoxides, mixed diperoxy esters, and mixed diperoxy carbonates, and to specific monoperoxy esters, monoperoxy carbonates, mixed peroxides, mixed diperoxy esters, mixed diperoxy carbonates, peroxy ester peroxy carbonates, and mixtures thereof. The process involves the reaction of a type-3 ketone peroxide with a reactive carbonyl compound and optional subsequent reaction with an alkyl vinyl ether, acetal, halogen formate, or carboxylic acid anhydride.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymerization process wherein at least one initiator is selected from trioxepan compounds of formula I with R1-3 being independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl groups.

Abstract: A polyphosphate ester composition consisting essentially of an effective amount of a cycloaliphatic epoxy composition for reduction of the total acid number of the composition. The phosphate ester is of the formula: where R can be aryl or alkaryl, R′ can be arylene, arylene-alkylene-arylene, or alkylene, and n ranges from about 1 to about 5.

Abstract: Pervaporation device for the desalination of salt water comprising a channel or cavity for holding or transporting salt water and a liquid-water-impermeable, water-vapour-permeable non-porous membrane, which is made of a copolyether amide wherein the polyether and (poly)amide segments are linked via amide bridges.

Abstract: A vulcanizable composition comprising a sulfur vulcanizable rubber, a sulfur vulcanizing agent, an accelerating agent selected from the group consisting of non-thiazole sulfenamide accelerators in an amount effective to not substantially inhibit vulcanization and an amount effective to improve the hardness stabilization of said rubber upon vulcanization of a hardness stabilization agent comprising a pyrimidine derivative. A method of improving the hardness stabilization of a composition comprising a sulfur vulcanizable rubber by adding to said composition the accelerators and pyrimidine derivative.