Abstract: An improved apparatus and process are described for measuring linear and non-linear viscoelastic properties of viscoelastic materials such as nylon, polyester tire cord, rubber, rubber-tire cord composites and the like. The properties are determined by subjecting a sample material to a constant-rate strain displacement having a small amplitude high frequency sinusoidal strain displacement superimposed thereon, and analyzing the overall resulting material stress. The obtained properties can be used to predict and estimate actual end use characteristics of the material such as longevity and mechanical loss during performance. In the case of tire cord, this latter characteristic can be surprisingly related to efficiency of fuel consumption in automotive vehicles.

Abstract: Ammonia, oxygen e.g., as air, and a ketone react in contact with a catalyst such as porous, amorphous silica or alumina which may or may not have a coating to form an oxime, at temperatures such as 50.degree.-500.degree. C. The oximes have known utilities, including uses as oxidation inhibitors and as intermediates for production of amides. In particular, when the ketone is cyclohexanone, the cyclohexanone oxime in the reaction product can further be converted to the cyclic amide, caprolactam, e.g. by contacting the product with an aluminosilicate catalyst having average pore diameter of at least 7 angstroms, especially a molecular sieve, suitably downstream in the same reaction vessel. Caprolactam is the monomer starting material for nylon 6.

Abstract: Synergistic improvement of nylon-6 or nylon-66 impact resistance by blending, in the melt, with minor proportions of both an ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer and an ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymer.

Abstract: Composition of nylon-6 and 5-25% fine particle size, waxy PTFE/0.01-10% nucleating agent for alpha crystallization of the nylon-6 ingredient. The composition is useful as a sleeve bearing for steel cable by virtue of its low friction and high wear resistance against such cable and the ease of extruding it from the melt to produce a flexible tube.

Abstract: Multifilament thermoplastic synthetic yarn is textured by an improved process involving propelling the yarn through an energy tube by superheated steam to strike, at an oblique angle, an unyielding barrier within a chamber in which the yarn then forms a plug on a moving perforate surface. The improvement comprises heat-setting the yarn, before the texturing operation, at constant length to the point that its density increases to at least 50% of the difference between that of undrawn amorphous yarn and the maximum normally attainable in such yarn; and feeding the resulting yarn hot into the energy tube whereby tendency toward shrinkage of the yarn resulting from undergoing crimping is reduced, and/or a higher texture level is obtainable at given temperature of the crimping operation.

Abstract: A composition is described, useful as a thermoformable polymer, for producing shaped articles having high yield and impact strengths, good heat resistance, and good solvent resistance. The composition, which is cured, contains a crosslinked polycyanurate network polymer in which a high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer, such as a polyestercarbonate, is finely dispersed. The composition possesses a Vicat softening temperature (ASTM 1525) of at least about 10.degree. C. above that of said thermoplastic polymer alone, and an elongation-at-break value (ASTM D-638, at room temperature) at least twice that of said crosslinked polymer alone. Due to the high yield strength, lighter structural articles and components can be fabricated from the composition possessing high structural strength.

Abstract: Solutions in substantially anhydrous hydrazine of poly(hydroxymethylene) and copolymers of hydroxymethylene with up to about 30 mol percent of ethylenically unsaturated comonomers are suitable for solution spinning to make filaments, i.e. fibers and film.

Abstract: Copolymers consisting of bisphenol-A ("BPA"), terephthalate ("TP"), and carbonate moieties in mol ratio from 2:0.8:1.2 to 2:1.3:0.7, which are melt processable in the sense of (a) showing no more than 10% change in viscosity number upon compression molding for 10 minutes at 320.degree. C. to form a plaque, (b) developing, in 2% (gm./ml.) DCM solution, a "yellowness index" of no more than 10 as observed by ASTM Test No. D-1925, using a 2 cm. path length; which copolymers approximate in properties the alternating copolymer consisting of the above moieties, as indicated by their having viscosity numbers ("I.V.") in the range between 0.6 and 1.5 dl./gm. and T.sub.G of 170.degree. to 194.degree. C., with T.sub.G vs. I.V. relationship conforming to the formula, T.sub.G =192-(11.5/I.V.)+9 and with difference of (T.sub.G -HDT) of not over 15.degree. C.; having Izod impact resistance (ft.-lb. per inch of notch) at 25.degree. C. of at least 5; and being essentially free of pyridine and of anhydride linkages.

Abstract: Addition of small amounts of nitric acid to aqueous sulfuric acid containing more than about 60% by weight of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 inhibits corrosive attack on carbon steel with which it may come in contact.

Abstract: By wheel testing two tires having different construction parameters, e.g. different tire cords and measuring the temperatures at a few points within each tire body; and by measurement with a high strain dynamic viscoelastometer, the heat generation rate and dynamic tensile moduli (at various temperatures, strain frequencies and tensions) of the cords and rubber used in each tire are determined, where the values of the exponents "X" in the general equation relating cyclic strain amplitude, S, in the tire cord and in the rubber of each tire vs. the dynamic tensile moduli, E, for cords and rubber, at given temperature can be determined in the form: S.sub.A /S.sub.B=( E.sub.B /E.sub.A).sup.X.

Abstract: A process for separating hydroxylamine from an aqueous solution thereof also containing salts of cations whose corresponding free bases have base dissociation constants greater than 10.sup.-7. Said solution is brought to a pH of 6-11 and is passed through a bed of strongly ionic exchange resin loaded with compensating ions whereby hydroxylamine is retained in the gel volume of the resin bed and the ions in solution are substantially excluded from the resin. The ionic salts accordingly move faster through the bed and predominate in a first effluent fraction and the hydroxylamine appears predominantly in a later effluent fraction. Hydroxylammonium salts can be crystallized from the effluent hydroxylamine solution after addition of a stoichiometric amount of an appropriate acid.

Abstract: An improved process is described for converting aqueous fluosilicic acid waste product into anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and finely divided silica in which aqueous fluosilicic acid is pyrolyzed to produce silica and a dilute aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride and fluosilic acid. The resulting dilute solution is subjected to electrodialysis, thereby obtaining a hydrogen fluoride concentration greater than that which characterizes the boiling point ridge which divides the phase diagram of the system hydrogen fluoride/fluosilicic acid/water, i.e. HF/H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6 /H.sub.2 O, into two regions. Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is recovered from the resulting composition by distillation.

Abstract: A process is described for directly mono-brominating or mono-chlorinating .alpha.,.alpha.-dialkoxyalkyl or .alpha.,.alpha.-dialkoxycycloalkyl ketoximes in the .beta.-position. Particularly described is the direct chlorination of 2,2-dimethoxycyclohexanone oxime to produce 3-chloro-2,2-dimethoxycyclohexanone oxime, a useful intermediate in the preparation of L-lysine.

Abstract: A catalyst/adsorbent for sulfur dioxide from waste gases, via oxidation thereof to sulfur trioxide, comprising vanadium oxide supported on activated carbon, promoted by nickel sulfate or potassium sulfate, or preferably by both.

Abstract: A thermoplastic benzophenone polyester consisting essentially of recurring units of the formula: ##STR1## having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.85 deciliter/gram as measured in 1:1 phenol/tetrachloroethane at 25.degree. C, is useful for making shaped articles having high impact strength.A process for preparing a thermoplastic polyester according to the above formula is also described which comprises the steps of (a) adding a solution of 4,4'-benzophenonedicarboxylic acid halide in an inert, water-immiscible organic solvent to a basic aqueous solution of a salt of 2,2-bis(4'-hydroxyphenyl)propane to form and precipitate the polyester during the addition and (b) recovering the precipitated polyester.There is also provided a shaped article prepared from the polyester having an impact strength of at least about 2 ft.lb./in. of notch as measured by the Izod impact test, ASTM D-256-56.

Abstract: Continuous filaments are fed by aspiration into a stream of heated fluid in a conduit. The filaments are then contacted with at least a second stream of heated fluid in a second conduit of increased cross-sectional area to increase the temperature of the filaments. The combined streams of fluid containing the filaments are transferred to an energy tube having an angular disposition relative to a barrier disposed within a chamber and are directed by said energy tube into contact with said barrier at a force sufficient to initiate crimping of the filaments. A major portion of the fluid is separated from the filaments and expelled from the chamber. The filaments are transported through the chamber by continuous movement of a surface therein at sufficient velocity to cause overfeeding of the filaments, whereby the filaments are forced against a mass thereof and emerge from the chamber in crimped form.

Abstract: A process is described for the electrochemical synthesis of organic carbonates, such as dimethyl carbonate and ethylene carbonate, useful as industrial solvents for polymers and resins, which comprises electrolyzing a liquid medium containing a nonfluoride halide-containing electrolyte and a paraffinic monohydric or 1,2-dihydric alcohol. The non-fluoride halide-containing electrolyte is present in an amount of about 0.01 to 10 weight percent of the alcohol used, and the electrolysis is conducted by passing a direct current through the liquid medium at a temperature below its boiling point and under a carbon monoxide atmosphere at a pressure of about 1 to 350 atmospheres.

Abstract: An improved process is described for converting methanol to ethanol in which a mixture of methanol, liquid water and a Group VIII metal catalyst and a basic inorganic compound is contacted with an atmosphere of carbon monoxide at a temperature of about 240.degree. to 280.degree. C and a pressure of about 3,000-5,000 psi gauge. Good yields and selectivities of ethanol are obtained eliminating the necessity of using gaseous hydrogen or steam as starting materials, as required in prior art processes.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing metal alkyl carbonates, useful as carboxylating agents, which comprises reacting an inorganic metal salt with an aliphatic monohydric alcohol containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms and carbon dioxide under substantially anhydrous conditions in the presence of a solid acid acceptor, said alcohol being employed in sufficient amount to form a solution of the resulting metal alkyl carbonate in the alcohol.

Abstract: Catalyst of cuprous chloride, as a first layer, on a carrier of particles of pyrogenic anhydrous silica or titania, or alpha-alumina produced from pyrogenic gamma-alumina, having as a second layer an alkali metal chloride especially KCl, and preferably also a rare earth metal chloride; especially LaCl.sub.3 ; formed by impregnation using non-aqueous solvents, especially CuCl in acetonitrile followed by KCl/LaCl.sub.3 in formic acid. The catalyst is effective at desirable reaction rates at temperatures well below 400.degree. C., such as 200.degree.-300.degree. C. and even below 200.degree. C., under certain conditions, for oxyhydrochlorination of organic materials such as methane; and is also effective for production of chlorine by the Deacon process at relatively low temperatures. Problems due to catalyst volatility and melting are substantially mitigated.