Abstract: A method for filtering liquid or gaseous materials where the filtration is conducted with a porous filter media prepared from an aqueous wet-laid, lofted fiber-reinforced composite sheet, the composite sheet comprising a heat fusible polymer, reinforcing fibers and a binder. The random fiber composite sheet can be selectively lofted or recompressed to form filter media having variable porosity. Also, a membrane support means prepared by applying or treating the fiber-reinforced composite sheet with a discriminating membrane layer.

Abstract: A sulfur trioxide-containing fluid, e.g., sulfur trioxide gas, is contacted with the surfaces of equipment in contact with crude oil to retard the deposition of paraffins from the crude oil and/or to react with the paraffins already deposited on the equipment surfaces to produce a water-dispersible material which is removed with an aqueous liquid.

Abstract: Reinforced polymer composites having a uniform mix of fiber, polymer and binder and having good physical properties are prepared by forming dilute aqueous slurries of a solid heat fusible organic polymer, a reinforcing material and a bound charge latex binder.

Abstract: The detrimental effect of inorganic metal fillers on impact strength of polyolefin resins is substantially reduced by the addition of a copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as ethylene-acrylic acid, to a melt blend of the polyolefin resin containing the inorganic filler. The addition of the ethylene copolymer provides an effective means to compatibilize or couple the filler into the polyolefin resin.

Abstract: A metal-plastic-metal structural laminate which can be formed into various useful articles having compound curves using conventional metal forming techniques. The laminate comprises two metal skin layers and a centrally disposed polymer layer comprising a core layer, and optionally first and second adhesive layers. Each metal skin layer is 2 to 20 mils, the ratio of the core thickness to skin thickness is less than 9:1 and the total laminate thickness is 5 to 65 mils. The laminate can be bent to 90.degree. to a critical radius, the distance between the pivot point and the inner skin surface of the laminate, without metal rupture.

Abstract: A blend of vinylidene chloride copolymer and a vinylidene chloride copolymer-polyacrylate rubber latex. The latex component is prepared by emulsion polymerization of a mixture of vinylidene chloride monomer, selected comonomer and a cross-linked polyacrylate rubber obtained from specified acrylate monomers. Articles made from these blends exhibit good low temperature strength properties due to the incorporation of the polyacrylate rubber.

Abstract: Cement compositions having improved strength and enhanced adhesion to siliceous substrates are obtained by admixing Portland cement with a cement additive comprising (1) a styrene-butadiene interpolymeric latex containing up to about 60 parts by weight of interpolymer solids, said latex being present in an amount sufficient to provide from about 5 to about 25 parts by weight of latex polymer solids based on the weight of cement and (2) from about 0.05 to about 3 parts by weight of latex solids of a silane of the formula ZSi(OR').sub.3 wherein Z is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon groups and substituted hydrocarbon groups in which the substituent is bonded to the silicon atom through at least one carbon atom, and R' is selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OR" and --CH.sub.2 CHOH where R" is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical of 1 to 3 inclusive carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method and portable apparatus for measuring particulate concentration in the atmosphere utilizing uniform laser pulses to traverse the atmosphere to be measured and a photo-electronic receiver which discriminates against stray light and detects the attenuation of the laser pulses. This attenuation is caused by particulates in the atmosphere which tend to scatter or absorb light. By using monochromatic laser pulses having wavelengths lying in transparent atmospheric windows, error is not introduced by the attenuation of the beam due to gases occurring naturally in the atmosphere including water vapor. Thus concentration of particulates such as smoke, fog, smog, dust and the like are measurable.