Abstract: A method and apparatus for synthesizing at least one of alkylene oxides and alkylene glycols from lower alkanes and/or lower alkenes. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a lower alkane/alkene supply; an oxygen supply for providing a source of oxygen; and a metal oxide catalytic reactor. The metal oxide catalytic reactor includes a reactor chamber; and a catalyst in the chamber for reacting the lower alkane/alkene supply with the source of oxygen to convert the lower alkane/alkene by selective partial oxidation to at least one of the alkylene oxides and alkylene glycols. Also, in the preferred embodiment, a separator, downstream from the reactor, separates the alkylene oxides and alkylene glycols from the total product stream and the unconverted reactants.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing and cooling a hot gaseous stream exiting a gasification reactor vessel at temperatures in excess of 1300° C. where the gas will come into contact with a corrosive aqueous liquid, including methods and apparatus for cooling the gaseous stream prior to quenching the gaseous stream as well as methods and apparatus for providing vessel construction able to provide for the contact of a hot gaseous stream at temperatures in excess of 1100° C. with a corrosive aqueous liquid.

Abstract: Rubber-modified monovinylidene aromatic copolymers having an enhanced combination of gloss, toughness and melt flow characteristics are provided by a process wherein a rubber latex having a specified particle size is partially agglomerated, emulsion graft polymerized to a specified graft copolymer to rubber (G/R) ratio and a specified graft copolymer molecular weight and further agglomerated during subsequent dewatering and/or melt compounding operations.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly polymer film pouch made from a polyethylene film structure for the packaging of flowable materials, for example milk, including, for example, a pouch made from a monolayer or multilayer film structure such as a two-layer or a three-layer coextruded film containing at least one layer of a blend of a substantially linear ethylene polymer or a homogeneously branched ethylene polymer and a high pressure low density polyethylene as a seal layer. Also disclosed is a process for making the pouch for packaging flowable materials using a film structure described hereinabove.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly polymer film pouch made from a polyethylene film structure for the packaging of flowable materials, for example milk, including, for example, a pouch made from a monolayer or multilayer film structure such as a two-layer or a three-layer coextruded film containing at least one layer of a blend of a substantially linear ethylene polymer or a homogeneously branched ethylene polymer and a high pressure low density polyethylene as a seal layer. Also disclosed is a process for making the pouch for packaging flowable materials using a film structure described hereinabove.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly polymer film pouch made from a polyethylene film structure for the packaging of flowable materials, for example, milk. The film may be a monolayer or multilayer structure, such as two-layer or a three-layer coextruded film containing at least one layer of a blend of an ultra low density polyethylene and a high pressure low density polyethylene as a seal layer having high melt strength. Also disclosed is a process for making the pouch for packaging flowable materials using a film structure described hereinabove.

Abstract: High impact polystyrene resins are provided having a surprisingly good combination of toughness and gloss characteristics. Such resins contain small (i.e., 0.1 to 0.4 micron) capsule morphology rubber particles in combination with relatively small (i.e., 0.25 to 1 micron) entanglement morphology rubber particles. It has been found that such resins are capable of providing Izod impact strength values in the range of 2.5 to 3.5 ft-lb/in (133.4 to 186.7 J/m) and higher at an overall volume average rubber size of less than 0.4 micron with corresponding gloss values in excess of 90 percent.

Abstract: An improved corrosion resistant cable shielding tape adapted for use in electrical power and communications cables comprising a metal strip having a deformation resistant layer of polymeric resinous material tightly adhered to at least one side thereof, the deformation resistant layer having a deformation temperature of at least about 270.degree. F. The deformation resistant layer resists abrasion and penetration at the temperatures and pressures normally associated with cable manufacture, installation and/or service use. The deformation resistant layer must be tightly adhered to the metal strip to prevent delamination when exposed to a corrosive environment and to the mechanical forces exerted by metal corrosion products, thereby restricting the path of corrosive attack to the exposed metal edges of the shielding tape. Additional layers of polymeric resinous materials may be included in the multilayered structure of the cable shielding tape such as adhesive and/or heat seal layers.

Abstract: An improved corrosion resistant cable shielding tape adapted for use in electrical power and communications cables comprising a metal strip having a deformation resistant layer of polymeric resinous material tightly adhered to at least one side thereof, the deformation resistant layer having a deformation temperature of at least about 270.degree. F. The deformation resistant layer resists abrasion and penetration at the temperatures and pressures normally associated with cable manufacture, installation and/or service use. The deformation resistant layer must be tightly adhered to the metal strip to prevent delamination when exposed to a corrosive environment and to the mechanical forces exerted by metal corrosion products, thereby restricting the path of corrosive attack to the exposed metal edges of the shielding tape. Additional layers of polymeric resinous materials may be included in the multilayered structure of the cable shielding tape such as adhesive and/or heat seal layers.

Abstract: A solvent blend capable of dissolving at ambient temperatures copolymers of ethylene and ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The solvent blend comprises from about 5 to about 35 percent by weight of an acylic alcohol having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, based upon the total weight of said solvent blend, about 3 percent to about 90 percent by weight of a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, based upon the total weight of said solvent blend, and from about 5 to about 92 percent by weight of a halogenated C.sub.2 hydrocarbon, based on the total weight of said solvent blend. An exemplary solvent blend contains about 10 percent by weight of isopropanol, about 80 percent by weight of perchloroethylene, and about 10 percent by weight of toluene, based on the total weight of the solvent blend.

Abstract: Heat seals of closely controlled peel strengths are obtained utilizing a heat seal layer comprising essentially a blend of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and a high density ethylene homopolymer, wherein a sealing temperature is employed adapted to activate the copolymer to seal, but insufficient to activate the homopolymer. Film packages prepared according to the invention may embody an easy opening peel seal achieved by sealing in the above-defined temperature range, and much stronger seals in other areas of the package achieved using the same heat seal layer, but a higher sealing temperature generally nearer the crystalline melting point of the homopolymer constituent.

Abstract: Low density foams from polyethylene blends having substantially closed cell structure and improved compressive strength are prepared using gel-forming extrusion technology. The polyethylene blend comprises from about 35 to about 60 weight percent of low density branched polyethylene in admixture with from about 40 to about 65 weight percent of intermediate density linear polyethylene. An exemplary blowing agent is 1,2-dichlorotetrafluoroethane, there being up to about 0.12 gram-mole of such blowing agent per 100 grams of resin blend in the flowable gel.

Abstract: A crosslinked, soft, flexible, closed-cell foam of chlorinated high density polyethylene and a process for the preparation thereof, comprising admixing a high density chlorinated polyethylene with a thermally decomposable chemical foaming agent at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of said foaming agent, molding the chlorinated high density polyethylene into desired form at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the foaming agent, subjecting the molded chlorinated high density polyethylene to irradiation cross-linking at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of said foaming agent and contacting, in a substantially oxygen-free environment, the crosslinked chlorinated high density polyethylene with a heat transfer medium maintained at a temperature of from about 150.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. for a period sufficient to form the desired product.

Abstract: Low density, closed cell, soft foam products having dimensional stability are made from ethylenic resin blends having low stiffness by extrusion foaming, wherein the heat plastified gel comprises the ethylene polymer blend and at least one volatile blowing agent. The blends especially comprise a copolymer of ethylene and monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and a copolymer of ethylene and at least one monoethylenically unsaturated non-ionic comonomer. The starting ethylenic resin blends are preferably blends of ethylene acrylic acid copolymers and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, having stiffness less than about 20,000 psi. Exemplary volatile blowing agents are 1,2-dichlorotetrafluoroethane, 1-chloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane and 2,2-difluoropropane.

Abstract: A thermoplastic synthetic resin such as polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin containing 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a specific additive selected from specific classes of compounds, namely saturated higher fatty acid amides, saturated higher aliphatic amines and complete esters of saturated higher fatty acids is found to be very suitable for production of expanded articles and can be easily formed into expanded articles with little shrinkage after expansion, free from creases on the surface or cracks on the cell walls, and having excellent characteristics such as good closed cellular characteristic, higher compressive strength, low density, etc.

Abstract: A crosslinked, soft, flexible, closed-cell foam of suspension chlorinated high density polyethylene and a process for the preparation thereof, comprising admixing a high density suspension chlorinated polyethylene with a thermally decomposable chemical foaming agent at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of said foaming agent, molding the chlorinated high density polyethylene into desired form at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the foaming agent, subjecting the molded chlorinated high density polyethylene to irradiation crosslinking at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of said foaming agent and contacting, in a substantially oxygen-free environment, the crosslinked chlorinated high density polyethylene with a heat transfer medium maintained at a temperature of from about 150.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. for a period sufficient to form the desired product.

Abstract: This invention relates to a latex-modified, pretensioned, and prestressed concrete structure having at least about a 50% reduction in bond transfer length as compared to a structure not modified by a latex. Such structure is composed of a cured concrete composition comprising a mixture of (1) portland cement, (2) mineral aggregate, and (3) a vinylidene chloride polymer latex, said latex being present in an amount sufficient to provide from about 5 to about 25 percent by weight of polymer solids.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the preparation of a thermoplastic foam having an enlarged cross-sectional area of a given geometric configuration. A heat-plastified foamable gel of a thermoplastic resin containing a blowing agent is extruded through an orifice of a die into a shaping channel. As the gel expands into a foam generally filling the channel and advances in the longitudinal direction, the foam is supported on a cushion of gas in the area of the channel, relatively near the die orifice, where the surface of the foam is sticky. A sufficient restraining force is applied to the foam in the area, where the foam surface is generally non-sticky, to exert a force in the direction opposite to the normal longitudinal advancement of the foam thereby forcing the foam to expand to a cross-sectional area greater than that of a foam allowed to expand freely. The expanded foam is then cooled to a generally self-supporting condition.

Abstract: A wooden structure incapable of holding a fastening device is restored by boring a hole of a desired size into the structure, cleaning the hole, and introducing a cellular plastic insert of a suitable size, so that the insert can hold a fastening device driven thereinto. The method is particularly useful for restoring a "spike-killed" railroad crosstie; the insert is composed of cellular high density polyethylene having average bulk density from about 15 to 50 pounds per cubic foot.

Abstract: Low density, closed cell, soft foam products having dimensional stability are made from ethylenic resins having low stiffness, especially comprising copolymers consisting essentially of ethylene and monoethylenically unsaturated non-ionic comonomers, by release to lower pressure of a flowable, foamable gel under pressure, e.g., by extrusion foaming, wherein the gel comprises the ethylenic polymer and a volatile mixed blowing agent. The starting polymers are preferably copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate having stiffness less than about 20,000 psi. The mixed blowing agents are particularly characterized as mixtures of dichlorodifluoromethane and at least one fluorocarbon constituent A, as defined. Exemplary mixtures contain (I) dichlorodifluoromethane and (II) from 35 to 50 percent chloropentafluoroethane, octafluoropropane or octafluorocyclobutane based on the mixtures of I and II.