Abstract: A catalyzed, continuous vapor phase process to convert a C.sub.2 or higher alcohol and, optionally, one or more C.sub.1 or higher alcohols, for example methanol and ethanol, to a mixture containing at least one higher molecular weight alcohol, for example, isobutanol, over a catalyst which is essentially magnesium oxide. The process also may have a lower aldehyde and/or ketone in the feed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the purification of crude terephthalic acid, crude isophthalic acid or a crude naphthalene dicarboxylic acid that employs a titanium dioxide-supported purification catalyst.

Abstract: Hot-melt adhesives based upon a mixture composed of poly(vinylmethylether), greater than about 10 weight percent of a thermoplastic resin and, optionally a tackifier resin and/or extender, are found to be superior for the binding of polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene-propylene copolymers to themselves and to other substrates. In particular, the hot-melt adhesives are useful for bonding polyethylene-backed and latex-backed carpet to polyethylene, polypropylene, or ethylene-propylene copolymer.

Abstract: This invention discloses cross-flow electrochemical reactor cells containing oxygen permeable materials which have both electron conductivity and oxygen ion conductivity, cross-flow reactors, and electrochemical processes using cross-flow reactor cells having oxygen permeable monolithic cores to control and facilitate transport of oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas stream to oxidation reactions of organic compounds in another gas stream. These cross-flow electrochemical reactors comprise a hollow ceramic blade positioned across a gas stream flow or a stack of crossed hollow ceramic blades containing a channel or channels for flow of gas streams. Each channel has at least one channel wall disposed between a channel and a portion of an outer surface of the ceramic blade, or a common wall with adjacent blades in a stack comprising a gas-impervious mixed metal oxide material of a perovskite structure having electron conductivity and oxygen ion conductivity.

Abstract: A catalytic process for the conversion of hydrocarbons is described. Catalyst in this improved process is made by thermally activating a hydrotalcite-type clay of formula:M.sup.2+.sub.2x M.sup.3+.sub.2 (OH).sub.4x+4 A.sup.n-.sub.2/n.ZH.sub.2 Owhere M.sup.2+ is one or more metal ion selected from the group consisting of Mg.sup.2+, Zn.sup.2+ Cu.sup.2+, Ni.sup.2+, Co.sup.2+, Mn.sup.2+ and Fe.sup.2+ and M.sup.3+ is one or more metal ion selected from the group consisting of Al.sup.3+, Fe.sup.3+, Co.sup.3+, Mn.sup.3+ and Cr.sup.3+, x runs between 1.5 and 5, A is one or more anions selected from the group consisting of B(OH).sub.4.sup.-, [B.sub.3 O.sub.3 (OH).sub.4 ].sup.-, V.sub.2 O.sub.7.sup.4-, V.sub.4 O.sub.12.sup.4-, and V.sub.3 O.sub.9.sup.3-, n is 1, 3 or 4, and Z runs between 0 and about 4. These hydrotalcite-type clays have an X-ray diffraction d(001) value greater than about 7.7 Angstroms.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the purification of crude aromatic carboxylic acid by passing a solution of crude aromatic carboxylic acid in the presence of hydrogen through a first zone containing a hydrogenation catalyst based on a carbon carrier material then passing the solution through an abrasion resistant material thereby reducing the amount of carbon particles contained in the purified aromatic carboxylic acid.

Abstract: A continuous process for preparing a dialkylester of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid comprising passing a liquid phase reaction mixture comprising a low molecular weight alcohol, a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and a dialkylester of a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid at an elevated temperature through series arranged reaction zones while introducing a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and a low molecular weight alcohol to an upstream reaction zone, agitating at least one reaction zone, and removing a liquid product mixture comprising the dialkylester of the naphthalenedicarboxylic acid produced by the reaction of the naphthalenedicarboxylic acid with the low molecular weight alcohol from a downstream reaction zone.

Abstract: A water-based wax-free stable emulsion composition, useful as water sealer for wood, concrete and porous materials is disclosed. The water-based sealer composition forms a non-drying film that is water-repellant, flexible, self-sealing and allows passage of water vapor. The water-based sealer composition contains less than 400 grams per liter of volatile organic compounds. The water-based sealer composition is especially suited for above-grade applications in that it protects against absorption of water.

Abstract: A process for making relatively high purity eulfonylbis(phthalic anhydride) is provided. 3,3',4,4'-tetramethyl diphenyl sulfone is catalytically oxidized in a solvent under liquid phase elevated temperature and pressure conditions. The catalyst is constituted by cobalt, manganese, zirconium, and bromine. Sulfonylbis(phthalic) acid is recovered by crystallization and is then heated to produce the anhydride. Preferably, the acid is purified prior to dehydration.

Abstract: An improved process for alkylating an alkylaromatic having at least one benzylic hydrogen atom with an olefinic compound comprising contacting the alkylaromatic under liquid phase conditions with an olefinic compound in the presence of at least one alkali metal activated by amine compound.

Abstract: A magnesium-containing supported titanium-containing and a hafnium-containing and/or zirconium-containing catalyst or catalyst component for the polymerization or copolymerization of alpha-olefins.

Abstract: The present invention is a cyclization process utilizing the catalyst copper aluminum borate which process comprises the step of contacting (1) a compound having a fragment in which a carbon-containing chain of at least three atoms in sequence is bonded at one end thereof to a nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur atom, and at the opposite end to a carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur atom, where the latter are bonded to at least one hydrogen atom; with (2) a catalyst comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of copper aluminum borate and zero valent copper on a support comprising aluminum borate, under conditions sufficient to effect ring closure between the ends of the fragment to obtain a compound comprising a heterocyclic ring.

Abstract: A water soluble pressure sensitive adhesive composition is disclosed wherein polyvinyl methyl ether is the major component and a styrenic block copolymer is the second component, the polyvinyl methyl ether and styrenic block copolymer present in a weight ratio of from about 95:5 to about 88:12, said styrenic block copolymer in said composition comprising less than about 14 percent by weight of the weight of the polyvinyl methyl ether. The pressure sensitive adhesive is useful for bonding polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymers, and paper.

Abstract: High quality linear polyester resin is prepared by reacting in a first step or zone 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid with a molten prepolymer derived from a glycol and 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid to form a low molecular weight product of the first step or zone; reacting this resultant product with a glycol in at least two successive steps or zones of glycol addition to form prepolymer; and polymerizing at least a portion of the resulting prepolymer to form polyester resin which exhibits midpoint glass transition temperatures above about 123.degree. C. The resulting prepolymer is particularly suitable for reaction with the 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid in the first step or zone. Advantageously, at least a portion of the prepolymer is, therefore, returned to the first step or zone.

Abstract: Compositions comprising certain metal-containing materials distributed interactively on a deboronated HAMS-1B crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve which are useful for catalytically oxidizing or oxidatively dehydrogenating organic compounds such as alkanes, aromatics, and alkyl-substituted aromatics are described. Alkanes are oxidatively dehydrogenated to olefins, and an aromatic compound such as benzene can be oxidized by nitric and/or nitrous oxide to largely phenol or largely nitrobenzene depending upon the oxidation temperature. When the compound is a methylaromatic, oxidation produces an aromatic aldehyde. Alkyl groups larger than methyl oxidatively dehydrogenate to alkenyl groups.

Abstract: An oxidatively stabilized adhesion promoter composition for hot-melt adhesives is disclosed. The oxidatively stabilized adhesion promoter composition comprises a poly(vinylmethylether), said poly(vinylmethylether) having a number average molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 1000,000, and an oxidative stabilizer antioxidant consisting of polymerized 1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline having a number average molecular weight of from about 350 to about 750. The said polymerized 1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline can be used with a secondary antioxidant comprising an organic compound of sulfur and trivalent phosphorus. The trivalent phosphorus compound can be a phosphite selected from the group consisting of tris-(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, tris(mono-nonylphenyl) phosphite, bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite, distearyl pentaerythritol phosphite, and mixtures thereof. The oxidative stabilizer antioxidant is present in the poly(vinylmethylether) in an amount from about 0.

Abstract: Polyimide optical waveguide structures comprising a core within a cladding wherein at least one of the core and the cladding is a polyimide containing 6FDA, BTDA, an aromatic diamine having bulky methyl groups ortho to the amine, and a co-diamine wherein the polyimides have the properties of low optical loss, low optical absorbance, controllable refractive index, and high thermal stability, and wherein the polyimides are photosensitive and solvent resistant.

Abstract: A chemical resistant copolymer useful in electronic applications, said copolymer is a polyimide containing a 3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxybiphenyl dianhydride (BPDA) moiety, at least one other dianhydride moiety, and at least one diamine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing an aromatic carboxylic acid comprising oxidizing in the liquid phase an aromatic feed compound containing at least one alkyl or acyl group with a molecular oxygen-containing gas, in a solvent comprising a low molecular weight aliphatic carboxylic acid, and in the presence of a heavy metal oxidation catalyst, thereby forming an oxidation reaction product mixture comprising an aromatic carboxylic acid; subsequently heating the oxidation reaction product mixture at a temperature of at least about 500.degree. F. to form a second product mixture; and recovering from the second product mixture the aromatic carboxylic acid. The method of this invention provides for purer, larger particle size aromatic carboxylic acid product.

Abstract: A wet-etch composition for polyamic acids and partially cured polyamic acids comprising an aqueous solution having a major portion of water, a substituted hydrocarbon solvent and a non-ionic base that is strong enough to deprotonate the polyamic acid or a partially cured polyamic acid in a weight ratio of 0.1-49:49-0.1, with the proviso that the composition contains less than 1.0 percent ionic base. The present invention further provides a process for wet-etching polyamic acids or partially cured polyamic acids.