Abstract: Reactive geocomposite mats, and their method of manufacture, for treating contaminants in soil or water that allow the passage of essentially non-contaminated water therethrough. The geocomposite mat includes a pre-formed woven or non-woven geotextile, having a thickness of about 6 mm to about 200 mm, and having, a porosity sufficient to receive a powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material, contaminant-sorptive material, or a contaminant-neutralizing material (hereinafter collectively referred to as “contaminant-reactant material” or “contaminant-reactive material”) throughout its thickness, or in any portion of the thickness across its entire major surface(s). The powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material is disposed within the pores of the previously formed, high loft geotextile mat to surround the fibers, e.g.

Abstract: A resin composition comprising melt blending a polyamide resin such as nylon MXD6 with a polyphenoxy resin. The polyamide resin and the polyphenoxy resin may be combined prior to or after melting and can be sandwiched between two PET layers in a perform mold to form an article capable of blow molding to form a container with improved delamination resistance. Also, intercalated layered materials are prepared by co-intercalation of an onium ion, an aromatic polyamide oligomer or polymer, e.g., nylon MXD6, and a polyphenoxy oligomer or polymer between the planar layers of a swellable layered material, such as a phyllosilicate, preferably a smectite clay. The co-intercalated layered materials are combined with the aromatic polyamide and polyphenoxy resin to form a nanocomposite composition for sandwiching between PET layers to form containers having improved delamination resistance.

Abstract: Layered phyllosilicates are useful for adsorbing and/or binding to and, thereby, inactivating viruses. The layered phyllosilicates can be sprayed into a person's nostrils or contained on a face mask to prevent infection; can be suspended in water for skin contact for virus inactivation; can form a portion of an HVAC filter to prevent virus transfer from room to room, e.g., in a hospital; and can be absorbed in a paper or fabric wipe for inactivating viruses on substrates, such as hospital and operating room furniture and surgical apparatus.

Abstract: A composition for planarizing or polishing a surface comprising (a) a liquid carrier, and (b) solids comprising about 0.1 to about 10% by weight clay abrasive particles, and about 0.1% to about 50% by weight CeO2 particles, based on the total weight of solids in the composition, said clay and CeO2 abrasive particles having a particle size such that at least 90% of the particles (by number), when slurried in water, have a particle size in the range of about 10 nm to about 10 ?m.

Abstract: Reactive geocomposite mats, and their method of manufacture, for treating contaminants in soil or water that allow the passage of essentially non-contaminated water therethrough. The geocomposite mat includes a pre-formed woven or non-woven geotextile, having a thickness of about 6 mm to about 200 mm, and having, a porosity sufficient to receive a powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material, contaminant-sorptive material, or a contaminant-neutralizing material (hereinafter collectively referred to as “contaminant-reactant material” or “contaminant-reactive material”) throughout its thickness, or in any portion of the thickness across its entire major surface(s). The powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material is disposed within the pores of the previously formed, high loft geotextile mat to surround the fibers, e.g.

Abstract: A stable, oil-in-water (O-W) emulsion-based sunscreen composition having at least one water-insoluble, organic UV-absorber having a water-solubility of much less than 0.1% by weight, contained in the oil phase of the sunscreen emulsion, comprising i) zinc oxide (ZnO) particles having a surface free of any prior coating of any inorganic oxide and hydrophobic material, remaining dispersed in the water phase of the sunscreen emulsion; ii) at least one non- or low-foaming, non-cationic, hydrophilic polymer, capable of dispersing or deflocculating the ZnO particles but incapable of thickening an aqueous composition to a viscosity of greater than 100 cps at 25° C.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for planarizing or polishing a surface, particularly a semiconductor wafer surface. The polishing compositions described herein comprise (a) a liquid carrier; (b) purified clay; and optional additives, such as (c) a chemical accelerator; and (d) a complexing or coupling agent capable of chemically or ionically complexing with, or coupling to, the metal and/or insulating material removed during the polishing process. The complexing or coupling agent carries away the removed metal and/or silicon dioxide insulator particles, during polishing, to prevent the separated particles from returning to the surface from which they were removed. Also disclosed are methods of planarizing or polishing a surface comprising contacting the surface with the compositions.

Abstract: A water-swelling composition adapted to be secured to an area of potential water flow in the form of a flexible cohesive mass comprising about 10% to about 90% by weight of a water-swellable layered material; about 1% to about 30% by weight of an elastomer; about 8% to about 65% by weight of a material selected from the group consisting of polypropene, polybutene, and a mixture thereof; and about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a clay binder selected from group consisting of (1) an onium ion-liberating compound that is ion-exchanged with platelet cations of the layered material, (2) a coupling agent that is reacted with the layered material, and (3) a combination thereof.

Abstract: A composition for planarizing or polishing a surface comprising (a) a liquid carrier, and (b) solids comprising about 0.1 to about 10% by weight clay abrasive particles, and about 0.1% to about 50% by weight CeO2 particles, based on the total weight of solids in the composition, said clay and CeO2 abrasive particles having a particle size such that at least 90% of the particles (by number), when slurried in water, have a particle size in the range of about 10 nm to about 10 ?m.

Abstract: A chemical-mechanical abrasive composition for use in semiconductor processing uses abrasive particles having a non-spherical morphology.

Abstract: Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e.g., a water leg portion of a produced water stream or an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with non-woven fiber/particulate polymer coalescing media-containing canisters such that the hydrocarbon droplets and other organic material droplets commingled with the sump tank or produced water will be coalesced by passage through the coalescing media. The canisters preferably are provided in a plurality of stacks in each vessel. Solids that do not pass through the canisters are accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and easily drained through a drain port. The water and hydrocarbons will pass through the coalescing media within the canisters and will be separated easily from each vessel, e.g., by gravity separation, sot that the water can be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination.

Abstract: A cationic oil-in-water emulsion for addition to detersive compositions comprising a hydrophilic cationic polymer, an oil-soluble anionic polymer, and a hydrophobic benefit agent in the oil phase made by adding the benefit agent to a hydrophobic liquid; thickening the oil phase with an organophillic smectite clay reacted at clay platelet surfaces to make the clay platelet surfaces hydrophobic while the edge surfaces of the clay remain hydrophilic, such that the benefit agent is adsorbed at an oil/water interface in the emulsion, wherein the anionic polymer is capable of adsorbing the hydrophobic benefit agent at an oil/water interface of the emulsion, and the a hydrophilic, cationic polymer has a cationic nitrogen content of at least 6% by weight, that is incompatible with anionic surfactants, being insoluble in anionic-surfactant solutions containing an amount of 3% or higher of an anionic surfactant, and the hydrophilic cationic polymer has a cationic nitrogen content of at least 0.

Abstract: A waterproofing article in the form of rod-, or rope-shaped clay-containing compositions, and a method of waterproofing using the article, whereby a water-penetrable, degradable, or water-soluble film or coating forms an outer surface of the article for avoiding premature hydration of an underlying clay-containing composition. In the preferred embodiment, an inner core of a water-swellable clay-containing composition includes a coating of a water-removable or degradable material, completely encasing the major outer surfaces of the composition, having controlled, predetermined water-penetration; high pH degradability; or water-solubility so that the core of water-swellable clay-containing composition is quickly hydrated after water-penetration of the coating material, and to prevent clay hydration during installation, prior to water-penetration of the coating material.

Abstract: A heavy roll dispenser is designed to attach to a tractor via a three-point hitch. The base of the dispenser rides above the earth and supports a chassis, which can move left and right via a hydraulic actuator. The chassis has a pair of powered cradle rollers to receive a heavy roll and dispense the heavy roll with the powered cradle rollers. A guide roller is mounted on the chassis behind the cradle rollers. A pair of powered adjustable width pincer arms stabilizes the heavy roll atop the cradle rollers.

Abstract: Bioremediation geocomposite articles, and their method of manufacture, for treating (digesting) contaminants in soil or water. The bioremediating geocomposite mat includes a woven or non-woven geotextile, having a thickness of about 6 mm to about 200 mm. In the preferred embodiment, outer layers of the geocomposite article have a porosity sufficient to receive a powdered or granular contaminant-reactive material, contaminant-sorptive material, or a contaminant-neutralizing material in at least outer portions of the thickness across its entire major surface(s) for better contact of the bacteria with contaminants held by the powdered or granular material. In the most preferred embodiment, liquid-permeable cover sheets are adhered to the upper and lower major surfaces of the bacterial-containing geotextile article to prevent a powdered or granular material from escaping from the geotextile during transportation and installation.

Abstract: A composition for planarizing or polishing a surface comprising (a) a liquid carrier, and (b) solids comprising about 0.1 to about 10% by weight clay abrasive particles, and about 0.1% to about 50% by weight CeO2 particles, based on the total weight of solids in the composition, said clay and CeO2 abrasive particles having a particle size such that at least 90% of the particles (by number), when slurried in water, have a particle size in the range of about 10 nm to about 10 ?m.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nanocomposite composition comprising forming an intercalating composition comprising 1% to about 90% by weight of a purified sodium smectite clay that contains at least 75% Na+ ions based on the total interlayer exchangeable cations, that has been intercalated and thereby swollen sufficiently for polyamide monomer or oligomer intercalation, with a protonated organic, non-carboxylic acid moiety-containing onium ion swelling agent; and about 10% to about 99% of a lactam ring-containing monomer or oligomer, and heating the intercalating composition to a temperature above the melting point of the lactam to open the lactam ring and polymerize the lactam to form the polyamide while in contact with the smectite clay.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for planarizing or polishing a corundum, GaAs, GaP or GaAs/GaP alloy surface, particularly a semiconductor wafer surface. The polishing compositions described herein comprise (a) a liquid carrier; (b) a smectite clay, preferably a sodium smectite clay; and optional additives, such as (c) CeO2, SiO2 and/or Al2O3 abrasive particles, (d) a chemical accelerator; and (e) a complexing or coupling agent capable of chemically or ionically complexing with, or coupling to, the material removed during the polishing process. The optional complexing or coupling agent carries away the removed particles, during polishing, to prevent the separated particles from returning to the surface from which they were removed. Also disclosed are methods of planarizing or polishing corundum, GaAs, GaP and GaAs/GaP alloy surfaces comprising contacting the surface with the compositions.

Abstract: An packaging apparatus and method to uncuff a package assembly is disclosed. The package assembly includes a container with at least one upstanding sidewall defining an open top. A bag is disposed within the container and a top portion of the bag is folded over the at least one sidewall at the open top to define a cuff. The packaging apparatus includes a first fluid jet directed substantially upward that is configured to uncuff the top portion of the bag from the container. An automatic bag closer gathers the top portion of the bag and applies a clip to close the bag. A second fluid jet is directed substantially downward and is configured to push the top portion of the bag substantially within the container.

Abstract: Intercalates, exfoliates thereof, and nanocomposite compositions are formed by intercalating a layered silicate material, e.g., a phyllosilicate, with an oligomer or polymer intercalant that is a reaction product of at least one diamine with at least one dicarboxylic acid, to form a polyamide oligomer containing a xylylenediamine component. The oligomer or polymer may be formed in-situ by contacting the layered phyllosilicate with polymerizable monomer reactants using conditions to cause reaction and polymerization in the intercalating composition and intercalation of the resulting oligomer and/or polymer, between platelet layers of the phyllosilicate. An amine functionality of the oligomer or polymer is protonated for ion-exchange with interlayer cations of the phyllosilicate to bond the intercalant to the phyllosilicate platelet, at the protonated amine, at a negative charge site previously occupied by the interlayer cations.