Abstract: A high-orientation multilayered film incorporates at least one cold drawn, highly oriented resin layer excellent in mechanical strength and suitable mainly for use as packaging material. Because of its specific stratal construction which is highly adaptable to afford a wide variety of specific functions, the composite film is suitable for manufacture of thermally shrinkable films which excel in transparency and in ability to shrink rapidly particularly at low temperatures. Also disclosed is a process for drawing at specific low temperatures at high expansion ratios the aforementioned multiplicity of resin layers either all by themselves or in conjunction with layers of other resins by utilizing the cold drawability of the aforementioned resin layers excelling in mechanical strength.

Abstract: Manufacture of orthomethylated phenol compounds by the reaction of phenol compounds having a hydrogen atom at the ortho position and methanol is accomplished advantageously by a method which effects the reaction by use of a catalyst comprising (A) iron oxide, (B) indium oxide, and (C) at least one member selected from the group consisting of chromium oxide and silicon oxide. According to this method, the reaction permits the orthomethylated phenol compound to be produced in high yields for a long time because of the catalyst's excellent activity-retaining property. Since the ortho-position selectivity and the utilization ratio of methanol are high and, consequently, the utilization efficiency of raw materials is high, the method of this invention produces the orthomethylated phenol compound with high efficiency from the phenol compounds.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polymeric material which is superior in mechanical strength comprises (1) 10 to 65% by weight of a hard copolymer containing as a comonomer an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride and (2) 90 to 35% by weight of a polyamide, which are chemically bonded to each other. The thermoplastic polymeric material has a fine dispersion microstructure. The material may be reinforced by incorporating glass or carbon fibers therein.

Abstract: Silicon carbide of improved quality is obtained by using a liquid silicic acid or modified liquid silicic acid as a silicic substance and carbon in a powdered form, a precursor of carbon in a powdered form, or a precursor of carbon in the form of a solution as a carbonaceous substance, and thermally treating these raw materials in a non-oxidative atmosphere. The silicon carbide thus produced is finely divided and in high-purity and suitable for use as raw material for the production of high-strength sintered articles.

Abstract: A novel diester compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represents a group of the formula (II): ##STR2## wherein m is an integer of 1 to 5, is found to be capable of imparting excellent flame-retardancy to various inflammable polymeric materials such as polystyrene, polyester, polyamide, polyphenylene oxide, etc. without deleterious effects on other physical properties of such polymeric materials.

Abstract: An emulsion polymerized vinylidene chloride copolymer latex having polymerized therein vinylidene chloride and one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable therewith. The latex contains both an anionic and a nonionic surfactant. The latex remains stable following addition of about 2 percent by weight of a cationic antistatic agent on a polymer solids basis.

Abstract: A high-orientation multilayered film incorporates at least one cold drawn, highly oriented resin layer excellent in mechanical strength and suitable mainly for use as packaging material. Because of its specific stratal construction which is highly adaptable to afford a wide variety of specific functions, the composite film is suitable for manufacture of thermally shrinkable films which excel in transparency and in ability to shrink rapidly particularly at low temperatures. Also disclosed is a process for drawing at specific low temperatures at high expansion ratios the aforementioned multiplicity of resin layers either all by themselves or in conjunction with layers of other resins by utilizing the cold drawability of the aforementioned resin layers excelling in mechanical strength.

Abstract: Silicon nitride of improved quality is obtained by using a liquid silicic acid or modified liquid silicic acid as a silicic substance and carbon in a powdered form, a precursor of carbon in a powdered form, or a precursor of carbon in the form of a solution as a carbonaceous substance, and thermally treating these raw materials in a non-oxidative atmosphere containing nitrogen. By this method, .alpha.-type silicon nitride can be easily obtained. Particularly, finely divided .alpha.-type silicon nitride suitable for use as the raw material for the production of high-strength sintered articles is also produced. .alpha.-type silicon nitride whiskers useful as a reinforcing material for ceramic and metallic articles is also obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low-temperature shrinkage multilayered film incorporating a gas barrier layer formed of a vinylidene chloride type resin. This film exhibits low-temperature shrinkage properties (shrinkage and shrink tension), low-temperature toughness, seal strength properties (seal resistance to oil, seal resistance to heat and drop-bag seal strength at low-temperatures), gas barrier property, transparency after heating, resistance to layer delamination, airtightness in clipped state and gloss invariably at high levels.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition which has high heat resistance, high impact resistance and high molding processability and comprises 5-95% by wt. of a copolymer of a vinyl aromatic compound and an imide compound of an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid and 5-95% by wt. of a polyphenylene ether resin together with or without up to 90% by wt. of an impact resistance reinforcing agent.

Abstract: A fluid transmitting polyolefin foam having a special open-cell cellular structure as compared with the conventional polyolefin foams having all cells closed is disclosed. Such a novel fluid transmitting polyolefin foam is produced by mixing a polyolefin with a polymer other than a polyolefin, said polyolefin and/or said polymer other than a polyolefin having a blowing agent incorporated therein and/or adhered thereto and subjecting the resulting mixture to extrusion moulding. The present fluid transmitting polyolefin foam has a wide variety of uses, for example, as a synthetic leather, synthetic filter cloth, separator of storage battery, synthetic paper, package, etc.

Abstract: A composition for shrinkable film which excels in heat-sealability, transparency, strength, and particularly low-temperature quick shrinking property and, therefore, suits production chiefly of packaging materials, a film made of the composition and a process for the manufacture of the film are disclosed. Specifically, the composition comprises one of the specific combinations of components (A), (B) and (C), i.e. the combinations of (A)+(B), (B)+(C) and (A)+(B)+(C), wherein (A) is non-rigid polyolefine resins such as ethylene vinyl acetate, (B) is an elastomer comprising a specific ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer, and (C) is rigid polyolefin resins such as polypropylene.

Abstract: Substantially closed-cell aliphatic olefin polymer foams having improved dimensional stability are provided by the inclusion therein of from 0.1 to 10 weight percent, based upon the olefin polymer, of certain naphthyl amine compounds.

Abstract: A resin composition suitable for injection moulding and having excellent heat resistance, impact resistance and crack resistance, which is composed of polyphenylene ether and rubber-reinforced styrene resin and an amount of volatile matters in the resin having molecular weight of about 300 or less is 5000 ppm or less. This resin composition is prepared by melting and kneading the two resins above in an extruder with a vent under keeping the vent part under reduced pressure.

Abstract: A polyphenylene ether composition excellent in impact resistance, heat stability, gloss and processability which contains(a) 80-20 weight parts of polyphenylene ether resin, and(b) 20-80 weight parts of a rubber-reinforced polystyrene wherein 5-25 weight % of polybutadiene having 15-35% of 1,2-vinyl-structure is dispersed forming discontinuous elastomer phase,particularly said polyphenylene ether resin being a polymer having the following recurring unit I or units I and II: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.6 represent the same or different monovalent residual groups such as alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms excluding tert.-butyl group, aryl group, halogen or hydrogen, but R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are not hydrogens at the same time.

Abstract: An expansion-molded product made from expanded cross-linked polyethylene particles each of which has an outer skin and inner cellular core, said outer skin each being fused and welded together to form an interfacial membrane whose average thickness is as thick as at least three times that of a cell membrane of the inner cellular core, is prepared by charging a lot of the particles into a mold, heating the particles therein to such an extent that the space among the particles is filled and then aging thus obtained molded product.The expanded particle each has a structure having an outer skin on an inner cellular core, the outer skin being as thick as at least three times cell membrane of the inner cellular core. The expandable particles are prepared by impregnating a foaming agent into the cross-linked polyethylene particles and heating so that the expandable particles are subjected to a step in which the foaming agent existing in the surface thereof is preferentially forced to evaporate.

Abstract: Substantially closed-cell aliphatic olefin polymer foams having improved dimensional stability are provided by the inclusion therein of from 0.1 to 10 weight percent, based upon the olefin polymer, of certain higher aliphatic hydrocarbyl ether, ester or anhydride compounds.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of a vinylidene chloride copolymer resin which, when coated onto a synthetic resinous film substrate, has the combined properties of: (1) good adhesion to the substrate; (2) good adhesion of a printing ink to the coating; (3) excellent barrier to gases (especially oxygen) and water vapor; and (4) a high resistance to a boiling water treatment. The dispersion must contain methacrylic acid in an amount of from about 1.times.10.sup.-4 to about 3.times.10.sup.-4 moles per gram of polymer solids content. The dispersion must also have a molar ratio of acrylonitrile to methyl methacrylate of from about 0 to 1 to about 1 to 1. A limited portion of the amount of methacrylic acid is contained in the aqueous phase. The remaining amount of methacrylic acid is polymerized with the vinylidene chloride.

Abstract: Foamable glass composition suitable for making glass foam, which starts from water glass material and consisting essentially of 100 parts by weight of anhydrous modified sodium silicate and 0.5-4 parts by weight of CaCO.sub.3 as a foaming agent. A foam in the closed-cell form, which is light is in weight, and excellent water resistance, strength and heat resistance, is obtained, wherein CO.sub.2 in a gas existing in the cell is 50% by volume or more.

Abstract: Substantially closed-cell aliphatic olefin polymer foams having improved dimensional stability are provided by the inclusion of from 0.1 to 10 weight percent, based on olefin polymer, of an N-higher aliphatic hydrocarbyl substituted amide of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 aliphatic carboxylic acid.