Abstract: The thermoplastic composition according to the invention for shaped light-scattering articles, based on a transparent thermoplastic formed from (meth)acrylic (co)polymer and on light-scattering particles, comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles or a mixture of PTFE particles and particles of a mineral and/or organic substance, these light-scattering particles having a mean size of 0.5 &mgr;m to 200 &mgr;m and a refractive index which differs from that of the transparent thermoplastic by at least ±0.05 and being used in an amount, with respect to the total composition, of 5 ppm to 2000 ppm by weight. Application to light display devices and to flat light screens comprising a sheet obtained from the composition.

Abstract: The reactor alloy of syndiotactic polystyrene according to the present invention is prepared by polymerizing vinyl aromatic monomer and rubbery elastomer and optionally polyphenylene ether under transition metal catalyst and cocatalyst, which comprises (a) 50-99% by weight of syndiotactic polystyrene, (b) 1-50% by weight of rubbery elastomer, and optionally (c) 0.1-10% by weight of polyphenylene ether. The reactor alloy of the present invention has good dispersibility and high interfacial strength in comparison with a melt blend by polymerizing styrene monomer and rubbery elastomer for impact modifier. And the reactor alloy of the present invention is greatly enhanced in impact resistance in comparison with a melt blend same amount of rubber component as reactor alloy of the present invention without impairing heat resistance and elastic modulus by further comprising polyphenylene ether.

Abstract: A polymer blend is described which contains at least one acrylic resin or vinyl resin having at least one ionic or ionizable group and at least one thermoplastic fluoropolymer. Preferably, the polymer blend is an intimate blend of the two polymers which are useful in a variety of applications including in the formation of a membrane which is useful in batteries and fuel cells and the like. Methods of making the polymer blends are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable aqueous solution (A) comprising an azo dye, a borate buffer and one or more masking agents, wherein the azo dye changes its coloration or coloration intensity in the presence of chlorine dioxide. The present invention further relates to a process for manufacturing the aqueous azo-dye solution (A), and to its use for the determination of residual chlorine dioxide in water.

Abstract: The invention concerns a crosslinkable composition of functionalized polyolefin powder comprising a functionalized polyolefin (A) having an MFI of at least 20 (190° C. 2.16 kg), a product (B) having a function for crosslinking (A), the composition having a grain size distribution between 100 and 400 &mgr;m. Said composition is useful for slush moulding, for thermoforming sheets or injection on an insert.

Abstract: A process for producing a propylene copolymer having increased melt strength, the process comprising irradiating a copolymer of propylene and ethylene which has been polymerised using a Ziegler-Natta catalyst with an electron beam having an energy of at least 5 MeV and a radiation dose of at least 10 kGray and melting and mechanically processing the melt of the irradiated ethylene propylene copolymer to form long chain branches on the ethylene propylene copolymer molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coated metal surface comprising, successively: a layer (1) of epoxy primer placed next to the metal, a layer (2) of binder comprising 98 to 50 parts by weight of at least one fluoropolymer L3 per 2 to 50 parts, respectively, of at least one polymer chosen from acrylic polymers L1 and polymers L2 which are fluoropolymers chemically modified by a partial dehydrofluorination followed by an oxidation, a layer (3) of fluoropolymer. According to a first variant, the coating does not comprise the layer (3). However, it is recommended that the layer (2) which becomes the outer layer should be thicker than in the structure of the main invention. According to a second variant, the coating does not comprise the layer of primer (1), the layer of binder necessarily contains the polymer L2 and the surface is necessarily the outer surface of tubes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of monoalkylin trihalides of the formula RSnX3 wherein R-alkyl or cycloalkyl and X—Cl, Br or I involving a redistribution reaction between tetraorganotins, triorganotin halides or diorganotin halides and tin tetrahalides, said process comprising contacting tetra-(R4Sn), tri-(R3SnX) or diorganotin halides (R2SnX2) with SnX4 to afford said monoorganotin trihalides in the presence of at least one transition metal complex, said complex comprising at least one transition metal M, selected from Group VIII of the periodic Table of elements, at least one monodentate ligand or bidentate ligand, L, L′, or L″, and optionally one or more anions, X, of an organic or inorganic acid, as a catalyst or catalyst precursor.

Abstract: Copolymers of at least three monomer units selected from the group consisting of fluorinated acrylic (methacrylic) monomers, triorganosilylacrylic (e.g. trimethylsilyl methacrylate) monomers and acrylic monomers not containing an organosilyl moiety, (e.g. methyl methacrylate) and optionally containing from 0-5 weight percent of a cross-linking agent are novel compositions useful as polymeric binders in long life marine antifoulant coatings.

Abstract: A hydrophilic polymer with improved biodegradability and particular usefulness in detergent compositions contains units derived by polymerization from at least one monomers A bearing a carboxylic acid function or an equivalent function, units derived by polymerization from at least one monomers B bearing an electron-rich group or a function capable of introducing an electron-rich group into the main chain, and, optionally, units derived by polymerization from at least one monomers C which is copolymerizable with A and B, but is different from A and B. Examples of suitable monomers as monomers A include maleic anhydride, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, fumaric acid and maleic acid, and the salts thereof. Examples of suitable monomers as monomers B include butadiene, isoprene, chloroprene, dimethylbutadiene, cyclohexadiene, butadienecarboxylic acid, butadienedicarboxylic acid, acetylene, acetylenecarboxylic acid and acetylenedicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a monomer-grafted syndiotactic polystyrene with polarity, which comprises (a) forming swollen syndiotactic polystyrene by mixing with a syndiotactic polystyrene in powder state and a radical initiator in a solvent at the temperature of 40-80° C. using a batch reactor, and (b) grafting a monomer selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, maleic imide and derivatives thereof onto the swollen syndiotactic polystyrene.

Abstract: Safety stabilized solid, free-flowing compositions based on t-butyl peroxy maleic acid as well as processes for their preparation and use are disclosed.

Abstract: A crosslinkable composition of a polymeric thermoplastic and/or elastomeric material which is susceptible to scorching when processed at elevated temperatures, prior to crosslinking, in the presence of a free radical initiator, is protected against such scorching by the incorporation therein of a mixture of at least one hydroquinone compound and a sulfur accelerator. This mixture may also contain at least one monomeric allylic, methacrylic, acrylic or diene type coagent. The mixture exhibits a synergistic effect resulting in improved scorch protection for peroxide cured systems when compared with the protection afforded by the components singly.

Abstract: Processes for the controlled radical polymerization of acrylic and related polymers to produce improved low VOC coating materials, or powder coating compositions, the novel polymers so produced, the catalyst systems employed, processes for application of the improved coatings, coatings so produced and objects coated on at least one surface with the novel coatings are disclosed.

Abstract: Vinyl monomers are stabilized by a composition which includes an alkyl hydroxyl amine and a sulfide compound or at least two alkyl hydroxyl amines and a phenolic compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conductive composition comprising (i) a fluoropolymer, (ii) an electrically conductive product and (iii) a triblock copolymer ABC, the three blocks A, B and C being linked together in this order, each block being either a homopolymer or a copolymer obtained from two or more monomers, block A being linked to block B and block B to block C by means of a covalent bond or an intermediate molecule linked to one of these blocks via a covalent bond and to the other block via another covalent bond, and such that: block A is compatible with the fluoropolymer, block B is incompatible with the fluoropolymer and is incompatible with block A, block C is incompatible with the fluoropolymer, block A and block B. The invention also relates to the components manufactured with the above composition. These components may be plates, films, tubes, rods, centrifugal pump components and containers.

Abstract: Foam blowing agent blends containing trans-1,2-dichloroethylene and one or more hydrofluorocarbons are provided, as are foam compositions containing such blends. The resulting foams exhibit dramatic improvement in fire performance.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermoplastic compositions comprising: −40 to 97 parts of a thermoplastic polymer (M) forming a matrix, chosen from polyamides, polyamide block copolymers, fluoro polymers, polycarbonate, styrene resins, PMMA, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), copolymers containing polyester blocks and polyether blocks, polycarbonate-polyester alloys, polyketones, PVC and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH), −60 to 3 parts of (B) comprising: either an ethylene-alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer (B1), the alkyl having at least 5 carbon atoms, which copolymer (B1) carries a functional group or a blend of an ethylene-alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer (B2), the alkyl having at least 5 carbon atoms, which copolymer (B2) does not carry a functional group, and of an impact modifier which carries a functional group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing hydrazine by hydrolyzing an azine, in which the heat required for the reaction and the separation by distillation of the components is partly provided by injecting vaporized water.

Abstract: The invention concerns a film comprising ethylene copolymers and an unsaturated epoxide and comprising quinones grafted on said copolymers. The invention also concerns a structure comprising at least an oxygen-barrier film and at least said oxygen-absorber film. The invention further concerns a packaging element comprising said structure wherein, starting from inside and moving outwards, there is first the oxygen-absorber-film followed by the barrier film.