Abstract: A change-over mechanism for disk-shaped recording media, especially for magnetic films in a sleeve, is provided with a magazine and with selector, transport and drive mechanisms which can provide any desired access to any recording medium and permit trouble-free operation. The mechanism can be used for floppy disks and any type of film-like or rigid recording media.

Abstract: In a chlor-alkali electrolytic cell in which an aqueous alkali metal chloride solution is electrolyzed, said electrolytic cell having an anode compartment containing an anode and a cathode compartment containing a cathode separated by a substantially fluid impervious membrane barrier consisting of a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and a sulfonated perfluorovinyl ether, the formation of alkali metal chlorates in the anode compartment is reduced by operating the chlor-alkali cell at high salt conversions greater than 40% and preferably between about 60% and about 80% conversion.

Abstract: Symmetrical carotenoids are manufactured from the molecular halves thereof by a process wherein phosphonium salts of the molecular halves of these symmetrical carotenoids are oxidized electrochemically in a solvent and in the presence of a base, causing the molecular halves to dimerize, with elimination of substituted phosphine oxide.

Abstract: Aminosulfonylcarboxylic acids and their manufacture from diamines and chlorosulfonylcarboxylic acids.

Abstract: Fibers about micron size in cross-section of certain fluorine-containing polymers can be treated after being deposited as a diaphragm, either during operation or separately before installation, so that they develop a 0.25-millimeter-thick ply on either side of a central body which is substantially different in chemical composition. This yields a diaphragm 1 to 5 millimeters thick which has a Mullen burst strength approximately three to five times greater than that of an untreated diaphragm (20-25 pounds per square inch versus 5 to 7 pounds per square inch) and a remarkably improved service life in the treated diaphragm (200 days and up) in comparison with such untreated diaphragm (30 days or less). Use of a polymer based upon a major proportion of chlorotrifluoroethylene appears to be required. This discovery is economically significant, in that it is an essential element in the technology of the replacement of asbestos diaphragms now used with a synthetic material.

Abstract: Synthetic-fiber diaphragms are further improved by incorporating in the diaphragm an effective proportion of a suitable inorganic material such as TiO.sub.2, BaSO.sub.4 or K.sub.2 Ti.sub.8 O.sub.17, which is more hydrophilic than the fluoropolymer forming the diaphragm. This is done either by mixing the inorganic material with the resin before it is made into fiber or by supplying sub-micron-sized particles of the inorganic material, during or even after diaphragm formation. A principal benefit is that this lowers the cell voltage which is required during an initial period (up to about 300 hours) of the operation of a chlor-alkali cell provided with such a diaphragm, making it possible to avoid such drawbacks as suffering an initial period of low production or the necessity of providing external cooling to the cell during such an initial period.

Abstract: Copolymers, having a uniform structure, of cyclic dienes are obtained by heating a mixture of from 35 to 96% by weight of cyclopentadiene, dicyclopentadiene and/or methyldicyclopentadiene, which may or may not be partially replaced by methylcyclopentadiene or tricyclopentadiene or methyltricyclopentadiene, from 1 to 30% by weight of maleic anhydride, maleic acid or a monoalkyl maleate, which maleic acid or maleic acid derivatives may be partially replaced by other .alpha.,.beta.-olefinically unsaturated monocarboxylic acids or dicarboxylic acids of 3 to 5 carbon atoms, and from 3 to 45% by weight of one or more vinyl-aromatics to 230.degree.-320.degree. C, during which heating the mixture does not remain at from 30.degree. to 230.degree. C for more than 5 hours, and preferably for not more than 2 hours. The copolymers may be used as binders for printing inks and coatings, and as additives in adhesives.

Abstract: A specific copolyamide and its use for finishing leather and leather substitutes, particularly those of polyurethane. A particular advantage of the copolyamide is its sealing effect counteracting the migration of dyes, plasticizers and fats, combined with other advantages such as good mechanical properties and the stability of the solutions.

Abstract: An improved process for the manufacture of silver catalysts, in which the silver is applied to conventional dimensionally stable and chemically inert carriers, eg. alumina or quartz moldings, preferably by electroless deposition from silver salt solutions onto a great variety of surfaces acting as carriers, by the use of suitable reducing agents. In a particular embodiment, a uniform deposition of silver and a dense and well-adhering silver layer on the surface of the carrier are achieved by adding certain materials to the silver salt solutions.

Abstract: Fuels containing detergents have improved water tolerance when combined with acetal or ester terminated polyoxyalkylene ether compounds, acetal or carbonate coupled polyoxyalkylene ether compounds or C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 epoxide adducts of polyoxyalkylene ether compounds.

Abstract: There is practiced a four-step procedure, according to which the acrylamide or the like and, if desired, other ingredients, is first polymerized in a water-in-oil emulsion where the oil phase consists of a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an appropriate quantity of suitable surfactant so as to produce particles of a desired size, then water is azeotropically removed, and then a suitable glycol or glycol ether is added, following which the hydrocarbon solvent used in the polymerization reaction is removed. This makes it possible to obtain a composition of matter which contains at least 10 weight percent of active flocculant ingredient, and more usually about 20 percent, suspended in a medium which is entirely water-soluble. Such flocculant compositions dissolve readily in water, yet they can be obtained, according to the method of the invention, in a manner considerably less expensive than any process which necessitates the grinding of a solid flocculant material into finely divided form.

Abstract: Diaphragms for electrolytic cells are prepared by depositing onto a cathode screen, discrete thermoplastic fibers. The fibers are highly branched, and when deposited, form an entanglement or network thereof, which does not require bonding or cementing.

Abstract: Liquid prepolymers are prepared by interpolymerizing monomers including a hydroxy aromatic compound, an aldehyde and furfuryl alcohol. The resultant liquid prepolymers have a viscosity of about 100-500,000 centipoises at 25.degree. C. and contain about 1.1-6 moles of interpolymerized aldehyde and about 3.1-15 moles of interpolymerized furfuryl alcohol for each mole of interpolymerized hydroxy aromatic compound. The prepolymers are highly reactive and may be polymerized with or without other monomers to produce flame retardant solid or cellular interpolymers. In one variant, flame retardant solid or cellular polymers are produced by interpolymerizing organic polyisocyanates with the prepolymers. In another variant, solid or cellular interpolymers are produced by polymerizing the prepolymers without monomers such as polyisocyanate in the presence of unreacted furfuryl alcohol. Processes are provided for preparing the aforementioned novel liquid prepolymers and solid or cellular interpolymers.

Abstract: Alkali metal salts of arabonic acid are manufactured by oxidizing D-hexoses in the presence of alkali metal compounds under specific conditions in respect of temperature, pressure, reaction time, sequence of addition of the individual reactants and mixing.The alkali metal salts of arabonic acid which may be manufactured by the process of the invention are valuable starting materials for the manufacture of vitamins, electro-coating assistants, crop protection agents and metal complexing agents.

Abstract: Electrical insulating compositions consisting of an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer containing from 0.5 to 9.5 percent by weight of vinyl acetate units, from 0.1 to 2.0 percent by weight of polymerized 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline, from 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of a triallyl cyanurate and, optionally, up to 0.1 percent by weight of sulfur. The compositions can be crosslinked, with high yield, by treatment with high energy radiation.

Abstract: Isoxazolylmethylthiol carbamates, herbicides containing these compounds, and methods of controlling the growth of unwanted plants with these compounds.

Abstract: Phosphated ferrous metal surfaces are treated with a rinse containing citric acid and sodium nitrite to enhance corrosion protection. This rinse has the advantages of providing an effluent which is not objectionable from an environmental viewpoint and does not stain the treated surfaces.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer device for maintaining improved recording tape to transducer head contact at reduced contact pressure. A pair of vertical outrigger bars are mounted on either side of the transducer head transverse to the path of the recording tape. The surfaces of the vertical bars facing the recording tape are located slightly below the plane of the outer surface of the transducer head thereby maintaining a constant, shallow wrap angle of the recording tape over the transducer head. Furthermore, a second pair of horizontal outrigger bars are mounted on either side of and adjacent to the transducer head along an axis transverse to the path of the recording tape.

Abstract: A servo arrangement for the drive motor of the recording tape of a color video recording and reproducing system, in which a phase detector is included in a tachometer loop for regulating the speed of the drive motor. Another phase detector and a voltage controlled oscillator are included in a tape lock loop for providing to the tachometer loop phase detector a reference derived from off-tape sync information. The voltage controlled oscillator is controlled by the error signal voltage of the tape lock phase detector, and the oscillator output is used as a reference for the tach loop. In one embodiment the oscillator is of the voltage controlled crystal type having a relatively high center frequency which is heterodyned down to a suitable frequency for controlling the tach loop phase detector. In this manner a servo reference of great stability is produced for the tach loop phase detector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for translating standard broadcast format color television signals to an encoding format for use in a transfer channel, and for retranslation of the signals to broadcast format. In one form of the invention, the broadcast format chroma signal is translated directly to transfer channel format without intermediate reduction to baseband. A second form of the invention achieves the same result by intermediate reduction to baseband of the chroma signal. The transfer channel format comprises chroma information amplitude modulated at a lower frequency than frequency modulated luma information, and enjoys exceptional independence from chroma cross-talk into luma in the restored broadcast signal as well as reduced cross-color distortion due to time base error in recording/playback transfer channels. An optional interlacing system provides even greater resistance to cross modulation effects.