Abstract: A silicone release film including an oriented polyester film having a coating thereon in an amount sufficient to act as a silicone release film. The aqueous coating comprises glycidoxy silane and an aqueous based thermosetting silicone release composition. The minimum amount of glycidoxy silane present in the coating is at least 1.0% by weight of the silicone solids. Typical glycidoxy silanes are glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane or glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane. A process for coating a polyester film with a silicone coating is also disclosed, where the coating occurs in-line, during the manufacturing process for the film before it is heat-set.

Abstract: A cut resistant fabric is made from woven or knitted yarn; the yarn includes a cut resistant fiber having a tenacity of less than about 10 grams/denier. A cut resistant fabric is made from woven or knitted yarn. The yarn includes a polyethylene fiber having a tenacity of less than about 10 grams/denier and a molecular weight of about 100,000. The yarn may be in the form of a composite yarn having a core and a wrap. The polyethylene fiber is in the wrap.

Abstract: A device is provided for testing a pressure drop across a cigarette filter rod. The device includes an expansible sleeve for encapsulating a filter rod and a two stage vacuum pump connected thereto. A first controllable valve connects the outer surface of the sleeve to the vacuum pump to expand the sleeve so that a filter rod can be inserted. The first controllable valve also connects the end of the sleeve to the vacuum pump so that a measurable pressure drop is created across the filter rod. A second controllable valve is connected between an exhaust port of the vacuum pump and the end of the sleeve so that, after the testing has been completed, the filter rod will be ejected from the sleeve. The pressure testing device is thus self contained and does not require an external source of vacuum or compressed air.

Abstract: An improved polyester fiber, polymer composition for producing such fibers by spinning and drawing, and a process for improving the production of fibers from polyester is disclosed wherein an aliphatic diester such as ethylene glycol distearate is incorporated into the polyester resin prior to spinning fibers from the resin in trace amounts of from about 0.01 to about 0.4 percent by weight of the polyester. The composition improves the process of spinning and drawing fibers from the resin and produces superior fibers.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a method of solvent extraction. The steps of the method include: providing a dual-skinned asymmetric membrane; providing a feed containing a solute; and providing a solvent. The feed and the solvent are contacted across the membrane. The solute of the feed is extracted, and forming thereby a raffinate and an extract.

Abstract: Hydroformylation of alkenes to aldehydes in the presence of a rhodium complex catalyst is improved by the addition of a novel bidentate ligand of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.1 ' and R.sub.2 ' are organic radicals selected from alicyclic, aliphatic and aromatic groups of which at least one is preferably substituted with at least one electronegative moiety and the methylene groups are present at the trans-2,3 positions on the norbornane moiety. The invention also provides a novel method for producing the bidentate ligand and novel intermediate phosphine oxide and phosphinous acid compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel one-step process for preparing substituted aryls which can be used as end-capping monomers for preparing highly branched macromolecule polymers that have highly controlled molecular architectures. The process comprises the steps of (a) reacting an aromatic acid with an activating carbodiimide for a sufficient period of time and under suitable conditions of temperature and pressure to form an activated aromatic intermediate, and (b) reacting said intermediate with a suitable nucleophile for a sufficient period of time and under suitable conditions of temperature and pressure to form said substituted aryl compound.

Abstract: Hydroformylation of alkenes to aldehydes in the presence of a rhodium complex catalyst is improved by the addition of a novel bidentate ligand of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.1 ' and R.sub.2 ' are organic radicals selected from alicyclic, aliphatic and aromatic groups of which at least one is preferably substituted with at least one electronegative moiety and the methylene groups are present at the trans-2,3 positions on the norbornane moiety. The invention also provides a novel method for producing the bidentate ligand and novel intermediate phosphine oxide and phosphinous acid compounds.

Abstract: This invention provides a heterogeneous bimetallic palladium-gold catalyst for vinyl acetate production from ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen. An invention catalyst is prepared by forming a first shell dispersion coating of colloidal palladium on the catalyst support surface, and super-imposing a second shell dispersion coating of colloidal gold metal on the catalyst support surface. An organometallic gold compound is employed to apply the gold dispersion on the catalyst support surface. The organometallic gold compound does not require a fixing procedure, which normally is the cause of low gold metal retention. A preferred invention palladium-gold catalyst has a high gold metal retention, and exhibits durability and long term selectivity in vinyl acetate production.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating or clarifying a turbid wastewater containing at least one contaminant selected from the group consisting of proteinaceous materials, fats, oils, and other biological contaminants. The methods of the present invention include the steps of (a) contacting turbid wastewater to cellulose ester fibrets under conditions sufficient to flocculate the contaminant to form a treatment suspension, and then (b) separating the flocculants from the treatment suspension to provide a clarified wastewater.

Abstract: Melt-blown microfiber webs are prepared from polyarylene sulfide polymers, particularly polyphenylene sulfide. A small amount of a phosphite or phosphonite compound is added to the extruder feedstock. The additive essentially eliminates spurious polymer particle formation at the extruder die openings, even over sustained production periods. The polyarylene sulfide microfiber webs so produced are thus essentially free of spurious particulates, and the web defects which may be caused by such particulates.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a microporous membrane contactor for degassing liquids at temperatures greater than (>) 60.degree. C. and at pressures greater than or equal (.gtoreq.) to 40 psig. The contactor has a microporous hollow fiber membrane adapted to withstand collapse and resist appreciable pore shrinkage or pore closure when subjected to liquid temperatures greater than (>) 60.degree. C. and liquid pressures greater than or equal to (.gtoreq.) 40 psig for a period of greater than or equal to (.gtoreq.) 30 days. A housing encloses the membrane.

Abstract: A purification process for cyclic formals, in which water is efficiently removed from a crude cyclic formal, namely, a mixture of a cyclic formal and water which is difficult to be separated from the mixture, thereby obtaining a cyclic formal of high purity which contains only a very small amount of water.The purification process for cyclic formals is characterized by the following two purification steps:(1) Supplying a mixture of a cyclic formal and water into a distillation tower at a supply position, and effecting distillation while supplying a hydrophilic solvent (A) having a boiling point from 180.degree. to 250.degree. C. at a position higher than the supply position of the mixture to take out a cyclic formal (X) containing 100 to 5000 ppm of water as a distillate, and(2) Distilling the cyclic formal (X) obtained in step (1) or treating it with a dehydrant to obtain a purified cyclic formal (Y) which contains less water than in the cyclic formal (X).

Abstract: The present invention provides processes which are flexible, cost effective, and commercially viable methods of manufacturing or producing products from 2-hydroxyacetophenone (2-HAP).Of particular interest of the available products are 4-hydroxycoumarin, warfarin-alkali salt, preferably warfarin sodium and warfarin-alkali salt-isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol) complex, more preferably warfarin-sodium-isopropyl alcohol complex.As is known, these compounds are useful as vitamin K dependent anticoagulants in the treatment of humans and animals. In different doses, they are also useful as rodenticide.The inventive process involves contacting 2-HAP, carbonate ester and effective base followed by treatment with an unsaturated ketone and phase transfer catalyst to ultimately yield product.

Abstract: A process for producing a water insoluble, aqueous alkali soluble, film forming novolak resin fraction having a low metal ion content, made by the fractionation of a phenol formaldehyde condensation product, a process for producing a photoresist compositions containing such a novolak resin, and a method for producing a semiconductor device using such a photoresist composition.

Abstract: This invention provides a supported palladium-gold catalyst for vinyl acetate production from ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen. All of the reactants employed in the catalyst preparation are potassium salt compounds which are essentially sodium-free. A preferred invention palladium-gold catalyst provides exceptional improvement of carbon dioxide selectivity in vinyl acetate production.

Abstract: A purification process for cyclic formals, in which water is efficiently removed from a crude cyclic formal, namely, a mixture of a cyclic formal and water which is difficult to be separated from the mixture, thereby obtaining a cyclic formal of high purity which contains only extremely small amounts of water and impurities.The purification process for cyclic formals is characterized by the steps of supplying a mixture of a cyclic formal and water into a distillation tower, effecting distillation while supplying a hydrophilic solver (A) having a boiling point from 180.degree. to 250.degree. C. and a purified cyclic formal (X) containing not more than 200 ppm of water into the distillation tower at positions higher than the supply position of the mixture and higher than the supply position of the hydrophilic solvent (A), respectively, and taking out a purified cyclic formal from the top of the tower as a distillate.

Abstract: A method for preparing a catalyst wherein a catalytic carrier is impregnated with water-soluble palladium and gold compounds followed by fixing and then reducing the fixed palladium and gold compounds to palladium and gold metal followed by impregnating the carrier with a second amount of a water-soluble gold compound. The second amount of gold compound is fixed then reduced to gold metal. The catalyst then is impregnated with an alkali metal acetate such as potassium acetate. The catalyst can be employed to synthesize unsaturated esters such as vinyl acetate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shutdown, trilayer battery separator. The separator has a first and a third microporous membranes sandwiching a second microporous membrane. The first and the third membranes have a greater puncture strength than the second membrane. The second membrane has a lower melting temperature than either the first or the third membranes.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing water insoluble, aqueous alkali soluble novolak resins having a precise and consistent molecular weight, by adjusting the concentration of Lewis base. A method is also provided for producing photoresist composition from such novolak resins and for producing semiconductor devices using such photoresist compositions.