Abstract: A continuous process for producing a silicone polymer comprises the sequential steps of (i) polymerisation of a linear silanol group containing siloxane by condensation polymerisation, or of a cyclosiloxane by ring opening polymerisation, or of a mixture of said linear and cyclosiloxanes with a phosphazene base in the presence of water and the presence or absence of a filler in a static mixer, (ii) neutralising the reaction mixture in a static mixer, an in-line mixer or an extruder, and (iii) stripping the neutralised reaction mixture to remove volatile materials. Preferably step (ii) is performed in a static mixer and step (iii) is performed in a thin film stripper, extruder or co-rotating processor.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I) is disclosed for use as a silylating agent: ##STR1## wherein each R.sup.1 is independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkenyl group with at least one R.sup.1 being a hydrogen atom or alkenyl group, and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. Also disclosed is a method of making the compound, and a method of using the compound as a silylating agent.

Abstract: A silacyclobutane compound having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently chloro, triorganosiloxy, organooxy, triorganosilyl, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group; R.sup.3 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group free of conjugated aliphatic unsaturation, triorganosilyl, or hydrogen; and R.sup.4 is a monovalent saturated hydrocarbon group; provided that when R.sup.3 is hydrogen, neither R.sup.1 nor R.sup.2 is chloro or organooxy. Methods of preparing the silacyclobutane compounds, silane polymers containing at least one silacyclobutane unit, and siloxane polymers containing at least one silacyclobutane unit.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a hydrophobic clay by contacting an aqueous suspension of the clay with an organosilane of formula R.sup.1.sub.a SiX.sub.4-a or an organosiloxane comprising units of formula R.sup.2.sub.n SiO.sub.(4-n)/2 in the presence of an acid and a water-miscible solvent. The resulting clay suspension is then contacted with a water-immiscible solvent to effect separation of the hydrophobed clay from the suspension.

Abstract: A fiber treatment composition is disclosed. The composition contains siloxanes having amine-, polyol, and amide-functionalities. The composition provides good hand, resistance to yellowing, and hydrophilicity to the fibers. The composition is preferably formulated as an aqueous emulsion. Applying the composition to textile fabrics produces treated fabrics having good hydrophilicity, good hand, and resistance to yellowing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a release modifier composition comprising an alkenyl functional polyorganosiloxane and a branched olefin. This invention further relates to the use of the release modifier composition in silicone release coating emulsions and solventless silicone release coating compositions. The silicone release coating compositions of this invention are useful in release pressure sensitive adhesives from a variety of substrates.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing methyl chloride. The process consists essentially of contacting hydrogen chloride with at least a stoichiometric amount of methanol split into at least two portions with a first portion comprising about 60 to 95 percent of the methanol added to the process in the presence of a first liquid medium at a temperature in the range of about 115.degree. C. to 170.degree. C. to form a gaseous mixture containing methyl chloride, and contacting the gaseous mixture with a second methanol portion and adding to a second liquid medium at a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. C. to 160.degree. C., and recovering the methyl chloride.

Abstract: A process for making silyl endblocked organic polymers of the formula R.sup.1.sub.3 SiM is disclosed which comprises contacting under anhydrous conditions M' monomers and/or oligomers of M' with a silyl cation R.sup.1.sub.3 Si.sup.+ devoid of any siloxane bonds wherein each R.sup.1 independently denotes an optionally substituted hydrocarbon or hydrocarbonoxy group, hydrogen, a halogen or a monovalent siloxane-free silicon-containing group and M is an organic polymer made by the addition polymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated monomers M' of the formula H(R.sup.3)--C.dbd.C--(R.sup.2).sub.2 wherein each R.sup.2 independently denotes an optionally substituted hydrocarbon, hydrogen or a halogen and R.sup.3 denotes a hydrogen or methyl group. Preferably the monomer M' is an olefin.

Abstract: A process for producing a silicone polymer having a volatile material content of less than 1% by weight, preferably less than 0.1% by weight, comprises the sequential steps of (i) producing an unstripped silicone polymer by polymerisation of a linear silanol group containing siloxane by condensation polymerisation, or of a cyclosiloxane by ring-opening polymerisation, or of a mixture of said linear and cyclosiloxanes, with a phosphazene base in the presence of water and the presence or absence of a filler, (ii) neutralising the catalyst, and (iii) stripping the unstripped silicone polymer, preferably at temperatures of 200.degree. C. and above.

Abstract: A method for installing a lightweight optical fiber unit, preferably less than approximately 10 g/m, into a tube, by pulling the optical fiber unit through the tube using a pulling member. The pulling member may be attached to the optical fiber unit by a braided sheath. Alternatively, the pulling member itself may be a braided tube.

Abstract: A coated textile fabric that has utility for fabricating automobile airbags. A surface of the textile fabric is coated with first and second layers of polyorganosiloxane-based elastomeric material, the first layer being disposed between the textile surface and the second layer. The polyorganosiloxane-based material of the first layer exhibits an elongation-at-break of at least 400%. The polyorganosiloxane-based material of the second layer exhibits a tear-strength of at least 30 kN/m.

Abstract: An optical fiber assembly is described exhibiting antistatic behavior comprising at least one optical fibre and having an external organic polymer-based coating which contains a non-aqueous, or substantially non-aqueous, antistatic composition comprising (a) an antistatic agent(s), and (b) an organic liquid(s) having a dielectric constant of .gtoreq.15 and a boiling point of .gtoreq.100.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for which making silicone-filler mixtures which comprises effecting the ring-opening polymerisation of a cyclosiloxane with a phosphazene base in the presence of a filler and of water, preferably from 0.5 mil to 10 mols of water per mol of phosphazene base. The filler is preferably selected from silica, alumina, titanium dioxide, carbon black and calcium carbonate, present in an amount of from 1 to 200 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of cyclosiloxane. An agent or conditions which inhibit catalyst activity may initially be present (e.g. carbon dioxide or excess water), and polymerisation may be initiated by reducing the effect of the inhibiting agent or conditions (e.g. by heating). Silicon-elastomers produced by curing such silicone polymer-filler mixtures are also claimed.

Abstract: A curable composition comprises a siloxane polymer, filler and a curing agent which is capable of effecting the cure when heated, wherein the curing agent comprises bis(2,4-difluorobenzoyl) peroxide or bis(2,6-difluorobenzoyl) peroxide. The composition is curable to a elastomeric condition by heat.

Abstract: A method for preparing an aqueous gypsum mixture having hydrophobic additive substantially uniformly dispersed therein, which method comprises admixing in water gypsum, a silane of the general formula (RO).sub.3 SiR' or the general formula (RO).sub.2 SiRR' and non-emulsified polysiloxane of the general formula; ##STR1## wherein each R is the same or different and represents a hydrocarbon group having from one to eight carbon atoms, R' represents a lower alkyl group which is optionally substituted by an amino, amino-loweralkylene-amino or dialkylenetriamine group, and a has an average value of between 20 and 200. The silane is preferably N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and the polysiloxane preferably trimethyl end-blocked linear methylhydrogen polysiloxane. The method may further include adding surfactant. Also disclosed is a gypsum product which includes gypsum mixture prepared according to the above method.

Abstract: A curable composition comprises a polysiloxane additive having at least one unit R.sub.a SiO.sub.(4-a)/2 and at least one unit R.sub.b R.sup.1 SiO.sub.(3-b)/2 wherein R is a C.sub.1-12 hydrocarbon, R.sup.1 is --(CH.sub.2).sub.n (OR.sup.2).sub.m X where R.sup.2 is C.sub.2-3 alkylene, a is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and b is 0, 1 or 2, and X is OH or --OCOCR.sup.3 .dbd.CH.sub.2 where R.sup.3 is H, methyl or ethyl, n is 2 to 5 and m is 8 to 50, provided where X is OH, n is 3 and m is 18. The compositions are useful with polyacrylates as overprint varnishes with improved stability of friction coefficients. Also disclosed is a method for making the additives.

Abstract: Siloxane compounds having a smectic liquid crystal phase and the general formula ##STR1## wherein each R=alkyl, alkenyl or aryl, Q represents a monovalent group, for example alkyl, --(CH.sub.2).sub.n OM', a chiral organic group, a dye group, a non-linear optic group or the group --(CH.sub.2).sub.n L, in which L represents a siloxane group, M and M' each represent ##STR2## wherein A is carboxyl, T is CN, F or Cl and p=0 or 1, provided that when T is F or Cl x has a value of at least 2.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device wherein the liquid crystal material is a siloxane-containing compound characterised by the the general formula ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.1-10 alkyl or ##STR2## each R' is a C.sub.1-4 alkyl, T is ##STR3## X is an alkyl or halogen-substituted alkyl group having at least one chiral center, Y is F, m is 0, 1 or 2 and n is 10, 11 or 12. Also claimed is a device wherein the liquid crystal material is disposed between a pair of substrates.

Abstract: A release modifier which comprises (i) a MQ resin consisting essentially of units of the formulae SiO.sub.2 and R.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 wherein R denotes a monovalent hydrocarbon group having up to 3 carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom, a c.sub.2-5 alkenyl group of the formula --R'CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, provided there is at least one group --R'CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 present per MQ molecule and (ii) a .alpha.,.omega.-diolefin having the general formula CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, wherein n denotes an integer with a value of from 4 to 18 gives improved release force over prior art controlled release additives. Also claimed is a solventless release composition based on siloxanes having SiH groups and a catalyst in addition to the release modifier.

Abstract: A release modifier for silicone release compositions comprising a MQ resin consisting essentially of units of the formulaeSiO.sub.2 (Q) and R.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 (M)wherein R denotes a monovalent hydrocarbon group having up to 3 carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom, an alkenyl group of the formula --R'CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 or an oxyalkenyl group of the formula --OR'CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, wherein R' denotes an alkylene group of from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, provided there is at least one group --R'CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 or one group --OR'CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 present per MQ molecule and that no more than 50% of all M units have such groups. Also claimed is a solventless release composition based on siloxanes having SiH groups and a catalyst in addition to the release modifier.