Abstract: A UV absorbing polymeric composition has an E308/E524 and/or E360/E524 ratio of greater than 4, and contains an organic resin and zinc oxide particles. The composition is particularly suitable for use in producing an end-use product, preferably in the form of a polymeric film, exhibiting UV absorbing properties and improved transparency. In one embodiment, the composition may be produced from a masterbatch composition containing an organic resin, an organic dispersing medium and zinc oxide particles. The masterbatch is preferably prepared by mixing a pre-dispersion of the zinc oxide particles in the organic dispersing medium, with the organic resin.

Abstract: Ethylenically unsaturated, particularly acrylic, monomers are polymerised using a catalyst system including a manganese carbonyl initiator, an organic halogen reactive substrate and an allylic halide chain termination agent. Desirably the manganese carbonyl initiator is a dimanganese compound, particularly dimanganese decacarbonyl (Mn2(CO)10). The catalysis mechanism appears to involve initiator homolysis, abstraction of halogen from the reactive substrate forming an organic free radical which acts as a chain initiator for polymerisation and eventual reaction of the propagating chain radical with the chain terminating agent. The speed or extent of reaction may be modified by the inclusion of Lewis acids in the reaction mixture. The resulting polymers are telechelic and may have different end groups. The polymers can be reacted further to functionalise them and/or to form block copolymers.

Abstract: Structured agrochemical concentrates comprise agrochemical actives dispersed in a structured oil system of an oil and structurant oligomer including urethane and/or urea linkages and residues of a dimer or trimer component. The concentrate formulations may contain other components such as surfactants without the structurant loosing its effect a problem with known structurants. The concentrates can be readily diluted to give sprayable agrochemical formulations.

Abstract: A fuel emulsion consists of diesel, water and an emulsifier composition having a hydrophile/lipophile balance value of at least 4. The emulsifier composition comprises a polymeric non-ionic surfactant having hydrophilic and hydrophobic repeating units together with at least one component selected from fatty acid esters or partial esters of polyhydric alcohols; alkoxylated fatty acid esters or partial esters of polyhydric alcohols; and alkoxylated primary alcohols. Preferred emulsifier compositions according to the invention include mixtures of the polymeric non-ionic surfactant with at least two of the components. Especially preferred compositions comprise mixtures of the polymeric non-ionic surfactant with the fatty acid (partial) esters or alkoxylated fatty acid (partial) esters. The emulsifier composition may include an emulsion coupler such as a primary alcohol, e.g. octanol.

Abstract: A microcellular polyurethane obtainable by reacting a polyisocyanate, a polyester formed from a dimer fatty acid and/or dimer fatty diol, and a chain extender. The foam is particularly suitable for use as a component of shoe soles.

Abstract: An engine lubricant, especially an SAE OW engine lubricant is described. The engine lubricant has at least 15 wt % of at least one diester and not more than 15 wt % of additives, wherein said at least one diester, or mixture of said diesters if more than one is present, has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of not more than 3.3, a viscosity index of at least 130, a pour point of not more than ?30° C. and a Noack evaporation loss of not more than 15 wt %.

Abstract: Polyester oil structurants are obtainable by the reaction of a dimer based dicarboxylic acid, a polyol and a C16 to C30, particularly a C20 to C24, monocarboxylic fatty acid. The structurants can be used to provide structure, particularly thickening and/or gelling, in oils of a wide range of polarity. Thickened oils can find application in a range of personal care and other applications.

Abstract: A composition contains an acrylic resin and an impact modifier containing at least one dimer fatty acid and/or dimer fatty diol. The composition is suitable for use to form a sheet or as an adhesive, particularly as a pressure sensitive adhesive, anaerobic adhesive and a reactive hot-melt adhesive.

Abstract: Hair is treated with a copolymer of an unsaturated ester and a styrene sulphonate monomer to reducing damage to hair caused by subsequent heat treatment. The styrene sulphonate monomer is desirably sodium styrene sulphonate and the unsaturated ester is desirably of an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, such as (meth)acrylic acid, or dicarboxylic acid, such as maleic acid, and an alcohol, desirably an alkoxylated alcohol such as ethoxylated lanolin alcohol. Formulations for hair treatment generally include from about 0.5 to about 25% by weight of the copolymer.

Abstract: Textiles are cleaned by first treating soiled areas of the textile with at least one pre-spotter material which is an alcohol polyoxyalkylene derivative or a benzoate ester. The textiles are subsequently dry cleaned in a medium based on liquid C02, typically also including a cleaning additive, particularly a multi-ester. The textile may also be treated with a fabric conditioner, particularly a fatty alcohol or fatty acid branched polyalkoxylate which may be included in the dry cleaning medium or in a subsequent rinse cycle.

Abstract: Drilling fluids, drilling lubricants for such drilling fluids, and methods of drilling wells, particularly oil and/or gas wells using such drilling fluids. The inclusion of lubricants affords lubrication in drilling fluids in which the lubricant compatibility and/or performance may be adversely affected by other components of the drilling fluid, particularly divalent cations such as calcium, formate salts or highly alkaline components such as alkali silicate.

Abstract: A dispersion contains particles of metal oxide having a median volume particle diameter in the range from 24 to 42 nm which are dispersed in a medium which includes a mixture of at least one polar material having an interfacial tension of less than 30 mNm?1 and at least one siloxane fluid. The dispersion can be used in a sunscreen product that exhibits effective UV protection, transparency, and improved skin feel.

Abstract: A method of making an oil-in-water emulsion is described in which an oil emulsifier and a polysaccharide emulsion stabiliser, which stabiliser comprises a Xanthan polysaccharide and a polyglucomannan polysaccharide, is dispersed in an oil. The oil-based dispersion so formed is then combined with water, preferably at low temperature and under low shear conditions, to form an oil-in-water emulsion. The polysaccharide emulsion stabiliser and optionally oil emulsifier may be dispersed directly into a relatively polar oil to form the oil-based dispersion or, alternatively, into a relatively polar non-aqueous liquid medium, which medium then being mixed with the oil before it is combined with the water to form the emulsion. The oil-in-water emulsions are particularly useful in personal care and cosmetic applications such as sprays, body moisturisers, sun screens and wet wipes for cosmetic or personal hygiene cleaning uses.

Abstract: A particulate metal oxide having a median volume particle diameter in the range from 24 to 42 nm, a photogreying index in the range from 0.05 to 3 and/or and a yellowing index of less than 6. The dispersion can be used in a sunscreen product which is transparent, exhibits effective UV protection, reduced photoactivity, and reduced yellowing in combination with organic UV absorbers.

Abstract: Detergent or micelle free cleaning media based on detergent free and/or micelle free liquid CO2 and including from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the formulation of a cleaning additive which is at least one multi-ester having a molecular weight of not more than 750 can be used in dry cleaning of textiles. Desirable cleaning additives are of the formula (1): R1(XR2)n where X, R1, R2, and n have defined meanings, particularly to be esters of multi-carboxylic acids and mono-hydroxy alcohols or esters of mono-carboxylic acids and multi-hydroxy alcohols.

Abstract: A particulate metal oxide having the mean length of the primary particles in the range from 50 to 90 nm, the mean width of the primary particles in the range from 5 to 20 nm, and the median volume particle diameter of the secondary particles is less than 45 nm. The metal oxide can be used in a sunscreen product that exhibits both effective UV protection and improved transparency.

Abstract: Use of a compound of general formula (1) as a slip agent in a PET polymer, wherein: R and R1 represent hydrocarbon moieties, each hydrocarbon moiety comprising 6 to 24 carbon atoms and wherein R and/or R1 may be linear, branched chain, saturated or contain one or more double a bonds; X represents one of the moieties (a), wherein A represents a hydrocarbon moiety comprising 2 to 36 carbon atoms and may be linear, branched chain, saturated or contain one or more double bonds.

Abstract: Cleaning media based on liquid CO2 and including from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the formulation of a cleaning additive which is at least one C6 to C24 hydrocarbyl ester of a multi-carboxylic acid can be used in dry cleaning of textiles. Desirable cleaning additives are of the formula (I): R1(CO2R2)n where R1 is the residue of a C1 to C10 hydrocarbyl group from which n hydrogen atoms have been removed, R2 is a C6 to C24 hydrocarbyl, particularly alkyl or alkenyl, group; and n is from 2 to 5; particularly C12 to C18 adipate esters.

Abstract: A resin composition contains a tackifying resin and at least one phosphorous containing surfactant having branched alkyl and/or alkenyl group and a polyoxyalkylene group. The resin composition is particularly suitable for use in pressure sensitive adhesives.

Abstract: Copolymers, desirably having a molecular weight of from 500 to 20000, of aminoesters or aminoamides of (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylamides at a molar ratio of from 10:1 to 60:1, particularly from 12:1 to 50:1 and especially about 20:1, can act as gas hydrate inhibitors in water containing hydrocarbon gas streams. Desirably the aminoesters or aminoamides are N-alkyl-amino(esters or amides) in particular of the formula (I): H2C?CR1 C(O)XR2NR3R4 (I) where R1, R2, R3, R4 and X have defined meanings and the (meth)acrylamides are of the formula (II): H2C?CR6C(O)NR7R8 (II) where R6, R7 and R8 have defined meanings. Methods of treating gas water mixtures using the copolymers to inhibit gas hydrate formation are described.