Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst system and a process for the preparation of a nonracemic chiral alcohol by hydrogenation of a ketone using the catalyst system, wherein the catalyst system comprises ruthenium, a nonracemic chiral diphosphine ligand, an amino-thioether ligand, and a base.

Abstract: Process for preparing melamine from urea at elevated temperature and in the presence of a catalyst, in which a gaseous product stream is obtained which is contacted with a liquid coolant in a cooling zone and that the temperature in the scrubbing section is lowered by applying an extra cooling step.

Abstract: An antistatic molded resin article based on polyesteramide has a low resistivity even when a substantive amount of electrically conductive additive is not used. The molded article is prepared by copolymerizing (a) a cyclic amide and (b1) cyclic ester or a mixture of cyclic ester (b1) and at least one linear ester (b2) selected from polyesterpolyol, polyesteretherpolyol or polycabonatepolyol. The surface resistivity is less than 1013&OHgr;.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermoplastic moulded part comprising at least a polyolefin or a polycondensation polymer and reinforcing fibers, characterized in that 1 to 60 wt. % of the moulded part consists of reinforcing fibers with a length of between 0.8 and 15 mm, at least a portion of which is present partly in the center and partly in the non-porous dish surface, and that the moulded part has a porosity of between 5 and 95 vol. %. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a moulded part.

Abstract: Optical fiber coatings are disclosed having excellent ribbon stripping and adhesion behavior. The coatings are radiation-curable. The excellent stripping and adhesion behavior can be achieved by several means which include by use of additives, by use of radiation-curable oligomers having higher molecular weight, or by use of coatings having certain thermal properties. Combination of means can be employed. Stripping behavior can be measured by crack propagation and fiber friction measurements.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a Schiff base of an &agr;-alkyl-&agr;-amino acid amide and an aldehyde, wherein the corresponding &agr;-aminonitrile is contacted with a base and the aldehyde and wherein it is ensured that the reagents are in good contact. The Schiff base obtained may be further hydrolysed to form the &agr;-alkyl-&agr;-amino acid amide and the aldehyde. Preferably a substituted or unsubstituted benzaldehyde is used as the aldehyde. The reaction is preferably carried out in a practically homogeneously mixed phase obtained by using a solvent, for example methanol or ethanol. Preferably NaOH or KOH is used as the base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA sequence obtainable from Aspergillus tubigensis which encodes a polygalacturonase. It also relates to vectors comprising the DNA sequence and to host cells transformed with such vectors. The invention further relates to the expression of the polygalacturonase and its use.

Abstract: Kluyveromyces hosts and DNA expression cassettes for use in Kluyveromyces are provided for transcription of endogenous and/or exogenous DNA, and production of peptides, for enhancing production of an endogenous product, or producing an exogenous product. The Kluyveromyces hosts find particular use for secretion of a desired peptide product, where signal sequences may be native to the peptide or provided from endogenous or exogenous signal sequences, including synthetic sequences, functional in Kluyveromyces. A transformation procedure is provided for efficiently transforming Kluyveromyces.

Abstract: A polymer composition in solid form contains hydrogenated units of a polymer composed of diene monomer units and nitrile group containing monomer units. The hydrogenated polymer has an &agr;/&bgr; peak ratio >1, measured by 1H-NMR. The a peak is measured between 2.05 and 2.2 ppm. The &bgr; peak is measured between 1.8 and 2.05 ppm. The polymer composition has a gel content of less than 15 wt. % and a molecular weight distribution (of its soluble part) of less than 10. The polymer compositions may be used to form articles, such as automotive parts, which are less sensitive to oxidation degradation.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a thermoplastic elastomer by melt mixing a partially vulcanized rubber concentrate, a thermoplastic polymer and/or additives, optionally oil and a curing agent. The partially vulcanized rubber concentrate is prepared by melt mixing at least one elastomer and optionally oil with a thermoplastic polymer and a curing agent. The elastomer may be EPDM or EPM. The thermoplastic polymer may be chosen from a thermoplastic polyolefine. Usefull curing agents are for example sulfur, sulfurous compounds, metal oxides, maleimides, phenol resins or peroxides.

Abstract: A radiation-curable coating composition for an optical fiber comprising a reactive functionality-terminated urethane oligomer, wherein said oligomer comprises the reaction product of (i) a semi-crystalline polyol, and (ii) a non-crystalline polyol in the mole ratio of semi-crystalline polyol to non-crystalline polyol of at least about 1:1, (iii) at least one isocyanate, and (iv) an endcapping compound capable of supplying the functionality terminus.

Abstract: Improved radiation-curable compositions and related methods useful in the assembly of optical components. These compositions cure via free-radical polymerization and comprise: about 30 to about 70 wt. % oligomer; about 10 to about 50 wt. % reactive diluent; and about 0.1 to about 40 wt. % adhesion promoter, wherein the cured composition exhibits a modulus of less than about 50 MPa, and a dry adhesion in excess of about 50 g force. A related aspect of the present invention is a higher modulus composition that cures via free-radical polymerization and comprises: about 30 to about 70 wt. % oligomer; about 10 to about 50 wt. % reactive diluent; and about 0.1 to about 40 wt. % polymerizable adhesion promoter, wherein the cured composition exhibits a modulus of greater than about 600 MPa.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprises a flame retardant tight-buffer coating. The tight-buffer coating has a limiting oxygen index of at least 20% and preferably has a durable tensile strength. Flame retardant, inner primary, outer primary, ink, ink base and single coatings and coating compositions as well as flame-retardant matrix materials are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing pollutants from soil with the aid of a stripping gas which involves

Abstract: Process for the preparation of (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-indanol-(R,R)-tartrate methanol solvate, in which in a solvent a mixture of enantiomers of cis-1-amino-2-indanol reacts at an elevated temperature with (R,R)-tartaric acid and methanol and in which optically enriched (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-indanol-(R,R)-tartrate methanol solvate crystallizes out, after which the crystals are recovered, the recovery taking place at a temperature between 10 and 50° C. in the presence of 0-20 wt. % water relative to the amount of methanol plus solvent, on the understanding that if the reaction mixture is essentially free from water the recovery substantially takes place at a temperature between 30 and 50° C. Preferably the reactants are at least in part contacted with each other at an elevated temperature and only methanol is used as solvent. Preferably the amount of (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-indanol applied is between 0.02 and 0.1 g per ml of solvent.

Abstract: A process for production of a polyolefin-based composite material of high rigidity, containing a polyolefin and a layered clay, involves impregnating a layered, swellable clay which is interstratified with a tetraalkyl cation, with at least one polymerizable monomer and then mixing this impregnated clay with a polyolefin and a peroxide, at a temperature above the melting point of the polyolefin. A polyolefin-based composite material containing 98-50 wt. % of a polyolefin, 1-50 wt. % of another homo- or copolymer and 1-50 wt. % of a layered clay, wherein the ratio between the modulus of elasticity of the material and that of the initial polyolefin, at a temperature which is 30° C. below the melting temperature of the polyolefin, is higher than or equal to 1 has high rigidity.

Abstract: Method for preparing melamine from urea via a high-pressure process in which solid melamine is obtained by transferring the melamine melt to an expansion vessel where the melamine melt is cooled by incorporated ammonia. Excess ammonia gas is added to the melamine melt to produce a gas/liquid mixture having a mass ratio of at least 0.01. This two-phase mixture is then sprayed via a spraying means into an expansion vessel, the expansion vessel having an ammonia environment with a reduced ammonia pressure. The melamine melt is cooled and solidified by the expansion and evaporation of the incorporated ammonia to form melamine powder. The melamine melt is thereby directly converted into a melamine powder after which the melamine powder is cooled further and the ammonia pressure is released.

Abstract: Provided is a radiation curable resin composition suitable for use as a primary coating material for optical fibers, which can form a cured coating with a low modulus of elasticity exhibiting a high breaking strength, and small light transmission loss; the coating composition comprises (A) a polymer containing polymerizable unsaturated groups in an average amount of 1.2 per molecule, a urethane bond in a molecular chain, and having a number average molecular weight from 3,000 to 30,000, (B) a poly-functional monomer having two or more polymerizable unsaturated groups, (C) a monomer having one polymerizable unsaturated group, and (D) a radiation active initiator. The secant modulus of the coating is less than 0.15 kg/mm2, the tensile strength is more than 0.15 kg/mm2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite material and a process for manufacturing the composite material by applying at least a single organic barrier layer to a substrate to reduce the oxygen permeability of the substrate. Depending on the intended application, the composite material may also include an outer cover layer over the barrier layer to improve moisture resistance. The preferred materials are triazines, particularly melamine, that are vapour-deposited onto the substrate to form a thin, durable transparent barrier layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a polyamide molded part from a polyamide composition comprising 0.01-5 wt. % polyamide-4.6 and 99.99-95 wt. % of a polyamide with a melting point that is lower than that of polyamide-4.6. The polyamide composition is obtained by mixing in the melt of a blend of granules of the polyamide with the low melting point (A) and a composition (B) of the polyamide-4.6 in the polyamide with the low melting point, the polyamide-4.6 content of (B) amounting to 2-50 wt. % and B having been obtained at a temperature above the melting point of polyamide-4.6. The polyamide with a low melting point is preferably polyamide-6. The process results in a permanent 15° C. increase in the crystallisation onset temperature of nylon-6. A 30% gain in cycle time relative to polyamide-6 nucleated with the aid of microtalc was realised for injection-molding of relatively large articles.