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: The invention relates to a powder paint composition comprising a polymer that contains endomethylene tetrahydrophthalic acid units and a crosslinker. The polymer is obtained by preparing an unsaturated polymer in a first step, which then reacts with cyclopentadiene at a temperature between 160 ° C and 220 ° C in a second step. The polymer preferably contains more than 10 wt.% endomethylene tetrahydrophthalic acid units and is preferably an unsaturated polymer.

Abstract: An enantioselective process for the preparation of the (S)-enantiomer of an optically active cyanohydrin by reaction of an aldehyde or of a ketone with a cyanide group donor, in which the aldehyde or the ketone is reacted with a cyanide group donor in an organic diluent in the presence of a recombinant (S)-hydroxynitrile lyase from Hevea brasiliensis and the (S)-cyanohydrin formed is isolated from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Process to prepare &egr;-caprolactam starting from a starting mixture containing a 6-aminocaproate ester, in which in a first step (1) the 6-aminocaproate ester is converted into 6-aminocaproic acid and 6-aminocaproamide by reaction with water in the presence of ammonia at a temperature of between 50 and 250° C., with a separate or simultaneous removal of alcohol(s), and in a subsequent step (2) the 6-aminocaproic acid and 6-aminocaproamide are cyclizised at an elevated temperature, wherein in step (1) the 6-aminocaproate ester is converted into 6-aminocaproic acid and 6-aminocaproamide in the presence of an amount higher than 2 wt. % and less than or equal to 25 wt. % NH3 (relative to the total amount of organic compounds, water and ammonia present in step (1)).

Abstract: A diastereomer complex obtained via a process for the separation of enantiomers is disclosed, wherein separation can be rapidly effected such that enantiomers are obtained with high e.e. values. The process permits the separation of mixtures of enantiomers in which more than one resolving agent is used, of which at least one resolving agent is optically active, and which yields a diastereomer complex containing at least two resolving agents in optically active form. The process provides for, inter alia, a diastereomer complex having at least three compounds of which at least two compounds are resolving agents in optically active form, and at least one compound is an enantiomer in optically active form. Also provided is a diastereomer complex having at least three compounds of which at least one compound is a resolving agent in optically active form, and at least two compounds which are enantiomers in optically active form.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant DNA comprising a transcription promoter and a downstream sequence to be expressed, in operable linkage therewith, wherein the transcription promoter comprises a region found upstream of the open reading frame of a highly expressed Phaffia gene, preferably a glycolytic pathway gene, more preferably the gene coding for Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase. Further preferred recombinant DNAs according to the invention contain promoters of ribosomal protein encoding genes, more preferably wherein the transcription promoter comprises a region found upstream of the open reading frame encoding a protein as represented by one of the disclosed amino acid sequences. According to a further aspect of the invention an isolated DNA sequence coding for an enzyme involved in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway of Phaffia rhodozyma is provided.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of benzyl alcohol via hydrolysis of a benzyl ester with water in the liquid phase, the hydrolysis being carried out in the absence of a strong acid and a base at a temperature between 40° C. and 320° C. The benzyl ester to be hydrolyzed can be chosen from the group comprising benzyl formiate, benzyl propionate, benzyl acetate and benzyl benzoate. A weak acid may optionally be added to the reaction mixture to be hydrolyzed. After the hydrolysis the reaction mixture is preferably cooled to a temperature between 80° C. and 180° C. so that a phase separation takes place. Both the organic phase and the aqueous phase can be upgraded. As such, benzyl alcohol can be obtained with a high overall yield and a purity of more than 98%.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition comprising benzoic acid or a derivative of benzoic acid capable of giving rise to free benzoic acid in vivo for use as a medicament for animals, wherein said acid/salt functions as an antibiotic, promotes growth, decreases feed conversion and improves digestibility of amino acids administered in animal feeds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to radiation-curable compositions that after cure provide reduced discoloration, or reduced color degradation, and/or high elongation while maintaining other desirable qualities of radiation-cured compositions. These radiation-curable compositions include at least one radiation-curable oligomer and at least one transesterified and/or high-purity monomer. These compositions can be formulated, for example, to serve as protective coatings for substrates manufactured from a wide variety of including glass, plastic, ceramic, metal and wood. The compositions of the present invention are preferably designed for use as an optical fiber coating (including inner primary and, colored or uncolored, outer primary coatings as well as other coatings which include inks, matrix materials and the like) or related optical fiber protective materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the purification of crude &egr;-caprolactam, wherein crude &egr;-caprolactam prepared by cyclization of alkyl 6-aminocaproate, 6-aminocapronitrile, 6-aminocaproic acid, 6-aminocaproic amide and/or oligomers thereof, is subjected to a crystallization process.

Abstract: A polymer comprising monomeric units linked via 4 H-bridges and bound within said polymer via a different bond. The bond via the H-bridges is much stronger than with known supramolecular polymers.

Abstract: Provided is an improved optical glass fiber, ribbon unit having the capability of providing mid-span access to individual color-coated optical glass fibers contained therein by application of finger pressure from a human hand. The ribbon unit is made of a plurality of coated optical glass fibers each further coated with a cured color-composition; and a matrix material which binds the plurality of color-coated optical glass fibers together, wherein a bonding force between the cured color-composition and the coated optical glass fibers is greater than a bonding force between said cured color-composition and said matrix material, and wherein the matrix material has been selected or formulated to provide a modulus and Tg sufficiently high such that when opposing pressure is applied to the ribbon unit using the fingers of a human hand, the matrix material buckles and separates from said color-coated optical glass optical fibers instead of compressing and absorbing the opposing pressure.

Abstract: A liquid curable resin composition comprising (1) a (meth)acrylate polymer having a weight average molecular weight relative to polystyrene standard of at least about 5,000, (2) a ring-opening polymerizable monomer containing at least one epoxy group, and (3) a cationic photopolymerization initiator is disclosed. The composition produces cured products which exhibit superior heat resistance, excellent mechanical strength, and superb adhesive characteristics, and is suitable for use as a photo-curable adhesive, a photo-curable sealing material, a resin for optical three-dimensional molding, and a coating material for optical fibers, and optical fiber ribbon matrix.

Abstract: (S)-Hydroxynitrile lyases which have an improved substrate acceptance and which are derived from the Hevea brasiliensis and Manihot esculenta (S)-hydroxynitrile lyases, wherein one or more bulky amino acid residues within the hydrophobic channel leading to the active center have been replaced with less bulky amino acid residues.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of N-carboxy-t-leucine anhydride in which the corresponding N-carboxy-t-leucine is subjected to a cyclization with the aid of an acyl halogenide. Preferably, acetyl chloride is used as acyl halogenide.

Abstract: The invention makes available, by means of an increased provision of intracellular metabolic intermediates, in particular of erythrose 4-phosphate, alternative processes for the microbial preparation of substances, in particular of aromatic amino acids such as L-phenylalanine, in which processes the activity of a transaldolase is increased in a microorganism producing these substances. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the activity of a transketolase or the activity of a transport protein for the PEP-independent uptake of a sugar and/or the activity of a kinase which phosporylates the relevant sugar are/is additionally increased. The invention also relates to gene structures, and to transformed cells carrying these gene structures, which make it possible to implement these processes in a particularly successful manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically conductive composition comprising a radiation curable resin and a dispersion of electrically conductive particles and in a dispersing agent, wherein the dispersion of electrically conductive particles contains a binder and an electrically conductive polymer and is stabilized by a non-ionic stabilization agent. The invention also relates to the application of this composition in a conductive coating, the coating made using the composition according to the invention and a substrate coated wholly or partly with such a coating.

Abstract: A liquid curable resin composition for optical fibers comprising a polymer (a) having a number average molecular weight of 5,000 or more and containing at least two types of recurring ethylenic units, of which one type has a substituent group containing an ethylenically unsaturated group and the second type is substituted by a group —COOR3 (wherein R3 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1-30 carbon atoms), an aryl group, a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms or by one or more halogen atoms.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved coating composition for glass substrates that comprises a tetrasubstituted compound. The introduction of a tetrasubstituted compound in a coating composition for a glass substrate, and in particular an optical fiber, acts to delay the rate of deterioration of the glass or optical fiber due to moisture, and improves adhesion between the glass substrate and the coating composition. The introduction of a tetrasubtituted compound into a polymeric coating composition also improves the interlayer adhesion when more than one coating is applied to a glass substrate. This invention further relates to an outer primary coating composition or matrix material that comprises an acid functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermoplastic molded part comprising at least a polyolefin or a polycondensation polymer and reinforcing fibers, characterized in that 1 to 60 wt. % of the molded 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 molded part has a porosity of between 5 and 95 vol. %. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a molded part.