Abstract: Method for preparing melamine from urea via a high-pressure process in which solid melamine is obtained by transferring the reactor product comprising liquid melamine, CO2 and NH3 to a gas/liquid separator and subsequently transferring the melamine melt coming from the separator to a vessel where the melamine melt is cooled with an evaporating cooling medium, characterized in that, the gas/liquid separation is conducted by addition of 5.10−4-2.10−2 mole of water per mole of melamine.

Abstract: Provided is a ribbon assembly containing a plurality of coated optical glass fibers and a matrix material which binds the plurality of coated optical glass fibers together. At least one of the coated optical glass fibers contains an ink coating or colored outer primary coating. At least one of the ink coating, the colored outer primary coating, or the matrix material contains a phospholipid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adhesive thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising either a blend of a thermoplastic resin and a rubber, or a thermoplastic elastomeric styrene based blockcopolymer. The invention resides in that the composition also comprises an adhesion promotor in the form of a reaction product of a functionalized rubber and a polyamide. The invention also relates to articles comprising a combination of a substrate and such a composition.

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: Radiation-curable inner and outer primary optical fiber coatings are disclosed having both fast cure speed and reduced rates of yellowing. The compositions comprise particular photoinitiators and UV absorbers which are used in amounts to provide the combination of properties. The UV absorber can have ethylenic unsaturation. Outer primary coatings can be formulated to screen inner primary coatings and have fast cure speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation curable binder composition for powder paint formulations. The binder composition comprises: a) a solid polymer with an amount of unsaturation of between 300 and 1800 g per mole of unsaturated group (WPU) and with a molecular weight (Mn) of between 800 and 5000 g per mole and b) a crosslinker comprising units of a prepolymer having a molecular weight (Mn) higher than 400 and units of a vinyl ether or an unsaturated alcohol, the number of polymerizable unsaturations of the crosslinker being higher than or equal to 2.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing an (S)-2-amino-&ohgr;-oxoalkanoic acid derivative in which the corresponding aldehyde is converted into the corresponding acetal-protected aldehyde, the acetal-protected aldehyde is converted into the corresponding aminonitrile, the aminonitrile is converted into the corresponding amino acid amide, the amino acid amide is subjected to an enzymatic, enantioselective hydrolysis in which the (R)-enantiomer of the amino acid amide remains and the (S)-enantiomer is converted into the (S)-amino acid, and the (S)-amino acid is isolated. Preferably,the reaction mixture obtained after the conversion of the aminonitrile into the amino acid amide is treated with a benzaldehyde to form the Schiff base of the amino acid amide. The Schiff base is separated out and is converted into the free amino acid amide.

Abstract: Radiation-curable compositions are disclosed which, after cure, are substantially non-yellowing. The compositions are particularly tailored for coating and bundling of optical fibers. A first preferred composition is based on a polyether-type of oligomer diluted with reactive diluents. Isocyanurate structures are included in the composition to raise Tg. A second preferred composition is based on fatty oil comprising (meth)acrylate groups and bisphenol A derivatives comprising (meth)acrylate groups. Photoinitiators can be included to increase cure speed. The formulations do not include material amounts of ingredients which tend to cause yellowing or, in theory, extended conjugation in the cured compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photocurable liquid resin composition comprising: (A) a cationically polymerizable organic compound; (B) a cationic photopolymerization initiator; (C) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer; (D) a radical photopolymerization initiator; (E) a polyether polyol compound having one or more hydroxyl groups in one molecule; and, optionally, includes elastomer particles having a specific particle diameter and/or an epoxy-branched alicyclic compound.

Abstract: A radiation curable resin composition capable of producing molded articles which have excellent transparency, small light-coloring resistance, high dimensional accuracy, high surface hardness, and high thermal resistance.

Abstract: This invention discloses compositions adapted to produce, through solid imaging means, excellent quality objects having material properties that simulate the look and feel of polyethylene articles.

Abstract: A process for the selective enzymatic hydroxylation of aldehydes and ketones using chiral anchor-protective groups.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a &bgr;-lactam antibiotic in which a &bgr;-lactam nucleus is subjected to an enzymatic acylation reaction with the aid of an acylation agent at a molar ratio of acylation agent/&bgr;-lactam nucleus of less than 2.5, with the acylation agent and/or the &bgr;-lactam nucleus being supersaturated in the reaction mixture during at least part of the acylation reaction. In the process, a concentrated slurry or solution, for instance, of the &bgr;-lactam nucleus and/or the acylation agent with a different pH or a higher temperature than the pH or temperature at which the acylation reaction is carried out is added to the reaction mixture during the acylation reaction. Both the &bgr;-lactam nucleus and the acylation agent may be supersaturated in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a high-molecular polyamide or polyester by melt-mixing polyamide or polyester having a lower molecular weight with a carbonyl bislactam having formula 1, in which n=an integer of between 3 and 15.

Abstract: Process for the continuous preparation of an alkyl 5-formylvalerate by reacting an alkyl-3-pentenoate with carbon monoxide and hydrogen by hydroformylation using a catalyst system comprising rhodium or iridium and a multidentate organic phosphite ligand according to the general formula: in which n is 2-6, X is an n-valent organic bridging group, and in which the end groups R1-R2 are monovalent aryl groups, wherein the process is carried out in the presence of an acid compound having a pKa between 1 and 12 measured in water at 18° C.

Abstract: Method for preparing melamine from urea via a high-pressure process in which solid melamine is obtained by transferring the melamine melt coming from the reactor to a vessel where the melamine melt is cooled with an evaporating cooling medium. The melamine melt comes from the melamine reactor at a temperature between the melting point of melamine and 450° C. and is sprayed into a cooling vessel, via spraying means, having an ammonia environment with an increased ammonia pressure and cooled by means of an evaporating cooling medium to form melamine powder. The melamine melt is thereby converted into melamine powder having a temperature of 270° C. or below after which the ammonia pressure is released and the melamine powder is cooled, at least for part of the cooling range, by the powder being set in motion mechanically and being cooled directly or indirectly and, if necessary, the melamine powder is cooled further.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of segmented elastomer polyester copolymers that shows greater flexibility with respect to the types and amounts of product to be produced than the known processes. The flexibility is achieved by splitting up a low-molecular PBT product stream from a continuous PBT process and partly using it as feed for the transesterification reaction with the polyalkyleneoxide glycol yielding soft segments to form a low-molecular segmented polyester copolymer, which is subsequently further condensed in the melt or optionally in the solid phase to form high-molecular segmented polyester copolymers. Even greater flexibility can be obtained by operating several parallel production lines for segmented polyester copolymer. Fluctuations in the types of copolyester product to be produced and the amounts thereof are accommodated predominantly in the polycondensation step of the PBT production.

Abstract: Aminopeptidases originating from Aspergilli niger are disclosed, which can be produced in a fermentation broth or a liquid concentrate thereof substantially free of endoprotease. Such aminopeptidases may be advantageously employed in the food industry, e.g. in the preparation of bread doughs or cheese.

Abstract: An elastic fiber of a mixture containing a copolyether ester or a copolyester ester and a chemically crosslinked rubber, which fiber has a permanent elongation after 100% stretching of at most 9% and an elongation at break of at least 450% and a process for producing an elastic fiber comprising the melt spinning of a mixture of a copolyether ester or a copolyester ester and a rubber to form a fiber, in which the rubber is completely or almost completely crosslinked at the moment the fiber is formed, and are disclosed.