Abstract: Provided is a radiation-curable, glass optical fiber coating composition which when suitably cured exhibits resistance to attack from hydrocarbon gel cable filing material. The composition containsabout 10 to about 90% by weight of a first radiation-curable oligomer;from 0 to about 40% by weight of a reactive diluent;from 0 to about 40% by weight of a photoinitiator;from 0 to about 10% by weight of a pigment; andabout 10 to about 90% by weight of a second radiation-curable oligomer according to the following formula:R.sup.1 -L.sup.1 -C.sup.1 -L.sup.2 -R.sup.2 (1)where:R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, independently, each represent a radiation-curable functional group;L.sup.1 and L.sup.2, independently, each represent an alkyleneoxy chain having from about 2 to about 40 carbon atoms, wherein L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 are linked to C.sup.1 through an oxygen atomC.sup.1 comprises a hydrocarbon having from about 5 to about 40 carbon atoms and containing at least one cyclic group.

Abstract: A blend and a process for producing that blend in which a high ethylene content ethylene-propylene polymer and a lower ethylene content ethylene-propylene polymer are subjected to simultaneous blending and shearing to reduce their molecular weights and molecular weight distribution. The sheared blend of polymers can function as a shear stable dispersant viscosity index improver with improved lower temperature properties or the hydrocarbon base for multifunctional for viscosity index improvers, motor fuel additives or polymeric dispersants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a modified polymer by reaction between a reactive polymer and at least a compound containing two or more functional groups. The polymer, which is solid at room temperature, is mixed, at a temperature at which the viscosity of the polymer is lower than 10000 dPas (measured according to Emila), with a compound containing two or more functional groups in a mixing means for achieving a homogeneous product and the mean residence time and the residence time distribution being chosen so that more than 50% of the reactive groups of the polymer has reacted.As means to make the composition homogeneous use is made of a static mixer.The functional groups of the compound containing two or more functional groups have different reactivities.The invention also relates to a binder composition, which comprises the modified polymer thus obtained and a crosslinker.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plastic article formed from several foamed thermoplastic elastomers, such as a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer based on polypropylene and a vulcanized elastomer at least one of an elastomeric styrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene block copolymer, an elastomeric styrene/butadiene/styrene block copolymer, a thermoplastic elastomer based on polypropylene and an elastomeric styrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene block copolymer and a thermoplastic elastomer based on polypropylene and an elastomeric styrene/butadiene/styrene block copolymer. The present invention further provides plastic articles based on a blend of thermoplastic elastomers and thermoplastic elastomer olefins. The invention further provides a process for making these articles.

Abstract: Method for the preparation of N-alkoxy-(tetra- or hexahydro)-phthalimide according to formula I ##STR1## R.sub.1 being methyl or ethyl and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 being each independently of one another hydrogen or alkyl with 1-4 C atoms or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded forming a ring with 5 or 6 C atoms, wherein the salt of the corresponding N-hydroxy-(tetrahydro- or hexahydro)-phthalimide according to formula II: ##STR2## with R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 as defined above and M being an alkali metal, is brought into contact with R.sub.1 Cl as alkylating agent, wherein R.sub.1 has the aforementioned meaning.The N-alkoxy-(tetra- or hexahydro)-phthalimide can afterwards be converted with the aid of hydroxylamine sulphate into the corresponding alkoxyamine after which the alkoxyamine obtained can be isolated. In this manner a simple and commercially attractive process for the preparation of O-(m)ethylhydroxylamine can be implemented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bidentate phosphine ligand, the phosphorus atoms of the phosphine being connected via a bridge group, the bridge group of the bidentate phosphine ligand consisting of an ortho-anellated annular system, comprising two aryl groups, which aryl groups are connected by two bridges, the first bridge consisting of an --O-- or an --S-- atom and the second bridge being a group that contains an oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, silicon or carbon atom or a combination of these atoms, the two phosphorus atoms being connected to the two aryl groups of the bridge group at the ortho-position relative to the --O-- or --S-- atom of the first bridge.The invention also relates to the use of this bidentate phosphium ligand in a catalyst system comprising also a transition metal compound which is used in the following type of reactions: hydroformylation hydrogenation, hydrocyanation, polymerization, isomerisation, carboxylation, cross coupling and metathesis.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of increasing adhesion of radiation-cured, inner primary coatings on glass optical fibers. A glass optical fiber drawing tower has a controllable variable amperage electron beam for exposing different sections of a glass optical fiber with different amperage levels of electron beam radiation. The different sections of the glass optical fiber after being exposed to the selected amperage levels of electron beam radiation are then coated with an inner primary coating composition which is finally cured by exposure to actinic radiation. Later formed sections of the same glass optical fiber can be exposed to different amperage levels of electron beam radiation and then coated and cured. The different sections of the glass optical fiber which have been coated with an inner primary coating using this method demonstrate correspondingly different degrees of coating adhesion. Reduced levels of adhesion promoter are required for inner primary coating compositions when using this method.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a linear aldehyde organic compound by hydroformylation (b) starting from an internally unsaturated functionalised organic compound whereby first (a) a portion of the internally unsaturated functionalized organic compound is isomerized to a terminally unsaturated functionalised organic compound in the presence of a suitable isomerization catalyst, wherein following the isomerization step (a), the hydroformylation (b) is effected in the presence of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and a catalyst which preferentially catalyzes the hydroformylation reaction of the terminally unsaturated functionalised organic compound to the linear aldehyde organic compound, the internally unsaturated functionalised organic compound remaining practically unhydroformylated, whereupon (c) the linear aldhyde organic compound is separated out of the mixture and (d) the remainder of the unsaturated functionalised organic compound-containing mixture is recirculated to the isomerization step (a).

Abstract: Process for the preparation of 3-phenylpropanal in which cinnamaldehyde is hydrogenated with the aid of a Pd-containing catalyst in the presence of a small amount of water. A high yield and a high selectivity are obtained in a commercially attractive process. The reaction mixture obtained can without intermediate further processing be subjected to an oxidation in which the cinnamaldehyde is oxidized to 3-phenylpropionic acid with a high degree of conversion and a high selectivity. The combination of the two process steps constitutes a simple, commercially attractive process for the preparation of 3-phenylpropionic acid using cinnamaldehyde as a starting material. The resulting 3-phenyl-propionic acid product may serve as an intermediate reagent in the synthesis of anti-viral pharmaceuticals, particularly HIV protease inhibitors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a powder paint binder composition. The binder composition comprises a hydroxyl functional polymer and a crosslinker containing blocked isocyanate groups. The crosslinker includes (i) a crystalline compound containing blocked isocyanate groups and ii) an amorphous compound containing blocked isocyanate groups. Preferably the crosslinker is a mixture of blocked hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer and blocked 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate.

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 derived from 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 --COOR.sup.3 (wherein R.sup.3 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: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a hydroxylammonium salt through catalytic reduction of nitrate ions in an acid medium, in the presence of an activated catalyst, which catalyst comprises carrier particles with a plurality of metal particles containing palladium and platinum, the relative concentrations of the palladium and the platinum in each metal particle being substantially the same. In particular, the distribution of platinum concentrations among different metal particles has a standard deviation of less than 4% absolute.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dendrimer composition in which an effective number of the terminal functionalities are provided with blocking agents, and at least one active substance species is occluded in the dendrimer. A blocking agent is a sufficiently sterically sized compound which readily enters into a chemical bond with a terminal group of a dendrimer but which can also be split off from the dendrimer or can be modified without affecting the chemical structure of the dendrimer and the occluded active substance. The blocking agent can also be provided with a protecting group. The time and duration over which an active substance is released can be controlled. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of such a composition and to a process for the controlled release of the active substance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a composition contains a polymer and a crosslinking agent which comprises mixing a polymer that is solid at room temperature with a crosslinking agent, the polymer and the crosslinker having complementary reactive groups, at a temperature at which the viscosity of the polymer (measured according to Emila) is less than 5000 dpas, in a means for achieving a homogeneous composition in such a short time that less than 20% of the reactive groups of one of either the polymer or crosslinking agent has reacted, and subsequently cooling and comminuting the composition.The mixing is preferably effected in a static mixer at a temperature higher than 140.degree. C.

Abstract: A liquid curable resin composition containing urethane bond at a concentration of 2.0.times.10.sup.-3 mole/gm or more and comprising:(a) a urethane (meth)acrylate having at least three cyclic structures in the molecule;(b) a polymerizable mono-functional vinyl monomer of which the homopolymer has a glass transition point of 50.degree. C. or more; and(c) a polymerization initiator.The liquid curable resin composition possesses a high Young's modulus, exhibits very little contraction stress, has high tenacity and good curing characteristics. Along with these superior characteristics, the high reliability of the composition makes it a suitable coating material for optical fiber. Furthermore, since the resin composition possesses a high Young's modulus and high tenacity, it is also useful as a protective coating material for metals, plastics, wood, ceramics, glass, and the like.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of 3-phenylpropionic acid in which 3-phenylpropanal is subjected to an oxidation, at elevated temperature, in particular at a temperature of between 40.degree. and 80.degree. C., using a medium containing molecular oxygen. A high degree of conversion and a high selectivity are obtained. The starting material 3-phenylpropanal can be prepared in a suitable manner through the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde in the presence of a Pd-containing catalyst, after which the reaction mixture obtained can without intermediate further processing be used in the oxidation reaction. The combination of the two process steps constitutes a simple, commercially attractive process for the preparation of 3-phenylpropionic acid using cinnamaldehyde as a starting material. 3-phenylpropionic acid can be used in particular in the preparation of pharmaceuticals such as HIV protease inhibitors.

Abstract: Process to prepare .epsilon.-caprolactam starting from a liquid aqueous mixture containing an alcohol and 6-aminocaproic acid by cyclization of 6-aminocaproic acid in the aqueous mixture at an elevated temperature. The alcohol is separated from the starting aqueous mixture before performing the cyclization to such extent that the concentration of alcohol in the aqueous mixture during the cyclization is less than 1 wt. %. The advantages include reduced amounts of undesirable by-product.

Abstract: A process for producing granules from a liquid composition which includes the steps of applying the liquid composition onto solid particles of the same composition circulating in the granulation zone of a granulator, thereby causing particles to grow, discharging a stream of grown particles from the granulation zone, cooling this stream in a cooler, and dividing the stream exiting the cooler, in a size-sorting apparatus, into three streams of grown particles based on size. The stream of desired-sized particles is withdrawn for future use or processing, the stream of undersized particles is returned to the granulation zone and the stream of oversized particles is sent to a size-reducing apparatus for crushing, with the resulting crushed particles recycled back to the cooler located downstream of the granulator and upstream of the size-sorting apparatus.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the homopolymerization of ethylene or copolymerization of ethylene with one or more .alpha.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a threo-phenylserine amide of the general formula 2 in which glycine amide is contacted with the corresponding substituted benzaldehyde of formula 3 in an excess relative to the amount of glycine amide, this taking place at a pH between 9 and 14 in the presence of a suitable solvent. The resulting phenylserine amide can subsequently be hydrolyzed to a phenylserine amide of the general formula 1, which is subsequently hydrolyzed to a phenylserine amide of the general formula 1, which is subsequently subjected to a stereoselective enzymatic hydrolysis yielding a (2S,3R) phenylserine. The non-hydrolyzed (2R,3S) phenylserine amide can be isolated as a Schiff base and be recirculated and simply racemized. The (2S,3R) phenylserine obtained can be used in the preparation of thiamphenicol or florfenicol. The threo-phenylserine amides of the general formula 1 or 2 are new intermediates in this commercially attractive process for the preparation of thiamphenicol and florfenicol.