Abstract: Process for stretching an article substantially consisting of a flexible-chain polymer, which is swollen in a solvent for that polymer, in which process an article substantially consisting of a copolymer of the polymer with a second polymer is swollen in a selective solvent for the flexible-chain polymer, and stretched, and an article containing an oriented flexible-chain polymer with a dichroic ratio of at least 1.1.

Abstract: A composition which contains thermosettable monomers from which continuous products can be made without using continuous carrier material, the composition containing bismaleimide monomers and a thermoplastic polymer having a high molecular weight.Products made from a composition of the present invention are suitable for use in those fields where good temperature resistance, good fire resistance and/or good corrosion and solvent resistance are required in addition to good mechanical properties. Examples are cable sheathing, fire-resistant clothing, asbestos substitutes, high-temperature filters, aircraft interiors, precursors for carbon fiber , food packagings (for example, for use in a microwave oven), capacitor films and filament winding products.

Abstract: A flame retardant resin composition which includes the following component (A) and component (B) blended in the ratio (A):(B)=100:1-40 parts by weight. Component (A) is a thermoplastic resin including 0-70% by weight of a rubber component and 100-30% by weight of a polymer component formed from monomers comprising a methylated aromatic vinyl monomer and an hydroxylated aromatic vinyl monomer and, optionally, an aromatic vinyl monomer other than the above monomers, a cyanated vinyl monomer, a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer, maleic anhydride, and a maleimide monomer; graft ratio of the thermoplastic resin being 10-150% when the rubber component is used. Component (B) is a flame retarder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an alkanone and/or alkanol by oxidizing an alkane with 3-30 C-atoms, using oxygen, to form an alkyl hydroperoxide, followed by a decomposition of the resulting alkyl hydroperoxide in the presence of a metal compound immobilized on a carrier, which carrier carries aliphatic or aromatic amine groups or sulphide groups. The process is preferably applied to cycloalkanes.

Abstract: This invention is a process for the production of a continuous running length of a thermosetting polymer by a continuously extruding a continuous running length of a sheath of a film forming fiber from a die to form a hollow object; b) continuously injecting the monomer of the thermosetting polymer into the hollow of the sheath at or immediately below the plane of the die opening; c) stretching the sheath containing the monomer; and d) polymerizing the monomer to make the continuous running length of fiber of thermosetting polymer.

Abstract: Polymer composition comprising a copolymer of a vinylaromatic compound, a vinyl cyanide and, optionally, a third monomer which copolymer is grafted on a rubber, a flame-retardant phosphorus compound and a charforming component, characterised in that the polymer composition also comprises a polymer P which comprises 1-100 wt. % monomeric units with the following structure, the wt. % being relative to said polymer P ##STR1## where m=1-5. This polymer composition shows improved flame-retardant properties as a result of synergism with respect to the flame-retardant properties between the charformer and polymer P.

Abstract: Ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymer composition with improved thermal stability wherein the insoluble copolymer content after exposure to a temperature of 265.degree. C. during 5 minutes is at most 40 wt. % and use of the composition for the manufacture of objects, essentially consisting of ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymer. The composition preferably contains an inorganic compound reacting as a base upon contact with water.

Abstract: Elongated object, made of an orientated alternating copolymer of carbon monoxide and an olefinically unsaturated monomer, which has a modulus of elasticity of at least 16 GPa, and a method for the production of objects from an alternating copolymer, orientated by stretching, of carbon monoxide and an olefinically unsaturated monomer, by dissolving the copolymer in a suitable solvent, converting the solution obtained, at a temperature above the dissolving point of the solution, to an object consisting of the solution, converting the object consisting of the solution to a solvent-containing object consisting of the copolymer, completely or partially removing the solvent from the solvent-containing object consisting of the copolymer and stretching at least the object thus obtained, or the solvent-containing object consisting of the copolymer, at elevated tempera-ture, it being possible for the stretching of tapes and films also to take place in two directions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polyimide substantially built up from monomeric units of 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride and monomeric units of a primary aliphatic diamine. The polyimide according to the invention is characterized in that the primary aliphatic diamine is substantially 1,4-diaminobutane. The thermal stability of the polyimide according to the invention has surprisingly been found to be very good. Owing to this very good thermal stability, the polyimides according to the invention can very well be processed at--relatively--high processing temperatures without any appreciable thermal degradation of the polyimide. As a result, the polyimides processing potential has increased considerably. Also, articles made of the polyimides according to the invention can be used at significantly higher temperatures. Said articles have very good mechanical properties. Articles containing a polyimide are suited for being used in the most diverse applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of an .alpha.,.alpha.-disubstituted .alpha.-amino alcohol from the corresponding amide with the aid of sodium in the presence of an alcohol as solvent. The conversion of amino acid amide to amino alcohol proceeds virtually quantitatively. Moreover, the reduction of the amino acid amide to the corresponding amino alcohol proceeds with retention of optical activity.

Abstract: Process for the .alpha.-chlorination of phenylacetonitriles, for example benzyl cyanide, in which the phenylacetonitrile is contacted with a suitable chlorinating agent, sulphuryl chloride or chlorine gas, while an amount of strong acid, preferably HCl, is also present in the reaction mixture. The induction time and the reaction rate are dependent on, among other factors, the concentration of the acid. Preferably, the reaction is carried out under pressure. The reaction is well controllable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plastics composition comprising a thermoplastic blend comprising: (1) 5-95 wt % of a polyamide (PA) and 95-5 wt % of a polyester (PE) incorporating 1-50 wt % of an aliphatic dimer fatty acid, (2) 0.01-30 parts by weight of a compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group or propylene group and further having a carboxylic, acid anhydride, acid amide, imido, carboxylic ester, amino or hydroxyl group per 100 parts by weight based on the combined weight of PA and PE, (3) 0-90 parts by weight of a polyester not modified with dimer fatty acid per 100 parts by weight based on the combined weight of PA and PE. Preferably the polyester (PE) is a polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate modified with di-oleic acid. The blends have a greatly improved elongation at break and are readily spinnable.

Abstract: An ozone and heat resistant polymer blend prepared from a first solid, high acrylonitrile nitrile/conjugated diene copolymer and a second, solid, fully hydrogenated nitrile/conjugated diene copolymer, blended in a ratio of about 70:30 to about 50:50.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer composition of a thermoplastic polymer made of monomeric units containing dicarboxylic anhydride groups and a polyaniline grafted onto the thermoplastic polymer through the reaction of the terminal NH.sub.2 group of the polyaniline with the dicarboxylic anhydride groups. The polymer composition has good thermoplastic processability as well as good conductive properties.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a polarizing film by drawing a polymer film containing a dichroic dye at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer, the polymer film consisting mainly of a semi-crystalline polyolefine and being drawn at a temperature below the crystalline melting point of the polyolefine, the dye being present in liquid form at that drawing temperature, and a polarizing dye-containing polyolefine film having a dichroic ratio of at least 15.

Abstract: A flame retardant resin composition including the following components (A), (B) and (C) in the ratio (A):(B):(C)=15-99:0-84:1-30% by weight; and wherein the molar ratio of bromine atom and antimony atom is 1.2-4.5:1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flame retardant plastics composition and based on a polyamide, a polyolefin, and magnesium hydroxide of the following composition:(1) 5 to 52 wt. % of a polyamide (PA),(2) 8 to 55 wt. % of a polyolefin (PO) composition comprising polypropylene at least partially functionalized with a compound containing an ethylenically unsaturated group and/or a propylene group and a carboxylic acid group, acid anhydride group, acid amide group, imido group, carboxylic ester group, amino group, or hydroxyl group, and(3) 40 to 70 wt. % of magnesium hydroxide particles in platelet form having a specific surface area of not more than 18 m.sup.2 /g.A major portion of the compositions according to the invention satisfies the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. V.sub.0 rating and the compositions also stand out through favorable rheological behavior and the fact that articles made from them by injection moulding have an exceptionally smooth surface.

Abstract: Enzyme-catalysed preparation of an .alpha.-substituted optically active carboxylic acid, using enantioselective hydrolysis of a mixture of the enantiomers of the corresponding amide, an Ochrobactrum anthropi or an Klebsiella sp. being used as the enzyme. During the hydrolysis both the L-carboxylic acid and the remaining D-carboxylic acid amide are obtained with high optical purity and high yield, while the activity of the micro-organism is high. A large number of .alpha.-substituted carboxylic acid amides with a remarkable structural variety can be hydrolysed in this manner.

Abstract: A process of treating a ketoxime or aldoxime-containing amide mixture resulting from a Beckmann rearrangement of the corresponding ketoxime or aldoxime. The process involves hydrolysis of the mixture to remove the remaining ketoxime or aldoxime which are converted to the corresponding ketone or aldehyde and then separated off from the mixture. Any amino acid resulting from the hydrolysis can be reconverted to the corresponding amide by raising the temperature of the mixture.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of polymer products from cyclic esters, according to which a catalyst and cyclic monomers are mixed in a mixing chamber and are optionally brought to a higher temperature, after which the mixture is injected, under pressure, into a cavity of a mold consisting of at least two parts and the mold is heated for some time at a temperature above the melting temperature of the monomers, after which the mold is opened and the product is removed from the mold. Polymer products manufactured by this method can be used in medical fields and particularly in reconstructive orthopedics.