Abstract: The present invention relates to a high modulus elastomer composition reinforced by pulp having a high surface area and composed of a combination of at least two organic polymeric materials.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention enables consumers to purchase goods and services from merchants, using credit cards, wherein the consumers can maintain the confidentiality of their credit card numbers and identity without disclosure to the merchants, so that an anonymous credit transaction can take place. The system and method takes blocks of consumer credit card numbers and creates dynamic mappings of the card numbers to account numbers or even other card numbers, such as pseudo-random credit card numbers. The system and method of the present invention generates pseudo-random credit card attributes, which are presented to merchants at the time of purchase for Internet, telephone, or mail order purchases. Because pseudo-random attributes are transmitted to the merchant, the transaction between the consumer and merchant will be anonymous.

Abstract: A device is provided for generating a defined relative humidity in a gas. This device includes a saturator chamber connected by at least one connecting line to a measuring chamber. The relative humidity in the measuring chamber can be adjusted by varying the pressures in the saturator chamber and in the measuring chamber. A valve unit is arranged in the connecting line. The valve unit and the portion of the connecting line located between the valve unit and the saturator chamber are in thermal contact with a heating device.

Abstract: This invention provides for metal surfaces which when derivatized with &agr;-&ohgr; bis-functionalized substantially linear aliphatic, including fluoroaliphatic acids and metal salts thereof exhibit changes in surface properties. In particular, composites formed from polymers and metallic surfaces derivatized according to a process of the present invention exhibit surprising durability.

Abstract: A fluoropolymer comprising fluorinated vinyl ethers having cyanate or carbamate pendant functionality is disclosed. The fluoropolymer may further comprise at least one other fluorinated or non-fluorinated monomer. An article coated with said fluoropolymer is also disclosed.

Abstract: Refrigerant compositions containing polymeric oil-return agents which solubilize or disperse mineral and synthetic oil lubricants with hydrofluorocarbon and hydrofluorocarbon/hydrochlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerants are disclosed. These polymeric oil-return agents, such as copolymers of fluorinated and non-fluorinated methacrylates, as a small proportion of an overall refrigerant composition, permit efficient return of mineral and synthetic oil lubricants from non-compressor zones back to a compressor zone in a refrigeration system operating with hydrofluorocarbon and hydrofluorocarbon/hydrochlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerants.

Abstract: Polyethylene-based adhesive compositions which contain as little as 5 weight percent, and up to 35 weight percent of an acid-grafted metallocene polyethylene have superior peel strength to comparable compositions containing an acid grafted non-metallocene and EVA or EMA polyethylene. Compositions where the acid-grafted metallocene polyethylene component is based on a metallocene polyethylene having a melt-flow ratio of less than 6.53 and an Mw/Mn of greater than the melt flow ratio less 4.63 are as good adhesive compositions as those based on metallocene resins falling outside these parameters.

Abstract: A process for removing turmeric stains from nylon or wool articles comprising (a) applying a solution of an oxidizing agent to the stained area, and (b) exposing the stained area to light of ultraviolet wavelength is disclosed.

Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomeric polymers which contain polyether blocks having tetramethylene ether repeat units, and polyamide blocks, have improved elastomeric properties such as higher unload power and lower tensile set, when the polyether blocks also contain 2-alkyltetramethylene ether repeat units. The polymers are useful as molding resins and for fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel electrophoretic displays and materials useful in fabricating such displays. In particular, novel encapsulated displays are disclosed. Particles encapsulated therein are dispersed within a suspending, or electrophoretic, fluid. This fluid may be a mixture of two or more fluids or may be a single fluid. The displays may further comprise particles dispersed in a suspending fluid, wherein the particles contain a liquid. In either case, the suspending fluid may have a density or refractive index substantially matched to that of the particles dispersed therein. Finally, also disclosed herein are electro-osmotic displays. These displays comprise at least one capsule containing either a cellulosic or gel-like internal phase and a liquid phase, or containing two or more immiscible fluids. Application of electric fields to any of the electrophoretic displays described herein affects an optical property of the display.

Abstract: A refrigeration system comprises a compressor for increasing a temperature and a pressure of a refrigerant vapor, a condenser fluidly coupled to the compressor for condensing the refrigerant vapor, an expansion device for decreasing the temperature and pressure of a refrigerant liquid, and an evaporator fluidly coupled to the expansion device for evaporating the refrigerant liquid by transferring thermal energy between the refrigerant liquid and a second fluid. The refrigeration system also comprises a heat exchanger having a first flow path fluidly coupled to the compressor and the evaporator and a second flow path fluidly coupled to the condenser and the expansion valve. The heat exchanger is adapted to superheat the refrigerant vapor in the first flow path and subcool the refrigerant liquid in the second flow path by transferring thermal energy between the refrigerant in the first and second flow paths.

Abstract: A method of increasing the adhesion of a photopolymerizable composition and the photopolymerized composition formed therefrom, which method comprises the step of adding an adhesion promoter, which consists essentially of a polycarboxylic acid having three to six carbon atoms, to the photopolymerizable composition.

Abstract: Polyolefins made preferably only from ethylene using a selected ethylene oligomerization catalyst to form &agr;-olefins and a polymerization catalyst which can copolymerize ethylene and &agr;-olefins produces a novel polymer which advantageous rheological properties.

Abstract: A two-stage process for producing 1,3-propanediol by first hydrogenating at a temperature of 30° C. to 80° C. in the presence of an oxide-supported metal hydrogenation catalyst. Second, the resulting reaction solution is hydrogenated at a temperature of 80° C. to 180° C. to a 3-hydroxypropanal conversion of substantially 100% in the presence of an activated carbon-supported metal hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an enzyme involved in the N-end rule pathway of protein degradation. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the enzyme involved in the N-end rule pathway of protein degradation, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the enzyme involved in the N-end rule pathway of protein degradation in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process for polymerizing cyclic oligomers to homopolymers or copolymers, conducted in the presence of one or more linear polymers.

Abstract: Fluorinated diesters useful for imparting repellency of low surface tension fluids to thermoplastic polymers of formulae Rf—O—C(O)—(CH2)n—C(O)—O—R1; Rf—O—C(O)—CH2—CH(R2)—C(O)—O—Rf; a mixture of Rf—O—C(O)—(CH2)n—C(O)—O—R1, Rf—O—C(O)—(CH2)n—C(O)—Rf, and R1—O—C(O)—(CH2)n—C(O)—O—R1; and [F(CF2)xCH2CH2—S—CH2]2—C—[CH2—O—C(O)—C17H35]2; wherein Rf is F(CF2)x—(CH2)m wherein x is 4 to 20 and m is 2 to 6, or F(CF2)x—SO2N(R3)—R4 wherein x is 4 to 20; R1 is a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon with an average carbon chain length of 12 to 66 carbons; R2 is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon with 1-20 carbon atoms; R3 is an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R4 is an alkylene radical having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; n is 1 to 20, and x is 4 to 20 are disclose

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an amino acid decarboxylase. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the amino acid decarboxylase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the amino acid decarboxylase in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a polymeric composition comprising a blend of highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer and highly fluorinated nonfunctional polymer, the blend having interpenetrating continuous phases of the highly fluorinated nonfunctional polymer and the highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer. Further the invention provides for liquid compositions comprising a highly fluorinated solvent, a highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer precursor and a highly fluorinated nonfunctional polymer with the polymers being miscible with each other in the solvent. The compositions are useful for making ion exchange membranes. Membranes of the compositions have enhanced tensile properties.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline polyesters or poly(ester-amides) having improved melt viscosity, is made by reacting the polymer with limited amounts of a compound containing specified functionality, such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, or amine. The process may be carried out in a typical polymer melt mixing apparatus such as an extruder. The low viscosity polymer product of the claimed invention has surprising toughness and is particularly useful for encapsulation of electronic components.