Abstract: A polymeric composition, a process for producing the composition, and a process for using the composition in, for example, hydrocyanation or isomerization are disclosed. The composition comprises repeat units derived from (1) a carbonyl compound, a monomer, and phosphorochloridite; (2) phosphorus trichloride, a polyhydric alcohol, and an aromatic diol; or (3) combinations of (1) and (2) in which the monomer can be a polyhydric alcohol, an amine, combinations thereof. The composition can further comprise a Group VIII metal and optionally a Lewis acid.

Abstract: An improved process for decomposing alkyl or aromatic hydroperoxides to form a decomposition reaction mixture containing the corresponding alcohol and ketone. The improvement relates to decomposing the hydroperoxide by contacting the hydroperoxide with a catalytic amount of a heterogenous catalyst of Au, Ag, Cu or a sol-gel compound containing particular combinations of Fe, Ni, Cr, Co, Zr, Ta, Si, Mg, Nb, Al and Ti wherein certain of those metals have been combined with an oxide, such as an inorganic matrix of hydroxides or oxides, or combinations thereof. The catalysts may also optionally be supported on a suitable support member and used in the presence of an additional metal.

Abstract: A method for isolating tissue repair promoting substances from human or animal blood, which method comprises collecting the human or animal blood from a single human or animal individual in a first container of a container system comprising at least first and second interconnected containers; centrifuging the container system containing said blood so as to separate the blood in various fractions including a plasma fraction; transferring at least part of the plasma fraction to said second container of the container system; subjecting the plasma fraction in said second container to a low temperature so as to obtain a precipitate comprising tissue repair promoting substances; concentrating said precipitate in said second container so as to obtain a first fraction comprising a major part of the non-precipitated material, and a second fraction comprising at least the major part of the precipitate and a minor part of the non-precipitated material; and separating said second fraction comprising the tissue repair pro

Abstract: A waste outlet fitting for use in tubs, sinks and basins. A magnetic plug is mounted in the waste outlet which can be rotated between open and closed positions through the use of a rotatable magnetic located proximate to the plug. The magnetic is rotatable by use of a remotely located handle employing cable, wire or rods for connecting the handle and magnetic.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the manufacture of CF3CHFCF3 containing less than 0.01 ppm (CF3)2C═CF2. The process involves (a) contacting hexafluoropropene in the vapor phase at a temperature of less than about 260° C. with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of a selected fluorination catalyst or produce a product containing less than 10 parts (CF3)2C═CF2 per million parts of CF3CHFCF3; and (b) treating the product of (a) as necessary to remove excess (CF3)2C═CF2. Suitable catalysts include: (i) an activated carbon treated to contain from about 0.1 to about 10 weight % added alkali or alkaline earth metals, (ii) three dimensional matrix porous carbonaceous materials, (iii) supported metal catalysts comprising trivalent chromium, and (iv) unsupported chrome oxide prepared by the pyrolysis of (NH4)2Cr2O7.

Abstract: A method is described for the preparation of optically active hydroxamic acids of the general formula wherein R1, R2 and R3 are different and are a cyclic or linear, aliphatic or aromatic, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical which can optionally contain heteroatoms, said method being characterized in that a racemate of chiral amides, carboxylic acid esters or carboxylic acids of the general formula wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined above and X is —NH2, —OR or —OH, R being any organic radical, is reacted with hydroxylamine, NH2OH, in the presence of an acyltransferase, and the optically active hydroxamic acid (I) formed is then separated from the unconverted enantiomer of general formula (II). The resulting optically active hydroxamic acid can be converted to the corresponding optically active primary amines by a Lossen rearrangement.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a process for the preparation of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) comprising (a) contacting terephthalic acid with 1,3-propanediol in the presence of an organic tin catalyst to form a bis(3-hydroxypropyl)terephthalate monomer; and (b) polymerizing said monomer in the presence of organic titanate polycondensation catalyst to obtain the poly(trimethylene terephthalate). In another embodiment, the invention is a process for the preparation of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) containing less than 1.6 mol % of DPG said process comprising contacting terephthalic acid with a 1.6 to 1 to 2:1 molar amount of 1,3-propanediol in the presence of 20 to 120 ppm (as tin), by weight of the poly(trimethylene terephthalate), of a organic tin catalyst, to form a bis(3-hydroxypropyl)terephthalate monomer and polymerizing said monomer to obtain the poly(trimethylene terephthalate). The invention is also directed to poly(trimethylene terephthalate) produced by the processes.

Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing acrylic acid by vapor phase oxidation of propylene in a single step or reaction stage using as solid phase oxidant a mixture of two particulate solids comprising a bismuth molybdate multimetal oxide (e.g., Mo12Co3.5Bi1.1Fe0.8W0.5Si1.4K0.05Ox) and a molybdenum vanadate multimetal oxide (e.g., Mo12V4.8Sr0.5W2.4Cu2.2Ox). Such a process is advantageously carried out in a recirculating solids reactor system wherein the particulate mixture of solids in an oxidized state reacts with a feed gas containing propylene in a vertical riser reactor and after separation from the acrylic acid gaseous product the particulate mixture of solids in a reduced state is regenerated by contact with an oxygen containing gas in a separate regeneration reactor before recirculation to the riser for further reaction.

Abstract: A process that can be used for isolating a fluorinated alkanoic acid from an aqueous solution also containing inorganic fluorides is provided. This process comprises (A) acidifying an aqueous solution comprising an ammonium salt of a fluorinated alkanoic acid to produce an acidified solution, (B) heating the acidified solution to produce an organic layer and an aqueous layer, (C) separating and recovering the organic layer from the aqueous layer, (D) optionally washing the organic layer with an acid solution, (E) optionally isolating the fluorinated alkanoic acid, and (F) further optionally converting the fluorinated alkanoic acid to its ammonium salt.

Abstract: Metal surfaces which are pre-treated with high-energy NIR-radiation and then coated with a powder or a liquid coating composition, followed by curing or drying the coating composition, show better adhesion to the coating and improved appearance and performance and the process is more cost effective.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a microcomposite comprising a highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymer containing pendant sulfonate functional groups, said polymer existing as aggregated particles entrapped within and dispersed throughout a network of silica. Due to their high surface area and acid functionality, these microcomposites possess wide utility as improved solid acid catalysts, particularly in the substitution of aromatic compounds, in the decomposition of hydroperoxides, and in the isomerization of olefins.

Abstract: Lights on footwear are flashed after a random time delay generated when a motion-responsive switch on the footwear has been closed to create an unpredictable, eye-catching light display.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical birefringent waveguides, acousto-optical devices using such optical waveguides and an acoustic waveguide as well as a manufacturing method therefore. The optical waveguides of the invention exhibit a small birefringent variation with respect to a change of waveguide parameters, if the fundamental mode propagating in the optical waveguide has a propagation constant near to the cut-off condition. The optical waveguide dimensions are typically chosen such that the cut-off wavelength of the waveguide is below 1650 nm for an operating wavelength in the window between 1530 nm and 1656 nm. The acousto-optic mode converter using such optical waveguides have a superior conversion characteristic over the conversion frequency with reduced side lobes. Therefore, using the thin and narrow optical waveguides of the invention, a superior performance of the acousto-optical devices using such an optical waveguide can be obtained.

Abstract: A system for measuring wind direction and velocity utilizing a sphere which is capable of making differential orthogonal pressure measurements, using pressure sensors located inside the sphere along apertures forming orthogonal axes of the sphere. The preferred embodiment applies the Bernoulli principle to the sphere which has the apertures disposed along the orthogonal axes, and which measures the wind velocity and direction, whereas an alternative embodiment applies the Reynold's principle by using a sphere having no apertures therein, and resulting in a more robust meteorological measurement device which can also measure other meteorological data which is combined with the wind data to produce forecasting of air and weather patterns in a localized area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wax-based composition comprising at least about 0.5-30% water in a water-in-oil emulsion, wherein water is encapsulated in a lamellar lipid vesicle capable of withstanding wax melting point temperatures. The composition is useful in delivering water soluble actives in an anhydrous base, and is particularly well-adapted for uses in lipsticks and lip-care products.

Abstract: A halocarbon product made from the reaction of excess hydrogen fluoride with a halocarbon, containing excess hydrogen fluoride as an azeotrope is purified by fluorination in the presence of additional halocarbon or halo-olefin.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring micro-balls in accordance with the present invention, includes a suction head in which a plurality of suction pits are open for holding the respective micro-balls, a head holder to which the suction head is detachably coupled, a suction device communicating with a suction chamber in the head holder, for allowing the suction pits to hold the micro-balls by decompressing the interior of the suction chamber, and a holder transporting device to which the head holder is mounted, wherein the holder transporting device are movable between a sucking position at which is placed a pallet on which the micro-balls to be held by the suction pits, a transferring position at which is placed a working object to which the micro-balls held by the suction pits, and a head exchanging position at which the replacement of the suction head is carried out relative to the head holder.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a process for modifying a polyamide polymer comprising contacting a reactive modifier with diamine/diacid salt and/or an amino-acid of a hydrolyzed lactam or lactam to form a modified polyamide. A second embodiment of the present invention is a process for modifying a polyamide polymer comprising contacting a reactive modifier with diamine then contacting the resulting modified diamine with diacid and/or lactam to form a modified polyamide.

Abstract: A polyimide film of birefringence less than 0.01 is formed by drawing a copolymerized polyimide comprising a block component and a random component which are molecularly bonded, wherein the block component of copolymerized polyimide comprises an aromatic diamine compound having a rigid structure and an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid compound and wherein the random component of copolymerized polyimide comprises an aromatic diamine compound having a flexible structure and at least two aromatic tetracarboxylic acid components. The resulting polyimide film has high elasticity, a low thermal expansion equivalent to that of metal and low water absorbing properties. A method for its manufacture and a metal laminated plate having improved curl properties in which the polyimide is used as the base material are also disclosed.