Abstract: A new method for the preparation of acetals of long chain fatty aliphatic aldehydes and polyols containing four or more hydroxyl groups which produces the acetals in a relatively pure form by reaction in a mutual solvent, preferably a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 fatty carboxylic acid. The `clean` acetals are useful emulsifying agents and their esters and polyalkoxy substituents are useful dispersants and surfactants for aqueous compositions.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polymeric compositions which comprise novel polymers and copolymers of certain 1,2-disubstituted-cyclohexadienes, aromatization of such polymers in the form of inter alia fibres, and novel aromatic polymers.

Abstract: A fibrous composite material in the form of individual fibres, sheets, layers or lightweight blocks comprising non-combustible fibres and lamellae of a layer mineral, a method for the manufacture of the fibrous composite materials by applying lamellae of a layer mineral to the fibres preferably from suspension followed by removal of the liquid phase of the suspension, and use of the fibrous composite materials for the fire-protection of substrates.

Abstract: The invention concerns an improved yarn package, process and apparatus. The improved package has particular utility in automated processes for making melt spun yarn. Broadly, the invention comprises (a) a cross wound package of melt spun flat filament yarn that is characterized by the yarn's outer end being pile wound in a compact bunch on the cross wound package's surface, the yarn end comprising at least twenty pile turns, the pile turns comprising upstream pile turns and downstream pile turns, and wherein the upstream pile turns partly underlap the downstream pile turns; and (b and c) modifications to conventional process and conventional apparatus for winding yarns, in order to make such packages, particularly at speeds greater than 3000 mpm.

Abstract: Metal values are extracted from aqueous solutions of metal salts containing halide or pseudo halide ions by pyridine derivatives containing the substituent --(COX).sub.A where X is the group --OR.sub.1 or --NR.sub.2 R.sub.3 and n is 1, 2 or 3. R.sub.1 is a hydrocarbyl group containing from 5 to 36 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group wherein R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together contain from 5 to 36 carbon atoms. The process is especially useful for the recovery of metals from leach solutions derived from sulphur-containing ores such as chalcopyrite.

Abstract: A yarn of a synthetic, fibre-forming, polymeric material comprising a plurality of filaments having a substantially rectangular cross-section and having a birefringence assymetry across the width of the filaments, each of the filaments being twisted about the longitudinal axis of the filament in such a manner that the overall lateral dimension of the twisted filament corresponds substantially with the length of the rectangular cross-section of the filament.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polymeric compositions which comprise novel polymers and copolymers of certain 1,2-disubstituted-cyclohexadienes, aromatization of such polymers in the form of inter alia fibres, and novel aromatic polymers.

Abstract: A dispersing agent comprising the salt of a tertiary amine containing at least one poly(lower alkyleneoxy) chain and an aromatic acid having at least two benzene rings and a dispersion of an organic pigment, an organic dyestuff or carbon black in a polar organic solvent containing said dispersing agent is disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions containing insect behavior modifying compounds containing carbon-to-carbon unsaturation, e.g. pheromones, are stabilized by the addition of a tertiary phenylene diamine of formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an aromatic residue, R.sup.2 represents H or an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, aryl, acyl, acyloxy or nitroso group and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, which may be the same or different, each represents an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, aryl, acyl, acyloxy or nitroso group.These compositions are usefully enclosed in micro-capsules for spraying in an area of insect infestation in order to disrupt mating patterns, and the invention particularly applies to micro-encapsulation of the compositions in polyureas, the tertiary phenylene diamines having the advantage that they do not react with the diisocyanate monomer during the micro-encapsulation process.

Abstract: The Abstract of the Invention is a method of making a solution of the nitrates of iron and chromium from a spent catalyst containing oxides of iron and chromium, which method comprises:(a) dissolving the catalyst in sulphuric acid;(b) reacting the resulting sulphates solution with a source of nitrate ions and of cations of which the sulphate is of low solubility, whereby to precipitate such sulphate;(c) separating the sulphate, whereby to give a nitrates solution of low sulphate content.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polymeric compositions which comprise novel polymers and copolymers of certain 1,2-disubstituted-cyclohexadienes, aromatization of such polymers in the form of inter alia fibers, and novel aromatic polymers.

Abstract: An aluminum substrate comprising a layer of lamellae of a layer mineral, preferably vermiculite, in which substantially all of the lamellae are of size below 50 microns, production of the coating by applying a suspension of the lamellae to the substrate and removing the liquid from the suspension. The coating significantly upgrades the thermal insulation and fire performance of aluminum substrates even when only a few microns, for example below 50 microns and even below 10 microns, in thickness.

Abstract: Sheet products are made from amino-aldehyde, e.g. urea-formaldehyde, resin fibres in admixture with other non-cellulosic fibres, e.g. glass fibres, and optionally cellulosic fibres. Multiply products may be made from plies having the above constitution and plies of, for example, amino-aldehyde resin fibres, alone or in admixture with cellulosic and/or non-cellulosic fibres. The paper-like sheet materials may be used e.g. as filter papers.Laminated products may be made by pressing at an elevated temperature, a stack of plies of paper made from a mixture of amino-aldehyde resin fibres and another fibrous material, e.g. cellulosic fibres.

Abstract: An electrode, suitable for use in an electrolytic cell of the filter-press type, and comprising a substantially planar support member and on at least one face of the support member, and preferably on both faces, a plurality of elongated members, for example strips, substantially parallel to each other and each attached at both ends to the support member, a substantial part of the elongated members lying in a plane displaced from and substantially parallel to the support member and the faces of the elongated members lying in planes substantially parallel to the plane of the support member. Also an electrolytic cell, incorporating the electrode.

Abstract: An agent for enhancing the fluidity of pigment dispersions comprising a composition of disazo compounds containing a water-insoluble disazo compound in which one of the terminal aromatic groups carries a single substituted ammonium-acid salt group, pigments treated with the agent and non-aqueous pigment dispersions containing the agent.

Abstract: An improved yarn guide assembly for selecting yarns individually from a group in the donning of a multicop winder, the assembly being of the kind in which each gap in a row of guide members is shaped to receive a yarn only if it lies in a unique plane, the improvement being that the yarn guiding surfaces of the guide members immediately beyond the gaps, are inclined to, and at least partially face, the direction from which the yarns approach the gaps and, optionally, that each guiding surface immediately beyond the gaps contains at least one ratchet notch.

Abstract: A process for forming a continuous filament yarn from a melt-spinnable synthetic linear polymer and novel yarns of polyethylene terephthalate and yarns of polyhexamethylene adipamide produced by the process, the process comprising extruding the molten polymer through a shaped orifice to form a molten filamentary material, passing the molten filamentary material through a solidification zone, passing the solidified filamentary material through a conditioning zone provided with a gaseous atmosphere at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the material and below its melting temperature, withdrawing the resulting filamentary yarn from the conditioning zone and winding up such yarn, characterized in that the gaseous atmosphere in the conditioning zone is compressed steam at an absolute pressure in excess of 5 psig and preferably, in the case of a yarn of polyethylene terephthalate, between 50 and 156 psig and preferably, in the case of a yarn of polyhexamethylene adipamide, between 14 and 70 psig

Abstract: In a methanol production process comprising synthesis gas generation, catalytic synthesis, recovery of crude methanol and purification by distillation, organic compounds of higher boiling point than methanol (the so-called "fusel oil" stream) are contacted in liquid form with a gaseous stream to be fed to synthesis gas generation, whereby to convert those compounds to synthesis gas. When an alkali is added to the crude methanol before distillation the contacting step permits utilisation of the organic compounds in the fusel oil, leaving an alkali compounds solution, which is withdrawn.

Abstract: The invention concerns use of a Geiger-Muller tube, gamma-ray detector, specifically, the method and apparatus for reducing the "dead-time" of that detector. The tube's anode is alternately connectable to either a high or low voltage through one of a pair of transistorized switches. The higher voltage is sufficient to permit ionization of the gas in the tube while the lower voltage is too low to sustain ionization. The tube is normally connected to the higher voltage source. The initial ionization of the gas in the tube by gamma-rays produces an initially small voltage drop in the anode voltage which is amplified by an amplifier, the output of which actuates a monostable driven circuit to generate a pulse having a width of 3 to 10 microseconds, preferably 5 to 6 microseconds. The leading edge of that pulse momentarily turns on the transistor switch connecting the anode to the lower voltage so that the potential is lowered thereby draining away energy and inhibiting further ionization.

Abstract: A trip system comprises groups of three switches, each group being responsive to a single trip initiating event and each switch switching a different phase of a three phase power supply. Three trip actuators are each connected between different pairs of switches. Malfunction of a single switch in any group will not cause a trip to occur while concurrent operation of two or more switches in any group will cause a trip.