Abstract: A process of melt spinning a fibre-forming polymer particularly polyethylene terephthalate or poly-hexamethylene adipamide at a minimum wind up speed of 1000 meters per minute in which there is added to the fibre-forming polymer before spinning a small proportion of a polymer capable of forming an anisotropic melt in the temperature range at which the fibre-forming polymer may be melt spun whereby in the process there is suppression of wind up speed compared with the process carried out in the absence of the added polymer.

Abstract: A process of melt spinning polypropylene the improvement comprising adding to the polypropylene before it is melt spun, a small proportion of a polymer capable of forming an anisotropic melt in the temperature range at which the polypropylene may be melt spun and then melt spinning the polymers together at a wind up speed of less than 1000 meters per minute whereby in the process there is a suppression of wind up speed compared with the process carried out in the absence of the added polymer.

Abstract: A polymer-modified polyol comprises a dispersion in a first polyol which has a molecular weight of at least 1000, an average functionality of more than 2, and a Hydroxyl Number of less than 150, of the reaction product of a polyisocyanate and a second polyol which is either (a) a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of up to 600 or (b) a polyol, which is not a polyethylene glycol, and which has a molecular weight of less than 250 and is free from nitrogen atoms.A method of forming the polymer-modified polyol, its use in the manufacture of polyurethane products and the polyurethane products so obtained, are included.The dispersions are particularly useful for preparing highly resilient flexible foams.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R.sup.1, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen or alkyl; X, Y and Z are each independently hydrogen, chlorine or fluorine and A is chlorine or bromine, are prepared by reacting a tertiary alcohol of general formula: ##STR2## or a substituted alkene of general formula: ##STR3## with chlorine, bromine, hypochlorous acid or hypobromous acid in water at a pH not exceeding 7 and at a temperature from 10.degree. to 150.degree. C.The compounds are useful intermediates for fungicides.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical liposome compositions containing an anti-inflammatory steroid derivative bearing a lipophilic substituent, for example cortisol 21-hexadecanoate. Method of treatment of inflammation at a site involving an enclosed cavity, for example the treatment of rheumatic disease, comprising injecting a said pharmaceutical liposome composition into said cavity. Specified new steroid derivatives, for example fluocinolone acetamide 21-hexadecanoate.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring gaseous pollutants (e.g. on a chemical plant) produces two infra-red laser beams having different wavelengths (one corresponding to an absorption line of the gas to be monitored, the other being a reference) which are modulated with different frequencies or phases, and then combined into a single scanning beam. The scanning beam is continuously displaced angularly so as to scan the area to be monitored. A portion of the beam is returned to the apparatus by scattering or reflection, and is measured. By correlating this with the direction of the beam, a plan of the monitored area superimposed with a continuously updated indication of the amount of gas can be displayed e.g. on a VDU.

Abstract: The invention concerns di- and tri-esters derived from alkanoic, (cycloalkyl)alkanoic, benzoic or phenylalkanoic acids with N-(acylaminoalkyl)-dihydroxyphenylethanolamines, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; processes for their preparation and manufacture; and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The esters are useful for the topical treatment of an area of inflammation affecting the skin of a warm-blooded animal. Representative esters of the invention are 1-[3,4-bis(pivaloyloxy)phenyl]-2-[2-(2-phenylacetamido)ethylamino]-ethanol , 1-[3,4-bis(pivaloyloxy)phenyl]-2-[1,1-dimethyl-2-(2-phenoxyacetamido)-eth ylamino]-ethanol, and the hydrochlorides and hydrobromides thereof.

Abstract: A coverstock fabric comprising an area-bonded non-woven fabric containing a plurality of homofilament staple fibres and a plurality of heterofilament staple fibres, the fabric having a soak through less than 3.5 seconds, a re-wet moisture less than 0.2 grams and a K factor less than 0.6 and preferably less than 0.4.

Abstract: Separate electrical timing and load activation devices are provided for each of plural electrical loads and each device is connected to receive reference timing signals from a central unit. Each of the separate timing and load activation devices measures a reference time interval accurately defined by the reference timing signals and subsequently activates its associated electrical load after a respectively corresponding predetermined time delay which is determined as a function of the locally measured reference time interval.

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: An electrolytic cell of the filter press type comprising a monopolar cell unit having a plurality of substantially vertical alternating anodes and cathodes each anode being partitioned from the adjacent cathode or cathodes by a separator to form in the cell unit a plurality of anode and cathode compartments, the electrolytic cell comprising two or more such units mounted one above the other, the anodes of the cell unit at the top or bottom being attached to electrical conductors, the cathodes of the cell unit at the bottom or top being attached to electrical conductors, and the anodes and cathodes of adjacent cell units which are not attached to the said conductors being connected by means of a bipolar electrical connection or connections between the anodes of one cell unit and the cathodes of the adjacent cell unit positioned above or below the said cell unit.

Abstract: A process for producing a multi-layer coating upon a substrate surface, in which there is first applied to the surface a pigmented basecoat composition and then there is applied to the basecoat film a transparent topcoat composition; characterized in that the basecoat composition is based upon a dispersion in an aqueous medium of crosslinked polymer microparticles which have a diameter of 0.01-10 microns, are insoluble in the aqueous medium and are stable towards gross flocculation, the dispersion having a pseudoplastic or thixotropic character.

Abstract: Disperse monoazo dyestuffs from 2,3-, 3,4- or 2,5-dicyanoanilines as diazo components and N,N-dialk(en)yl-anilines having an acylamino or alkoxycarbonyl group in the 3-position as coupling components. The dyestuffs give red shades on synthetic textile materials.

Abstract: A holder for receiving a container which contains a liquid suitable for electrostatic spraying and which has a spray orifice comprises a body having a high voltage generator; a power source therefor; a field-intensifying electrode; electrical connections for connecting the electrode to an output terminal of the high voltage generator and for connecting the output terminal and the field-intensifying electrode to earth; a mounting device complementary to a mounting device on the container for locating the container on the holder with the spray orifice adjacent the electrode, the complementary mounting device having an electrical contact complementary to one on the container; and electrical connections for connecting the contact to the other output terminal of the high voltage generator.

Abstract: Monitoring the change of resistance of a test element by passing a current through the element in series with a standard element, comparing the voltage across the test element with a standard voltage to produce a signal dependent on the difference between the voltages, feeding said signal to a current modifier so as to vary the current to maintain the voltage across the test element constant, and monitoring the change in voltage across the standard element.

Abstract: Sheets or moulded bodies, for example particle board, are manufactured by hot pressing a lignocellulosic material in contact with an organic polyisocyanate and a wax release agent which is a vegetable wax, a modified vegetable oil, a microcrystalline wax or a mineral wax, said wax release agent having a melting point of at least 70.degree. C. Preferably the wax release agent is applied to the lignocellulosic material in the form of a dispersion in an aqueous emulsion of the polyisocyanate. The process facilitates the release of the sheets or moulded bodies from the caul plates or platens of the press.

Abstract: A rigid inorganic foam of cellular structure comprising one or more layer minerals, and a method for making inorganic foams comprising gasifying a suspension of one or more layer minerals in a liquid medium, shaping the gasified suspension, and removing the liquid medium from the shaped gasified suspension.

Abstract: A crosslinkable coating composition is described which is miscible in all proportions with water and consists of crosslinked water-insoluble polymer microparticles sterically stabilised in dispersion in a liquid blend of a water-soluble crosslinking agent and a water-soluble, non-volatile substance of molecular weight less than 1000 which can take part in the crosslinking reaction but does not dissolve or swell the polymer, the amounts of the crosslinking agent and of the water-soluble non-volatile substance being up to 30% and 40% respectively of the total weight of film-forming material.

Abstract: Articles are blow moulded from thermoplastic polymeric materials containing high proportions of fillers such as glass fibres. The method comprises extruding the filled polymeric material through a die having a mandrel for constraining the material into a tubular shape; coextruding between the die and the outer surface of the material, a liquid having a freezing temperature lower than that of the material; cooling the liquid and the outer surface of the material during their passage through the die to a temperature below the freezing temperature of the material but above the freezing temperature of the liquid while maintaining the inner surface of the material molten; squeezing the extrudate at suitable intervals to fuse the molten inner surface together and thereby seal discrete lengths; and inflating the sealed lengths to conform to a surrounding mould to produce laminar shapes which are then foamed-filled to give stiff panels.

Abstract: Sheets or moulded bodies, for example particle board, are manufactured by hot pressing a lignocellulosic material in contact with an organic polyisocyanate and a wax release agent which is a vegetable wax, a modified vegetable oil, a microcrystalline wax or a mineral wax, said wax release agent having a melting point of at least 70.degree. C. Preferably the wax release agent is applied to the lignocellulosic material in the form of a dispersion in an aqueous emulsion of the polyisocyanate. The process facilitates the release of the sheets or moulded bodies from the caul plates or platens of the press.