Abstract: Finely divided, electrically-conductive particles are penetrated into an annular region located at the periphery of the sheath component of a drawn melt-spun sheath/core bicomponent fibre. The electrically conductive particles are present in an amount sufficient to render the fibre with an electrical resistance of less than 5.times.10.sup.9 ohms/cm. The fibre exhibits durable anti-static properties.

Abstract: A transition metal composition is obtained by treating at least one particulate support material with at least one organomagnesium compound, at least one cleavage agent and at least one transition metal compound of Groups IVA, VA or VIA of the Periodic Table. The support material is typically a metal oxide, such as alumina or silica. The orgaomagnesium compound is typically a dialkyl magnesium compound such as dibutyl magnesium. The cleavage agent may be an amine, a thioalcohol, an ester, a carboxylic acid or particularly an alcohol such as n-butanol. The transition metal compound is added after the organomagnesium compound and the cleavage agent and is typically titanium tetrachloride. The product may be used as a catalyst component to polymerise an olefine monomer such as ethylene.

Abstract: A polymer composition in the form of a film which composition comprises a compatible blend of an alkylene oxide polymer such as polyethylene oxide and an aromatic polyethersulphone.

Abstract: Novel 1-heterocyclyloxy- or 1-aryloxy-3-amido-alkylamino-2-propanol derivatives, processes for their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and methods of using them in the treatment of heart diseases. The compounds possess .beta.-adrenergic blocking activity. Representative of the compounds disclosed is 1-(4-indolyloxy)-3-.beta.-isobutyramidoethylamino-2-propanol.

Abstract: Novel 3,4-disubstituted-N-acylanilines of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and ring A are defined in claim 1; wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen or alkyl of up to 4 carbon atoms, or is joined to R.sup.5 as stated below;wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, or has the formula --CX.sup.1 X.sup.2 X.sup.3 wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2 and X.sup.3, which may be the same or different, each is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine; wherein R.sup.5 is hydrogen, hydroxy or alkoxy or acyloxy each of up to 15 carbon atoms, or is joined to R.sup.3 to form an oxycarbonyl group such that together with the ##STR2## part of the molecule it forms an oxazolidinedione group; and wherein R.sup.6 is hydrogen or halogen. These compounds possess antiandrogenic activity and are useful for the treatment of androgen dependent or prostatic diseases. Representative of the compounds is 3,4-dichloro-N-(2-hydroxy-2-p-nitrophenylpropionyl)aniline.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a liquid diphenylmethane diisocyanate composition which comprises reacting one molar proportion of substantially pure 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, as hereinbefore defined, with from 0.01 to 0.8 molar proportions of a monoalkoxy polyalkylene glycol of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R.sup.1 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and n is an integer of from 2 to 58, the reaction being performed at a temperature of from 100.degree. to 250.degree. C. and in the presence of a catalyst for the NCO/OH reaction.The liquid diisocyanate compositions are useful in the manufacture of polyurethanes, especially elastomers and flexible foams.

Abstract: A melt-processable composition comprising at least one polymer capable of forming an anisotropic melt and at least one other melt-processable polymer characterized in that the temperature range over which the polymer can form an anisotropic melt overlaps the temperature range over which the melt-processable polymer may be melt processed. The melt viscosity of such compositions may be very much less than that of the melt-processable polymer in the absence of the anisotropic melt-forming polymer particularly at high shear rates, corresponding to those encountered during moulding and extrusion operations.

Abstract: A catalyst component is a transition metal composition which is obtained by reacting together an inert particulate material, an organic magnesium compound, a halogen-containing compound such as carbon tetrachloride silicon tetrachloride or boron trichloride and a specified transition metal compound such as VOCl.sub.3, bis(n-butoxy) titanium dichloride or zirconium tetrabenzyl. The catalyst component obtained can be used, together with an organic metal compound, to give an olefin polymerization catalyst. The catalyst can be used to effect the polymerization of olefin monomers, for example, the copolymerization of ethylene with an alpha-olefin monomer such as butene-1 in a fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: Compounds of formula I wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each selected from halomethyl and halo and R is nitro, cyano, lower alkoxycarbonyl, lower alkylcarbonyl, or di- or trifluoromethyl, and n has a value of zero to four, and compositions comprising them are useful as insecticides in agriculture, horticulture and other outlets. They may optionally be combined with other pesticides and/or synergists. The compounds may be prepared by conventional esterification processes from the corresponding acids and appropriately substituted benzyl alcohols or halides, some of which are novel.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry explosive blasting composition comprising an aqueous suspension of water-soluble crystalline oxidizing salt consisting predominantly of ammonium nitrate, which salt has been comminuted in a saturated aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble crystal-growth inhibiting surfactant having a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion in its molecule, in intimate admixture with liquid water-immiscible hydrocarbon fuel sensitizer. The surfactant maintains the oxidizer salt in a finely divided state and also ensures that the liquid hydrocarbon remains uniformly distributed throughout the explosive mass as a stable coating of droplets on the salt particles thereby enhancing the explosive sensitivity of the composition.

Abstract: A process of forming shaped articles comprising forming a free draining gel from a solution of a crystallizable, high molecular weight polymer under conditions which cause crystallization of the polymer and subjecting the gel to a non-random deformation process so that the associated solvent is expressed. Some residual solvent may be present and can assist in subsequent fabrication processes but the solvent may also be completely removed for such processes. The resulting products have good physical properties, particularly in modulus after uniaxial or biaxial drawing.

Abstract: A method of preparing a diphenyl ether compound of the formula (II) ##STR1## wherein X is F, Cl or Br; Z is hydrogen, halogen, NO.sub.2 of CN; and W is methyl, cyano, CH.sub.3 CO--, or a group --C--OR, wherein R is --OH; --OM wherein M is a cation; OR.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1 is an optionally substituted aliphatic radical; --NR.sup.2 R.sup.3 wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each hydrogen or an optionally substituted aliphatic radical; or --NHSO.sub.2 R.sup.4 wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which comprises reacting a 3-X-substituted-4,5-difluorobenzotrifluoride with a salt of a 3,4-W,Z-substituted phenol. The invention further comprises novel 3-X-4,5-difluorobenzotrifluorides for use in the process.

Abstract: A multiple-layer heat-sealable film comprising a polyolefin substrate layer having on at least one surface thereof a heat-sealable layer comprising a random copolymer of propylene with from greater than 4 to 10 wt% of ethylene, the copolymer having a degree of randomness of greater than 2.5.

Abstract: Chiral Schiff bases according to the general formula: ##STR1## and transition metal complexes thereof, wherein C.sup.* is an asymmetric carbon atom, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different are alkyl, aralkyl, aryl or alkaryl, R.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl, aralkyl, aryl or alkaryl, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen or lower alkyl or, where n is 1, may with the cyclic ring to which CR.sup.4 R.sup.

Abstract: Corrosion inhibitors for aqueous media comprise a triazole, an alkali metal borate, benzoate, and silicate and an alkali metal salt of a C.sub.7 to C.sub.13 dibasic acid. They may be used in antifreeze compositions for motor vehicles. Since neither nitrites and amines are required the danger of forming toxic nitrosamines by the reaction of these materials is overcome.

Abstract: A fast crystallizing polyester wherein the polyester has an intrinsic viscosity of greater than 0.3 and at least 90 mole % of the repeating units of the polyester are residues obtained from aromatic diacids or hydroxyacids and aliphatic diols characterized in that at least some of the acid end groups of the polyester have the formula --Y.sup.- M.sup.+ where M is an alkaline metal ion and Y is an anion selected from carboxylate, sulphinate, phosphinate, phosphate, sulphonate, phosphite and borate ions, which ionized end groups have been produced during polymerization of the polyester by either:(a) copolymerizing units derived from materials of formula X--R--Y.sup.- M.sup.+ wherein X is a group capable of being polymerized onto the polyester chain, R is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic group, or(b) polymerizing the polyester in the presence of an alkaline metal salt or corresponding base,the concentration of groups of formula Y.sup.- M.sup.

Abstract: A capsule of hardenable grouting adhesive material has a casing which, over a length of at least 1.0 times the diameter at a leading end of the casing, is sufficiently strong to prevent excessive distortion of the capsule when the capsule is projected into a drillhole at a velocity of 12 meters per second, and has at least one radially expansible portion extending over a length of at least 0.6 times the casing diameter which is expanded radially into engagement with the drillhole wall when the capsule is projected into the drillhole. The preferred capsule casing comprises a continuous tube of flexible material e.g. plastics material, partially reinforced by an adhered external layer of reinforcing material e.g. paper or plastics sheet.The invention facilitates loading of capsules into drillholes in mine roofs by projection from a remotely controlled pneumatic loading machine and prevents the loaded capsules falling out of the drillholes.

Abstract: A compound of formula: ##STR1## wherein one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents a group of formulaW--(CF.sub.2)m--where W represents an atom of hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine and m has the value one or two, and the other of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represents an atom of fluorine, chlorine or bromine, and Q represents an alkoxy group containing up to six carbon atoms, and W' and W" each represent fluorine, chlorine or bromine, provided that W' is bromine when R.sup.2 is bromine.

Abstract: A coated particulate filler having bound thereto a material comprising an acidic group reactive with the filler and a sulphur-containing group which is not reactive with the filler but which is decomposable to a sulphur-containing species which is capable of taking part in a sulphur-based curing reaction, a composition containing the filler and an organic polymeric material which contains ethylenic unsaturation and which is curable by reaction with sulphur, a process for producing the coated particulate filler, and a process for producing the composition.

Abstract: A process for the production of heterogeneous articles such as heterofilaments and fibres containing a plurality of solid phases, comprises supplying a thermoplastic first material in particulate solid form to a surface of rotation of a rotating body so that it travels across said surface towards a discharge zone due to forces generated by the rotation of the body, melting the thermoplastic first material as it travels across the surface, supplying a second solid material to the surface, discharging both materials together from the discharge zone by centrifugal forces, and solidifying the thermoplastic material to form the heterogeneous article. The second material is preferably also thermoplastic and further solids, especially reinforcing fibres, can also be incorporated likewise.