Abstract: Dispersions of colloidal siliceous particles, preferably silica, may be prepared in organic liquids by means of a synergistic mixture of dispersing agents comprising a phosphorus oxy-acid derivatives and a long-chain amine. Dispersions containing a high weight fraction of siliceous solids are possible having a lower viscosity than is normally achieved.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of a solid, especially a disperse dyestuff or a pigment, containing, as dispersing agent, a water-soluble, non-ionic polycyclic aromatic compound having a poly(lower alkylene-oxy)chain containing from 5 to 30 lower alkylene-oxy groups. Preferred dispersing agents contain about 10 ethylene-oxy groups in the chain. The dispersions of disperse dyestuffs are especially suitable for use in aqueous print pastes based on synthetic thickening agents and the pigment dispersions are suitable for use in emulsion paints.

Abstract: A new zeolite material designated Nu-3 having a molar composition expressed by the formula:0.5 to 1.5R.sub.2 O:Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 :at least 5XO.sub.2 :0 to 400H.sub.2 Owherein R is a monovalent cation or 1/n of a cation of valency n where n is a whole number of 2 or more, X is silicon and/or germanium, Y is one or more of aluminium, iron or gallium and H.sub.2 O is water of hydration additional to water notionally present when R is H, and having an X-ray diffraction pattern substantially as shown in Table 1, is prepared from a reaction mixture containing XO.sub.2 (preferably silica), Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 (preferably alumina) and an optionally substituted quinuclidinium ion.

Abstract: A process for the production of a porous diaphragm suitable for use in an electrolytic cell, particularly a chlor-alkali cell, characterized in that the process comprises irradiating a porous shaped article of an organic polymeric material, for example, a sheet of a fluoropolymer, with high energy radiation, the irradiation being effected in the presence of, or the irradiated shaped article being subsequently contacted with, a reactant selected from ammonia, carbon monoxide and phosgene, and the sheet preferably being subsequently contacted with an aqueous alkaline solution.

Abstract: A process for producing an oriented thermoplastics film, e.g. a polyethylene terephthalate film, having an anti-static layer in which the film is oriented by stretching in at least one direction, and preferably biaxially oriented by stretching in two mutually perpendicular directions, and a coating composition comprising (i) an acrylic or methacrylic copolymer, which is preferably cross-linkable and (ii) an aqueous solution of at least one partially neutralized acidic phosphate ester is applied before the commencement of or during the molecular orientation.

Abstract: In the manufacture of explosive fusecord stranded reinforcing wrapping material is helically spun around an encased fusecord core by advancing the fusecord core axially through at least one supply reel of wrapping material and training at least one strand of wrapping material from the reel around the fusecord core by means of a driven flyer rotating around the fusecord core. Strands of wrapping material may be trained from two or more supply reels preferably mounted in line co-axially with the path of the fusecord core. The method permits faster production than can be achieved by the conventional method wherein the wrapping material is applied from supply reels rotating orbitally around the path of the fusecord core.

Abstract: A transition metal composition has the formula:TiCl.sub.3 (AlR.sub.x X.sub.3-x).sub.n E.sub.a L.sub.bwhere E is an ether or thioether; L is a defined ester, an amine or a ketone; and a and b are each greater than 0.001 and not more than 0.50. The composition has a low surface area, typically less than 50 m.sup.2 /g. The composition can be prepared by reacting titanium tetrachloride with an organo-aluminium compound, optionally heating the reaction product, contacting the reaction product at an elevated temperature with at least one of E and L and washing the product subsequent to the treatment with E. In the composition, E is conveniently di-n-butyl ether or di-isoamyl ether and L can be tetramethylethylenediamine; ethyl benzoate; benzophenone; glycerol monostearate; glycerol triacetate; glycerol tripalmitate; glycerol trimethacrylate; pentaerythritol tetra-acrylate or ethyl phenyl acetate. The composition can be used as a component of a catalyst for the polymerization of olefine monomers such as propylene.

Abstract: Process for preparing a freeze-dried, potential liposome, mixture which comprises either (a) dissolving at least one liposome-forming amphipathic lipid, at least one biologically-active compound, and optionally one or more adjuvants, in a suitable solvent, and then freeze-drying the solution, or (b) preparing by any known method an aqueous liposome composition containing at least one biologically-active compound, and then freeze-drying the said aqueous liposome composition. Process for preparing an aqueous liposome composition which comprises dispersing said freeze-dried, potential liposome, mixture, obtained by procedure (a) or (b), in a suitable aqueous medium.

Abstract: Fast crystallizing polyester compositions obtained by reacting a polyester which is a block copolyester containing the repeating polymeric segments A and B wherein A is a polymeric segment of ethylene terephthalate units and B is a polymeric segment having a glass-transition temperature of less than 0.degree. C. and preferably less than -20.degree. C., the concentration of the segments of B being between 0.05 and 10 mole % preferably 0.1 to 5 mole % of the block copolyester, and an ionizable metal salt of an organic compound having at least one acidic proton using a concentration of ionizable metal salt which will convert at least 4% of the end groups of the polyester into carboxylate end groups but is insufficient to result in the melt degradation performance of the composition being substantially inferior to that of the polyester in the absence of the salt.

Abstract: An opaque or translucent molecularly oriented film made from a composition comprising at least one linear polyester (preferably polyethylene terephthalate) and 0.5-100% by weight based on polyester of at least one olefine polymer, wherein said composition contains at least one carboxylated polyolefine in an amount of 0.05-50% by weight based on olefine polymer. The composition used for the film is preferably formed by precompounding the olefine polymer and carboxylated olefine and then mixing with the polyester.

Abstract: In purifying a gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon stream by selectively hydrogenating more highly unsaturated hydrocarbon impurity contained therein, part of the starting stream is mixed with hydrogen in excess of the stoichiometric requirement to hydrogenate the impurity and passed over a first bed of hydrogenation catalyst, whereafter a second part of the starting stream is mixed with the hydrogen-containing product of the first catalyst and passed over a second bed of hydrogenation catalyst. Using such stepwise feed of hydrocarbon the hydrogen excess can be kept at a high enough level to limit or avoid deactivation of the catalyst, which is preferably supported palladium.

Abstract: A powder explosive composition comprising particulate inorganic oxidizing salt, finely divided metal sensitizer and, optionally additional fuel consisting of discrete granules containing oxidizing salt and sensitizing metal coated with a tough, cohesive, resilient gelled solution of the oxidizing salt, the amount of the coating being insufficient to form a continuous gelled phase. The composition is more water resistant, less dusty and less sensitive to friction and impact than the metal sensitized powder compositions of the prior art.

Abstract: Water-soluble crystalline material which has been comminuted in a saturated aqueous solution of the material in the presence of a water-soluble crystal-growth inhibitor having a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion in its molecular structure is mixed with a deflocculant which inhibits the interaction of the hydrophobic molecular portions whenever the comminuted solid is suspended in water. The viscosity of aqueous suspensions of comminuted solid is thereby stabilized.The invention is especially beneficial in the preparation of aqueous suspensions of finely comminuted ammonium nitrate for use in slurry blasting explosives.

Abstract: A process for producing methanol and ammonia by generating nitrogen-containing synthesis gas, reacting the carbon oxides and hydrogen incompletely to methanol and passing the unreacted gas to ammonia synthesis, is characterized by carrying out the methanol synthesis in a first, steam-free, stage and in a second stage in the presence of sufficient steam to convert to carbon dioxide substantially all the carbon monoxide not converted to methanol. Methanol can be taken from the systhesis stage as part of the product or can be recycled to that stage, thus limiting its methanol output.

Abstract: Laminated foamed plastics articles, especially polyurethane and polyisocyanurate rigid foam panels, are faced with a composite layer of vermiculite lamellae and metal foil, especially aluminum foil. The vermiculite lamellae are preferably size-graded to below 50 microns and form a coating on the metal foil which has a thickness preferably below 50 microns. The laminated articles have good fire resistance properties.

Abstract: The process comprises mixing chopped glass fibres with plastics-forming ingredients and moulding or forming the mixture to obtain reinforced plastics articles. The invention lies in the use of chopped glass fibres in filamentary form. Conveniently the glass fibres are first made into a slurry or paste, which forms the aspect of the invention, with a liquid compatible with the plastics-forming ingredients or with all or a part of one or more of the ingredients. The invention includes a novel form of chopped glass fibres formed from glass strand bound with a size containing as the main ingredient one component of a plastics-forming mixture or a derivative thereof. It also includes apparatus for mixing the glass fibre paste or slurry with plastics-forming ingredients by impingement mixing.The invention is of special use for reinforcing with glass fibres plastics articles, especially polyurethane plastics articles, formed by a Reaction Injection Moulding (RIM) process.

Abstract: Laminated foamed plastics articles, especially polyurethane and polyisocyanurate rigid foam panels, are faced with a fibrous composite material comprising fibres, especially glass fibres, and vermiculite lamellae. The vermiculite lamellae are preferably size-graded to eliminate larger lamellae. Preformed flexible layers of the fibrous composite material may be used to face rigid foam board in a continuous lamination process. The articles have good fire resistance properties.

Abstract: A cementitious composition comprising(a) at least one hydraulic cement,(b) water,(c) at least one polymeric water-soluble or water-dispersible additive which is capable of aiding in the processing of the composition, and(d) at least one particulate material insoluble in the composition and having an ultimate particle size of less than 0.1 micron,and a cement product produced therefrom.

Abstract: A coated film base suitable for coating with a light-sensitive photographic emulsion film comprises a self-supporting film of a synthetic linear polyester and a continuous subbing layer applied to at least one surface of said self-supporting film comprising a water-insoluble copolymer of (a) a comonomer selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or a derivative of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and (b) a copolymerizable sulphonated ethylenically unsaturated comonomer having the general structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the same or different and represent hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, nitrile, amide, amine, ketone, ether or vinyl;R.sub.

Abstract: The invention includes a sheet moulding machine and a roller for use with the machine. The roller is wave-shaped along its longitudinal axis and/or is cut with one or more longitudinal grooves. This roller is located in the sheet moulding machine together with an adjacent co-operating surface such as a flat-surfaced roller. The moulding composition is extruded between the rollers.