Abstract: An aqueous emulsion of an alkyd resin which contains as an emulsifier at least one branched primary alcohol alkoxylate of the formula (I): [CH3.(CH2)n][CH3.(CH2)m].CH.[(CH2)p.O.(AO)q.H], where n and m are each independently from 1 to 13; and p is 1 or 2; such that n+m+p is from 5 to 15; AO is an alkylene oxide residue having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and q is from 5 to 50. The alkyd emulsion is particularly suitable for use as a waterborne paint or surface coating composition.

Abstract: A lubricant composition for metal forming and cutting has at least one compound of the formula (I): R1—(AO)n—OOC—(CH2)m—Ph—(R2)p where R1 is a C1 to C15 alkyl group AO is an alkyleneoxy group which may vary along the (poly) alkylenoxy chain; n is 0 or from 1 to 100; m is 0, 1 or 2; and Ph is a phenly group, which may be substituted with groups (R2)p; where each R2 is independently an alkyl, halogen, haloalky or alkoxy group; and p is 0 or from 1 to 3; The lubricant composition also includes at least one lubricant additive selected from the group consisting of an organic ester additive, a polyalkylene glycol additive, a sulphur-containing synthetic additive, a sulphur-containing oleochemical additive, a sulphonate, a phosphorus-containing additive and a chlorinated paraffin additive. Also described are a method of using the lubricant composition in metal forming and cutting applications and the use of the lubricant composition in metal forming and cutting applications.

Abstract: A process for producing an aqueous dispersion of a polymer in an aqueous medium having a viscosity below 10 Pa.s, in which the polymer is dispersed in an aqueous medium in an extruder at a temperature above 100° C., the pressure inside the extruder being maintained above atmospheric pressure so that the aqueous medium does not boil inside the extruder.

Abstract: Agrochemical suspension concentrates, particularly in aqueous or liquid oil based medium, comprise solid particles including one or more agrochemical active components; and a dispersing agent including a water soluble or dispersible styrene (meth)acrylic acid copolymer. In particular the styrene (meth)acrylic acid copolymer has a molar ratio of residues of (meth)acrylic acid monomer(s) to styrene monomer(s) from 20:1 to 1:5, particularly from 3:1 to 1:1. The formulation will usually also contain wetting agents; and/or adjuvants. The agochemical active can be plant growth regulators, herbicides, and/or pesticides, for example insecticides, fungicides, acaricides, nematocides, miticides, rodenticides, bactericides, molluscicides and bird repellants. The suspension formulations will typically be used diluted in water and sprayed onto plants or the soil surrounding the plants.

Abstract: An organometallic composition is described which comprises a complex of at least one orthoester of a metal having a formula M(ROAcAc)x(OR′)y in which M is selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium and hafnium; ROAcAc denotes an ester of an alochol ROH, in which R comprises an (optionally substituted) C1-30 cyclic, branched or linear, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkyl-aryl group or a mixture thereof, with acetoacetic acid; OR′ is the residue of an alcohol R′OH in which R′ comprises an (optionally substituted) C7-30 cyclic, branched or linear, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkyl-aryl group or a mixture thereof, and x and y are each in the range 1-3. The composition is useful as a curing agent for polyurethanes used in various applications.

Abstract: A thickened aqueous coating composition (preferably paints and the like or adhesives) containing a film-forming polymeric binder which produces dried coatings having less sensitivity to water by using a thickener which is autoxidizable. Preferred autoxidizable moieties are provided by long chain fatty acids of the type used in alkyd paints and association is the preferred thickener mechanism. The moieties may form part of a compound which can take part in a copolymerization to form a cellulose-free polymeric backbone for the thickener and if the compound is not very soluble in water, the copolymerization mixture is subjected to intensive agitation to form droplets of less than 500 nm number average diameter which compensates for the lack of solubility. The thickener may serve as a binder if sufficient amounts are used.

Abstract: A process for making poly(urethane-urea)/addition polymer composite particles which avoids the need to use a highly viscous solution of a prepolymer for the poly(urethane-urea). The process comprises dissolving diol and di-isocyanate in addition polymerisable monomers and allowing them to co-react but for only long enough to form a precursor for the prepolymer which is of a lower molecular weight than the prepolymer so that the precursor forms a solution of much lower viscosity. This lower viscosity solution is then dispersed in water to give droplets in which the co-reaction continues and completes the formation of the prepolymer whilst water diffuses into the droplets and causes chain extension to create the poly(urethane-urea) particles.

Abstract: A lubricant composition for use in a rotary vane compressor has a base oil component that comprises an alkylbenzene as a major component thereof and a polyol ester as a minor component thereof. In particular, the base oil component comprises at least 55% by weight of alkylbenzene and at most 45% by weight of a polyol ester, more preferably between 55% and 75% by weight of alkylbenzene and between 45% and 25% by weight of polyol ester and, especially, between 60% and 75% by weight of alkyl benzene and between 45% and 25% by weight of polyol ester.

Abstract: In a closed-loop biomass extraction apparatus (10), strategies for purifying HFC solvents used therein include: (i) contacting an adsorbent and a desiccant, e.g. in a container (26) with contaminated HFC solvent branched from the main flow loop; and, optionally, (ii) washing contaminated HFC solvent with water, e.g. in a vessel (34) to separate a co-solvent or entrainer, such as ethanol, thereform.

Abstract: A tinting machine system for tinting base paints (2) supplied in containers (1) which paints are suitable for use in coating compositions, which system has a) storage capacity (10) for colorant (11) b) accommodation for the container of base paint c) at least one colorant dispenser (8) and d) a collection of color recipes wherein the system also has e) weighing means (3) for weighing the container of tinted coating composition f) signalling means (4) for signalling the weight of a container of tinted coating composition from the weighing means to the processing means g) processing means (5) able to compare a correct weight stored in the collection of color recipes with a signalled weight and h) means for signalling if the weight of the container of tinted coating composition matches, alternatively fails to match, the corresponding weight stored in the collection of color recipes.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an approximate standard colour definition for a sample colour (2) without the need for standard conditions of illumination or observation. The method comprises using colour sensing equipment such as a digital camera (6) to sense under non-standard conditions both the sample colour and a plurality of reference colours (5) each being provided on a template (1) and each having a known standard colour definition. The sensing under non-standard conditions produces a non-standard colour definition both for the sample colour and for each of the reference colours.

Abstract: Polyacrylamide is made by inverse emulsion polymerisation using an oil phase including at least one ester based oil, particularly a vegetable oil, using a primary emulsification system including a polymeric carboxylic surfactant; a low HLB emulsifier; and an oil phase structurant, particularly an ester wax such as beeswax. The use of the combination emulsifier enables the use of vegetable oils especially rape seed (including canola) oil as the continuous in the polymerisation step.

Abstract: A dispersion comprises at least 30 per cent by weight of particles of a metal oxide having an average primary particle size of less than 200 nm dispersed in a siloxane fluid dispersing medium and a dispersing agent wherein said metal oxide particles are hydrophoobic, and the dispersing agent is polylkylene oxide/polyalkylsiloxane block copolymer comprising at least 30 per cent by weight of the copolymer of polyalkylsiloxane. The dispersion is particularly suitable for use as an ingredient in sunscreening cosmetics.

Abstract: Water dispersible solid granular agrochemical formulations, typically in the form of wettable powders, particularly having an average particle size from 5 to 50 &mgr;m, or water dispersible granules, particularly having an average particle size of from 200 &mgr;m to 5 mm, include one or more water dispersible agrochemical active components; and a dispersing agent including a water dispersible styrene (meth) acrylic copolymer. The copolymeric dispersing agent may include monomer residues which include strongly acidic, particularly sulphonic acid groups.

Abstract: Process for preparing a thermosetting coating composition comprising; (a) mixing (i) a cleavable carbonyl polymer having an activated carbonyl group adjacent to oxygen or nitrogen, in the backbone, and having a molecular weight greater than 5,000 (ii) a multifunctional compound having a molecular weight less than 5,000 having a functional group capable of reacting with the cleavable carbonyl polymer to cleave the polymer at the carbonyl group and bond with the cleaved polymer, the compound having a crosslinking group; (b) reacting the mixture in an extruder, at 50 to 350° C. for 15 to 600 seconds, to cleave the polymer, and react the cleaved polymer with the functional group on the multifunctional compound (c) quenching the reaction mixture cooling prior to equilibrium reaction, to produce a functionalized cleaved polymer having crosslinking groups derived from the multifunctional compound and capable of crosslinking by heat reaction outside the extruder.

Abstract: A block copolyester comprises a hard segment and a soft segment, wherein the melting point of the copolyester is greater than or equal to 200° C., and the glass transition temperature of the copolyester is less than or equal to −40° C. The hard segment is preferably polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, or polyethylene naphthalate. The soft segment is preferably formed from at least one dimer fatty acid and/or dimer fatty diol and/or equivalent thereof. The copolyester is especially suitable for use in automotive parts, particularly where thermal stability is required.

Abstract: A catalytic process and apparatus therefor for the manufacture of hydrogen cyanide. In the process an oxygen rich oxidant stream and at least one oxidant-free feed steam containing methane and ammonia are separately preheated and rapidly mixed to form a detonable mixed stream at a temperature which is at least 50° C. below the autoignition temperature of the mixed stream. The mixed stream is then conveyed to a catalyst capable of catalysing the formation of hydrogen cyanide at such a velocity that detonation is avoided. The process is more energy efficient and gives rise to an effluent stream containing more hydrogen than the conventional Andrussow process.

Abstract: A polymerisation process for the preparation of vinylic polymers from the corresponding vinylic monomers which process comprises the step of reacting a vinylic monomer in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a) a metal complex of general formula (I) where A is selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, titanium, zirconium, vanadium and the rare earth metals; L1, L2, L3 and L4 are ligands and b) a Lewis acid of general formula (II) wherein at least one of W, Y or Z is capable of forming a co-ordination bond with A and the others of W, Y and Z are bulky groups; D is selected from the group consisting of aluminium, magnesium, zinc and boron.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of particles of an addition polymer of ethylenically unsaturated monomers which dispersion also contains a stabilizing copolymer of a) weak acid containing species b) crosslinking species and optionally c) ethylenically singly unsaturated comonomers wherein the stabilizing copolymer contains at least 0.3% of crosslinking species.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly stable aqueous optionally structured water-resistant architectural coating composition (especially a paint) containing a film-forming binder polymer composed of a starch modified by the presence of carboxylic acid or inorganic carboxylate groups and bonded (probably grafted) to chains of copolymerized mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomers (e.g. “acrylic”, “vinyl” or “styrenic” copolymers) permitting a stable aqueous dispersion of the binder polymer to be made which retains good water-resistance in the dried paint. The modified starch allows paints to be made with less dependence on materials obtained from non-renewable resources whilst retaining a low water-sensitivity.