Abstract: Semi-flexible, shock-absorbing polyurethane foams containing an amylaceous material, such as a cereal starch or flour, and having an open cell structure are prepared by co-reacting the amylaceous material and a polyether with an aromatic polyisocyanate having a functionality of about 2 to about 2.4. The foams are particularly useful in crash padding.

Abstract: An amylaceous material having alkaline viscosities in the range of 10 to 20 seconds using a 1.3 g sample and 15 to 20 seconds using a 5.2 g sample and having cold water solubles of between 50% and 98% is made by hydrolysis of starting material such as corn, flour, corn meal, corn grits, corn starch, sorghum flour, sorghum meal and sorghum grits at moistures between 5% and 12%, adjusting the pH of the hydrolyzed amylaceous material to between pH 3 and 6, gelatinizing the pH adjusted hydrolyzed amylaceous material, and removing water from the gelatinized product.

Abstract: Polyurethane foams are prepared by reacting an active hydrogen-containing organic compound with an organic polyisocyanate in the presence of a blowing agent and an amylaceous material which has been stabilized (a) by treating with a stabilizing agent containing an effective amount of an antioxidant capable of inhibiting the formation of oxidation products in the amylaceous material upon exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere or (b) by removing substantially all, or at least a major portion, of the oxidizable materials, particularly fatty acids or fats, from the amylaceous material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a resin-like material suitable for formed articles by cross-linking a saccharide-containing substance with glyoxal in water by controlling, by accelerating or retarding, the rate of the crosslinking reaction by the use of an alkali halide by dissolving or dispersing the alkali halide, saccharide-containing substance and glyoxal in water, causing the mixture to react by the application of heat, and removing moisture from the reacted mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a bonded particulate article by admixing particulate material with a binder system, the binder system being formed by admixing a polyol selected from the group comprising a saccharide, a saccharide polymer, and a glyco protein with glyoxal, with a solvent, and with an alkali halide; forming the admixture in a heated mold; removing the bonded article from the mold; and allowing it to cool.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a foundry core comprising mixing sand and a binder system containing a saccharide-containing material, glyoxal and an alkali halide.

Abstract: A high fiber-containing fraction from a cereal grain or oilseed is combined with other high fiber-containing fractions to provide 30-100% of an extender, with cereal flours or starches providing 0-70%, and the mixtures are used as amylaceous extenders which are particularly useful in producing adhesives for the bonding of wood such as veneers in the production of products such as plywood.

Abstract: Properly tempered sorghum or other cereal grain is continuously metered by an auger in an axial direction into the center of the interior of a rotor where it is acted on by a flared textured cone to cause discharge into an independently rotating spreader having vanes which assure uniform distribution of the grain along the entire length of the interior of the rotor. The interior of the peripheral wall of the rotor has circumferentially-spaced axially-extending elements which guide the grain toward axial slots in the peripheral wall and which lead to a peripheral space between the rotor and a perforated stator wall where the grain is acted on by axial bars to promote cleavage of the grain and perform concomitant decortication and degermination, converting the endosperm tissues into particles of a desirable size and shape, free from attached seedcoat and germ tissues so that said particles are thereafter readily separable by known milling methods.

Abstract: An inorganic alkali halide is employed in a binder system to catalyze the reaction between glyoxal and polyhydroxyl compounds while permitting a controlled reaction rate and control of properties. The binder system has shown good utility as a foundry core binder.

Abstract: A gelatinized amylaceous material, modified with a nitrogen containing compound such as urea, is combined with a synthetic resin, and the mixture is used as a binder which is particularly useful in producing compression molded particle board.