Abstract: A communication kit for organizing and encouraging postal communications between an adult (e.g., divorced parent) and a child includes a plurality of sets of stationery, each set tailored to a specific month of the year. Each set includes a calendar for the month, two letters, two small returnable post cards, two envelopes, one special project and two large post cards. During the first and third weeks of each month, the adult sends a letter and a small returnable post card to the child. During the first week, the child is also sent a calendar on which the adult has marked important days. During the third week, the child is also sent a special project which he or she may color, cut out, assemble, etc. During the second and fourth weeks of each month the adult sends large post cards to the child.

Abstract: In the fluidized bed chlorination of oxidic materials, for example minerals such as bauxite, tantalite, columbite, wolframite or scheelite, the separation of metal values giving vaporous chlorides at the reaction temperature is enhanced by maintaining a zone substantially free of chlorine in the fluidized bed, for example a zone at least 0.25 m in depth measured from the expanded bed surface. A high aspect ratio bed and counter current movement of the bed matter and the chlorine within the bed are preferably used.

Abstract: In the fluidized bed chlorination of materials containing, for example, magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron or chromium oxides which tend to accumulate as chlorides in the bed leading to bed agglomeration, the hot partially chlorinated bed is treated with oxygen containing gas to strip out such chlorides as such or to convert them to oxides after which the chlorination may be continued. The invention may be applied, for example, to the production of titanium tetrachloride from titanium dioxide slag or the production of chromium chloride, from a chromite beneficiate.

Abstract: In a process for the production of titanium dioxide by the vapour phase oxidation of titanium tetrachloride in which process entrained inert particulate material is passed through equipment used to reduce or prevent the deposition of solids thereon, the quantity of inert particulate material entrained may be affected by the varying back pressure normally obtaining in the equipment. The control of this quantity may be improved by reducing pressure differences (by means of conduit 39) between the inlet (40) and outlet (36) of a mechanical feeding device (29, 30) for the solids. This entails the transmission of the pressure (from the conduit 26) into the solids delivery system 25(17) and this may be alleviated, optionally, by maintaining a head of solids in the system and/or by using a system of pressurized hoppers. The invention enables the quantity of inert particulate material used to be reduced.

Abstract: Stable high concentration aqueous slurries of pigmentary metal oxide particles having a hydrous oxide surface-treatment comprising alumina, for example alumina surface-treated pigmentary titanium dioxide, may be formed by the use of a specified combination of anionic and amine dispersants and a milling in the presence of grinding elements, for example in a sand mill, to develop suitable viscosity and gloss characteristics. The slurries may show thixotropic properties and are suitable for incorporation in vinyl silk aqueous emulsion paints.

Abstract: The present invention provides the following:(a) An aluminophosphorus compound wherein the atomic ratio of P to Al exceeds 1:1 and having anion exchange properties.(b) A process for preparing such an aluminophosphorus compound comprising treating an aluminous compound, for example a zeolite, a clay, or alumina with a melt comprising a phosphate, for example ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate, and removing excess phosphate from the compound thereby formed.(c) A process for at least partially removing anions from an aqueous solution which comprises contacting the aqueous solution containing the anions with the aluminophosphorus compound.(d) A process for the chromatographic separation of two anions in aqueous solution wherein the chromatographic stationary phase comprises the aluminophosphorus compound.

Abstract: It has already been suggested that chronic exposure of humans to nitrous oxide is a potential health hazard. There is especial concern for those working in the vicinity of a patient to whom nitrous oxide is administered as an anaesthetic. The present invention provides a disposable surgical mask characterized in that a layer comprising particles of a molecular sieve based on silicon dioxide and having an affinity for nitrous oxide is disposed between adjacent layers of the mask. Wearing such a mask reduces personal exposure to nitrous oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides the following:(a) A fluoride-treated zeolite in which the number of equivalents of fluoride exceeds the sum of the numbers of equivalents of all cations except for hydrogen, aluminium and silicon cations in the zeolite.(b) A process for fluoride-treating a zeolite wherein the zeolite is treated with a concentrated aqueous solution of a salt of hydrofluoric acid.(c) A process for at least partially removing metal ions from an aqueous solution, which comprises contacting the aqueous solution, containing the metal ions, with the fluoride-treated zeolite specified in (a) above or produced as specified in (b) above.(d) A process for the chromatographic separation of two or more metal ions in aqueous solution wherein the chromatographic stationary phase comprises the fluoride-treated zeolite specified in (a) above or produced as specified in (b) above.

Abstract: Electrical insulation may be provided between two parts of a structure intended for exposure to high temperature radiation from a heat source, e.g. the interior wall of an electrical discharge furnace, by providing slot in the structure positioned so that the base of the slot cannot view the heat source directly. The slot may have flared lips, sides generally angled away from each other in the direction of increasing temperature, provision for a flow of gas in the same direction and provision for cooling the material bridging the base of the slot to a temperature at which it may be electrically insulating.

Abstract: Apparatus for target practice comprises a parallelpipedal body containing a motor, and a drive shaft emerging from the body and carrying a crank. Swingably mounted on the body is a shaft having cross arms thereon, one of which is connected by a link to the crank and the others of which can selectively receive a target for holding the target swingably or pivotally in positions spaced apart 90.degree.. A switch for controlling the motor coacts with the crank such that rotation of the crank is limited to 180.degree., which in turn rotates the arm bearing the target through 90.degree.. Depending on the position of the body and the selection of a socket for the target on the rotating arm, the target can be swung or pivoted, to and from any of a variety of positions of orientation.

Abstract: Fluid permeable wall members through which an auxiliary fluid is passed against pressure exerted by a fluid to be contained, which wall member is composed of inorganic fibres, may be used to contain hot fluids or fluids otherwise having a deleterious effect on the wall members. Vacuum formed shapes composed of refractory inorganic fibres may be used to contain fluids having temperatures of over 2500.degree. C. such as gases which have been heated by electrical discharge means for use in the vapor phase manufacture of oxides of titanium, iron, aluminium, silicon or zirconium and offer low capital costs combined with resistance to thermal shock.

Abstract: Material containing iron in combination with chromium, such as chromite ore or sand, may be upgraded by removing at least some iron by a fluidized bed process in which iron is chlorinated to ferrous chloride in the presence of carbon and the ferrous chloride vapor removed. Selectivity of the process in reducing or avoiding the chlorination of the chromiUm content of the ore and in reducing or avoiding the formation of ferric chloride, with resulting increased chlorine usage efficiency, may be achieved by control of process parameters such as bed depth, chlorine concentration, and temperature. The invention may be used to produce a suitable raw material for the production of ferrochrome, which generally requires a chromium to iron ratio of at least 3:1, from an initial material in which the said ratio is below 2:1, either by upgrading the bulk of the material to the desired level or a portion to above the required level and blending the product with untreated material.

Abstract: The present invention provides washing compositions in which all or part of the detergent builder salt is provided by a mixture of zeolites 13X and 4A. Preferably the weight ratio of 13X to 4A is in the range of 50:50 to 85:15 and especially from 65:35 to 85:15. Especially in the preferred ranges of weight ratios the mixtures are generally more effective at total hardness removal from the wash water than would be expected from the hardness removing capabilities of the zeolites 13X and 4A by themselves, leading to improved washing performance of the composition. In some particularly desirable embodiments part of the builder salt comprises STPP, and in others a minor part of the builder salt comprises a glassy phosphate, preferably together with an ethyleneamine (methylenephosphonic acid) complexing builder salt.The compositions of the present invention are suitable for cleaning, in particular, fabrics or hard surfaces.

Abstract: Metal may be recovered from metal chlorides, for example a mixed metal chloride residue from the fluidized bed chlorination of a titaniferous ore in the presence of carbon to produce titanium tetrachloride by heating, in the presence of a scavenging agent, which may comprise a combination of titanium dioxide and carbon inherently present in a residue from the aforesaid fluidized bed chlorination process, to at least 1500.degree. C. and preferably to a temperature at which iron present is liquid. If the temperature is maintained at below 2200.degree. C. iron, vanadium and niobium may be recovered preferentially to certain lower value metals which remain in the form of chlorides giving the possibility for the recovery of a high value mixed metal product. Titanium trichloride may be formed and this may be chlorinated to titanium tetrachloride thereby increasing the efficiency of the original chlorination process.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel ketone peroxides compositions containing them and processes for producing the peroxides and the compositions. The ketone peroxides are those with an alkoxy or hydroxy substituent in the .alpha.,.beta.- or .gamma.-position. The compositions contain (1) the peroxides and (2) water which may be in admixture with a hydrophobic or hydrophilic solvent or (3) a hydrophobic solvent. The peroxides are produced by reacting the .alpha.,.beta.- or .gamma.-alkoxy or hydroxy ketone with aqueous hydrogen peroxide and a source of hydrogen ions, for example a mineral acid.

Abstract: Inorganic oxides pigments, coated with alumina are treated with water soluble hydroxy acids or salts for example sodium citrate, and with water soluble di- or polyhydric alcohols, for example pentaerythritol, or with a water soluble reaction product of excess di- or polybasic organic hydroxy acids with di- or polyhydric alcohol. Titanium dioxide pigment so treated may be used in both emulsion paint and in organic based paint systems.

Abstract: A heating device for heating corrosive vapours includes a casing defining a vapour flow path having an inlet and an outlet. A tubular metallic electric resistance heating element is disposed in the flow path and arranged such that the vapours being heated successively pass in opposite directions along the interior and exterior of the element in flowing from the inlet to the outlet of the casing. To accomodate thermal expansion and contraction, one end of the element is connected to the casing by means of a flexible coupling there being provision to maintain at least a part of the flexible coupling immersed in a body of an electrically non-conductive liquid capable of shielding the coupling from the corrosive vapours during operation of the device. The non-conductive liquid may be maintained in the liquid state by circulation through a heat exchanger.

Abstract: Titanium disulphide particles comprising orthogonally intersecting plates, and having a relatively high surface area, e.g. above 4 m.sup.2 /g, in relation to its size, e.g. average largest diameter 2-16 microns, and a method for its preparation by the vapor phase reaction between titanium tetrachloride and hydrogen sulphide is provided. This material is susceptible to intercalation by, for example, lithium and may be used as an active cathodic material in electrochemical cells such as secondary batteries.

Abstract: Titanium disulphide having a stoichiometry very near to the theoretical value may be produced by reacting titanium tetrachloride and hydrogen sulphide in the vapor phase under controlled temperature conditions, the product particles being entrained in a gas stream and thereby removed from the reaction zone. The partial pressure of the reactants is preferably also controlled. Product particles substantially consisting of particles having diameters in the range 1 to 50 microns may be produced. The product may be used as a cathode material in batteries.

Abstract: A polymeric composition comprising main chains, side chains attached thereto and crosslinking units between side chains. The main chains comprise a copolymer of two or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers at least one of which contains hydroxyl groups, the side chains comprise lactone chains attached to said hydroxyl groups and the crosslinking units comprise amino resins. The copolymers may be prepared and subsequently modified or the side chain may be attached to an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and the modified copolymer prepared directly by polymerization with other unsaturated monomers. The modified copolymers are crosslinked and cured with an amino resin.