Abstract: In a process for fabricating a multilayer printed circuit board with permanent innerlayers of photoresist, the photo-imageable composition used to form the hard permanent layer comprises a polymerizable acrylate monomer; an oligomer formed by the reaction of an epoxy resin and an acrylic or methacrylic acid; a photosensitive, free radical generating initiator for polymerization of the acrylic monomer and oligomer; a curable epoxy resin; a curing agent for the epoxy resin; and, optionally, a crosslinking agent reactive with hydroxyl groups. After exposure and development of a layer of the photoimageable composition and etching of the underlying metal layer on a board, the resultant photoresist is left on the circuitry traces. The innerlayers of photoresist are stacked in a press where it initially conforms under heat and pressure to fill voids between the innerlayers and then cures to permanence.

Abstract: A composition for reducing a copper oxide layer to metallic copper so as to facilitate bonding a resin to the metallic copper is disclosed. The composition is an aqueous reducing solution containing a cyclic borane compound. Examples of such cyclic borane compounds include those having nitrogen or sulfur as a ring-forming member, such as morpholine borane, piperidine borane, pyridine borane, piperazine borane, 2,6-Iutidine borane, 4-methylmorpholine borane, and 1,4-oxathiane borane, and also N,N-diethylaniline borane.

Abstract: A stabilized, concentrated solution of a diazo dye is prepared by coupling diazotized aniline or substituted aniline with a dialkylaniline in the presence of an aromatic solvent. After removal of the aqueous phase, the solution is stabilized by the addition of a branched chain, primary or secondary, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkyl phenol.

Abstract: A stabilized aqueous solution of a diazo compound has the formula: ##STR1## where X.sup.1 is selected from nitro and chloro, X.sup.2 is selected from nitro, chloro and hydrogen, and Y is an acid-derived anion. The solution has a pH of about 1.5 or below and a diazo concentration of about 2 wt % or less. The solution is useful as an extractant/developer for petroleum fuel markers.

Abstract: Wood is electrostatically coated with a thermosetting powder coating system in which a mixture of a self-curing epoxy resin and a catalyst therefore is extruded and a low temperature curing agent are both pulverized and the powders are blended with conventional additives to make a coating powder which is deposited on a wooden substrate and heated to cure. The mixture of resin and catalyst does not cure within the extruder but it is made to cure at low temperatures by the separate addition of the curing agent. A small amount of the low temperature curing agent, insufficient to cause substantial curing during extrusion may be used in place of the catalyst.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus combinations and methods for producing a coating powder are provided wherein a stream of a powder coating precursor including at least one resin and at least one additional powder coating ingredient is contacted with a process fluid effective to reduce the viscosity of the powder coating precursor to allow processing of the powder coating precursor at a lower temperature.

Abstract: An alkaline aqueous developing solution for developing photoresists or the like contains, as an anti-scum agent, an ethoxylated surfactant having the general formula:R--[O--(CH.sub.2 --Ch.sub.2 --O).sub.n ].sub.m --X (I)where R is a hydrophobic group, X is H or an anionic group, m is from 1 to 3, and n is at least about 15, preferably at least about 20, more preferably at least about 30.

Abstract: A negative-acting photoimageable composition useful as a primary imaging resist in the manufacture of printed circuit boards comprises an acid-functional binder polymer, a photopolymerizable component, and a photoinitiator chemical system, in which the binder polymer has an anhydride functional backbone half-esterified with a meth(acrylate) functional hydroxy-terminated oligomer, wherein the meth(acrylate) functionality is separated from the half-ester linkage by at least two alkoxylate groups and at least one ring opened lactone group for improved stripping ability in strong alkaline aqueous stripping solutions, while maintaining good chemical resistance to other processing chemicals, such as alkaline developing solutions, acid etching solutions, and acid plating baths.

Abstract: Low temperature curable unsaturated polyester powder coatings suited for heat sensitive substrates with improved surface cure through incorporation of active hydrogen groups into the unsaturated polyester molecule. The unsaturated polyesters containing active hydrogens are derived from ethylenically unsaturated polyfunctional carboxylic acids and active hydrogen containing polyols. Full cure on the surface is obtained without the need for polyethylene waxes or oxygen-reactive curative resins that are commonly employed in order to prevent atmospheric oxygen from inhibiting the free-radical induced cure at the surface of the coating.

Abstract: A negative-acting photoimageable composition useful as a primary imaging resist in the manufacture of printed circuit boards comprises an acid-functional binder polymer, a photopolymerizable component, and a photoinitiator chemical system, in which the binder polymer has an anhydride functional backbone half-esterified with a meth(acrylate) functional hydroxy-terminated oligomer, wherein the meth(acrylate) functionality is separated from the half-ester linkage by at least two alkoxylate groups and at least one ring opened lactone group for improved stripping ability in strong alkaline aqueous stripping solutions, while maintaining good chemical resistance to other processing chemicals, such as alkaline developing solutions, acid etching solutions, and acid plating baths.

Abstract: A coating powder for producing a high temperature resistant coating has a resin system which comprises (A) between about 50 and about 93 wt % based on total of (A) plus (B) of a silicone resin and (B) between about 7 and about 50 wt % based on total weight of (A) plus (B) of a polyhydroxyl component. The silicone resin (A) of the coating powder has organic substitutents selected from the group consisting of phenyl, methyl, C.sub.2 through C.sub.6 alkyl and mixtures thereof. The silicone resin has a viscosity of between about 500 and about 10,000 cps at 150.degree. C., a condensable hydroxyl content of between about 2 and about 4.5 wt %, and a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of about 55.degree. C. or above. The silicone resin preferably contains about 0.2% or less of organic solvents.

Abstract: Solid vinyl ether terminated curing agents for powder coatings can be prepared by reacting an aliphatic diisocyanate with a polyol and then with a hydroxy vinyl ether, or by reacting an aliphatic polyisocyanate with a hydroxy vinyl ether. Powder coatings based on the so prepared curing agents are extremely useful for coating heat sensitive substrates by exposure to ultraviolet light, heat, or both.

Abstract: Coating powder compositions comprise A) between about 60 and about 90 wt %, relative to total weight of A) plus B) plus C), of an acrylic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of between about 1000 and about 30,000, a carboxylic acid equivalent weight of from about 300 to about 1000 and a glass transition temperature of about 45.degree. C. or above and B) between about 5 and about 30 wt %, relative to total weight of A) plus B) plus C) of an adduct prepared from i) between about 20 and about 50 wt %, relative to total weight of i) plus ii), of a curing agent reactive with carboxylic acid groups and ii) between about 50 and about 80 wt %, relative to total weight of i) plus ii), of a polyester resin formed primarily from linear aliphatic diols and dicarboxylic acids, the polyester having functional groups reactive with said curing agent i), and C) between about 2 and about 30 wt % relative to the total weight of A) plus B) plus C) of a curing agent reactive with carboxylic acid groups.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin containing a flame-retarding magnesium hydroxide has its workability enhanced by a sorbitan ester in admixture with the resin and flame retardant. An admixture of the resin, magnesium hydroxide, and ester may be either a mixture of discrete particles of each of said components of the composition or a mixture of the resin and a magnesium hydroxide powder whose particles have a coating of the ester.

Abstract: Coating powder compositions comprise A) between about 60 and about 90 wt %, relative to total weight of A) plus B) plus C), of an acrylic polymer having a weight average molecular weight of between about 1000 and about 30,000, a carboxylic acid equivalent weight of from about 300 to about 1000 and a glass transition temperature of about 45.degree. C. or above and B) between about 5 and about 30 wt %, relative to total weight of A) plus B) plus C) of an adduct prepared from i) between about 20 and about 50 wt %, relative to total weight of i) plus ii), of a curing agent reactive with carboxylic acid groups and ii) between about 50 and about 80 wt %, relative to total weight of i) plus ii), of a polyester resin formed primarily from linear aliphatic diols and dicarboxylic acids, the polyester having functional groups reactive with said curing agent i), and C) between about 2 and about 30 wt % relative to the total weight of A) plus B) plus C) of a curing agent reactive with carboxylic acid groups.

Abstract: Opaquely pigmented or thick filmed powder coatings for heat sensitive substrates, such as wood, wood composites, for example, medium density fiber board, and plastics, that can be fully cured, especially near the substrate, through the incorporation of a dual cure system in the powder comprising a thermal initiator, such as a peroxide, along with a UV initiator. The UV initiator cures the surface, while the thermal initiator cures at the substrate. Surprisingly, virtually no pregelation occurs during the heated melt and flow out step prior to UV curing. Consequently, the hardened film finish formed on the surface exhibits exceptional smoothness which is comparable to that of traditional UV curable powders. The hardened film finish is also fully cured throughout and exhibits exceptional adhesion to the substrate which cannot be achieved with traditional UV curable powders that have been pigmented.

Abstract: Low gloss appearance in a coating derived from UV curable powder coatings can be achieved by using UV curable powder containing crystalline resins or blends of crystalline and amorphous resins and after heat fusing the powders together, allowing the crystalline resins in the coating to cool and recrystallize to a low gloss finish before curing with UV radiation.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin containing a flame-retarding magnesium hydroxide has its workability enhanced by a sorbitan ester in admixture with the resin and flame retardant. An admixture of the resin, magnesium hydroxide, and ester may be either a mixture of discrete particles of each of said components of the composition or a mixture of the resin and a magnesium hydroxide powder whose particles have a coating of the ester.

Abstract: This invention provides a UV curable powder coating composition comprising a particulate blend of a non-crystalline unsaturated polyester base resin, a crystalline unsaturated crosslinker resin co-polymerizable with the base resin, and a photoinitiator, that exhibits reduced or eliminated hazing in the cured coating formed therefrom upon being cured at low temperatures demanded by certain heat sensitive substrates. This is accomplished by incorporating in the powder composition a recrystallization inhibitor which is comprised of a crystalline epoxy resin. When this powder blend is melted for curing, all of the crystalline resin species tend to separate and recrystallize out of the molten powder slower and less completely than they do in the absence of the recrystallization inhibitor. This prevents a visible haze from quickly developing on the surface of the molten coating before the coating can be cured with UV radiation.

Abstract: An efficient and economical process for the waste treatment of spent metal plating solutions, primarily spent electroless nickel solutions, to significantly reduce the metal content therein, so as to permit direct discharge to municipal water systems without violation of the law. The waste treatment process is a sequential two-step chemical precipitation process, whereby the dissolved metal content is precipitated first by sodium borohydride reduction, followed by sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate precipitation, with an intermediate filtration step and pH adjustment step interposed there between. The amount of metal-bearing sludge produced is minimal. Furthermore, the bulk of the metals in the sludge may be recovered and reused, resulting in significant reduction in hazardous waste disposal costs.