Abstract: Expandable vinyl aromatic polymers comprising: a matrix obtained by polymerizing 50-100% by weight of one or more vinyl aromatic monomers and 0-50% by weight of at least one co-polymerizable monomer; 1-10% by weight, calculated with respect to polymer (a), of an expanding agent embedded in the polymeric matrix; 0-25% by weight, calculated with respect to polymer (a), of a filler comprising carbon coke having an average diameter of between 0.5 and 100 ?m, with a surface area, measured according to ASTM D-3037/89, ranging from 5 to 200 m2/g; 0.05-10% by weight, calculated with respect to polymer (a), of expanded graphite in particle form, with a particle average diameter (size) ranging from 1 to 30 ?m, a surface area, measured according to ASTM D-3037/89, ranging from 5 to 500 m2/g and a density ranging from 1.5 to 5 g/cm3.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface-active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).

Abstract: The invention relates to a new process which allows the preparation of TS-1 zeolites in a pure phase and with a crystallinity higher than 95%, operating at reduced reaction volumes, and obtaining high productivities and extremely high crystallization yields. The particular crystalline form of the TS-1 zeolite thus prepared, is also described.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of beads of expandable vinyl aromatic polymers by means of polymerization in aqueous suspension, which comprises polymerizing at least one vinyl aromatic monomer in aqueous suspension in the presence of a peroxide initiator system, active at a temperature higher than 800 C, an expanding agent, and in the presence of: —an amide having the general formula R1CONHCH2—CH2NHCOR2 (I) a flame retardant system comprising a brominated additive with a bromine content higher than 30% by weight.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of vinyl aromatic (co) polymers grafted on an elastomer in a controlled manner, comprising: dissolving an elastomer functionalized with bromoalkanes and nitroxy radicals, soluble in non-polar solvents, in a liquid phase consisting of a mixture of vinyl aromatic monomer(s)/polymerization solvent; feeding at least one radical initiator to the mixture, containing the functionalized elastomer in solution, and polymerizing the mixture thus obtained at a temperature higher than or equal to 1200 C; recovering the vinyl aromatic (co) polymer obtained after devolatization; and recycling the solvent/monomer(s) mixture, coming from the devolatization, to step (a).

Abstract: Expandable granulates, having compositions based on vinyl-aromatic polymers, including: a) 65-99.8% by weight of a copolymer obtained by polymerizing 85-100% by weight of one or more vinyl-aromatic monomers and 0-15% by weight of an ?-alkylstyrene in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; b) 0.01-20% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer (a), of a carbon black having an average diameter ranging from 10 to 1000 nm and a surface area ranging from 5 to 200 m2/g; c) 0.01-5% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer (a), of c1) oxides and sulfates and lamellar dichalcogenides of metals; or c2) oxides and sulfates of metals, or c3) lamellar dichalcogenides of metals; or c4) oxides of metals; or c5) sulfates and lamellar dichalcogenides of metals; or c6) sulfates of metals; d) at least one of the following additives d1) and d2): d1) 0.01-5% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer (a), of graphite having an average diameter ranging from 0.5 to 50 ?m; d2) 0.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of diene polymers or vinylarene-diene statistical (random) copolymers which comprises the anionic (cp) polymerization, in hydrocarbon solvents, of at least one monomer of a conjugated diene, optionally in the presence of a vinyl aryl monomer, and using a compound belonging to the group of lithium alkyls as initiator, characterized in that the total lithium alkyl initiator is modified in situ by means of a reaction with a compound having general formula (I): Rm—(X—H)n (I) wherein R is a C2-C20 (cyclo) alkyl or C6-C20 aromatic radical, X is a heteroatom belonging to group VA or group VIA of the periodic system, n is an integer higher than or equal to 1, m is an integer>1 which depends on the valence of the heteroatom X.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of polybutadiene effected by the polymerization of butadiene in an aliphatic and/or cyclo-aliphatic solvent in the presence of a catalytic system prepared in situ which comprises: (i) a carboxylate of neodymium soluble in the process solvent containing a variable quantity of water, the H2O/Nd molar ratio ranging from 0.001/1 to 0.50/1; (ii) an alkyl compound of aluminum; (iii) an alkyl compound of aluminum in which at least one bond of Al consists of an Al—Cl bond; The total Al/Nd molar ratio ranging from 4/1 to 12/1, and the Cl/Nd molar ratio ranging from 2/1 to 6/1.

Abstract: A catalytic composition for transalkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons which contains a zeolite and an inorganic binder and has an extra-zeolitic porosity higher than or equal to 0.7 cc/g for a fraction of pores of which at least 30% have a diameter greater than 100 nanometers. A catalytic composition having a crushing strength not lower than 1.7 kg/mm and an apparent density not higher than 0.5 g/cc. A process for transalkylating polyalkylated aromatic hydrocarbons using a catalytic composition.

Abstract: A particulate polymeric composition capable of being processed to provide expanded articles having a density lower than or equal to 50 g/l and a closed cell content of at least 60% as specified by ASTM D-2856, wherein resulting particulates have a shape factor ranging from 0.6 to 0.99; and wherein the particulate polymeric composition is produced according to a process that prepares expandable granules based on thermoplastic polymers, through a granulation die.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of phenol and cyclohexanone which comprises: a. the synthesis of cyclohexylbenzene by the hydro-alkylation of benzene by contact with hydrogen or the alkylation of benzene with cyclohexene using Y zeolites; b. the selective aerobic oxidation of cyclohexylbenzene to the corresponding hydroperoxide catalyzed by N-hydroxy-derivatives in the presence of polar solvents; and c. the scission of the hydroperoxide of cyclohexylbenzene to phenol and cyclohexanone by homogeneous or heterogeneous acid catalysts; characterized in that the synthesis of cyclohexylbenzene takes place in the presence of a catalytic system comprising a Y zeolite and an inorganic ligand wherein the Y zeolite has a crystalline structure with openings consisting of 12 tetrahedra and the inorganic ligand is ?-alumina, and wherein said catalytic composition is characterized by a pore volume, obtained by adding the mesoporosity and macroporosity fractions, greater than or equal to 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the alkylation of benzene with isopropanol (IPA) as alkylating agent, or blends of isopropanol and propylene, which comprises effecting said reaction completely in gaseous phase and in the presence of a catalytic system containing a zeolite belonging to the MTW family.

Abstract: A process to activate a titanium silicalite catalyst for the oxidation of benzene to phenol is provided. The catalyst is activated in the reactor for the oxidation by feeding to a reactor containing the titanium silicalite catalyst, during a time of from 2 to 6 hours, at a temperature ranging from 20 to 120° C., an aqueous solution of ammonium acid fluoride in a concentration ranging from 0.1% to 1% by weight; and hydrogen peroxide in a concentration ranging from 3% to 10% by weight; feeding water to the reactor at the end of the reaction; and drying or calcining the catalyst contained in the reactor to obtain the activated catalyst. The catalyst is represented by the formula: xTiO2.(1?x)SiO2 wherein x is from 0.0001 to 0.04.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of hydroperoxides of alkylbenzenes characterized by the fact that the alkylbenzene reacts with oxygen in the presence of a catalytic system which includes an N-hydroxyimide or an N-hydroxysulfamide and a polar solvent.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface-active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).

Abstract: Process for the preparation of hydroperoxides of alkylbenzenes characterized by the fact that the alkylbenzene reacts with oxygen in the presence of a catalytic system consisting of an N-hydroxyimide associated with a peroxide activator having a peracid or dioxyrane structure, possibly generated in situ.

Abstract: Butadiene is anionically polymerized (or block copolimerized with styrene) in a low-boiling non-polar solvent in presence of rganolithiura compounds. At the end of the polymerization, the non-polar solvent is switched with styrene and the new solution is stored in tanks in relation to the type of polybutadiene (or its block copolymer with styrene) obtained. The polybutadiene solution (and/or its block copolymer with styrene) with the desired set of properties is then fed to a production plant of high impact vinyl aromatic (co)polymers.

Abstract: A raw elastomeric composition includes: (a1) from 30 to 90% by weight of a partially hydrogenated vinylarene-conjugated diene random elastomeric copolymer; (a2) from 10 to 70% by weight of one or more diene rubbers; (b) from 10 to 150 phr of silica; (c) from 0.1 to 20 phr of a coupling agent based on silane; (d) from 0.1 to 10 phr of a vulcanization agent; wherein the partially hydrogenated vinylarene-conjugated diene random copolymer has a structure which has nodes statistically distributed in the macromolecule, from which polymeric chains branch out, the bond between the nodes and the branches being a carbon-carbon bond.

Abstract: Process for the elimination of residual mercaptans from nitrile rubbers, comprising: a. adding a colloidal emulsion of sulfur to a nitrile latex emulsion (NBR rubber latex) containing free mercaptan and with a pH of between 7 and 14, at a temperature ranging from 30 to 120° C.; b. coagulating the nitrile latex c. washing with demineralized water and drying the NBR rubber recovered after coagulation.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of vinylaromatic (co)polymers grafted on an elastomer comprising a rigid matrix consisting of vinylaromatic polymers or copolymers and of an elastomeric phase dispersed in the matrix in form of particles with a strictly bimodal distribution which comprises the functionalization of a first elastomeric fraction by means of a catalytic system containing a stable free radical initiator and subsequently the polymerization of the thus obtained mixture also in presence of a second non functionalized elastomeric fraction.