Abstract: Vinyl aromatic (co) polymer reinforced with a rubber selected from a linear diene rubber (i) with a solution viscosity lower than 70 cPs; a partially radial diene rubber (ii), with a solution viscosity lower than 70 cPs; a three-chain diene rubber (iii) with a solution viscosity lower than 70 cPs; a blend of linear diene rubbers (i) and radial diene rubbers (iv) in a maximum ratio between them (i)/(iv) of between 99.5/0.5 and 85/15.

Abstract: Mixing device for two gases/vapours (hereinafter gases) comprising: a) a plurality of tubes arranged in a bundle (1), each provided, in its initial portion, with a plurality of side holes (5); b) a first feeding system of one of the two gases, comprising a first tubular body (6) situated on the inlet side of the tubes, and c) a second feeding system of the other gas comprising a second tubular body (7) that envelopes in a gas-proof way the tube bundle (1) and at least a portion of the first tubular body (6); characterized in that: d) the first feeding system of one of the gases comprises a plurality of fins (8), inside the first tubular body (6), which allow a uniform distribution of the feeding gas to the single tubes.

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: Nanocomposite compositions based on expandable thermoplastic polymers which comprise: a) a polymeric matrix produced by the polymerization of a base comprising one or more polymerizable monomers; b) 1-10% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer (a), of an expanding agent englobed in the polymeric matrix; c) 0.004-15% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer (a), of an athermanous filler comprising nano-scaled graphene plates with a thickness (orthogonal to the graphene sheet) not greater than 150 nm, an average dimension (length, width, or diameter) not greater than 10 micrometers and a surface area>50 m2/g.

Abstract: Expandable particle composite material suitable for the preparation of expanded materials having a density lower than 40 g/l and a content of closed cells of at least 60%, including heterophase cavities and/or heterophase domains, whose matrix is a synthetic thermoplastic resin having at least 60% by weight of a vinyl aromatic polymer and in which an expanding system is contained, together with a heterogeneously distributed graphite material, having a graphitization degree, calculated by means of the Maire and Mering formula, of at least 0.2.

Abstract: A process for obtaining an elastomer in solid phase from its polymer solution which comprises: (a) optionally pre-concentrating the polymer solution coming from the production system by a flash process; (b) subjecting the polymer solution to a concentrating stripping operation by water vapor in a mixing device comprising internal moveable mixing parts which transfer minimal mechanical energy to the solution in the form of friction heat; and (c) subjecting the concentrated polymer phase coming from (b) to devolatilization by mechanical energy and/or vapor flow to remove residual solvent.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of phenol by the hydrodeoxygenation of polyhydroxylated benzene derivatives or by the selective hydroxylation of benzene under depletive conditions, characterized in that the above-mentioned reactions are carried out in the presence of a catalyst based on multi component metal oxides comprising at least one metal selected from the groups VB, VIB, VIII, IB, IIB, IVA, VA.

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: Thermo-insulating expanded articles having a density ranging from 5 to 50 g/l, which can be obtained from particle compositions of expandable vinyl aromatic polymers comprising: a. 10-90% by weight of beads/granules of expandable vinyl aromatic polymer pigmented with an athermanous material comprising from 0.05 to 25% by weight of coke in particle form with an average particle diameter (size) ranging from 0.5 to 100 ?m; b. 90-10% by weight of beads/granules of essentially white expandable vinyl aromatic polymer.

Abstract: A catalytic composition is described for the transalkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons comprising a zeolite and an inorganic binder, characterized by an extra-zeolitic porosity, i.e. the porosity obtained by adding the mesoporosity and the macroporosity fractions present in the catalytic composition, higher than or equal to 0.7 cc/g, which is such as to consist for a fraction of at least 30% of pores having a diameter greater than 100 nanometers. These catalytic compositions have a crushing strength not lower than 1.7 kg/mm and an apparent density not higher than 0.5 g/cc. A process is also described for the transalkylation of polyalkylated aromatic hydrocarbons which uses these catalytic compositions.

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: A catalytic composition for the selective oligomerization of ethylene and a process for preparing light linear (?-olefins, especially 1-hexene and 1-octene, starting from ethylene, using this composition, said composition comprising the following components: (A) a compound of a transition metal M of Group 4 of the periodic table; (B) an organic compound containing the sulfonic group (>SO2) bonded to two carbon atoms; (C) a hydrocarbyl organometallic compound of a metal M? selected from elements of Groups 1, 2, 12, 13 or 14 of the periodic table; components (A), (B) and (C) being in such a quantity that the atomic ratios respectively of the metal M in (A), of the sulfur S in the sulfonic group of (B) and of the metal M? in (C), respect the following proportions: S/M=(from 0 to 20)/1 and M?/M=(from 2 to 2000)/1, on the condition that when the compound of the metal M in component (A) is not a sulfonic complex of M, the S/M ratio is greater than 0.5, preferably greater than 1.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of viscosity index improver (V.I.I.) additives of lubricating oils which comprises a mixing treatment under high shear conditions of a composition comprising: (i) one or more EP(D)M polymers (ii) one or more polyvinylarene/conjugated hydrogenated polydiene/polyvinylarene block copolymers; and (iii) lubricating oil, (ii) being present in a concentration of 1.5 to 20% by weight whereas (iii) is present in a concentration ranging from 1.5 to 45% by weight.

Abstract: A process is described for the purification of lanthanide carboxylates which comprises a step in which the hydrocarbon solution deriving from the synthesis of lanthanide carboxylate, containing said carboxylate and impurities of the corresponding carboxylic acid and/or water, is treated with an aqueous solution of a base in order to obtain a pH of the aqueous phase ranging from 9.0 to 12.2 and/or a step in which the hydrocarbon solution containing lanthanide carboxylate is treated with a solid selected from Na2SO4, MgSO4, Mg(ClO4)2, molecular sieves 3 ?, molecular sieves 4 ?, molecular sieves 5 ? and molecular sieves 13 X. Analytical methods are also described, which allow the purity of the lanthanide carboxylates to be non-destructively measured.

Abstract: Process for the catalytic hydrodealkylation alone of hydrocarbon compositions comprising C8-C13 alkylaromatic compounds mixed with C4-C10 aliphatic and cycloaliphatic products which, under the reaction conditions, undergo aromati-zation and subsequent hydrodealkylation, which comprises treating said hydrocarbon compositions in continuous and in the presence of hydrogen, with a catalyst consisting of a ZSM-5 zeolite, as such or in bound form, wherein the Si/Al molar ratio in the ZSM-5 ranges from 5 to 100, modified by means of the platinum-molybdenum couple, at a temperature ranging from 400 to 650° C., a pressure ranging from 2 to 4 MPa and H2/feedstock molar ratio ranging from 3 to 6. The presence of organic compounds containing heteroatoms such as sulphur, nitrogen or oxygen in the feedstock does not at all alter the performances of the catalyst according to the process object of the invention.

Abstract: A thermoinsulating expanded article with improved resistance to solar irradiation, which includes an expanded polymeric matrix, obtained by the expansion and sintering of beads or granules containing a vinyl aromatic (co)polymer, where the interior of the beads or granules contains a homogeneously dispersed filler containing at least one athermanous material selected from coke, graphite and carbon black and optionally contains an active inorganic additive within the wave-lengths ranging from 100 to 20,000 cm?1. The polymeric matrix contains a copolymer of styrene and at least one vinyl aromatic comonomer substituted in the ring or on the vinyl group, a mixture of polystyrene and up to 10% by weight, with respect to the mixture, of a thermoplastic polymer compatible with polystyrene and having a Tg>100° C., or both.

Abstract: Process for improving the insulating capacity of expanded vinyl aromatic which includes: 1) preparing beads of expandable vinyl aromatic polymers containing 1-10% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer, of an expanding agent englobed in the polymeric matrix, and 0.01-25% by weight, calculated with respect to the polymer, of an athermanous additive comprising carbon black homogeneously distributed in the polymeric matrix; 2) treating the surface of the beads, before deposition of the coating, with a liquid lubricating agent; and 3) thermally treating the beads with hot air at a temperature ranging from 30 to 60° C.

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: Granulator blades with a high wear resistance made of cold work tool steel, preferably with a high vanadium content and thermally treated after machining, at a temperature ranging from 500° C. to 700° C. The sharpening of the blades is effected by abrading the blades against the surface of the die plate, under suitable operating conditions.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of vinylaromatic (co)polymers grafted on an elastomer in a controlled way, comprising the dissolving of an elastomer, such as polibutadiene, in a mixture consisting of a monomer and of a solvent in the presence of a polymerization catalytic system, which comprises an initiator of free radicals and a stable initiator of free radicals. The mixture obtained in this way is heated to a temperature of about 100° C. to functionalize the rubber, then more monomer is added and the temperature is raised to start the polymerization reaction.