Abstract: A particulate polymeric blend for use in the formation of molded products formed in the absence of a compounding and/or extruding step prior to molding. A quantity of reactor flake is blended with at least one additive at a temperature below the melting temperature of the reactor flake to form a particulate polymeric blend. A wide variety of polymeric reactor flake can be used to produce molded products. Molded products produced using these particulate polymeric blends exhibit superior physical properties. Molding processes utilizing such particulate polymeric blends can avoid the use of expensive compounding and pelletizing steps which degrade the quality of the molded polymer.

Abstract: A particulate polymeric blend for use in the formation of molded products formed in the absence of a compounding and/or extruding step prior to molding. A quantity of reactor flake is blended with an effective amount of foaming agent and optional additives to form a particulate foamable polymeric blend at a temperature below the melting temperature of the reactor flake. A wide variety of polymeric reactor flake can be used to produce foamed products. Additionally, a plurality of particulate blends can be blended to provide multiple layer molded products such as foamed-skin products. Molded products produced using these particulate polymeric blends exhibit superior physical properties. Molding processes utilizing such particulate polymeric blends can avoid the use of expensive compounding and pelletizing steps which degrade the quality of the molded polymer.

Abstract: A new roofing composition provides for the application of an acrylic polymer to a hot or cold asphaltic layer. The acrylic polymer is provided with barrier characteristics that resist the movement of mobile phases into the shield layer. The barrier characteristics are provided by ensuring that the polymer include a minor (preferably less than 5%) amount of metal complexes. The polymer should be present in an amount sufficient to ensure that it can form a continuous film on application to the base asphaltic layer. Pigment volume concentration should not be present in an amount that would interfere with the barrier characteristics, with the pigment volume concentration being less than 35%.

Abstract: An improved mechanical donut and donut assembly in which donuts made of plastic materials are formed in segments that facilitate installation, removal and/or replacement for manufacture and maintenance. The donuts of the preferred embodiments are made of urethanes, especially polyurethane, while fastening members such as threaded bolts are made of nylon. The relative characteristics of the urethanes and nylon are such as to facilitate a self-tapping feature for the nylon bolt.

Abstract: An improved particulate handler that includes one or more elastic sheets that are particularly effective in facilitating the easy and complete removal of particulate from transporters or containers such as railroad cars, dump trucks, chutes and the like. The combination of the elastic sheets and supporting walls overcomes the problem with sticking of particulates to the interior surfaces and facilitates smooth and easy movement and/or removal under the influence of gravity and changes in tensile stresses and stretch that develop in the sheets during loading, unloading and conveying.

Abstract: Biphenylene end-capped low molecular weight thermally stable aromatic polymers and the process for their preparation. The invention is further directed to crosslinked biphenylene end-capped aromatic polymers and to the process for their preparation. The process for preparing the biphenylene end-capped low molecular weight thermally stable aromatic polymers comprises carrying out a misbalanced polymerization reaction of a suitable aromatic aminoketone compound and a suitable aromatic ketomethylene compound and thereafter adding a monofunctional biphenylene compound.

Abstract: Two new optically active pyrrolidinephosphine monomers prepared by the reaction of 2(S), 4(S)-4-diphenylphosphino-2-diphenylphosphinomethylpyrrolidine and 2(R), 4(R)-4-diphenylphosphino-2-diphenylphosphinomethylpyrrolidine with acryloyl-chloride to give N-acryloyl-2(S), 4(S)-4-diphenylphosphino-2-diphenylphosphinomethylpyrrolidine (1) and N-acryloyl-2(R), 4(R)-4-diphenylphosphino-2-diphenylphosphinomethylpyrrolidine (2). Copolymerization of 1 and 2 with hydrophilic comonomers and a divinyl monomer provided crosslinked insoluble polymers containing about 3-5% of 1 or 2 that would swell in polar solvents. Exchange of rhodium(I) onto the polymer gave catalysts which were active for the asymmetric hydrogenation of N-acyl-amino acids in high optical yields, the phosphine derived from the enantiomer of the naturally occurring 4-hydroxyproline giving S-amino acids.

Abstract: Conjugated diolefins (e.g., 1,3-butadiene) are carbonylated by the palladium-catalyzed addition of carbon monoxide and an alcohol of the formula ROH (e.g., benzyl alcohol) whereby polycarboxylic esters are formed in which the pair of double bonds of the conjugated diolefin has been transformed into a moiety having the formula: ##STR1## In the process, the olefin, carbon monoxide, and alcohol are reacted in the presence of a palladium(II) salt, a copper(II) salt, and a base, at certain concentrations and at a pressure and temperature sufficient to effect the carbonylation. The resulting unsaturated diester can be hydrolyzed and hydrogenated or vice versa to obtain the corresponding linear diacid (e.g., adipic acid).

Abstract: Compounds capable of functioning as membrane mobility agents in plant and animal cells are described. These compounds have a structure represented by the formula ##STR1## in which A represents a hydrophilic chain; Z represents either an ester linkage ##STR2## an amide linkage ##STR3## or an ether linkage (--O--); R.sub.1 represents either a straight-chain alkyl group or a straight-chain alkyl group interrupted by one or more cyclopropyl groups; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represent either hydrogen, lower alkyl, or a halogen group; and x represents an integer from 2 to 10.The membrane mobility agents of the invention promote the lateral mobility through cell membranes of molecules ranging in size from phospholipids to surface antigens. They represent a new class of biologically active molecules which may be used to alter the mobility of membrane components in animal and plant cells to alter such cells in their response to external stimuli.