Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of improving germination rates of plants or crops, and of preventing or arresting water evaporation loss from targeted soil areas by use of soil additives, which allow for improved water utilization by crops, plants, grasses, vegetation, etc.

Abstract: An additive for a bitumen or polymer modified bitumen product, which is prepared by mixing together a sulphur-based product, a vulcanized rubber, for example, a waste vulcanized rubber, preferably a fatty acid, and a bitumen, is described. The use of this additive for preparing, with very limited gaseous emissions, elastomer-containing bituminous product is also described. Such use may be especially suitable for making bituminous coated material including, for example, asphalt concrete.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing hypophosphite salt is provided, which comprises the following steps: a) washing the hypophosphite salt at least one time under a controlled pH value of 4-11, preferably 5-8, as the said hypophosphite salt in an aqueous solution and/or in a solid state; and b) drying the said hypophosphite salt under reduced pressure to remove the volatiles. The process can prevent or minimize the formation of a dangerous quantity of phosphine from hypophosphite salts, more particularly in the flame retardant of the application. The flame retardant polymer composition is also provided, which comprises a polymer and the hypophosphite salt stabilized by the above process.

Abstract: A cerium based particle composition comprises: 50-90% by weight of cerium oxide, and at least 10% by weight of lanthanum oxide. The method to prepare the particle composition comprises: one or more water soluble salts of transition metal elements and/or alkaline metal elements are mixed with CeLaCl3 solution; the mixed solution is precipitated with carbonate(s) and/or hydroxide(s) to obtain rare earth carbonate(s) doped by said one or more transition metal elements and/or alkaline metal elements; the carbonate(s) is calcined and crushed to obtain the said particle composition. The said composition can be mixed with water, optionally at the presence of additive(s), in order to obtain an abrasive for polishing glass for liquid crystal display and hard recording medium, particularly in the use of polishing glass substrate industry.

Abstract: In an elastomer composition, which preferably comprises an isoprene elastomer, use of an inorganic filler with a compound having the following formula (I), and which is optionally, in all or part, in a polymerized form: wherein R is R6 or OR8; wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6, independently from each other, are chosen from: hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and alkenyl groups; and wherein R7 and R8, independently from each other, are chosen from: hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl groups, and metals selected from the group consisting of Na, Li, and Ca.

Abstract: A flame retardant polymer composition is described. The composition can include at least one polymer and a hypophosphite salt, wherein the hypophosphite salt is heat stabilized so that when it is heated for 3 hours at 298° C. under a flow of argon flushing at rate 58 mL/min, it generates less than 0.5 mL of phosphine per gram of hypophosphite salt. The polymer can be an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin, a styrene-acrylonitrile resin, a mixture of high impact polystyrene and polyphenylene oxides, a styrene-butadiene rubber, a polylactic acid or a polyvinyl chloride.

Abstract: A flame retardant polymer composition is described. The composition includes at least one polymer and a hypophosphite salt, wherein the hypophosphite salt is heat stabilized so that when it is heated for 3 hours at 298° C. under a flow of argon flushing at rate 58 mL/min, it generates less than 0.5 mL of phosphine per gram of hypophosphite salt. The flame retardant polymer composition can also include at least one additive that improves the flame retardant properties of the composition.

Abstract: The use of a heat stabilized calcium hypophosphite as a filler to increase the mechanical properties of a polyamide composition is described. The composition can also involve reinforcing and/or bulking filler and/or impact modifier agents. Using such a filler one can obtain a polyamide composition having very good mechanical performance with the calcium hypophosphite having a low degree of phoshpine generation.

Abstract: An additive for a bitumen or polymer modified bitumen product, which is prepared by mixing together a sulphur-based product, a vulcanized rubber, for example, a waste vulcanized rubber, preferably a fatty acid, and a bitumen, is described. The use of this additive for preparing, with very limited gaseous emissions, elastomer-containing bituminous product is also described. Such use may be especially suitable for making bituminous coated material including, for example, asphalt concrete.

Abstract: A composition for solubilizing a fluoropolymer is described. Further described, is how the fluoropolymer composition is obtained, as well as the process for its preparation and its use as a coating applicant. The composition can include a solubilized fluoropolymer and a solvent blend of a diester and dimethylsulfoxyde.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of improving germination rates of plants or crops, and of preventing or arresting water evaporation loss from targeted soil areas by use of soil additives, which allow for improved water utilization by crops, plants, grasses, vegetation, etc.

Abstract: A method for coating a metallic or inorganic substrate is described, such as metal or glass supports, with an organic layer comprising conjugated diene phosphinate or phosphonate compounds.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 5-halophenol, ortho-substituted by an electron-donating group, is described. Also described, is a process for preparing a sulphonic ester of an ortho-substituted phenol, which is the synthesis intermediate for the ortho-substituted 5-halophenol. The process for preparing a phenol ortho-substituted by an electron-donating group and protected in the form of a sulphonic ester can include reacting a phenol ortho-substituted by an electron-donating group with a sulphonylating agent in the presence of a Lewis acid. The process for preparing a 5-halophenol ortho-substituted by an electron-donating group can include a first step of preparing a phenol ortho-substituted by an electron-donating group and protected in the form of a sulphonic ester, as described above; a second step of halogenating the protected phenol intermediate obtained in the preceding step, in the position para to the electron-donating group; and a third step of deprotecting the sulphonic ester function to hydroxyl.

Abstract: A polyester soil-release polymer (a) and a cosurfactant (b) are used in a laundry composition to improve primary detergency, secondary detergency, and/or soil anti-redeposition and/or to allow a reduction of the amount of surfactant(s) and/or builder(s). Also disclosed is a performance additive comprising at least 20% by weight as actives, of a mixture of (a), (b) and optionally water or other products, in an amount by weight if present of lower than 80%, and the performance additive is mixed with other ingredients to make a laundry composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to conjugated diene phosphinate compounds for making halogen free phosphinate-containing flame retardants, inimer and metal extractants, method for preparing said compounds from unsaturated ketones or aldehydes, and the 5 use thereof. The compounds of the present invention having the following formula (III), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 represent, independently, hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, or alkenyl groups; R7 represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl groups, or metals selected from the group consisting of Na, Li, Ca.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing hypophosphite salt is provided, which comprises the following steps: a) washing the hypophosphite salt at least one time under a controlled pH value of 4-11, preferably 5-8, as the said hypophosphite salt in an aqueous solution and/or in a solid state; and b) drying the said hypophosphite salt under reduced pressure to remove the volatiles. The process can prevent or minimize the formation of a dangerous quantity of phosphine from hypophosphite salts, more particularly in the flame retardant of the application. The flame retardant polymer composition is also provided, which comprises a polymer and the hypophosphite salt stabilized by the above process.

Abstract: It is provided a method for preparing conjugated diene phosphonate compounds with high reactivity, which can be used to prepare a variety of phosphonate-bearing conjugated dienes. Some of those dienes will become reactive monomers to make polymers and co-polymers.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a process for stabilizing a hypophosphite salt, comprising the step of heating the hypophosphite salt at a temperature of between 150 and 370° C. during a sufficient period of time to prevent the formation of a dangerous quantity of phosphine in their application as FR in polymers and a flame retardant polymer composition comprising a polymer and 0.1 to 30 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of the hypophosphite salt thermally stabilized by the above process.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for producing a polyether-polyester block copolymer with a di(C 1-C 4)alkyl ester of aromatic dicarboxylic acid, an aliphatic diol or aliphatic polyol and a polyether having at least one terminal hydroxyl group in an inert solvent. In the present invention, the inert solvent 5 is used to prevent the di(C 1-C 4)alkyl ester of aromatic dicarboxylic acid from sublimation instead of excessive polyol, such that the subsequent removal of excessive polyol under high temperature and high vacuum is avoided.

Abstract: A cerium based particle composition comprises: 50-90% by weight of cerium oxide, and at least 10% by weight of lanthanum oxide. The method to prepare the particle composition comprises: one or more water soluble salts of transition metal elements and/or alkaline metal elements are mixed with CeLaCl3 solution; the mixed solution is precipitated with carbonate(s) and/or hydroxide(s) to obtain rare earth carbonate(s) doped by said one or more transition metal elements and/or alkaline metal elements; the carbonate(s) is calcined and crushed to obtain the said particle composition. The said composition can be mixed with water, optionally at the presence of additive(s), in order to obtain an abrasive for polishing glass for liquid crystal display and hard recording medium, particularly in the use of polishing glass substrate industry.