Abstract: Heat-sealable films are described which are constituted by a polyolefin film, particularly polypropylene, having on one surface thereof a layer of primer, applied in aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic solution, and chosen from: polyethylenimines, products of the condensation of urea or melamine with formaldehyde, particularly the etherified compounds; alkoxyalkyl melamine polyhydroxylates; or mixtures of the said compounds; and, on the other surface thereof, a layer of the said primer or one similar to the first, followed by a layer of vinyl, vinylidene or acrylic polymer or copolymer.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions of phenol and formaldehyde are stabilized with at least one carbohydrate such as saccharose, glucose, fructose, maltose, starch hydrolysates or molasses. The solutions are condensable and usable for preparing A-stage phenolic resin (resols).

Abstract: Polyformaldehyde is prepared by polymerizing anhydrous monomeric formaldehyde in an organic, liquid and inert diluent which is a non-solvent for polyformaldehyde, in the presence of a catalyst of the formula: ##STR1## wherein A.sup.(-) is a lactamate group: ##STR2## in which PM is a linear polymethylene chain with from 3 to 13 carbon atoms, possibly substituted with one or more alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or alkylaryl radicals, and wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 independently are an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or alkylaryl radical.

Abstract: An oxychlorination catalyst active in the production of dichloroethane from ethylene, hydrogen chloride and oxygen, consisting of copper chloride on a granular support consisting of alumina in the crystallographic form eta, having a total volume of pores of from 0.3 to 0.5 ml/g and a surface area of from 250 to 400 m.sup.2 /g with at least 90% of said volume attributable to pores with a radius of less than 40 A and at least 90% of said surface area attributable to pores with a radius of less than 30 A.

Abstract: Resinous substance suitable for use as film-forming component in anti-corrosive and can-coating paint and varnish compositions, which consists of the product obtained by reacting a normally solid polyepoxide with cashew nut oil in such amounts as to ensure equivalence between the phenolic hydroxyl groups of the cashew nut oil and the epoxy groups of the polyepoxide, and modifying the resulting reaction product with fatty acids having at least 8 carbon atoms per molecule, using a molar ratio of from 0.1:1 to 0.8:1 between said fatty acids and the cashew nut oil used in the reaction with the polyepoxide.

Abstract: The terminal hydroxyl groups of an acetal polymer are esterified or etherified by reaction with an end-capping agent chosen from anhydrides of carboxylic acids, orthoesters and orthocarbonates, by forming an intimate mixture of polymer in powder form and liquid end-capping agent, the amount of said agent in the mixture being less than that which results in loss of the free-flowing characteristics of the powder, and reacting said mixture under stirring at 50.degree.-170.degree. C.

Abstract: Flexible double-layer polypropylene laminate consisting essentially of a biaxially oriented film of isotactic polypropylene with an atactic polypropylene content of less than 6% by weight and an intrinsic viscosity of from 1.5 to 3 dl/g, adhesively bonded to a non-oriented film of isotactic polypropylene with an atactic polypropylene content of from 15 to 30% by weight, said polypropylene in said non-oriented film deriving directly from the polymerization of propylene and having an intrinsic viscosity of from 2 to 8 dl/g.

Abstract: Raw gaseous formaldehyde is purified by passing it through a first series of superimposed fluidized beds of solid adsorbent, maintained at 80.degree.-140.degree. C., while continuously circulating solid adsorbent from each bed to the underlying bed and discharging from the lowermost bed the spent adsorbent, delivering the latter to the uppermost bed of a second series of superimposed fluidized beds of solid adsorbent, passing through the latter a stream of inert gas to strip the adsorbed formaldehyde at 130.degree.-150.degree. C., while continuously circulating said spent adsorbent from each bed to the underlying bed and discharging from the lowermost bed the adsorbent thus treated, delivering the latter to the uppermost bed of a third series of fluidized beds of solid adsorbent, and passing through the latter a stream of inert gas to regenerate the adsorbent at 145.degree.-250.degree. C.

Abstract: A composition hardenable by means of ultra-violet radiations, which comprises (a) an unsaturated epoxy resin ester obtained by reacting an epoxy or epoxy novolak resin with an unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms per molecule and with acrylic and/or methacrylic acid, the fatty acid being used in an amount of 20-80 moles for each 100 moles of the sum of the acids, (b) a mono- or poly-functional unsaturated monomer and (c) a photo-sensitive substance. The composition comprises 3-97 parts by weight of component (a) and 1.2-3.5 parts by weight of component (c) for each 100 parts by weight of the sum of components (a) and (b).

Abstract: A granular thermosetting composition free from a tendency to release dust and transformable into molded articles free from surface defects, is obtained by forming the composition into granules of from 2 to 8 mm in size and mixing said granules with from 0.5 to 3 wt.% of one or more substances, in liquid form, chosen from acetone, phenol, aniline and reaction products of phenol with styrene.

Abstract: Process for the production of 2,2-(4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl) propane comprising reacting phenol with acetone in a molar ratio of at least 2:1 but not exceeding 10:1 in the presence of an acidic agent at a temperature not exceeding 80.degree. C. to substantially complete reaction of the acetone, separating the acidic agent from the reaction product, bringing the product freed from acidic agent into contact with a material chosen from between activated carbon and active earths at a temperature in the range of from about 60.degree. to 120.degree. C. for a time in the range of from about 1 to 120 minutes and distilling the product obtained in the treatment with the active material to recover the 2,2-(4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl-propane.

Abstract: The stability under storage of unsaturated polyester resin compositions is improved by adding from 20 to 300 ppm, with respect to the unsaturated polyester resin, of one or more stabilizers chosen from halides of alkaline earth metals and halides of metals of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Abstract: A microfibrous pulp suitable for use in the manufacture of synthetic paper is prepared by forming an aqueous emulsion of a solution in an organic solvent of olefinic homopolymers and copolymers and copolymers of at least one olefinic monomer with at least one further monomer copolymerizable therewith, heating the emulsion above the melting point of the polymers and spraying emulsion into a zone of expansion in which water and the organic solvent are evaporated. The hot emulsion is sprayed in the form of a tubular jet in the cavity of which a stream of inert gas is injected to spread the jet transversally in the zone of expansion.

Abstract: A flexible double-layer polypropylene laminate consisting of a bioriented film consisting essentially of isotactic polypropylene with an atactic polypropylene content of less than 6% by weight and an intrinsic viscosity (standard ASTM D 1601) of from 1.5 to 3.0 dl/g, adhesively bonded with a non-oriented film consisting essentially of a mixture of isotactic polypropylene and atactic polypropylene, the latter in an amount of from 15 to 30% by weight of the total weight of the said mixture, the isotactic polypropylene of said mixture having an intrinsic viscosity (standard ASTM D 1601) of from 1.0 to 1.5 dl/g and the atactic polypropylene of said mixture having a density (standard ASTM D 1505) of from 0.855 to 0.865 g/cm.sup.3 and a viscosity at 160.degree. C. of from 3,000 to 10,000 cps.

Abstract: Block copolymer of the structure A-B wherein:A is a polylactone block of recurring units: ##STR1## wherein PM is a linear polymethylene chain having from 2 to 13 carbon atoms,B is a polyoxymethylene block of recurring units --CH.sub.2 O--. The block copolymer contains at least 2 wt.% of block B and at least 0.1 wt.% of block A.The block copolymer can be used as modified polyacetal when rich in block B, or as special additive for plastics materials when rich in block A.

Abstract: A composition hardenable by means of organic peroxides, comprising an unsaturated epoxy resin and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with the latter, said monomer being present in the composition in an amount of from 0.4 to 2 parts by weight for each part by weight of said resin, and said resin being the reaction product of an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid or a monoester of an unsaturated bicarboxylic acid with the epoxidation product of epichlorohydrin and a novolak phenolic resin of the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein n has an average value of from 0.1 to 0.7.

Abstract: The thermal and chemical stability of etherified acetal homopolymers is improved by heat-treating the latter in the molten state at a temperature of at least 180.degree. C., in the presence of a halide of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, until substantially complete degradation of the unstable polyoxymethylene chains.

Abstract: A surface-activated polyolefin is coated by applying a solution in an organic solvent of a vinylidene copolymer material containing from 35 to 60 wt.% of vinylidene chloride, from 30 to 50 wt.% of alkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid, from 1 to 10 wt.% of acrylic and/or methacrylic acids and from 1 to 10 wt.% of hydroxyalkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid, a ratio of from 0.5:1 to 5:1 being maintained in the material between the number of carboxyl groups and the number of hydroxyl groups and said solution containing a latent catalyst for the cross-linking of said material, and heat-treating at 70.degree.-130.degree. C. said coated film to provoke said cross-linking.The coating shows an excellent adhesion to the film and improves the thermal weldability, impermeability and flexibility of the latter.

Abstract: A hardenable composition comprising an unsaturated epoxy ester resin and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with the latter, said monomer being present in the composition in an amount of from 0.4 to 2 parts by weight for each part by weight of said resin, and said resin being the reaction product of an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid or a monoester of an unsaturated bicarboxylic acid with the epoxidation product of epichlorohydrin and a novolak phenolic resin of the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the methylene bridges being bonded to the central phenol ring in the ortho- positions in relation to the hydroxyl group, and to the other phenol rings in the ortho- or para- positions in relation to the hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: A Novolak epoxy resin is prepared by adding an aqueous solution of alkali metal hydroxide to a solution of Novolak phenolic resin in epichlorohydrin, distilling off water during said addition in the form of an azeotrope with epichlorohydrin and recycling the latter, while maintaining the reaction medium at 60-80.degree. C and at a pH between 7 and 8 and a water content of from 0.5 to 2.5 wt.% in said medium.The thermosetting resin thus obtained can be used in applications requiring resins with low chlorine contents, low viscosity and high epoxy value.