Abstract: A process and catalyst for the partial oxidation of paraffinic hydrocarbons, such as ethane, propane, naphtha, and natural gas condensates, to olefins, such as ethylene and propylene. The process involves contacting a paraffinic hydrocarbon with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst under autothermal process conditions. The catalyst comprises a Group 8B metal and, optionally, a promoter metal, such as tin or copper, supported on a fiber monolith support, preferably a ceramic fiber mat monolith. In another aspect, the invention is a process of oxidizing a paraffinic hydrocarbon to an olefin under autothermal conditions in the presence of a catalyst comprising a Group 8B metal and, optionally, a promoter metal, the metals being loaded onto the front face of a monolith support. An on-line method of synthesizing and regenerating catalysts for autothermal oxidation processes is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for preparing a starch-based thermoplastic hydroxy-functionalized polyetheramine comprising continuously feeding from about 40 to about 98 weight percent starch and from about 2 to about 60 weight percent of a thermoplastic hydroxy-functionalized polyetheramine into a mixing screw extruder at a temperature of from about 30° C. to about 120° C. while maintaining a water content in the extruder of from about 7 to about 50 percent, continuously removing the compounded mixture from the extruder in the form of strands at a rate of from 13.5 to 2725 kg/hour, and forming the strands of compounded mixture into pellets.

Abstract: The disclosed invention comprises a compound having the formula: in which R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen or an alkyl group of 4 carbon atoms or greater. Further disclosed is a process for the preparation of the disclosed chiral amino alcohols from a starting amine compound and a limonene oxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cross-linked polyallylamine polymer composition having reduced cohesiveness, a process for producing a cross-linked polyallylamine polymer having reduced cohesiveness from an aqueous solution of a washed cross-linked polyallylamine polymer treated with a surfactant and to cross-linked polyallylamine polymer compositions produced thereby.

Abstract: The invention is a high molecular weight polyether polyol prepared by the reaction of one or more compounds having one or more active hydrogen compounds with one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of a catalyst comprising calcium having counterions of carbonate and a C6-10 alkanoate in a solvent or dispersant which does not contain active hydrogen atoms. The polyether polyol prepared preferably has an equivalent weight of from about 1000 to about 20,000, a polydispersity of 1.3 or less and a residual catalyst level of from about 0 to about 2000 parts per million (ppm). In another embodiment the invention is a process for preparing such high molecular weight polyether polyols. The process comprises first, contacting one or more compounds having one or more active hydrogen atoms with one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst comprises calcium having counterions of carbonate and a C6-10 alkanoate in a solvent, wherein the solvent does not contain active hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: The invention is a curable cyclobutarene based polymer comprising acid functional pendant groups. The cured polymer displays excellent qualities of toughness, adhesion, dielectric constant, and low stress. The preferred system is soluble in an aqueous base and can be used to generate patterned films with excellent resolution without the need to handle organic developer solvents.

Abstract: A process for the direct oxidation of an olefin by oxygen to the corresponding olefin oxide in the presence of a reducing agent and a catalyst. The catalyst comprises a metal component, such as a transition metal oxide, dispersed on a metal ion-exchanged metallosilicates, such as a Group 1 or Group 2 ion-exchanged porous aluminosilicate. Selectivity to the olefin oxide is high and the catalyst is readily regenerated.

Abstract: A process for preparing syndiotactic vinylidene aromatic polymers comprising contacting one or more vinylidene aromatic monomers with a concentrated catalyst premix composition comprising a Group 4 metal complex and an activating cocatalyst.

Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions have been discovered which are suitable for rotational molding. The compositions have improved processability and/or improved physical and mechanical properties. The compositions advantageously often exhibit one or more of the following: reduced low shear viscosity, reduced melt elasticity at low shear rate, reduced cycle times, improved sintering and a wide range of processing temperatures, improved low temperature and/or room temperature impact, good environmental stress crack resistance, acceptable heat distortion temperature, and acceptable flexural and secant modulus.

Abstract: A color stable aqueous solution containing a relatively high concentration of sodium o-phenylphenate is described where stabilizing components include an oxygen scavenger and a free radical scavenger. The aqueous solutions of NaOPP prepared according to the present invention exhibit an absorbance at 400 nanometers of at most one-half the absorbance exhibited by untreated solutions after incubation for 72 hours at 44° C. and 4 hours under ultraviolet light. The aqueous solution is useful as a concentrate that can be diluted to a desirable antimicrobial concentration level prior to application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a quick set composition and a method for preparing the composition. The composition comprises an aqueous sol of a polymer having a backbone that contains pendant cationic groups and pendant acid groups. The sol is prepared by forming a solution of a polymer that contains pendant cationic groups and pendant acid groups in an aqueous-based solvent that contains water and a suitable organic solvent and removing a sufficient amount of the organic solvent from the solution to form a composition characterized by being reversibly dissolvable and reconstitutable by addition and removal of a suitable organic solvent. The composition of the present invention provides quick-set films that can be prepared in the absence additional surface active agents and with a substantial absence of organic solvents.

Abstract: Adhere a polymer blend facer to at least one, preferably both, primary surfaces of a foam panel or board to provide a laminate with a combination of enhanced strength and resistance to bending relative to the foam panel. The polymer blend facer, prepared from a combination of an alkenyl aromatic polymer and an interpolymer of ethylene, an alkenyl aromatic monomer or hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinylidene monomer, provides an added benefit in terms of greater recyclability into a foam panel relative to biaxially oriented polypropylene. The polymer blend facer may be a film or a thin foam sheet.

Abstract: Metal cyanide catalysts are complexed with organic sulfone or sulfoxide compounds. The catalysts are active alkylene oxide polymerization catalysts that tend to have short induction periods and moderate exotherms.

Abstract: This invention is a polyarylene composition in which resin does not undergo a significant drop in modulus at temperatures above 300° C. during cure. This feature enables one to form porous films by avoiding pore collapse and/or using a wider variety of poragen materials.

Abstract: The invention includes a process of reacting a poly(sulfonyl azide) with a polymer comprising steps (a) forming a first admixture of a first amount of a first polymer or in a liquid which does not require removal from the polymer and a poly(sulfonyl azide); (b) then forming a second admixture of the first admixture with a second amount of at least one second polymer; and (c) heating the second admixture at lest to the decomposition temperature of the coupling agent for a time sufficient to result in coupling of polymer chains. The invention further includes all compositions obtainable by processes of the invention as well as blends of those compositions with one or more polymers of compositions different from the first or second polymer or the product of a process of the invention.

Abstract: A process for preparing a multilayered foam article such as an automotive seat is disclosed. A mold is arranged so that the bottom surface of the mold is flat or inclined up to 40 degrees to the horizontal plane. The first liquid foam formulation designed to produce a soft foam is poured into the mold from a mixing head outlet strip-wise across the seating zone of the mold along the line parallel to but near the external wall of the seating zone of the mold. Then, the second liquid foam formulation designed to produce a hard foam is poured into the mold from the same or different mixing head outlet strip-wise across the seating zone of the mold along the line parallel to but nearer to the external wall of the mold than the line of pouring of the first liquid foam formulation. The second liquid foam formulation is then allowed to spread on top of the first liquid foam formulation, the mold is closed and the foames are allowed to rise and cure in the mold.

Abstract: A process for preparing syndiotactic monovinylidene aromatic polymers comprising contacting one or more monovinylidene aromatic monomers with a catalyst composition comprising a Group 4 metal complex and an activating cocatalyst composition comprising an aluminoxane and an electrophilic borane compound.

Abstract: Certain alcohol initiators containing unconjugated carbon-carbon double bonds can be alkoxylated with excellent efficiency and low production of by-products using a metal cyanide catalyst.

Abstract: In one embodiment the invention is An adhesive composition comprising a) a polymer having a flexible backbone and a reactive moiety capable of cross-linking, b) a particle comprising an active agent encapsulated in an encapsulating agent wherein the active agent comprises a catalyst for cross-linking of the reactive moiety, a curing agent for the reactive moiety, an accelerator for the curing reaction or a mixture thereof; and the encapsulating agent comprises a side chain crystallizable polymer wherein the active agent is not substantially extractable from the particle at ambient conditions in a first extraction after particle formation. This composition is used in binding two subtracters together.

Abstract: Racemic isomers of metal complexes of Groups 3, 4 or the Lanthanides, addition polymerization catalysts containing the same and olefin polymerization processes using the same comprising a boratabenzene group or divalent derivative thereof are disclosed.