Abstract: An emulsion paint of an improved shear resistance has been developed containing as a filling agent a titanium chelate which is the reaction product of a titanium orthoester, a glycol a glycol ether, an alkanolamine and an alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Swollen core/sheath polymeric particles are disclosed having one or more voids in the core formed by reaction with a base such as sodium hydroxide. The sheath contains styrene or similar monomer polymerized in an amount greater than 25 mole percent and the polymer is free of acid groups. The core contains acid groups. Swelling is effected at an elevated temperature and in the absence of an organic solvent.The swollen particles on drying in a paint or other composition have air in the voids and act then as opacifying agents.

Abstract: The stabilization of zirconia when used as a ceramic by various stabilizers has been known but a new and improved stabilized particulate zirconia has now been developed showing the important advantages.The particulate zirconia now developed is coated with a hydrous oxide of titanium and/or of aluminium and with at least one hydrous oxide of yttrium, calcium, magnesium, strontium or cerium.

Abstract: A mill for grinding powder material is disclosed having a cylindrical separation chamber into which the powder material is fed as a dispersion in a gas stream. Powdered material initially is supplied through two spaced powder inlets each located between a jet and a venturi throat assembly so that milling fluid introduces the powder material through the venturis and the venturis are mounted in opposition so that the gas streams carrying the powder impinge on one another to impart grinding. The impinged material passes to a third venturi to be entrained in a gas fed from a third jet nozzle and introduced through the venturi into the separation chamber. The mill is of particular use for milling pigmentary powders.

Abstract: Zirconia has been used in the manufacture of ceramics for many years. The desirability of stabilizing the crystal form has been recognized and one or more stabilizing agents have been used.The present invention produced a stabilized zirconia carrying a coating of at least one hydrous oxide of yttrium, calcium, magnesium, strontium, barium or cerium. Preferably also a hydrous oxide of zirconium is also present either as a separate inner layer or mixed with the other hydrous oxide.

Abstract: A product suitable as a ceramic comprises substantially nonaggregated alumina particles with 95% by number having an aspect ratio (i.e., the ratio of the longest dimension to the shortest dimension for any single particle) not greater than 1.1 and more than 80% having an aspect ratio not greater than 1.05 and having a geometric mean size of from 0.02 to 0.5 microns. Usually the product contains no more than 3% by weight as aggregates and preferably the product is as small as can conveniently be manufactured.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved mill that achieves excellent milling with a reduced consumption of milling gas. The mill incorporates an impact plate in-line with a first jet and venturi and a second jet and venturi to entrain the milled particles from the plate to feed into a separation/milling chamber.

Abstract: In a leather tanning process, animal skins are treated with a tanning agent comprising an aluminium (III)/titanium (IV) mixed complex with a salt of a polyhydroxymonocarboxylic acid as a masking compound. The masking compound preferably has the general formula:HOCH.sub.2 (CHOH)n CO.sub.2 Mwherein M is an alkali metal, and n is 2 to 6. Especially preferred masking compounds are sodium gluconate and sodium glucoheptonate. The same process can be used for a wide range of skins, both as a base tannage and in combination with other tanning processes.

Abstract: In has been desired to employ adhesion promoters in printing inks to promote the adhesion of the ink to a plastic substrate but hitherto the available adhesion promoters have tended to discolor the ink and in certain cases to produce an ink containing a somewhat objectionable odor.A new printing ink has been developed which is based on a polymeric binder, a solvent therefor and an adhesion promoting agent which is the reaction product of a titanium orthoester and either a monoalkyl phosphate or a dialkyl phosphate or a mixture thereof in such proportions that the molar ratio of titanium to phosphate expressed as Ti:P is from 4:1 to 1:2.

Abstract: A new organotitanate which is a reaction product of a titanium orthoester and at least a monoalkyl phosphate in which the alkyl group contains up to 6 carbon atoms and in which the total molar ratio P:Ti in the product is less than 2.The monoalkyl phosphates preferably contain up to 5 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and the organotitanate reaction product can also be prepared from a dialkyl phosphate in addition to the monoalkyl phosphate. Most preferably the alkyl group of the titanium orthoester is either an isopropyl group or a butyl group.The new reaction products are of use as adhesion promoters in printing inks.

Abstract: Pigments for use in plastics should produce a composition containing as few nibs or aggregates as is possible and also develop as little dust as possible during handling.A new pigment has now been developed which comprises particulate titanium dioxide having an organic coating of isostearic acid, dodecyl benzene sulphonic acid and a cationic emulsifying agent of a fatty alkyl amine. The pigment particles should be free of an inorganic coating.A method of manufacture of the pigment is disclosed in which the isostearic acid and dodecyl benzene sulphonic acid are emulsified in water prior to addition of an aqueous dispersion of the pigment. Remarkably it has been discovered that after treatment the pigment does not require milling in a fluid energy mill and that separation from the supernatant liquid can be effected by decantation.

Abstract: Production of an acidic ferric sulphate from ferrous sulphate heptahydrate by drying the heptahydrate at a temperature within the range 40.degree. to 50.degree. C. and then at a temperature of from 54.degree. to 65.degree. C. to produce a partially dehydrated product containing from 3.8 to 5.2 mols H.sub.2 O prior to oxidizing at a temperature of 150.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. to produce a product containing at least 85% by weight of the ferrous iron converted to ferric iron. The oxidized product is treated with sulphuric acid to introduce at least 1.5:1 of SO.sub.4 :Fe.sup.3+. The product is eminently suitable for the treatment of domestic sewage.

Abstract: An improved process for the manufacture of vesiculated beads has been developed which can be used for the production of semi-gloss or satin finished paints. The process involves mixing an oil-phase containing a cross-linkable polyester resin in solution with a monomer co-polymerizable with the resin and an aqueous phase containing an emulsifying agent under conditions such that globules of the oil-phase are formed having a diameter of less than 1.5 microns. The emulsion containing the globules also contains a base and the amount of the emulsifying agent is from 3 to 16 grams per 100 ml of the oil-phase and the volume fraction has a value of 0.2 to 0.4 and X as defined is from 4 to 8. Preferably the beads are pigmented with titanium dioxide pigment.

Abstract: Titanium dioxide pigment of improved durability in paints comprises a particulate core of rutile titanium dioxide having an inner coating on the core of an oxide or hydrous oxide of zirconium, and a coating of dense amorphous silica on the inner coating. The pigment optionally has an outer coating of a hydrous oxide of aluminium.The pigments contain the oxide of hydrous oxide of zirconium in an amount of up to 5% expressed as ZrO.sub.2 and an amount of dense amorphous silica of up to 12% by weight expressed as SiO.sub.2 on the weight of TiO.sub.2.The pigments when incorporated in paints have extremely high durability.

Abstract: Titanium dioxide pigment having a high durability when used in paints comprises a particulate core of rutile titanium dioxide having an inner coating of dense amorphous silica on which is carried an outer coating of a hydrous oxide of zirconium. Optionally the pigment has an outer coating of a hydrous oxide of aluminum.The amount of dense amorphous silica is up to 12% by weight expressed as SiO.sub.2 and the amount of hydrous oxide of zirconium is up to 5% expressed as ZrO.sub.2 on the weight of TiO.sub.2. The outer coating of hydrous oxide of aluminium can be present in an amount of up to 6% by weight expressed as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 on the weight of TiO.sub.2.A combination of these coatings has been found to be extremely advantageous in producing a paint containing the pigment having a very good durability and resistance to weathering.

Abstract: This relates to electric arc discharge apparatus including at least two pair of electrodes and a single power source which comprises a multi-phase transformer, arc stabilization means and two or more rectifier bridges. Each rectifier bridge provides a pair of electrical power outputs to supply power to a respective pair of electrodes.The invention enables the multi arc system to be employed using a single power source and is of particular use in heating gas to be used in the oxidation of titanium tetrachloride for the production of titanium dioxide pigments.

Abstract: A fabric having anti-static properties being formed from a first woven layer of polymeric fabric, a second woven layer of polymeric fabric which contains spaced threads of staple metal fibres and an intermediate layer positioned between the first and second layers to form a moisture barrier. In its most preferred form the woven polymeric fabric is formed of woven polypropylene and the spaced threads of staple metal fibres are formed of staple stainless steel fibres carried on a central core of a synthetic material. The fabric is of particular use in the manufacture of intermediate bulk containers where it is believed is advantageous in permitting corona discharge at a very low voltage of static electricity thereby preventing any dangerous build-up of voltage which subsequently is discharged by a spark.