Abstract: Zirconium silica hydrogels are disclosed including at least about 5 wt. % water bound as a hydrate and including silicon as SiO.sub.2 in amounts of from 60 to 99 wt. % and zirconium as ZrO.sub.2 in amounts of from 1 to 40 wt. %, and where substantially all of the zirconium is bound to the SiO.sub.2 in the hydrogel. Hydrophobic zirconium silica hydrogels are also disclosed in which a hydrophobic component, such as organosiloxanes, organosilanes, primary and secondary higher aliphatic alcohols, and long chain amines, are bound to the surface of the hydrogel, and in which the zirconium is present in amounts sufficient to improve the stability of the hydrogels. Methods of manufacturing these zirconium silica hydrogels are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is described for the preparation of uniform colloidal particles of ferrites, containing manganese (II), zinc(II), barium(II), iron(II), cobalt(II), or nickel(II), or a mixture of manganese(II) and zinc(II), at a relatively low temperature in the presence of a gelatin solution which acts as a support vehicle for the nucleation and growth of colloidal particles of metal oxide and for dispersion as separate single particles.

Abstract: A fire control composition which is in particulate form, which is anhydrous, and which is particularly effective for fighting Class D fires, such as metal fires. The composition includes particles of crushed glass bearing a hydrophobic coating thereon so that agglomeration of the fire control composition due to adsorption of moisture during storage and use is substantially prevented and so that when applied to fire, the fire control composition forms a blanket over the fire which deprives the fire of oxygen and thereby smothers it. The composition may additionally contain at least one additional material, such as salts, spherulized vitreous beads, or graphite which at least one additional material also bears a hydrophobic coating. The median grain size of the crushed glass is preferably below 200 micrometers, most preferably below 120 micrometers, for example, in the range of from 25 to 35 micrometers.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline compound having a small .DELTA.n value; suitable for preparing a liquid crystal display element having a broad viewing angle; having a large positive .DELTA..epsilon. value; and suitable for preparing a liquid crystal composition having a low driving voltage for liquid crystal display devices, and a liquid crystal composition containing the compound are provided, which compound is expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein n represents an integer of 0 to 20.

Abstract: Novel compounds characterized by increased spontaneous polarization values as one of the important specific features required for ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions, a liquid crystal composition containing the same, and an optical switching element utilizing the composition as a liquid crystal.

Abstract: A squarilium compound represented by the following formula (I) and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are disclosed: ##STR1## wherein X and Y each represents ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group; R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group; R.sup.5 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group or an aryl group; ring A represents a cyclic alkylene; ring B represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring; and ring C represents a heterocyclic ring containing one or two of a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom and a sulfur atom; with proviso that X and Y are not the same when either one of them represents ##STR3## and a liquid crystal composition containing the squarilium compound of the formula (I).

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 denotes a group R.sup.3 or R.sup.3 --A.sup.4 --Z.sup.3 -- and R.sup.2 denotes a group R.sup.4 or --Z.sup.4 --A.sup.5 --R.sup.4 ; m and n each individually stand for the number 0 or 1; A.sup.1, A.sup.2, A.sup.3, A.sup.4 and A.sup.5 each independently represent unsubstituted or halogen-, cyano- and/or methyl-substituted 1,4-phenylene in which optionally 1 CH group or 2 CH groups is/are replaced by nitrogen, trans-1,4-cyclohexylene in which optionally 2 non-adjacent methylene groups are replaced by oxygen and/or sulphur, 1-cyano-trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1,4-diyl, naphthalene-2,6-diyl, tetralin-2,6-diyl or trans-decalin-2,6-diyl; Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Z.sup.3 and Z.sup.4 each independently signify a single covalent bond, --COO--, --OOC--, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, --C.tbd.C--, --(CH.sub.2).sub.3 O--, --O(CH.sub.2).sub.3 -- or the trans form of --CH.dbd.CH--CH.sub.2 O-- or --OCH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--; R.sup.3 and R.sup.

Abstract: A process for preparing organic smectite applied for thickener, protective colloid, dispersant and binder. The present invention features the process for preparing the organic smectite by mixing smectite incluidng 0 to 20% by weight of interlayer water in the interlayer spaces of said smectite with organic cation-supplying substance selected from at least one of aliphatic alkylamine salts, aromatic amine salts and basic organic compound having pyridine nucleus, and/or basic organic molecule in a mixing ratio of the latter to the former of 10 to 500 milliequivalents per 100 g smectite, and stirring the resulting mixture at a temperature of 5.degree. to 50.degree. C. under an applied pressure of 0.5 to 10 kg/cm.sup.2 to cause a solid-solid reaction.

Abstract: A relatively fast process for producing HNS from trinitrotoluene (TNT) in high yield consists of oxidizing TNT with an oxidizing transition metal compound within a polar aprotic solvent having a weak base, such as an alkali metal carboxylate, dissolved therein. The amount of transition metal compound used is typically at least one mole per mole of TNT. An especially preferred transition metal compound for use in the present process is cupric chloride.

Abstract: The isotopes of zirconium can be partially or completely separated by loading an essentially anhydrous alcoholic solution of an ionic compound of zirconium onto a cationic exchange resin with pentavalent phosphorus derived active groups which serves as the stationary phase of a chromatograph, eluting the compound with an essentially anhydrous alcoholic solution of hydrogen chloride and collecting distinct elution volumes representative of each isotope. In a preferred embodiment, the active groups of the cation exchange resin are derived from di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid, tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide or tributyl phosphate and the chromatograph is of a type, such as a continuous annular chromatograph that it can be operated in a continuous steady state manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chloroisocyanuric acid composition having stability during storage characterized by formulating, as a main component, 1 to 200 parts by weight of at least one aluminum sulfate selected from aluminum sulfate (Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3.XH.sub.2 O, X=0 to 18), potassium alum (KAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2.XH.sub.2 O, X=0 to 12) and sodium alum (NaAl(SO.sub.4).sub.2.XH.sub.2 O, X=0 to 12) in 100 parts by weight of trichloroisocyanuric acid and/or dichloroisocyanuric acid.

Abstract: An optically active substance which, when added as a component of ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions, is extremely small in the reduction of the resulting liquid crystal temperature region, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which substance is an optically active-2-alkoxy-propyl ether expressed by the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a straight or branched chain alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkanoyloxy or alkoxycarbonyl each of 1 to 18 C; R.sup.2 represents a linear or branched chain alkyl each of 1 to 15 C; --A-- represents a specified group constituted by two directly bonded, six-membered rings; and * indicates asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition having quick response and comprising a smectic liquid crystal compound and an optically active compound.The ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprises components A and B, said component A comprising a compound represented by the formula: ##STR1## and/or a compound represented by the formula: ##STR2## said component B comprising a compound represented by the formula: ##STR3## and/or a compound represented by the formula: ##STR4## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 are each an alkyl or alkoxy group of 1 to 18 carbon, R.sup.4 and R.sup.6 are each an alkyl group of 2 to 18 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, X and Y are each --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 --, ##STR5## m, n, k and l are each an integer of 1 or 2 and * is an asymmetric carbon atom, the component A to component B ratio being 1.5 or less.

Abstract: Light-polarizing materials comprising a complex obtained by reacting elemental iodine, and iodide and a monoalkyl- or dialkyl-piperazinedione or an unsubstituted or monoalkyl- or dialkyl- substituted 2,5-dicarboxy-pyrazine, and uses thereof in liquid suspensions, set suspensions and light valves.

Abstract: A method and composition for altering the permeability of a high temperature subterranean formation are provided. The composition of the invention is comprised of water, at least one water dispersible acrylamide containing polymer, and a water dispersible crosslinker for bringing about the delayed crosslinking of the polymer comprised of the combination of an aldehyde and a salicylic acid derivative.

Abstract: A water-soluble graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(2-methyl-N7,N7-dimethyl-7-ammonium-3-oxo-4-oxyoct- 1-e ne chloride or methylsulfate) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 150,000 and the total number of randomly repreating units in the grafted side chain or chains is in the range of 50 to 300,000 such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 15,000 to 30,000,000.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an elution chromatography separating column from an elongated capillary tube, such column having a layer comprising a plurality of disunited particles of porous solid material disposed on an inner surface of the tube. The method comprises the steps of: preparing a suspension comprising a dispersive liquid and particles of the solid material; filling an elongated capillary tube with prepared suspension; and flowing an inert gas through the tube to dry the tube thereby leaving a layer comprising a plurality of disunited particles of the solid material attached to the inner surface of the tube.

Abstract: A direct positive color photosensitive material comprising an internal latent image silver halide emulsion layer which has not been prefogged, a color image-forming magenta coupler of formula (I) and a nucleation accelerator of formulae (II) and/or (III): ##STR1## wherein Za and Zb represent a ##STR2## group, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent group, X represents a hydrogen atom or a group which can be eliminated by a coupling reaction, and R.sup.1, R.sup.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method useful for inducing blocking in plastic film samples under known laboratory conditions. The test device of the present invention comprises a base platen and a movable platen disposed for cooperation to engage and apply a known, preferably multiplied, compressive force to a plurality of plastic samples. The compressive force is transferred to the movable platen through a thrust member from a lever arm pivotable about a pivot, preferably a hinge, above the base platen. Along the lever arm are disposed a plurality of weight receiving locations for engagement by a hanger supporting one or more selected weights. The test device of the present invention permits higher compressive forces to be applied to plastic test samples under laboratory conditions without requiring the use of heavier weights and produces more reproducible compressive forces than prior art methods.