Abstract: A halogen-free, flame retardant polyester composition comprises, based on the total composition, (a) A poly(ethylene terephthalate) with a molecular weight of at least 50,000 or a blend of poly(ethylene terephthalate) with another polyester, taking into account that the ratio poly(ethylene terephthalate)/other polyester should be at least 55/45. (b) A combination of at least one N-containing compound, selected from the group of triazine, guanidine, or (iso)cyanurate compounds, and at least one P-containing compound, selected from the group of BPA-diphosphates or phosphoramides with the proviso that the ratio of the total amount of P- and N-containing compounds over the total polyester amount should be between 0.3 and 0.6 and the ratio of the P-containing compound over the N-containing compound should be higher than 0.8. (c) An anti-dripping agent in an amount of 0.01-2 weight percent of the total composition. (d) A reinforcing filler in an amount of 0-40 weight percent of the total composition.

Abstract: The biodegradable heterophase compositions comprise partially or completely destructurised and/or complexed starch, a polysaccharide ester and a plasticizer for the polysaccharide ester. In these compositions, the polysaccharide ester constitutes the matrix and the starch the dispersed phase in the form of particles or domains of numeric mean dimension lower than 1 &mgr;m and preferably than 0.5 &mgr;m for at least 80% of the particles. The compositions also comprise an additive which can increase and maintain at values of 4 or more the pH of a solution obtained by placing the compositions in pellet form in contact with water at ambient temperature for 1 hour, with the use of a pellet:water ratio of 1:10 by weight.

Abstract: Polyester resins formed by recurring units X=[O—(CH2)n—OCO—(CH2)m—CO] and/or Y=[O—(CH2)k—CO], where the half-sum of n+m is equal to or greater than 6 and k is a number equal to or greater than 6, or by copolymers comprising units and/or sequences having the formula xi[O—(CH2)ni—OCO—(CH2)mi—CO]; yj[O—(CH2)kj—CO] where: i,j=1-5; ni=2-22; mi=0-20; kj=1=21; (Formula (1)) and xi and yj vary between 0 and 1 and are molar fractions of the various units such that (Formula (2)), are used for the preparation of products in which a permeability to water vapour of less than 350 g×30 &mgr;m/m2 per day, measured at 38° C. and 90% RH and good biodegradability are required.

Abstract: Cellulosic materials such as wood chips, textile fibers and the like are treated to produce products such as particle board having enhanced fire and heat resistant properties. For example, wood chips are saturated with an eqimolar aqueous solution of monoammonium phosphate and diammonium phosphate. A metal hydroxide is added to the solution. The saturated wood chips are dried and mixed with a modified glue composition. The glue that which contains urea formaldehyde and/or phenolic resin is in powdered form and dissolved in water. The treated wood chips and modified glue is then mixed, formed into a mat and placed under pressure at about 120° C. for 8 to 15 minutes. The pressure may range from about 300 to 400 psi.

Abstract: A regenerated collagen fiber which comprises 100 parts by weight of collagen and 1 to 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin and has such excellent heat resistance that it is less apt to be thermally damaged even in styling with a hair iron or dryer. The thermoplastic resin is one obtained by polymerizing at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylate monomers, alkyl methacrylate monomers, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl cyanide monomers, aromatic vinyl monomers and halogenated vinyl monomers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing a nanocomposite comprising: a. preparing an organoclay material by reacting a swellable layered clay with an onium ion represented by Formula (I): wherein i) M is nitrogen or phosphorus, ii) R1 is a straight or branched alkyl group having at least 8 carbon atoms, iii) R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from organic or oligomeric ligands or hydrogen, and iv) at least one of R2, R3, and R4 comprises an alkylene oxide group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms or a polyalkylene oxide group, and b. melt mixing the organoclay material with an expanding agent, and c. melt extruding the expanded organoclay and a polymer to provide a nanocomposite.

Abstract: A polyester composition includes a poly(butylene terephthalate), a nitrogen-containing flame retardant, and a phosphorus-containing flame retardant, such that the weight ratio of the total of the nitrogen-containing flame retardant and the phosphorus-containing flame retardant to poly(butylene terephthalate resin) is at least about 0.70, and the weight ratio of the phosphorus-containing flame retardant to the nitrogen-containing flame retardant is at least about 1.0. The compositions have excellent color stability under ultraviolet light aging, good flame retardance, and high impact strength.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a polyolefin resin composition which is suitably used for the starting material of a polyolefin film balanced in strength, flexibility, and elongation and contains 25 to 70 weight percent of polyolefin resin and 75 to 30 weight percent of an inorganic filler wherein the polyolefin resin contains 40 to 80 weight percent of polyethylene resin and 60 to 20 weight percent of polypropylene, and the polyethylene resin contains 60 to 98 weight percent of a linear low-density polyethylene and 40 to 2 weight percent of a branched low-density polyethylene, a film made of the resin composition as a starting material, and a porous film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a capstock polymer composition comprising a blend of a melt extrudable acrylic polymer component; from 10% to 50% by weight of a halogen donor component; a halogen volatilisation component; and a char-inducing component which induces formation of a char upon application of flame to the composition.

Abstract: A stopper for use in a substantially cylindrical bottle opening having a substantially cylindrical shape to seal the bottle opening and including a first polymer portion and a second polymer portion, wherein the second polymer portion coaxially overlies the first polymer portion. In another embodiment, the stopper includes a third polymer portion wherein the first polymer portion coaxially overlies the third polymer portion. A method of protecting liquid in a bottle with a substantially cylindrical bottle opening including providing a stopper having a substantially cylindrical shape to seal the bottle opening and closing off the bottle by insertion of the stopper into the bottle opening. A method of producing a stopper for use in a substantially cylindrical bottle opening comprising extruding a first polymer portion through an extrusion die, coaxially coating the first polymer portion with a second polymer portion to form a body.

Abstract: Vulcanized ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) rubbers are disclosed that are particularly suited for use in dynamic applications as a replacement for natural rubber parts. The ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers exhibit excellent thermal and oxidative resistance while displaying tensile strength and dynamic fatigue resistance comparable to similar compounds based on natural rubber. The ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers comprise a high molecular weight EPDM, a processing oil, a carbon black, and a cure system containing sulfur, tetramethylthiuram-disulfide and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved alditol acetal compositions, in particular 1,3-2,4-di(benzylidene) sorbitol (DBS) or one of its alkylated derivatives. The improvement in these compositions is expressed in particular in terms of flow behavior and/or thermal stability. It is obtained by combining the alditol acetal with an additive selected from tocopherols, polyols and certain of their respective derivatives. These additives may act as binding or densifying agents and/or stabilizing agents or odor maskers. The alditol acetal and additive are advantageously combined by cold mixing, followed by granulation or compaction, also cold. The compositions of the invention, for example based on DBS or the methylated derivatives of DBS, are in the form of densified or compacted powders, granules, pellets, pastilles or extrudates. They are used in particular for preparing plastic or jellified materials or additives for these types of materials.

Abstract: In tire tread formulations, blends of rubbers having low and high glass transition temperatures have significant advantages over blends made with rubbers having intermediate glass transition temperatures. However, blends of rubbers having low and high glass transition temperatures exhibit poor processability. This invention deals with improving the processability of tire tread formulations which are made by blending rubbers having both low and high glass transition temperatures that offer ultra low rolling resistance without sacrificing rolling resistance or tread wear characteristics. This invention more specifically discloses a tire tread rubber composition which is comprised of (a) about 60 phr to about 90 phr of a high cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, wherein the high cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber has a glass transition temperature which is within the range of about −104° C. to about −80° C.

Abstract: Melt processed linear polyethylenes containing an amine additive are shown to exhibit improved processability through the addition of certain surfactants. The amine compounds are generally one or more hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), amine antistats, amine antioxidants or amine based UV inhibitors. Among the melt processing parameters improved are reduced head pressure, reduced torque, reduced motor load, reduced or eliminated melt fracture, or combinations of these parameters. The surfactants can be chosen from a non-aromatic sulfonate or sulfate salt wherein a cation of the salt is selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Li, and other alkali cations and a quaternary ammonium cations, said surfactant being essentially free of halogens.

Abstract: This invention relates to power transmission belts and to a rubber composition for use therein. The composition contains from 90 to 10 phr alkylated chlorosulfonated polyethylene and 10 to 90 phr ethylene vinyl acetate.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire tread which comprises (A) a rubber component selected from the group consisting of natural rubber and synthetic diene-based rubbers, (B) 5 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the rubber component of (b1) aluminum hydroxide particles which are treated with a surface treating agent on the surface and have an average diameter of secondary particles D2 of 10 &mgr;m or smaller or (b2) aluminum hydroxide particles which have an average diameter of secondary particles D2 of 0.8 &mgr;m or smaller and a ratio (D2/D1) of the average diameter of secondary particles D2 to an average diameter of primary particles D1 of 1.7 or smaller and (C) 5 to 80 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the rubber component of at least one filler selected from carbon black and silica.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrophobic polymer dispersion and a solvent-free process for the preparation thereof. According to the invention, the dispersion contains starch ester together with dispersion admixtures known as such. According to the process, the polymer is first mixed with a plasticizer in order to obtain a plasticized polymer blend. The plasticized polymer blend is then mixed with dispersion admixtures and water at an elevated temperature so as to form a dispersion. The plasticizing of the polymer and the dispersion of the mixture in water can be performed in an extruder. The obtained dispersion is homogenized in order to improve its stability. The dispersion obtained by the invention can be used to coat paper or board, as a primer or a component in paint or labeling adhesives, and it is also suitable for the production of cast films and as a binder in materials based on cellulose fibers, as well as for coating medicinal preparations.

Abstract: Novel pigment compositions comprising pigmentary salts and polymers are provided. Pigmentary salts of triphenylmethane dyes are co-precipitated with polyfunctional polymeric acids to form pigment compositions having greatly increased hydrophilicity, dispersability and compatibility with water/polymeric dye vehicles. Processes for forming these pigment compositions are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer member having a polyimide resin film containing oxidized carbon black; and an image forming apparatus comprising an intermediate transfer member having a polyimide resin film containing oxidized carbon black.

Abstract: A composition for providing protection against electrical overstress (EOS) comprising an insulating binder, doped semiconductive particles, and semiconductive particles. The composite materials exhibit a high electrical resistance to normal operating voltage values, but in response to an EOS transient switch to a low electrical resistance and clamp the EOS transient voltage to a low level for the duration of the EOS transient.