Abstract: This invention relates to the purification of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide containing minor amounts of primary and secondary alkyl hydroperoxide contaminants obtained by the oxidation of isobutane by contacting the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide with at least about 2 milliequivalents per gram of total hydroperoxide present of a hydroxide or an oxide of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal in aqueous solution and recovering the desired tertiary butyl hydroperoxide containing substantially reduced concentrations of primary and secondary alkyl hydroperoxide contaminants.

Abstract: A modified polyester polyol prepolymer having a hydroxyl functionality of between 2 and 3 is produced by reacting a cyclic nitrile carbonate such as adipodi(nitrile carbonate) with a polyester polyol having hydroxyl numbers of about 50 to about 450. The product has a viscosity preferably in the range of about 15,000 to 30,000 centipoise at about 25.degree. C. Novel urethane foams are prepared from the modified polyester polyol prepolymers by reacting the same with aromatic isocyanates to form urethane foams having improved stability to ultraviolet discoloration and improved hydrolytic stability.

Abstract: An insulating and protective structure for frozen substrates wherein a hydrophobic or water impermeable base layer is applied first to the substrate and successive layers of a polyurethane foam or similar synthetic plastic foam material are foamed in place on the base layer, each of said foam layers having a vapor penetration-resistant layer on its upper surface and below the next layer of foam. Finally, there is applied a hydrophobic or water impermeable layer to the upper surface of the uppermost vapor penetration-resistant layer.This structure is designed particularly for application to substrates underlain with permafrost in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. It is designed to provide moisture penetration resistance, low thermal conductivity and to have both high compressive and flexure strength in order to impede heat transfer even with consequent freeze-thawing of the frozen substrate and likewise prevent physical damage to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A minor amount of a radical trap, that is, an organic compound readily reacting with an organic radical, when combined with a polyolefin having a melt index of from about 0.2 to about 10, can be associated with 70 per cent tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (containing about 30 per cent water). In the event of accidental conflagration of the combination, the combustion continues at a moderate rate, thereby avoiding the propensity toward troublesomely rapid burning of unmodified aqueous 70 per cent TBHP. Container liners should have a polyolefin thickness of 0.7 to 7 mm, the polyolefin containing such radical trap in a concentration of from about 0.1 to about 5 per cent, generally 0.2 to 2 per cent. If particulate polyolefin is used, the radical trap concentration should be from about 10 to about 100,000 parts per million parts of aqueous TBHP. A concentration of polyolefin particles from about 0.6 per cent to about 6 per cent by weight of the TBHP is suitable.