Abstract: A peroxide-free curing system comprising 20-89.5% by weight of a compound having at least one epoxide group, 0.5-30% by weight of a polyamine, and 10-50% by weight of a co-curing agent is presented. The co-curing agent has formula (I): and/or its tautomeric formulae IIa and/or IIb: and/or formula (III): or a tautomer and/or an oligomer thereof; wherein D stands for branched (CR1R2)n or wherein p is independently 0 or 1, and X is CH2, O, or SO2 and stands for a meta- or para-benzene group; R is independently H or C1-C4 alkyl; R1 and R2 are independently H or (CH2)mCH3; wherein at least one group R2 is (CH2)mCH3 and m being 0 to 2; n being 1 to 10; and n+m is 4 to 14; R?—CH2 is R; and P stands for phenyl, or unsubstituted or hydroxy-substituted C1-6 alkyl or C2-6 alkenyl; with the proviso that at least one of R is C1-4 alkyl.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composition comprising plasma coated fullerenic soot particles, methods for the preparation thereof, and its use in polymer blends.

Abstract: A peroxide-free curing system comprising 20-89.5% by weight of a compound having at least one epoxide group, 0.5-30% by weight of a polyamine, and 10-50% by weight of a co-curing agent is presented. The co-curing agent has formula (I): and/or its tautomeric formulae IIa and/or IIb: and/or formula (III): or a tautomer and/or an oligomer thereof; wherein D stands for branched (CR1R2)n or wherein p is independently 0 or 1, and X is CH2, O, or SO2 and stands for a meta- or para-benzene group; R is independently H or C1-C4 alkyl; R1 and R2 are independently H or (CH2)mCH3; wherein at least one group R2 is (CH2)mCH3 and m being 0 to 2; n being 1 to 10; and n+m is 4 to 14; R?—CH2 is R; and P stands for phenyl, or unsubstituted or hydroxy-substituted C1-6 alkyl or C2-6 alkenyl; with the proviso that at least one of R is C1-4 alkyl.

Abstract: A connector housing assembly comprises a foil, an upper connector housing part having a lower face that faces an upper surface of the foil and a lower connector housing part having an upper face that faces a lower surface of the foil. The lower face of the upper connector housing part or the upper face of the lower connector housing part has an opening forming a recess that accommodates at least a part of a connector contact and the foil. At least one of the upper connector housing part or the lower connector housing part has at least one protruding component and each protruding component is inserted through a respective hole in the foil. The upper connector housing part and the lower connector housing part are drawn to each other by the protruding component which engages a holding means that abuts a surface thus exerting a retention force.

Abstract: A connector housing assembly for accommodating a connector contact (5) for use in connecting a wire to a conducting lead (3) embedded in a piece of foil (1), comprises at least one connector housing part (11,15;34,38). At least one connector housing part (11,15;38) comprises a recess (16,25;39) for accommodating at least part of the connector contact (5), a face (14,18;41) of the connector housing part facing a surface of the piece of foil being provided with an opening (17,26;40) of the recess (16,25;39). At least one connector housing part (11;34) includes at least one protruding component (12,13;36), protruding from a face (14;35) of that connector housing part (11;34) facing a surface of the piece of foil, in use. Each of the protruding component(s) (12,13;36) is adapted to insertion through a respective hole in a piece of foil adjacent to the face (14;35) from which it protrudes.

Abstract: A low temperature molten ionic liquid composition comprising a mixture of a metal halide and an alkyl-containing amine hydrohalide salt is described which is useful as a catalyst and a solvent in alkylation, arylation and polymerization reactions or as an electrolyte for batteries. The metal halide is a covalently bonded metal halide which can contain a metal selected from the group comprised of aluminum, gallium, iron, copper, zinc, and indium, and is most preferably aluminum trichloride. The alkyl-containing amine hydrohalide salt may contain up to three alkyl groups, which are preferably lower alkyl, such as methyl and ethyl.

Abstract: A polymerization method carried out in the presence of unsaturated organic peroxide chain transfer agents is disclosed. Also disclosed are (co)polymers and oligomers made by this process and articles of manufacture comprising one or more (co)polymers or oligomers made by this process. Furthermore, the use of these unsaturated organic peroxides as chain transfer agents is disclosed. The present process reduces the severe retardation of polymerization observed for unsaturated organic peroxide chain transfer agents of the prior art and, in some cases, even improves the monomer conversion in comparison to the control.

Abstract: A rubber composition which is the vulcanization reaction product of a rubber, sulfur or a sulfur donor and particular anti-reversion coagents, is disclosed. The anti-reversion coagents only partially react under sulfur-vulcanization reaction conditions up to optimum cure, and, after optimum cure, form cross-links bonded to the sulfur cross-linked rubbers by carbon-carbon linkages. Also disclosed are a vulcanization process carried out in the presence of the anti-reversion coagents and the use of these anti-reversion coagents in the sulfur-vulcanization of rubbers. The anti-reversion coagents of the disclosure provide sulfur-vulcanized rubbers having significantly improved physical properties.

Abstract: A process for the modification of a polyphenylene ether resin composition is claimed, said process being carried out in a temperature range of between the melting point and the degradation point of said resin composition and in the presence of an effective amount of a citraconimide compound to reduce the melt viscosity of said resin composition, said citraconimide compound being represented by formula (I), wherein X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl groups, C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkenyl groups, C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkynyl groups, C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 cycloalkyl groups, C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 cycloalkenyl groups, C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 cycloalkynyl groups, C.sub.6 -C.sub.18 aryl groups, C.sub.7 -C.sub.30 aralkyl groups, C.sub.7 -C.sub.30 alkaryl groups, and C.sub.7 -C.sub.30 alkernaryl groups, all of which may be linear or branched and unsubstituted or substituted with one or more amino, carboxy, cyano, halogens, esters, oxiranes, ethers, nitro, hydroxy and alkoxy groups.

Abstract: Novel metal salts of (poly)citraconimide and (poly)itaconimide carboxylic acids, and a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising these novel metal salts and which, upon vulcanization, exhibits improved dynamic properties, are disclosed. Also disclosed are a sulfur-vulcanization process carried out in the presence of these metal salts and the product of said vulcanization process. The novel metal salts are represented by formulas (I) and (II), wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl groups, C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 cycloalkyl groups, C.sub.6 -C.sub.18 aryl groups, C.sub.7 -C.sub.30 aralkyl groups and C.sub.7 -C.sub.30 alkaryl groups and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may combine to form a ring when R.sub.1 is hydrogen; R.sub.4 is selected from divalent, trivalent or tetravalent linear or branched radical chosen from a C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkynyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 polycycloalkyl, C.sub.

Abstract: A rubber composition which is the vulcanization reaction product of a rubber, sulfur or a sulfur donor and particular anti-reversion coagents, is disclosed. The anti-reversion coagents only partially react under sulfur-vulcanization reaction conditions up to optimum cure, and, after optimum cure, form cross-links bonded to the sulfur cross-linked rubbers by carbon-carbon linkages. Also disclosed are a vulcanization process carried out in the presence of the anti-reversion coagents and the use of these anti-reversion coagents in the sulfur-vulcanization of rubbers. The anti-reversion coagents of the disclosure provide sulfur-vulcanized rubbers having significantly improved physical properties.

Abstract: Novel polysulfide-containing polycitraconimides and polyitaconimides are disclosed. Further, a process for the sulfur-vulcanization of rubber using these novel compounds is also disclosed. Also, a sulfur-vulcanized rubber product and articles of manufacture embodying this product are disclosed. Finally, the use of the novel polysulfide-containing polycitraconimides and polyitaconimides as anti-reversion coagents in the sulfur-vulcanization of rubber is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved synthesis method for the making of citraconimides wherein a citraconic anhydride is reacted with 0.5 to 2.0 equivalents of at least one amine salt. This process may be carried out in a solvent and generally leads to excellent yields of the citraconimides with high selectivity and easy purification. The present inventional so relates to a process for the production of citraconic anhydride from itaconic anhydride with an amine or phosphine catalyst and in a cosolvent.

Abstract: A peroxide-vulcanized rubber composition which comprises the vulcanization reaction product of a rubber, an organic peroxide, a biscitraconimido compound and a radical scavenger, is disclosed. The peroxide-vulcanized rubber compositions of the disclosure have significantly improved physical properties. Also disclosed are a peroxide-vulcanization process carried out in the presence of a biscitraconimido compound and a radical scavenger to control the scorch time and the use of a biscitraconimido compound and a radical scavenger to control scorch time in the peroxide-vulcanization of rubber.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a (co)polymer containing at least one unit derived from a citraconimide by curing curable composition comprising at least one substituted or unsubstituted citraconimide and a sufficient amount of an anionic curing catalyst to convert at least 10% of the citraconic alkyl groups on the citraconimide units to alkylene bridges; at a temperature above the melting point of the citraconimide unit and the product of that curing process, are disclosed. The invention also relates to the cured oligomers and articles of manufacture embodying them. These novel, cured oligomers are thermoplastic and offer several advantageous properties.

Abstract: Curable bisimide compositions containing at least one biscitraconimide having general formula (I), wherein D is a divalent group, R is CH.sub.2 --R.sub.1, and R.sub.1 is independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl groups having 1-18 carbon atoms; at least one olefinically unsaturated material, and 0-15 mole percent, based on biscitraconimide of formula (I), of a cocurable material selected from the group consisting of bismaleimides, citraconic maleimides and itaconic maleimides, wherein the mole ratio of biscitraconimide of formula (I), to olefinically unsaturated materials is from 0.12 to 4.0; are disclosed. Also disclosed are copolymeric compositions of biscitraconimides and olefinically unsaturated materials, processes for making these copolymers and articles of manufacture embodying these copolymers. These copolymers exhibit improved thermostability, high glass transition temperature, are solvent resistant and are void-free.

Abstract: A process for modifying an oxide surface of a semi-conductor material, for example included in an ISFET, wherein a coating of a polymer is applied to the oxide surface. The polymer is chemically bonded to the oxide surface. Optionally a second coating can comprise metal ion complexing groups. The process can be used for manufacturing an ISFET.