Abstract: Polyether-reinforced fiber-based materials, and methods for their manufacture, are disclosed. A representative material is a sheetlike ply having on one or both faces thereof a polyether-impregnated stratum extending depthwise into the ply thickness dimension no greater than about one-half the ply thickness dimension so as to leave a portion of the ply thickness dimension unimpregnated with polyether. The materials can comprise plural superposed plies wherein at least one ply has at least one polyether-impregnated stratum, such as polyether-reinforced corrugated paperboard. The polyether-reinforced materials have excellent compression strength and foldability. Each polyether-reinforced stratum is made by controllably applying a low-viscosity liquid mixture of an epoxy resin and a hardener, wherein the epoxy resin is substantially non-prepolymerized, to a fibrous web surface, then curing the resin mixture.

Abstract: The invention is a method of sizing paper and, in particular, paper made under neutral to alkaline conditions at least as high as 10.5. The papermaking stock is first treated with a polycationic material to provide sizing receptive sites uniformly distributed over the fiber surface. The presence of the anchoring points is critical to the later redistribution of the sizing material in the dryer section of the paper machine. The sizing material is then added to the slurry. This is then brought down onto the fibers by addition of a small amount of a size precipitant such as alum. The sizing molecule should have a hydrophilic portion with two hetero atoms forming a bidentate analog structure. This must have a pK in water of 6.0 or higher and a vapor pressure preferably at least 0.0006 mm Hg at 60.degree. C. The polycationic material provides anchoring/orienting sites on the fiber to which the small globules of sizing attach when the emulsion is broken by the precipitant.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of preserving plants which achieves reduced bleeding of the preservative material when the plants are subjected to elevated humidity conditions. The method comprises perfusing the plants with an aqueous preservative composition in which the preservative is primarily an alkylene oxide oligomer, 1,3-butanediol, or 1,4-butanediol. Preferred alkylene oxide oligomers are di- and polyethylene glycols in the molecular weight range of about 200-1500 and di- and polypropylene glycols with an average molecular weight below about 450. The preferred materials may be used with lesser amounts of secondary humectant materials selected from glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, magnesium chloride or magnesium bromide hexahydrate, and water soluble cycle phosphonate esters. Plants are conventionally treated by perfusing an aqeous treatment solution into the vascular system through a cut stem or other incision which exposes the xylem.

Abstract: Low-color or white, dilutable condensation products of formaldehyde and phenol in molar ratios of 1.9-5.0:1, characterized by carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra as having at least about 30 molar percent of the total formaldehyde content of the resin bound to phenol nuclei in benzyl formal groups of the form Ph--(CH.sub.2 O).sub.n --CH.sub.2 OH wherein n.gtoreq.1, and less than about 40 molar percent of the total formaldehyde content of the resin bound to phenol nuclei in methylol groups of the form Ph--CH.sub.2 OH, wherein Ph is a phenol nucleus. Phenol, water and an alkaline catalyst, limited to 0.5-2.2 moles of catalyst per 100 moles of phenol and preferably lithium carbonate, are mixed with formaldehyde at 1.9-5.0 formaldehyde to phenol ratios. The reaction mixture is heated at a uniform rate over 1 hour to reflux temperature and refluxed until a viscosity of 400-500 centipoise at 50-75% solids is attained. The mixture is cooled to 50.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for discouraging ruminants from browsing edible material normally eaten by such ruminants comprises contacting the material and/or the region adjacent such material with a repellent composition. The repellent composition contains as the active repellent ingredient an aliphatic aldehyde, preferably having from six to 12 carbon atoms. The repellent composition can also be applied to the material as a repellent-producing composition that is an oxidation precursor of the aliphatic aldehyde.

Abstract: A method for discouraging ruminants from browsing edible material normally eaten by such ruminants comprises contacting the material and/or the region adjacent such material with a repellent composition. The repellent composition contains as the active repellent ingredient an aliphatic aldehyde, preferably having from six to twelve carbon atoms. The repellent composition can also be applied to the material as a repellent-producing composition that is an oxidation precursor of the aliphatic aldehyde.