Abstract: A process for preparing salts of polyaspartic acid by treating polycondensates in aqueous medium with bases, employing at least 0.7 equivalent of an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal base per mole of the aspartimide, aspartic acid and/or aspartamide units present in the polycondensates, and the bases being added within from 30 min to 20 hours to an aqueous suspension of polycondensates of aspartic acid which has been heated to 40.degree.-140.degree. C., and the reaction mixture being allowed to react further where appropriate, and the use of alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal salts of polyaspartic acids obtainable by treating polycondensates of aspartic acid in aqueous medium with more than 1 equivalent of an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal base, with the molecular weight of the polycondensates being reduced, as additive to detergents and cleaners.

Abstract: Biodegradable polyetheresteramides P1 which are obtained by reacting(a1) a mixture containing20-95 mol % of adipic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof and5-80 mol % of terephthalic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof, and(a2) a mixture of dihydroxy compounds(a21) from 15 to 99.3 mol % of a dihydroxy compound selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkanediols and C.sub.5 -C.sub.10 -cycloalkanediols,(a22) from 0.2 to 85 mol % of a dihydroxy compound containing ether functionalities of the formula IHO--((CH.sub.2).sub.n --O).sub.m --H Iwhere n is 2, 3 or 4 and m is an integer from 2 to 250, or mixtures thereof and(a23) from 0.5 to 80 mol % of an amino-C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 -alkanol or amino-C.sub.5 -C.sub.10 -cycloalkanol,where the molar ratio of (a1) to (a2) is from 0.4:1 to 1.5:1, with the proviso, inter alia, that the polyetheresteramides P1 have a molecular weight (M.sub.

Abstract: Biodegradable polyetheresteramides Q1 with a molecular weight (M.sub.n) in the range from 6000 to 80,000 g/mol, a viscosity number in the range from 30 to 450 g/ml (measured in o-dichlorobenzene/phenol (50/50 ratio by weight) at a concentration of 0.5% by weight polyetheresteramide Q1 at 25.degree. C.), and a melting point in the range from 50.degree. to 200.degree. C., obtained by reacting a1) from 95 to 99.9% by weight polyetheresteramide P1, obtained by reacting a mixture ofb1) 20-95 mol % adipic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof, and5-80 mol % terephthalic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof, andb2) a mixture of a dihydroxy compound selected from C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkanediols and C.sub.5 -C.sub.10 -cycloalkanediols,b22) a dihydroxy compound which contains ether functionalities and has the formula IHO--((CH.sub.2).sub.n --O)).sub.m --H Iwhere n is 2, 3 or 4 and m is an integer from 2 to 250, andb23) from 0.5 to 80 mol % of an amino-C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 -alkanol or an amino-C.sub.5 -C.sub.

Abstract: Finely divided mixtures of 97-10% by weight of at least one amphiphilic polymer whose softening point is above 35.degree. C., and 3-90% by weight of at least one inorganic solid with a particle size not exceeding 500 .mu.m are prepared by heating the two components to a temperature which is above the softening point of the polymer, mixing the components, dispersing the melt and rapidly cooling to a temperature at which virtually no inhomogeneity occurs and, where appropriate, further comminuting the particles at temperatures below 50.degree. C. to a particle size of from 50 .mu.m to 5 mm, and are used as additive to detergents.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyaspartic acid by polycondensation of fine-particle aspartic acid at temperatures above 150.degree. C. in the presence of acidic catalysts, wherein first contact between the acidic catalysts and the fine-particle aspartic acid takes place in the reaction zone where the polycondensation takes place.

Abstract: A biodegradable polyester obtainable by reacting a mixture comprising(a1) from 95 to 99.9% by weight of a polyester P1 obtainable by reacting a mixture essentially comprising(b1) a mixture comprising35-95 mol % of adipic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof,5-65 mol % of terephthalic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof, and0-5 mol % of a compound containing sulfonate groups, and(b2) a dihydroxy compound selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkanediols and C.sub.5 -C.sub.10 -cycloalkanediols,with the proviso that a compound D with at least three groups capable of ester formation is employed to prepare the polyester P1,(a2) from 0.1 to 5% by weight of a divinyl ether C1 and(a3) from 0 to 5 mol %, based on component (b1) from the preparation of P1, of compound D,and other biodegradable polymers and thermoplastic molding compositions, processes for the preparation thereof, the use thereof for producing biodegradable moldings and adhesives.

Abstract: Amphiphilic polyesters containing(a) ester units derived from polyalkylene glycols having a molecular weight of from 500 to 7500 and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and/or monohydroxymonocarboxylic acids and(b) ester units derived from aromatic dicarboxylic acids and polyhydric alcoholsand having molecular weights of from 1500 to 25,000,processes for preparing the amphiphilic polyesters by polycondensation, preparing first(a) aliphatic polyesters of polyalkylene glycols having a molecular weight of from 500 to 7500 with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and/or monohydroxymonocarboxylic acids and then, within the aliphatic polyester thus obtained,(b) aromatic polyesters from aromatic dicarboxylic acids and polyhydric alcohols,reversing the order of the polycondensation, or condensing oligomeric aromatic polyesters (b) with oligomeric aliphatic polyesters (a), and use of the amphiphilic polyesters as additive in laundry detergents, other laundry detergent additives and laundry aftertreatments.

Abstract: The use of polyaspartic acid prepared by polycondensation of aspartic acid in the presence of phosphoric acid in a molar ratio of from 1:0.05 to 1:10 at temperatures of at least 120.degree. C. to give polysuccinimide, and subsequent hydrolysis of the polysuccinimide with bases to give at least partially neutralized polyaspartic acid, as additive to detergents and cleaners in amounts of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, and detergents and cleaners which contain polyaspartic acids prepared in the presence of phosphoric acid.

Abstract: Polymers which contain polyacetal blocks are obtainable by polymerizing carboxylates containing aldehyde groups in the presence of initiators and reacting the polymers with at least bifunctional crosslinking agents in the presence of acids or Lewis acids and, if required hydrolyzing the ester groups present as polymerized units, process for the preparation of the polymers containing polyacetal blocks by polymerizing carboxylates containing aldehyde groups in the presence of initiators and reacting the resulting polyacetals containing terminal hydroxyl groups with at least bifunctional crosslinking agents in the presence of acids or Lewis acids, and the use of the resulting polymers as additives in phosphate-free and reduced phosphate detergents and cleaning agents, as scale inhibitors and as dispersants for pigments.

Abstract: Modified polyaspartic acids are prepared by condensing aspartic acid with polybasic carboxylic acids or anhydrides of polybasic carboxylic acids and ammonia without a diluent at temperatures of at least 140.degree. C. in the absence of inorganic acids.

Abstract: Use of carboxyl-containing reaction products of(a) maleic anhydride, maleic acid and/or fumaric acid, and(b) proteins or protein hydrolyzateshaving an acid number of at least 1.5 mmol of NaOH/g of reaction product, as ingredient of reduced-phosphate and phosphate-free detergents and cleaners.

Abstract: Process for preparing polycondensates of citric acid and/or isocitric acid, by converting(a) citric acid, isocitric acid or mixtures thereof in an organic solvent in the presence of a water-withdrawing agent at least partially into the anhydride form and then condensing the reaction mixture, if desired after addition of two cocondensable compounds selected from the group consisting of(b) other hydroxycarboxylic acids and/or(c) amino acids, alcohols, amines and/or at least dibasic carboxylic acids other than carboxylic acids (a) and (b), at temperatures of at least 80.degree. C. to form polycarboxylates which have an average molecular weight of at least 500, polycondensates of citric acid and/or isocitric acid obtainable thereby, anduse of said polycondensates as ingredients in phosphate-free and reduced-phosphate detergents and cleaners, and also detergents and cleaners which contain at least one surfactant and optionally builders and other customary constituents with from 0.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of products of the reaction of polyaspartimides and amino acids by reaction of amino acids with polyaspartimides in aqueous medium at pH values at which at least 5% of the amino groups in the amino acids are in non-protonated form in equilibrium with the protonated form, and use of the reaction products obtainable in this way and of products of the reaction of polyaspartimides with alkanolamines or aminated C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 -fatty alcohol alkoxylates which contain as copolymerized units up to 50 mol % of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide per mol of fatty alcohol, as additive to detergents and cleaners, as scale inhibitor and as dispersant.

Abstract: Low viscosity mixtures of(I) from 40 to 97.5% by weight of amphiphilic nonionic graft copolymers comprising, in copolymerized form,(a) at least 20% by weight of polyalkylene oxide units or polyvinylpyrrolidone units as hydrophilic part of the molecule and(b) at least 40% by weight of vinyl ester and/or (meth)acrylic ester units as hydrophobic part of the molecule, and(II) from 2.5 to 60% by weight of at least one viscosity-reducing additive selected from the group consisting of polyalkylene glycols, alkoxylated alcohols, alkoxylated alkylphenols, alkoxylated amines and hydroxy compounds having from 1 to 4 OH groups and from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, the molecular mass M.sub.

Abstract: Process for the preparing high molecular weight polymers by polymerization of water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated moonomers and, if desired, crosslinkers, and, if desired, water-insoluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, in aqueous solution in the presence of polymerization initiators in a tubular reaction which at the end has a conical taper, the ratio of the diameter of the reactor (D1) to the diameter at the end of the conical taper of the reactor (D2) being from 2:1 to 25:1 and the angle between D1 at the beginning of the conical taper and the inner cone wall being >45.degree. and <90.degree., and discharge of the gelatinous reaction mixture from the reactor by injection of an inert gas.

Abstract: Polycocondensates based on aspartic acid which are obtainable by condensing aspartic acid in the presence of polymers containing carboxyl groups, which contain at least 10 mol % of a monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid in copolymerized form and have a molecular weight of at least 300, in the weight ratio from 1,000:1 to 2:1, processes for preparing the polycocondensates and use of the polycocondensates in the form of the free acid groups or in a form neutralized with ammonia, amines, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal bases as an additive to detergents and cleaners, as scale inhibitors or as dispersants for finely divided solids are described.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of polymers of aspartic acid by reacting (a) maleic anhydride and (b) ammonia and/or primary or secondary amines without diluent in the (a):(b) molar ratio of 1:0.1 to 1:3 to give monoamides of maleic acid, fumaric acid or their ammonium salts at up to 100.degree. C. and subsequent condensation of the reaction products, with or without compounds capable of cocondensation, at above 100.degree. C. and, where appropriate, hydrolysis of the condensates and use of the polymers as scale inhibitor, as dispersants for pigments and as additive to detergents and cleaners.

Abstract: Use of polyacetals containing acetaldehyde acetal units, and of mixtures of these polyacetals with fillers, for preparing compostable moldings, as coating and as adhesive, and also diapers with an outer layer comprising polyacetals containing acetaldehyde acetal units in the form of a compostable film or a compostable coating.

Abstract: There are described block copolyacetals obtainable by cationically initiated polyaddition of(A) polyacetals containing acetaldehyde acetal units and having at least 2 OH groups in the molecule and(B) polyacetals containing acetaldehyde acetal units and having at least 2 vinyl ether groups in the molecule.in a molar ratio of (A):(B) of from 2:1 to 1:2, processes for preparing the block copolyacetals by cationically initiated polyaddition of (A) and (B), and the use of the block polyacetals as additament to reduced-phosphate and phosphate-free detergents and cleaners and as low-foam surfactants in dishwashing compositions.

Abstract: Bismaleimide resin systems containing one or more bismaleimides and an alkenyl and/or alkynyl substituted phenylated dicyclopentadiene comonomer have high glass transition temperatures and impact resistance.