Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing foamed polyolefin-based plastics blocks by first crosslinking a matrix comprising a) from 51 to 97% by weight of one or more polyolefins, selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and ethylene copolymer, b) from 3 to 20% by weight of a foaming agent, using &bgr;-radiation of energy >6 MeV. The thickness of the matrix is from 25 to 45 mm. The radiation dose is from 20 to 150 kJ/kg. During the irradiation, atmospheric oxygen is at least substantially prevented from reaching the surface of the matrix. After crosslinking, the crosslinked matrix is foamed by heating to a temperature >160° C. and decomposing the blowing agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to magnetic recording media comprising a non-magnetic base and, applied thereto, a firmly adhering magnetic coating based on a finely divided magnetic pigment and a special binder mixture. This binder mixture consists essentially of 20 to 90 percent by weight of an elastomeric polyurethane which is soluble in a volatile organic solvent, is practically free of isocyanate groups and has been obtained from a linear, aliphatic polyester or polyether and a diisocyanate of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and of 10 to 80 percent by weight of a vinyl chloride copolymer which contains 50 to 90 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units and 10 to 50 percent by weight of units of one or more diesters of maleic acid with an alcohol of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or of the reaction product of this binder mixture with a polyisocyanate of 6 to 50 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media comprising a non-magnetic base and, applied thereto, a firmly adhering magnetic coating based on a finely divided magnetic pigment dispersed in a binder which contains at least 50 percent by weight of a special polyurethane elastomer, namely a thermoplastic polyurethane which is soluble in tetrahydrofuran, is free from isocyanate groups and has been manufactured from (A) 1 mole of a hydroxyl-containing polyester having a molecular weight of from 700 to 2,500, (B) from 0.3 to 3 moles of a linear aliphatic diol of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, (C) from 0.05 to 0.4 mole of a triol of 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and (D) from 1.35 to 4.7 moles of a diisocyanate of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, the amount of NCO groups being approximately equivalent to the amount of OH groups of the sum of components (A) to (C).

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a magnetic recording medium by producing a dispersion of a finely divided anisotropic magnetic material and conventional additives in a solution of a polymeric binder in an organic solvent, applying a layer of the dispersion to a nonmagnetizable base material, then orienting the anisotropic magnetic material by means of a magnetic field, and drying the layer, wherein a compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is straight-chain or branched akyl of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms or aralkyl of 7 to 14 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or one of the radicals given in the definition of R.sup.1, is added to the dispersion.

Abstract: This invention relates to magnetic recording media comprising a non-magnetic base and a magnetic coating firmly bonded thereto, which coating consists essentially of a dispersion of a finely divided magnetic pigment in a polyurethane-containing mixture of binders. This binder mixture contains from 30 to 90% by weight of an elastomeric polyurethane which is virtually free from isocyanate groups and is soluble in a volatile organic solvent, and from 10 to 70% by weight of a vinyl chloride copolymer containing from 5 to 50% by weight of polymerized units of a monoester obtained from an aliphatic diol of from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and acrylic or methacrylic acid. Magnetic recording media having a magnetic coating containing this binder mixture are distinguished by advantageous mechanical and electrical properties, in particular by good abrasion resistance and improved packing density combined with better orientation of the magnetic particles.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media, the magnetic coating of which consists of a dispersion of elongated ferromagnetic chromium dioxide particles in an organic binder, the dispersions exhibiting particularly good storage stability. This is achieved by admixing 0.5 to 6% by weight, based on the amount of chromium dioxide pigment, of the zinc salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acid of 8 to 18 carbon atoms, during the manufacture of the chromium dioxide dispersions. Chromium dioxide dispersions with good storage stability and a high degree of orientation of the elongated magnetic particles in the magnetic coating are thus obtained in a simple manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to magnetic recording media comprising a non-magnetic base and, applied thereto, a firmly adhering magnetic coating based on a finely divided magnetic pigment dispersed in a binder which contains at least 50 percent by weight of a special polyurethane elastomer.This polyurethane elastomer is a thermoplastic polyurethane which is soluble in tetrahydrofuran and free from isocyanate groups, and which has been manufactured from (A) 1 mole of one or more hydroxyl-containing polyesters and/or hydroxyl-containing polyethers of molecular weight from 600 to 4,000, (B) from 3.5 to 15 moles of a branched-chain aliphatic diol of 4 to 10 carbon atoms or a mixture of aliphatic diols of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, of which at least 50 mole percent is a branched-chain aliphatic diol of 4 to 10 carbon atoms, (C) from 0 to 1 mole, but not more than 15 mole percent of the aliphatic diols according to B, of an aliphatic polyol with from 3 to 6 OH groups and 3 to 18 carbon atoms, and (D) from 4.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media consisting of a non-magnetic base and, applied thereto, a firmly adhering magnetic coating based on finely divided magnetic pigment dispersed in organic binders, which coating contains, according to the invention, salts of long-chain basic polyaminoamides with high molecular weight organic acid esters.Such magnetic recording media exhibit improved mechanical resistance and improved adhesion of the coating to the base, coupled with advantageous electromagnetic properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of improved magnetic discs by applying a thin layer of a liquid dispersion of magnetic pigments and optionally further, non-magnetic, pigments in a binder mixture to a non-magnetic rigid base, and curing the magnetic coating which has been applied. The binder used is a mixture of polycondensates comprising 60 to 70% by weight of a solid curable polycondensate of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane and epichlorohydrin having an epoxy equivalent weight from about 400 to 2,500 and a melting point from about 50.degree. to 150.degree. C, 10 to 30% by weight of a curable allyloxybenzene-formaldehyde condensate of the resol type with free methylol groups or with methylol groups etherified with a lower alcohol, and having a molecular weight of less than 1,000, and 10 to 30% by weight of a curable melamine-formaldehyde condensate with more than two methylol groups etherified with n-butanol or iso-butanol, and having a molecular weight of less than 2,500.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium consists of a non-magnetic base, on which the magnetic coating is a layer of a dispersion, containing a lubricant, of a magnetic pigment in a polymeric binder. The lubricant is a block copolymer which contains siloxane units and alkyleneoxy units of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, the alkyleneoxy units being bonded to the polysiloxane radical through a Si--O--C or Si--C group. The use of this lubricant gives a magnetic recording medium which has the advantages of good fluid lubrication and an excellent coefficient of friction which does not vary with time.

Abstract: In a process for the production of magnetic recording media by applying a layer of a dispersion of a magnetic pigment in a polyurethane-containing binder and a solvent to non-magnetic supports, small amounts of ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable carboxylic acids or their anhydrides with or without copolymerizable monomers are added and polymerized during dispersion of the magnetic pigment. Recording media produced by this process exhibit excellent output level, coefficient of friction and electrical resistance values and have particularly good operational durability.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium in the form of a card having a non-magnetic support with a magnetic coating on one side of the support and a backcoating on the opposite side of the support, which backcoating exhibits improved scratch resistance and adherence to the support and improved frictional characteristics and consists essentially of 20 to 50% by weight of a binder mixture containing 10 to 60% by weight of an elastomeric polyurethane and, incorporated in the binder mixture, a non-magnetic pulverulent mixture of 10 to 40% by weight of conductive carbon powder and 60 to 90% by weight of platelet-shaped and spherical particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to magnetic discs in which first a non-magnetic intermediate layer and then the magnetic coating are applied by conventional methods to an aluminum disc. The intermediate layer applied to the non-magnetic metallic carrier disc is a hard non-magnetic coating which can be polished and which consists of a dispersion of a pulverulent mixture of finely divided inorganic non-magnetic pigments having a Mohs' hardness of at least 7 in a binder which can be cured and which provides firm cohesion of the pigment particles and good adhesion thereof to the non-magnetic base disc, the pigment mixture containing at least 3 percent by weight of corundum powder having a particle size of from about 1 to 20.mu.u. Magnetic discs with very thin magnetic coatings which possess good magnetic and mechanical properties and whose thickness varies only minimally are thus produced in a simple manner.