Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible composition comprising a vinyl chloride polymer and a block copolymer. The latter comprises a poly(ethylene oxide) block and a block of a polymer which is miscible with the vinyl chloride polymer, other than the latter itself. The invention also relates to a poly(ethylene oxide)/poly-.epsilon.-caprolactone diblock copolymer which can be used in this composition, as well as to the use of this composition for the manufacture of an article and to an article comprising this composition.

Abstract: Poly-.epsilon.-caprolactones produced by continuous melt polymerization of .epsilon.-caprolactone with the use of aluminium alkoxides are stabilized for storage by incorporation of an effective quantity of silicon derivative such as, for example, a silicon oxide, an inorganic silicate or a silicon alkoxide, preference being given to silicon alkoxides. This process has the effect of greatly limiting the gradual reduction in the inherent viscosity of the poly-.epsilon.-caprolactones in the course of time. In accordance with a preferred embodiment the incorporation of the silicon derivative is preceded by the incorporation of an effective quantity of water, and this further improves the storage stability of the poly-.epsilon.-caprolactones produced with the use of aluminium alkoxides.

Abstract: Poly-.epsilon.-caprolactones are produced by continuous polymerization of .epsilon.-caprolactone as a melt in an extruder (reactive extrusion) with the use, as polymerization initiator, of aluminium trialkoxides in which at least one alkoxy radical includes at least one other oxygen atom besides the oxygen atom constituting the aluminoxane (AI--O) bond. This oxygen atom is advantageously present in the form of an ester or ether functional group. These initiators are generally in the liquid state at ambient temperature and are furthermore miscible with .epsilon.-caprolactone, with the result that they can be used in the absence of solvent. The appropriate adjustment of the feed flow rates of .epsilon.-caprolactone and of initiator to the extruder permits the manufacture of custom-made poly-.epsilon.-caprolactones which have predesigned weight-average molecular masses.

Abstract: The poly-.epsilon.-caprolactones are manufactured by continuous polymerization of .epsilon.-caprolactone as a melt in an extruder (reactive extrusion) with the involvement of a polymerization initiator chosen from aluminum alkoxides. The appropriate adjustment of the extruder feed rates of .epsilon.-caprolactone and of aluminum alkoxide allows the customized manufacture of poly-.epsilon.-caprolactones which have high and preestablished weight-average molecular masses.Poly-.epsilon.-caprolactones obtainabled by the process are characterized by weight-average molecular masses (M.sub.w) equal to at least approximately 95,000 g/mol and M.sub.w /M.sub.n ratios of at least approximately 2.

Abstract: An amorphous powder of titanium oxide and of barium and/or strontium oxide is precipitated by the hydrolysis of titanium alcoholate in the presence of barium oxide, hydroxide or alcoholate or strontium oxide, hydroxide or alcoholate and an acid organic compound containing more than 6 carbon atoms, and the amorphous powder is heated while being treated with a stream of gas containing water vapour, ammonia or CO.sub.2, to crystallize the barium or strontium titanate and distill off the acid organic compound. The barium or strontium titanate crystals are less than one micron in size and have an irregular, angular morphology.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a mixed metal oxide powder, in which at least one metal alcoholate is hydrolyzed in the presence of at least one metal oxide or hydroxide and of an acidic organic compound containing more than 6 carbon atoms in the molecule. The process is applicable to the production of barium titanate powders.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of vitreous metal oxides in which a metal alcoholate derived from an alcohol, the pka of which is less than 15.74, is hydrolysed with an aqueous medium, the pH of which is greater than 1.5. The process is applied especially to the manufacture of vitreous zirconium oxide.

Abstract: Phosphobrominated polyetherpolyols which contain in their molecule oxyalkylene radicals bound to phosphorus atoms in the phosphate or phosphonate state and 1,4-dioxy-2,3-dibromo-2-butylene radicals in which the ratio of the total number of oxyalkylene radicals to the total number of phosphorus atoms is equal to at least 7.These polyetherpolyols can be used as flame-retarding reactive additives in the manufacture of flame-retardant flexible polyurethane foams involving polyetherpolyols, the foams possessing good comfort-conferring properties.