Abstract: A personal style diagnostic system uses a series of defined styles and a sliding scale of definitions and common language terminology within each style to provide a simple to use question and answer dialogue to facilitate the consumer's taste, style, and preferences for a room to be decorated.

Abstract: A cyanide-free, ammoniacal silver solution comprising a chelant, e.g. EDTA, and soluble copper, e.g. cupric nitrate, at a level of at least about 1 mole copper/mole silver provides silver replacement coatings on copper-coated articles. Silver coatings have a low surface electrical resistivity, e.g. as low as about 0.02 to 0.05 ohms/square.

Abstract: A process for preparing a nylon-6 block copolymer in which a solution comprising an acyllactam, epsilon-caprolactam and magnesium chloride is brought into reactive admixture with a solution of magnesium dilactam in epsilon-caprolactam. The acyllactam magnesium chloride solution is prepared by reaction of an acid halide functional material and magnesium dilactam.

Abstract: A process for preparing a nylon block copolymer which comprises bringing into reactive contact lactam monomer, basic lactam polymerization catalyst and a composition containing one or more lactam functional materials selected from the group represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein, Q is ##STR2## with Y=C.sub.3 -C.sub.11 alkylene; b is an integer equal to 2 or more;R.sub.1 is an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkyloxy, halogen, aryloxy, or aralkyloxy group;Z is a segment of: (1) a polyether, provided said polyether is not solely polyarylene polyether; (2) a polyester containing polyether or polymeric hydrocarbon segments (3) a hydrocarbon; (4) a polysiloxane; or (5) combinations thereof.

Abstract: A composition containing lactam functional materials, which are useful in the preparation of nylon block polymers, selected from the group consisting of: ##STR1## wherein, Q is ##STR2## with Y=C.sub.3 -C.sub.11 alkylene; b is an integer equal to 2 or more;R.sub.1 is an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkyloxy, halogen, aryloxy, or aralkyloxy group;Z is a segment of: (1) a polyether, provided said polyether is not solely polyarylene polyether; (2) a polyester containing polyether or polymeric hydrocarbon segments (3) a hydrocarbon; (4) a polysiloxane; or (5) combinations thereof.

Abstract: A composition containing acid halide functional materials, which are useful in the preparation of nylon block polymers, selected from the group consisting of: ##STR1## wherein, X is a halogen;b is an integer equal to 2 or more;R.sub.1 is an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkyloxy, halogen, aryloxy, or aralkyloxy group; andZ is a segment of: (1) a polyether, provided said polyether is not solely polyarylene polyether; (2) a polyester containing polyether or polymeric hydrocarbon segments (3) a polysiloxane; or (4) combinations thereof.

Abstract: A nylon block copolymer prepared from acyl lactam functionalized materials and lactam monomer and cross-linked by a polyfunctional amine.

Abstract: A process for polymerizing .epsilon.-caprolactam to form a nylon-6 block copolymer in which a reactant stream containing .epsilon.-caprolactam, and a lactam polymerization initiator is brought into polymerizing admixture with a reactant stream containing .epsilon.-caprolactam and a lactam magnesium halide, wherein sufficient 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl compound is added to the admixture either as 2-pyrrolidinone, 2-oxo-pyrrolidinyl magnesium halide or 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl capped initiator compound to enhance the rate of polymerization of the .epsilon.-caprolactam. The lactam polymerization initiator is a telechelic oligomer or polymer containing a backbone which provides elastomeric segments in the nylon-6 block copolymer, and attached to the backbone are activated initiator groups which initiate the polymerization of .epsilon.-caprolactam in the presence of the lactam magnesium halide.

Abstract: Compositions for the preparation of block copolylactams comprising lactam, lactam polymerization initiator and an effective amount of a viscosity enhancing compound selected from the group consisting of the lactamates and .omega.-amino acid salts of barium, calcium and strontium.

Abstract: A process for polymerizing .epsilon.-caprolactam to form a nylon-6 polymer in which a reactant stream containing .epsilon.-caprolactam and a lactam polymerization initiator is brought into polymerizing admixture with a reactant stream containing .epsilon.-caprolactam and a lactam magnesium halide, wherein sufficient 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl compound is added to the admixture either as 2-pyrrolidinone, 2-oxo-pyrrolidinyl magnesium halide or 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl capped initiator compound to enhance the rate of polymerization of the .epsilon.-caprolactam.

Abstract: A process for preparing a nylon block polymer which comprises bringing into reactive contact lactam monomer, basic lactam polymerization catalyst and a composition containing one or more acyllactam functional materials selected from the group consisting of: ##STR1## wherein, Q is ##STR2## with Y=C.sub.3 -C.sub.11 alkylene; a is an integer equal to 1, 2 or 3;b is an integer equal to 2 or more;R is a di- or a poly- valent group selected from hydrocarbon groups and hydrocarbon groups containing ether linkages;Z is a segment of: (1) a polyether or polymeric hydrocarbon; (2) a polyester containing polyether segments (3) a hydrocarbon; (4) a polysiloxane; or (5) combinations thereof.

Abstract: A composition containing acid halide functional materials, which are useful in the preparation of nylon block polymers, selected from the group consisting of: ##STR1## wherein, X is a halogen;a is an integer equal to 1, 2 or 3;b is an integer equal to 2 or more;R is a di- or a poly-valent group selected from hydrocarbon groups and hydrocarbon groups containing ether linkages;Z is a segment of: (1) a polyether; (2) a polyester containing polyether polyester hydrocarbon segments, (3) a hydrocarbon; (4) a polysiloxane; or (5) combinations thereof.

Abstract: Composition for use in preparing a nylon-6 block copolymer in which a solution comprising an acyl-lactam, epsilon-caprolactam and magnesium chloride is brought into reactive admixture with a solution of magnesium dilactam in epsilon-caprolactam. The acyl-lactam magnesium chloride solution is prepared by reaction of an acid halide functional material and magnesium dilactam.

Abstract: A composition containing acyllactam functional materials, which are useful in the preparation of nylon block polymers, selected from the group consisting of: ##STR1## wherein, Q is ##STR2## with Y=C.sub.3 -C.sub.11 alkylene; a is an integer equal to 1, 2 or 3;b is an integer equal to 2 or more;R is a di- or a poly- valent group selected from hydrocarbon groups and hydrocarbon groups containing ether linkages;Z is a segment of: (1) a polyether; (2) a polyester containing polyether or polymeric hydrocarbon segments; (3) a hydrocarbon; (4) a polysiloxane; or (5) combinations thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to construction panels comprising metal-thermoplastic-metal laminates and a process for preparing same, said laminates possessing in combination critical service properties of low coefficient of linear thermal expansion, low inelastic ratio, and excellent flexural stiffness.

Abstract: This invention relates to construction panels comprising metal-thermoplastic-metal laminates and a process for preparing same, said laminates possessing in combination critical service properties of high heat distortion temperature, low coefficient of linear thermal expansion, low inelastic ratio, and lightness in weight.

Abstract: Lactam-polyol-polyacyl lactam block terpolymers having both ester linkages and amide linkages between the monomeric segments of the terpolymer are disclosed. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the above block terpolymers comprising reacting together a lactam, polyol and polyacyl lactam in the presence of a basic lactam polymerization catalyst to form a lactam-polyol-polyacyl lactam block terpolymer.

Abstract: Lactam-polyol-polyacyl lactam or lactam-polyol-acyl polylactam terpolymers having up to 100% ester end group termination, and both ester linkages and amide linkages between the monomeric segments are disclosed. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the above terpolymer comprising reacting together a lactam, polyol, polyacyl lactam or acyl polylactam, and an alcohol in the presence of a basic lactam polymerization catalyst.

Abstract: Lactam-polyol-polyacyl lactam terpolymers having both ester linkages and amide linkages between the monomeric segments of the terpolymer are disclosed. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the above terpolymers comprising reacting together a lactam, polyol and polyacyl lactam in the presence of a basic lactam polymerization catalyst to form a lactam-polyol-polyacyl lactam terpolymer.

Abstract: A catalyzed process for the preparation of monomeric and/or polymeric compounds such as esters, polyesters, ester-amides, and polyester-polyamides which result from the reaction of an imide and an alcohol in the presence of a Group IA, IIA, IIB and/or IIIA metal or metal compound, imide-alcohol condensation catalyst.