Abstract: Higher-alkane sulfonyl halides are prepared by contacting a sulfur-containing compound, a halogen-containing compound, and a phase transfer agent within a reaction zone under reaction conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed are a flat panel display and a backlight which provides both night vision and day mode backlighting of the flat panel display. The backlight of the flat panel display includes a circuit card and day mode light emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned coplanar with each other on the circuit card. Night vision (NVIS) LEDs are positioned on the circuit card coplanar with the day mode LEDs. An optical wave-guide is positioned in front of the day mode LEDs and the NVIS LEDs and is adapted to distribute light from the day mode LEDs and from the NVIS LEDs forward away from the LEDs and the circuit card.

Abstract: A process which can be used to produce organic polysulfide compounds is provided. The process comprises contacting, in the presence of a catalyst, an organic disulfide with sulfur under conditions sufficient to produce an organic polysulfide wherein the organic disulfide, sulfur, and catalyst are each present in an amount effective to produce an organic polysulfide and the catalyst comprises a base and a surfactant.

Abstract: A process for producing an organic polysulfide compound comprises contacting, in the presence of a catalyst, a mercaptan with elemental sulfur to produce a product medium and contacting the product medium with a material comprising carbon dioxide or a carbon dioxide-generating compound wherein the catalyst comprises a base and optionally a surfactant and the organic polysulfide contains about 3 or more sulfur atoms per molecule.

Abstract: A process for producing an organic trisulfide compound comprises contacting, in the presence of a catalyst, a mercaptan with an organic polysulfide compound to produce a product mixture and optionally contacting the product mixture with an acid wherein the catalyst comprises a base and surfactant and the organic polysulfide contains about 4 or more sulfur atoms per molecule.

Abstract: A process for producing a polymer is provided which can comprise, consist essentially of, or consists of, contacting an inorganic compound having the formula of M.sub.x H.sub.y Z.sub.p, in an aqueous medium, with an organic halide under a condition sufficient to effect the production of the polymer in which the polymer comprises repeat units having the formula of (C.sub.m H.sub.2m-q (R'.sub.q)--Z.sub.p).sub.n in which m is a whole number from 1 to about 20; Z can be S, Se, or combinations thereof; n is a number from about 5 to about 400; M is a metal or ammonium ion; x is a number filling the necessary valency of M; y is 0 or 1; q is a whole number from 0 to about 10 and p is a whole number from 1 to 4.

Abstract: A backlight for liquid crystal displays which includes several closely spaced lamps and a sculptured optic element disposed behind the lamps wherein, the sculptured optic element has a reflective back side and a partially reflective front side and an optically transmissive medium disposed there between. The optic element being sculptured so as to direct light rays emanating from the back of the lamps and from the side of the lamps in a direction away from colliding with other lamps and in a direction toward the median surface. The optic element essentially gathers light from behind and between the lamps and directs it in a direction toward the viewing surface.

Abstract: A composition comprising a base and an alkoxylated compound selected from an alkoxylated alcohol and alkoxylated mercaptan is disclosed. The composition can be used to catalyze the reaction of a mercaptan and an elemental sulfur to produce a polysulfide compound. The polysulfide compound can be further treated with an alkylene oxide to reduce the mercaptan sulfur content of the polysulfide compound.

Abstract: A process which can be used to produce an aromatic sulfide compound having the formula of (R.sub.4-n)(X.sub.n)(W)Ar--S--R' is provided. The process comprises contacting, in the presence of a surfactant, a halo-substituted aromatic compound in an aqueous solution with a salt of a mercaptan under conditions sufficient to produce the aromatic sulfide in which the halo-substituted aromatic compound and salt of mercaptan are each present in an amount effective to synthesize the aromatic sulfide wherein R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl radical, X is a halogen, n is a number from 0 to 3, W is a substituent, Ar is an aromatic ring, and R' is a hydrocarbyl radical.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp is provided which is resistant to lumen depreciation. The fluorescent lamp includes a tube constructed of an ultraviolet (UV) radiation transmissive material. A gas inside of the tube produces UV radiation in response to a stimulus. Phosphor particles in a phosphor particle containing coating adhered to an outer surface of the tube absorb UV radiation produced by the gas inside of the tube and producing visible light in response.

Abstract: A thermal cracking process is provided which comprises contacting a thermal cracking furnace with a fluid stream which comprises steam and a polysulfide such as di-t-nonylpolysulfide under a condition sufficient to effect the suppression of the formation of carbon monoxide and thereafter introducing a steam fluid containing a saturated hydrocarbon such as ethane and a polysulfide such as di-t-nonylpolysulfide under a condition sufficient to convert the saturated hydrocarbon to an olefinic compound such as ethylene.

Abstract: The present invention is a liquid crystal display with an improved backlighting system. A light source in the backlighting system radiates light in a first non-preferred direction. An optical apparatus coupled to the light source receives the light radiated by the light source in the first non-preferred direction and refracts it into a first preferred direction.

Abstract: A process comprises contacting, in the presence of a catalyst, hydrogen sulfide or a mercaptan such as, for example, n-dodecyl mercaptan with an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl or .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated cyano compound such as, for example, methyl acrylate wherein the catalyst comprises a pyridine derivative such as, for example, 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine or an ion exchange resin such as, for example, "AMBERLYST A-21" to produce a 3-hydrocarbylthio derivative of the .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl or .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated cyano compound such as, for example, methyl 3-(dodecylthio)propionate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided which has improved wide angle viewing characteristics. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal matrix. A non-planar fluorescent lamp positioned on a first side of the liquid crystal matrix has a center which traverses the fluorescent lamp in at least one longitudinal direction. A distance between the first side of the liquid crystal matrix and the fluorescent lamp center in a first portion of the fluorescent lamp is less than a distance between the first side of the liquid crystal matrix and the fluorescent lamp center in a second portion of the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A process which can be used to produce an aromatic sulfide compound having the formula of (R.sub.4-n)(X.sub.n)(W)Ar--S--R' is provided. The process comprises contacting, in the presence of a surfactant, a halo-substituted aromatic compound in an aqueous solution with a salt of a mercaptan under conditions sufficient to produce the aromatic sulfide in which the halo-substituted aromatic compound and salt of mercaptan are each present in an amount effective to synthesize the aromatic sulfide wherein R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl radical, X is a hlogen, n is a number from 0 to 3, W is a substituent, Ar is an aromatic ring, and R' is a hydrocarbyl radical.

Abstract: A process which can be used to dissolve sulfur deposits or sulfur plugs in gas wells, oil wells, vessels, or conduits for transporting a fluid containing sulfur is provided. The process comprises contacting the sulfur deposits or sulfur plugs under conditions sufficient to dissolve sulfur wherein the composition comprises an organic sulfide, a base, a surfactant, and optionally, a mercaptan and is present in an amount effective to dissolve sulfur.

Abstract: A process for preparing an organic polysulfide polymer, such as polyethylene trisulfide, is provided which comprises contacting a dimercaptan such as 1,2-ethanedithiol with elemental sulfur using a basic catalyst wherein the dimercaptan, elemental sulfur, and basic catalyst are each present in an effective amount to effect the preparation of the organic polysulfide polymer. A process for controlling the molecular weight of an organic polysulfide polymer is also provided which comprises contacting a mercaptan with a dimercaptan and sulfur, in the presence of a basic catalyst, under conditions sufficient to prepare an organic polysulfide polymer.

Abstract: A composition which comprises a major amount of an organic polysulfide and an odor-masking amount of an odor-masking compound selected from the group consisting of wintergreen, cinnamons, vanillins, terpenes, sesquiterpenes, and combinations of any two or more thereof is provided wherein the composition has a more pleasant odor than the organic polysulfide.

Abstract: A process for preparing an organic disulfide polymer such as polyethylene disulfide which is used in batteries comprises contacting a dimercaptan such as 1,2-ethanedithiol with elemental sulfur using a mixture of a basic compound such as NaOH and an ethoxylated alcohol such as Union Carbide's TERGITOL.RTM. 15-S-7 having the formula of R.sup.2 O(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.7 H as catalyst wherein the dimercaptan is present in excess amount to effect the preparation of the disulfide polymer.

Abstract: A process which can be used to produce organic polysulfide compounds is provided. The process comprises contacting, in the presence of a catalyst, a mercaptan with sulfur under conditions sufficient to produce an organic polysulfide and thereafter, the resulting reaction medium is contacted with an acid to produce an acid-treated organic polysulfide wherein the mercaptan, sulfur, and catalyst are each present in an amount effective to produce an organic polysulfide. The acid-treated organic polysulfide can be purified and recovered.