Abstract: The present invention is a laminate which comprises:a) a plastic substrate having a surface;b) an adhesion promoter layer which is a first plasma polymerized organosilicon compound deposited on the surface of the substrate in the substantial absence of oxygen; andc) a protective coating layer which is a second plasma polymerized organosilicon compound deposited on the surface of the adhesion layer at a power density from about 10.sup.6 J/kg to about 10.sup.8 J/kg, and in the presence of a sufficient stoichiometric excess of oxygen to form a silicon polymer of SiO.sub.1.8-2.4 C.sub.0.3-1.0 and H.sub.0.7-4.0.The coating layer provides abrasion and solvent resistance for the substrate, and the adhesion promoter prevents the coating layer from peeling off the substrate. The coated plastic substrate can be used in liquid crystal display devices as an alternative to glass.

Abstract: A process to form glycol ethers by reacting an organic compound (A) having at least one aliphatic hydroxyl group with an oxirane compound (B) under reaction conditions in the presence of a catalytic amount of a polymeric material that is substantially insoluble in the reaction mixture, said polymeric material having a plurality of pendant sulfonate moieties with divalent metal counterions. Preferential formation of the mono adduct of glycol ethers is noted.