Abstract: In some embodiments according to the present disclosure, calibrated pneumatic otoscopes and retrofit calibration devices are described. In certain aspects of the present disclosure, methods of using calibrated pneumatic otoscopes are described. In certain aspects according to the present disclosure, kits containing pneumatic otoscopes are described. In certain aspects according to the present disclosure, retrofit calibration devices are described.

Abstract: A small volume effusion trap for use with common surgical or medical instruments having a housing unit with two elongate, rigid, hollow members, a vacuum source, and a drainage tube. In an embodiment, a standard, commercially available sample vial attaches to the housing unit to collect the effusion. The sample vial can be utilized directly in standardized diagnostic and/or therapeutic analysis apparatuses. To collect a small volume of effusion, one elongate, rigid, hollow member is connected to standard surgical or medical aspirators and the other elongate, rigid, hollow member is connected to the vacuum line. With suction applied to the elongate, rigid, hollow member, an area of reduced pressure is produced in the sample vial so as to cause aspirated effusion to proceed from the surgical or medical apparatus through the elongate, rigid hollow member into the sample vial.

Abstract: An improved aqueous cathodic electrocoating composition of an aqueous carrier having dispersed therein a film forming binder of (1) an epoxy-resin amine adduct and (2) a blocked polyisocyanate crosslinking agent; wherein the improvement is an epoxy resin amine adduct which is a reaction product of an epoxy resin and a polyhydric phenol which is chain extended with a primary amine to form a chain extended epoxy resin having epoxy end groups and an equivalent amine to epoxy ratio is 1-10 to 4-10 and wherein the epoxy end groups of the resin are reacted with a ketimine and/or a diamine and the resulting chain extended epoxy resin has an epoxy equivalent weight of about 700-2,000 and is neutralized with an organic or inorganic acid; wherein the electrocoating composition has improved throw power and forms coatings that have improved corrosion resistance in comparison to conventional electrocoating compositions formed from epoxy resins extended with conventional diamines or polyols.

Abstract: An improved method of free radical polymerization conducted in the presence of a relatively low molecular weight macromonomer such as can be made with a metal chelate chain transfer catalyst. This method has various uses, including reducing the molecular weight of a variety of crosslinkable polymers and copolymers.

Abstract: A graft copolymer dispersant (binder) having a weight average molecular weight of about 5,000-100,000 wherein: (1) the graft copolymer has a polymeric backbone formed by polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers; (2) the graft copolymer has macromonomer side chains attached to the backbone at a single terminal point that have weight average molecular weights of about 1,000-30,000 and are formed from by polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of a cobalt chain transfer agent. The graft copolymer further contains about 2 to 70% by weight, based on the weight of the graft copolymer, of polymerized constituents having a phosphate moiety or phosphoric acid moleties that are polymerized into the backbone, the side chains, or both. The graft copolymer is neutralized with an inorganic base or an amine.

Abstract: A pigment dispersion useful for forming aqueous coating compositions containing metallic flake pigment, an aqueous carrier and a graft copolymer dispersant (binder);wherein the graft copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 5,000-100,000 and comprises a polymeric backbone and macromonomer side chains attached to the backbone wherein(1) the polymeric backbone is formed of polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomers and(2) the side chains are macromonomers that are attached to the backbone at a single terminal point and formed from polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomers that are polymerized in the presence of a cobalt chain transfer agent have a weight average molecular weight of about 1,000-30,000;wherein the graft copolymer contains about 2 to 70% by weight, based on the weight of the graft copolymer, of polymerized constituents having a phosphate moiety and phosphoric acid moieties that are polymerized into the backbone, the side chains or both and the polymer is neutralized with a

Abstract: Dispersed polymers comprising microparticles stabilized with two kinds of steric stabilizers are disclosed. The first stabilizer is an essentially linear polymer having a terminal end attached to the microparticle. The second stabilizer is a graft or comb polymer comprising an acrylic backbone having side chains. This stabilizer, in contrast to the first stabilizer may be attached to the core by means of a plurality of functional groups placed along the backbone of the graft polymer.

Abstract: A curable composition comprising a crosslinkable copolymer, wherein the copolymer is the free radical polymerization product of a mixture of monomers in the presence of a terminally unsaturated oligomeric chain transfer catalyst. Such compositions have advantageous properties when used in a variety of products including high performance coatings.

Abstract: A method of preparing macromonomer compositions of a limited average molecular weight containing an olefinic polymerizable end group. The macromonomers may suitably comprise the polymerization product of methacrylate, methacrylonitrile, and methacrylamide monomers, derivatives thereof, and mixtures of such monomers.

Abstract: A polymer dispersion of a star polymer dispersed in an organic liquid; wherein the star polymer has a crosslinked core having attached thereto at least three macrononomer arms; where(1) the core is formed of monomers having at least two ethylenically unsaturated double bonds which are crosslinked with each other and the core has at least 3 free radical polymerizable sites each of which are reacted with the macromonomer; and(2) the macromonomer that forms the arms of the star polymer is formed of ethylenically unsaturated monomers that have been polymerized by free radical polymerization in the presence of a free radical polymerization initiator and a catalytic chain transfer agent containing CO.sup.+2 to provide the macromonomer with a terminal ethylenically unsaturated group that is polymerized with the free radical polymerizable site on the core to form the star polymer. The process for making the star polymer and coating compositions that utilize the star polymer are also part of this invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of low temperature plasma technology for significantly improved corrosion protection of metals. The plasma process involves pretreatment of the surface of the metal with a gas plasma to remove oxygen, followed by plasma deposition of a thin polymeric film on the treated surface, followed by cathodic electrocoat application of a primer.

Abstract: A polymer dispersion of a star polymer dispersed in an organic liquid; wherein the star polymer has a crosslinked core having attached thereto at least three macromonomer arms; where(1) the core is formed of monomers having at least two ethylenically unsaturated double bonds which are crosslinked with each other and the core has at least 3 free radical polymerizable sites each of which are reacted with the macromonomer; and(2) the macromonomer that forms the arms of the star polymer is formed of ethylenically unsaturated monomers that have been polymerized by free radical polymerization in the presence of a free radical polymerization initiator and a catalytic chain transfer agent containing Co.sup.+2 to provide the macromonomer with a terminal ethylenically unsaturated group that is polymerized with the free radical polymerizable site on the core to form the star polymer.The process for making the star polymer and coating compositions that utilize the star polymer are also part of this invention.

Abstract: A coating composition comprising a hydroxy functional graft copolymer characterized by macromoners attached at a terminal point to a polymeric backbone. The composition further comprises a polyisocyanate curing agent. Such compositions provide an improved balance of pot life and cure properties.

Abstract: A process of organic vapor deposition for significantly improved corrosion protection of metal. The process involves deposition of a thin film by polymerization of certain precursors onto the surface of a metal phosphate treated metal substrate (15). A primer or topcoat is subseqently applied over the metal substrate.

Abstract: A process for improved corrosion protection of a metal substrates involving organic vapor deposition of a thin film by polymerization of certain precursors onto one side of the phosphated flat metal substrate (15). Following stamping and assembly of the metal substrate, a primer and topcoat may be applied over the other side of the metal substrate. The process is particularly applicable to coil steel employed in the original manufacture of automobiles, trucks, and parts thereof.

Abstract: A improved method of free radical polymerization in an aqueous system, such as an emulsion or suspension process. The polymerization is conducted in the presence of a relatively low molecular weight macromonomer such as can be made with a metal chelate chain transfer catalyst. This method is useful for reducing the molecular weight of a variety of polymers and copolymers, including acrylic and olefinic polymers.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of low temperature plasma technology for significantly improved corrosion protection of metals. The plasma process involves pretreatment of the surface of the metal with a gas plasma comprising argon, hydrogen, or mixtures thereof, followed by plasma deposition of a thin polymeric film on the treated surface, followed by cathodic electrocoat application of a primer.

Abstract: Stabilized polymer dispersions in which the principal polymer contains a core component of acrylic polymers and stabilizer components which are polymers of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and which are grafted to the core component at the stabilizer ends, can be prepared using a catalytic chain transfer agent containing Co.sup.+2.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of low temperature plasma technology for significantly improved corrosion protection of steel. The plasma process involves pretreating of the steel surfaces by oxygen plasma and thin film deposition by polymerization of certain precursors on the steel. The process utilizes DC power, substrates as the cathode, magentron anodes, and system pressures of 0.01-0.5 torr. After the thin film plasma deposition it is also preferably to put a primer coating over the thin film.

Abstract: Crosslinked polymer microparticles that have a particle size of about 0.1-5 microns of polymerized monomers of styrene, alkyl methacrylate having 1-12 carbons in the alkyl group, alkyl acrylate having 1-12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and mixtures thereof, about 0.1-5% by weight of a crosslinking monomer of an alkylene glycol dimethacrylate or diacrylate each having 1-8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and about 0.1-5% by weight of allyl methacrylate or allyl acrylate; said polymer having a weight average molecular weight of about 500,000 to 5,000,000; polymeric chains are grafted onto the polymer microparticles; the microparticles are useful as additives for coating compositions to control rheology and in particular for metallic pigment flake and sag control.