Abstract: A moisture vapor permeable metalized composite sheet is formed by coating a moisture vapor permeable sheet with at least one metal layer and at least one outer organic coating layer. The moisture vapor permeability of the composite sheet is at least about 80% of the moisture vapor permeability of the starting sheet. The composite sheet provides a barrier to air and liquid water infiltration while having high moisture vapor permeability and good thermal barrier properties. The composite sheet material is suitable for use as a building construction wrap such as roof lining and house wrap.

Abstract: A moisture vapor permeable metalized composite sheet is formed by coating a moisture vapor permeable sheet with at least one metal layer and at least one outer organic coating layer. The moisture vapor permeability of the composite sheet is at least about 80% of the moisture vapor permeability of the starting sheet. The composite sheet provides a barrier to air and liquid water infiltration while having high moisture vapor permeability and good thermal barrier properties. The composite sheet material is suitable for use as a building construction wrap such as roof lining and house wrap.

Abstract: A moisture vapor permeable metalized composite sheet is formed by coating a moisture vapor permeable sheet with at least one metal layer and at least one outer organic coating layer. The moisture vapor permeability of the composite sheet is at least about 80% of the moisture vapor permeability of the starting sheet. The composite sheet provides a barrier to air and liquid water infiltration while having high moisture vapor permeability and good thermal barrier properties. The composite sheet material is suitable for use as a building construction wrap such as roof lining and house wrap.

Abstract: Copolycarbonates containing such structural units as birefringence-reducing or “soft block” units are prepared by conducting a reaction, such as melt polymerization or equilibration, between a precursor polycarbonate and a monomer, polycarbonate oligomer or high molecular weight polycarbonate which is a source of other structural units. The crystallinity of the resulting precursor copolycarbonate or one of the reagents employed in its preparation is enhanced and the precursor copolycarbonate is subjected to solid state polymerization.

Abstract: Copolycarbonates containing such structural units as birefringence-reducing or "soft block" units are prepared by conducting a reaction, such as melt polymerization or equilibration, between a precursor polycarbonate and a monomer, polycarbonate oligomer or high molecular weight polycarbonate which is a source of other structural units. The crystallinity of the resulting precursor copolycarbonate or one of the reagents employed in its preparation is enhanced and the precursor copolycarbonate is subjected to solid state polymerization.

Abstract: Copolycarbonates comprise structural units derived from a bisphenol such as bisphenol A, a spiro(bis)indane bisphenol such as 6,6'-dihdyroxy-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spiro(bis)indane and a polyoxyalkylene glycol such as polyethylene glycol. These copolycarbonates have high processability and are expected to have low birefringence. They are useful for the fabrication of optical disks.

Abstract: Polycarbonates are recycled without the need for chemical modification by dissolution in a solvent followed by removal of any insoluble materials and precipitation by addition of a non-solvent. The precipitation step may be followed by solid state polymerization of the recycled polycarbonate. Particularly when solid state polymerization is to be performed, the use of a combination of solvent and non-solvent which produces a crystalline intermediate is performed, and use of a modifying reagent increasing the hydroxy end group concentration of the polycarbonate may be advantageous.

Abstract: Quaternary salts having a double helix structure are prepared by the reaction of dihydroxyaromatic compound, preferably a bisphenol, with an alkali metal hydroxide and a quaternary salt, such as a tetraalkylammonium or hexaalkylguanidinium chloride. The quaternary salts and their alkaline hydrolysis products are useful as catalysts in various reactions, including imide formation from bisphenol salts and halo- or nitro-substituted phthalimides and redistribution and equilibration of polycarbonates.

Abstract: Crystallization of precursor polycarbonates prior to solid state polymerization is achieved by contact with a non-solvent comprising, at least in part, a dialkyl carbonate such as dimethyl carbonate. The non-solvent can be a mixture, typically of dimethyl carbonate with water or an alkanol such as methanol.

Abstract: Quaternary salts having a double helix structure are prepared by the reaction of dihydroxyaromatic compound, preferably a bisphenol, with an alkali metal hydroxide and a quaternary salt, such as a tetraalkylammonium or hexaalkylguanidinium chloride. The quaternary salts and their alkaline hydrolysis products are useful as catalysts in various reactions, including imide formation from bisphenol salts and halo- or nitro-substituted phthalimides and redistribution and equilibration of polycarbonates.

Abstract: Ultracapacitors including at least one cell with two solid, non-porous current collectors, two porous electrodes, preferably of carbon, and a porous separator between the electrodes, employ as electrolytes materials comprising at least one hexasubstituted guanidinium salt. Such salts may be employed in solution in a stable organic liquid such as propylene carbonate, or neat in liquid form. They may be prepared by first preparing a hexasubstituted guanidinium halide and then performing an anion exchange reaction, either with a salt which forms an insoluble halide such as a silver salt or by a liquid--liquid extraction method.

Abstract: Solid state polycarbonate formation comprises an initial step of converting a precursor polycarbonate to an enhanced crystallinity precursor polycarbonate and a second step of polymerizing said enhanced crystallinity precursor polycarbonate in the solid state. Several options are employed. These include modifying the precursor polycarbonate by contact with a dihydroxy compound or diaryl carbonate, conversion of the precursor polycarbonate to the enhanced crystallinity polymer by contact with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, tetraalkylammonium hydroxides, tetraalkylammonium carboxylates, tetraalkylphosphonium hydroxides and tetraalkylphosphonium carboxylates, and conducting the solid state polymerization in the presence of a catalytic amount of at least one tetralkylammonium or tetraalkylphosphonium carboxylate. The preferred tetralkylammonium compounds are tetramethylammonium maleate and tetramethylammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: Quaternary (e.g., tetraalkylammonium and tetraalkylphosphonium) salts containing non-halide anions are prepared by performing an anion exchange reaction by liquid-liquid extraction with a chlorinated solvent of a mixture of an aqueous solution an alkali metal salt of the anion and a corresponding quaternary halide.

Abstract: A carbonate ester is produced by the metal-induced reaction of a hydroxy compound with a sulfur compound in a melt process. An orthocarbonate can also be produced. The orthocarbonate can be converted into carbonate ester in a subsequent operation.