Abstract: Porous composites of acicular mullite and tialite are formed by firing an acicular mullite body in the presence of an oxide of titanium. In some variations of the process, the oxide of titanium is present when the acicular mullite body is formed. In other variations, the oxide of titanium is applied to a previously-formed acicular mullite body. Surprisingly, the composites have coefficients of linear thermal expansion that are intermediate to those of acicular mullite and tialite alone. Some of the tialite is believed to form at grain boundaries and/or points of intersection between acicular mullite needles, rather than merely coating the needles. The presence of the titanium oxide(s) during acicular mullite formation does not significantly affect the ability to produce a highly porous network of mullite needles.

Abstract: Skins and/or adhesive layers are formed on a porous ceramic honeycomb by applying a layer of a cement composition to a surface of the honeycomb and firing the cement composition. The cement composition contains inorganic filler particles, a carrier fluid and a clay material rather than the colloidal alumina and/or silica materials that are conventionally used in such cements. The cement compositions resist permeation into the porous walls of the ceramic honeycomb. As a result, lower temperature gradients are seen in the honeycomb structure during rapid temperature changes, which results in an increased thermal shock resistance.

Abstract: Porous composites of acicular mullite and tialite are formed by firing an acicular mullite body in the presence of an oxide of titanium. In some variations of the process, the oxide of titanium is present when the acicular mullite body is formed. In other variations, the oxide of titanium is applied to a previously-formed acicular mullite body. Surprisingly, the composites have coefficients of linear thermal expansion that are intermediate to those of acicular mullite and tialite alone. Some of the tialite is believed to form at grain boundaries and/or points of intersection between acicular mullite needles, rather than merely coating the needles. The presence of the titanium oxide(s) during acicular mullite formation does not significantly affect the ability to produce a highly porous network of mullite needles.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure comprised of at least two separate smaller ceramic honeycombs that have been adhered together by a cement comprised of inorganic fibers and a binding phase wherein the smaller honey-combs and fibers are bonded together by the binding phase which is comprised of an silicate, aluminate or alumino-silicate. The fibers have a multi-modal size distribution in which some fibers have lengths of up to 1000 micons and other fibers have lengths in excess of 1 mm. The cement composition may be made in the absence of other inorganic and organic additives while achieving a shear thinning cement, for example, by mixing oppositely charged inorganic binders in water together so as to make a useful cement composition for applying to the smaller honeycombs to be cemented.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure comprised of at least two separate smaller ceramic honeycombs that have been adhered together by a cement comprised of inorganic fibers and a binding phase wherein the smaller honey-combs and fibers are bonded together by the binding phase which is comprised of an silicate, aluminate or alumino-silicate. The fibers have a multi-modal size distribution in which some fibers have lengths of up to 1000 micons and other fibers have lengths in excess of 1 mm. The cement composition may be made in the absence of other inorganic and organic additives while achieving a shear thinning cement, for example, by mixing oppositely charged inorganic binders in water together so as to make a useful cement composition for applying to the smaller honeycombs to be cemented.

Abstract: A skin is applied to a ceramic honeycomb. The skin is formed by applying a skin-forming composition and drying it. The skin-forming composition includes a carrier liquid, colloidal silica and/or colloidal alumina, and an inorganic filler. The filler includes an inorganic fiber. The filler may contain low aspect ratio particles that have the same or nearly the same CTE as the inorganic fiber. The filler may include a small proportion of a low aspect ratio filler particle that has a different CTE than the inorganic fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are microporous films comprising polymer blends comprising at least two polymers and a compatibilizer. The films may also comprise at least one ethylene/?-olefin interpolymer and two different polyolefins which can be homopolymers. The ethylene/?-olefin interpolymers are block copolymers comprising at least a hard block and at least a soft block. In some embodiments, the ethylene/?-olefin interpolymer can function as a compatibilizer between the two polyolefins which may not be otherwise compatible. Methods of making the polymer blends and microporous films made from the polymer blends are also described.

Abstract: A process for preparing improved yields of styrene polymers by means of polymerization with a Ziegler-Natta type polymerization catalyst wherein the styrene monomer is first contacted with a hydrogenating agent under hydrogenation conditions such that substantially all phenylacetylene contained in the monomer stream is hydrogenated and thereafter contacting with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst.

Abstract: Vinyl aromatic polymers having stereo regular structure of high syndiotacticity are prepared utilizing coordination catalysts in a suspension polymerization process.

Abstract: Blends of polyarylene ether resins and anionically-polymerized monovinylidene aromatic compounds having a molecular weight distribution not greater than 1.8 are characterized by a lowered melt viscosity without significant loss in mechanical properties. The incorporation of elastomeric toughening agents does not significantly negatively affect processability or other properties of the blends.

Abstract: The specification discloses a monovinylidene aromatic polymer having a molecular weight of at least 50,000 and an extremely narrow molecular weight distribution of less than 1.5, preferably with at least 80% by weight of the polymer having a molecular weight within plus or minus 30% of the weight average molecular weight. This polymer is produced through anionic polymerization of a pure feed stock which is first cooled to a temperature at which an anionic initiator preferentially reacts with impurities present in the feed stock and initiates the polymerization reaction but does not substantially propagate styrene polymerization. The initiator is uniformly dispersed into the feed stock while maintaining it at the lower temperature and the feed stock temperature is subsequently increased to a temperature at which polymerization of the sytrene proceeds normally.

Abstract: Blends of polyarylene ether resins and anionically-polymerized monovinylidene aromatic compounds having a molecular weight distribution not greater than 1.8 are characterized by a lowered melt viscosity without significant loss in mechanical properties. The incorporation of elastomeric toughening agents does not significantly negatively affect processability or other properties of the blends.

Abstract: An improved process for the anionic polymerization of alpha-methylstyrene polymers employs an organolithium initiator and a sodium-, potassium-, rubidium- or cesium initiator activator compound.