Abstract: An article including a substrate having at least two surfaces, wherein at least one surface of the substrate comprises water-soluble elements in discrete areas, wherein the water-soluble elements contain a material that provides an exothermic reaction when contacted with water. In another aspect, the present invention features a method of heating the skin, nail, or hair by applying to the skin, nail, or hair the above article, wherein the article is wet with water prior to, during, or after said application.

Abstract: An article containing: a substrate having at least two surfaces; and water-soluble elements on at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the water-soluble elements contain a material that effervesces upon contact with water is disclosed. The article is useful for cleansing and/or treating the skin and/or hair.

Abstract: A composition comprising: a film forming polymer; a low boiling point solvent; a high boiling point solvent; and at least one active ingredient is disclosed. The composition is useful for protecting damaged skin and delivering active ingredients to the skin.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition containing a hydrophobic solvent, a network polymer and a flow control agent which is useful in healing wounds. The composition of this invention may be applied directly to a wound to create a structured occlusive dressing. The dressings of this invention do not migrate, but maintain their integrity at skin temperature, and encourage the creation of a moist wound environment while protecting the wound in order to accelerate healing.

Abstract: What is described herein is a solution feed, slurry precipitation polymerization process for making copolymers of maleic anhydride and an alkyl vinyl ether within a predetermined viscosity range.The process of the invention is characterized by precharging a large excess of the alkyl vinyl ether in a reactor, feeding maleic anhydride dissolved in a minimum amount of an organic solvent into the precharged reactor, and polymerizing the monomers in the presence of a free radical initiator. The copolymer product then appears as a pumpable slurry in the reaction medium. The slurry is discharged from the reactor and the desired copolymer is obtained therefrom as a fine, white powder having specific viscosities in the range of about 1.5-6.0, and preferably about 2.6-3.5.

Abstract: A solution feed, solution polymerization method for making copolymers of maleic anhydride and an alkyl vinyl ether is described. In this process, maleic anhydride in a functional organic solvent is fed into a reactor precharged with an alkyl vinyl ether. The reactant solution is polymerized in the presence of a free radical initiator to provide copolymers in solution having low viscosities and high solids content.

Abstract: Substantially benzene-free copolymers of maleic anhydride and alkyl vinyl ethers having benzene present in an amount of less than about 1 ppm and an alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon present in an amount of about 2.0 wt. % or less, and a process for rendering a copolymer reaction product of maleic anhydride and an alkyl vinyl ether prepared in benzene solution substantially benzene-free, is described herein.

Abstract: An improved melt-processable composition of a thermoplastic polymer selected from the class consisting of hexafluoroisobutylene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer, and ethylene/chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer, wherein added to said thermoplastic polymer are a phosphite ester and an oxamidoester. A preferred phosphite ester is tris (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, and a preferred oxamidoester is 2,2'-oxamidobis [ethyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate]. In a preferred composition, about 1 wt. % of phosphite ester and about 0.5 wt. % of oxamidoester are added to a hexafluoroisobutylene/vinylidene fluoride copolymer.