Abstract: Thermoplastic polymers, having antistatic properties, are obtained by incorporating in the polymers a liquid mixture of trialkylphosphine oxides.

Abstract: A resin modified asbestos diaphragm is prepared by diluting a heat curable polyvinylidene fluoride homopolymer resin latex containing no more than about 5% resin solids with an aqueous solution containing about 4% to 5% sodium hydroxide. From about 6 to about 11 parts of asbestos fibers are then slowly added to this alkaline resin latex solution for each part of resin solids contained therein with agitation to produce a clear aqueous slurry of resin coated asbestos fibers. To this slurry is then added an aqueous solution of 10% to 15% sodium hydroxide to swell the asbestos fibers. The resulting slurry is deposited on a screen to form a diaphragm which is carefully dried and cured at elevated temperatures to complete the polymerization of the polyvinylidene fluoride resin and form a bonded resin coated asbestos fiber product that is dimensionally stable. Such resin modified asbestos diaphragms may be used in electrolytic cells for electrolyzing alkali metal halide solutions.

Abstract: Oxidizable impurities, particularly hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, are removed from sodium chloride brines used for the electrolytic production of chlorine and caustic soda by oxidizing such impurities with hypochlorite at pH values at which the brines are commonly treated with sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate to remove calcium and magnesium ions. The hypochlorite oxidation can be accomplished by adding to the brine the waste liquor from a scrubber in which a gas stream containing chlorine is scrubbed with a sodium hydroxide solution, which can be cell liquor. The gas stream so scrubbed can be the tail gases from the liquefaction of the chlorine produced by electrolysis of the brine.