Abstract: A surface deposition or surface treatment reactor, in particular for chemical vapor deposition, has an annular reaction chamber (C.sub.R) delimited by two tubular walls (1, 2), in particular of quartz. A first hearing unit is arranged inside the tubular wall (1) and a second heating unit is arranged around the outer tubular wall (2). Said units are controlled by heat-regulating means in order to ensure a predetermined longitudinal temperature profile in the reaction chamber (C.sub.R). The gas phase is distributed at a longitudinal end of the chamber (C.sub.R) through distribution ducts (18) and removed by suction at the other end through pumping ducts (20). The substrates (S), which may be very numerous, are swept simultaneously by the gas phase and the perfect control of the temperature distribution and of the flow makes it possible to obtain a uniform treatment of the desired type which is identical for all the substrates.

Abstract: The disclosed bonding pitch for electrodes, having a softening point C.I.A. comprised between 80.degree. C. and 150.degree. C., a concentration of quinoline-insoluble substances higher or equal to 4% by weight, a concentration of .alpha.+.beta. resins comprised between 28 and 40% by weight, and a fixed carbon content determined according to the standard ISO 6998, at least equal to 51% by weight, is characterized by a vitreous transition domain .DELTA.Tg, determined by differential calorimetric analysis, at the most equal to 50.degree. C. In order to produce such a pitch, a pitch having a content of quinoline-insoluble substances lower than 4% by weight is subjected to a treatment by waves having a frequency between 0.9 and 300 GHz. Such treatment makes possible the increase of the carbon content of the pitch while preserving a good affinity to the coke and significantly decreasing its vitreous transitional domain.

Abstract: An impregnation pitch having a Kraemer-Sarnow softening point ranging from about 60.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., a content of quinoline-insoluble substances less than or equal to 7% by weight, and a filterability index greater than or equal to 4.5. A process for the manufacture thereof, wherein a tar or a pitch having a Kraemer-Sarnow softening point not exceeding 60.degree. C. and a content of quinoline-insoluble substances below or equal to 7% by weight is subjected to a thermal treatment capable of removing constituents with a molecular mass of below 1,200.

Abstract: A method for allowing biological macromolecules contained in a solution to be separated by selective absorption comprising supplying with a solution each stage (3, 4) of a column containing a selective chromatographic resin specific to the macromolecules to be separated, so as to fluidize the beds of resin at each stage, each stage being provided at its base with a perforated distribution system (5) characterized by a percentage of open sections between 0.2% and 10%, a mean diameter of the said open sections greater than approximately 300 microns and between 2G.sub.m and 20G.sub.m, where G.sub.m is the mean granulometry of the resin.

Abstract: An apparatus for embossing an extruded section of a thermoplastic material having a central band edged on both sides by a flange, and which is particularly suited to providing a wall with an outer facade, comprises at least one embossing device disposed to receive the extruded section from an extruder, the embossing device including a counter-roller freely mounted on a shaft for rotation and supporting the extruded section, an embossing roller mounted above the central band of the extruded section and driven at a speed equal to the speed of the extruded section over the counter-roller, and lateral shapers disposed adjacent to the flanges of the extruded section, which are connected to a vacuum source and which are provided with cooling means to cool the flanges of the extruded section and to maintain the shape of the flanges after having been extruded.The apparatus may further include a secondary shaping and cooling device and vacuum means.

Abstract: A wall is provided with an outer facade comprised of a cladding element which contains an insulating core. The cladding element includes a central band having flanges extending from opposing edges, on the same side of the plane defined by the central band. Each of the flanges includes a row of venting holes and a ratchet blade protruding from the flange and adapted for interlocking connection with the ratchet blade of a corresponding, adjacent cladding element. The insulating core is made from a rigid insulating material and includes a series of embossed blocks distributed evenly over its outer surface so that the inner surface of the central band rests on the embossed blocks of the insulating core. Also provided are a number of mounting and finishing elements including end and intermediate rails for enclosing the flanges of the cladding element, as well as special coverings for cable edges and salient or re-entrant angles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically making physical measurements of materials which deform upon application of heat thereto. The device comprises a source of light, an at least partly transparent chamber having a heating source which can be programmed to operate as a function of time, and with a porous support designed to support a deformable material within the chamber. A photo-electric receiver 5 and an optical lens 7 are also provided for imaging of the material during deformation on the photo-electric receiver. In order to perform the imaging, the source of light, the porous support, the photo-electric receiver and the optical lens 7 are optically aligned. In a specific application, the apparatus can be used to determine the wetting power of pitches.

Abstract: Hydrophilic cotelomers having a terminal sulphonate group, and having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently H or C.sub.1-4 alkyl; M is H or an alkali metal; M' is an alkali metal; 8.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.40 and 1.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.20. These cotelomers may also contain one or more of the following structural units, A; ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each independently H or C.sub.1-4 alkyl; R.sub.7 is C.sub.1-8 alkyl; R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are each independently H or C.sub.1-2 alkyl; Y is aryl; M is H or an alkali metal; Z is M or C.sub.1-8 alkyl; 0.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.2; 0.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.3; 0.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.2; and 0.ltoreq.f.ltoreq.10. Detergent powders containing from 10 to 50% by weight of these hydrophilic cotelomers instead of sodium tripolyphosphate have good detergent and anti-redeposition powers.

Abstract: A solid, dry composition is provided, comprising (a) an alkali metal alkylarylsulfonate and (b) the corresponding hydroperoxide obtained by hydroperoxidation of the alkali metal alkylarylsulfonate. A process for producing the composition, and detergents containing the composition as a bleaching agent are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the synthesis of D, L-pantolactone by the reaction of (1) of hydroxypivaldehyde with hydrocyanic acid produced in situ followed by (2) hydrolysis of the cyanohydrin obtained. The pantolactone may then be separated from the reaction mixture. Each of the reactions (1) and (2) are conducted under closely controlled conditions of concentration, temperature, pH and time and, by virtue of these conditions, a yield exceeding 90% may be obtained.

Abstract: A process for the production of hydroxy-pivaldehyde which comprises reacting formaldehyde with isobutyraldehyde in an approximate molar ratio of 1:2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of triethylamine, to produce a reaction mixture containing 42 to 50 wt% of hydroxy-pivaldehyde, 28 to 35 wt% of isubutyraldehyde, approximately 18 wt% of water, approximately 2 wt% of triethylamine, and approximately 18 wt% of secondary reaction products, and recovering hydroxy-pivaldehyde therefrom. The recovery steps include adding at least one part by weight of water to 1 part of the solution, distilling the solution obtained under reduced pressure at a temperature below 65.degree. C, to produce a distillate containing isobutyraldehyde, triethylamine and water, and an aqueous solution containing hydroxy-pivaldehyde, cooling the aqueous solution containing hydroxy-pivaldehyde, cooling the aqueous solution containing hydroxy-pivaldehyde to approximately 15.degree. to 20.degree.