Abstract: A process for preparing a composition for use as a polymer electrolyte is provided which comprises mixing one or more polar materials and one or more polyesters of formula III, wherein y is from 1.5 to 80 and each unit A may be identical or different and is of the structure IV, wherein x is from 1 to 5 and each unit B may be identical or different and is of the structure V, wherein R and R1 are each, independently, hydrogen, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group, wherein the mixture is prepared to contain from 1 to 50 wt. % of the one or more polar materials and from 50 to 99 wt. % of the one or more polyesters of formula III. A method for using such polymer electrolytes in cells, batteries, coulometers, displays, and smart windows is also provided.

Abstract: A composition for use as a polymer electrolyte, wherein said composition includes one or more polar materials and one or more polyesters of formula III, wherein each unit A may be identical or different and is of the structure IV, wherein each unit B may be identical or different and is of the structure V, wherein R and R1 are each, independently, hydrogen, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group; a process for preparing said composition; the use of said composition as a polymer electrolyte in coulometers, displays, smart windows, cells or batteries; and a cell and/or battery having said composition.

Abstract: A method for producing trimethylene carbonate poly(trimethylene carbonate which comprises (a) introducing liquid poly(trimethylene carbonate) and an optional catalyst into a wiped film evaporator reactor under a vacuum about 15 kPa or less, said reactor having walls heated to at least about 230° C. and an internal condenser heated to a temperature above the boiling point of trimethylene carbonate, (b)spreading the poly(trimethylene carbonate) into a thin film and allowing it to flow down the interior surface of the heated walls, (c) depolymerizing the poly(trimethylene carbonate) to form trimethylene carbonate which is driven to the internal condenser and residue poly(trimethylene carbonate) which continues down the reactor, and (d) collecting the trimethylene carbonate in a cooled distillate receiver.

Abstract: A composition for use as a polymer electrolyte, wherein said composition comprises one or more polar materials and one or more polyesters (polymers of carbonic acid); a process for preparing said composition; the use of said composition as a polymer electrolyte in coulometers, displays, smart windows, cells or batteries; and a cell and/or battery comprising said composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new class of TPUs with improved properties, based on poly(1,3-propanediol carbonate) diol, using 10 to 55% hard segment concentration, and cured with a diisocyanate. The composition provides a broader range of mechanical and thermal properties for TPU formulations, including improvements in hardness, higher elasticity modulus, and improved softening temperature and coefficient of thermal expansion, in addition to improved clarity.

Abstract: In accordance with the foregoing, the present invention comprises a polyester epoxy resin powder coating exhibiting improved impact resistance and flexibility, without the loss of other key properties and where the 1,3-PDO modified polyester has lower melt viscosity than polyesters made with 100% neopentyl glycol, which is formed by reacting: a) A carboxyl functional polyester resin formed by reacting one or more aliphatic glycols and one or more polycarboxylic acids and/or anhydrides, wherein 5 to 90% (on a molar basis) of the aliphatic glycol is 1,3-propanediol, in the presence of an esterification catalyst and then endcapping the polyester with an endcapping agent to ensure that the polyester has carboxyl chain ends; and b) An epoxy resin crosslinking agent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of poly(trimethylene carbonate) which comprises reacting trimethylene carbonate, a catalyst, and an alcohol, preferably a polyhydric alcohol, under nitrogen at atmospheric pressure and a moderate temperature, in a stoichiometric ratio to give the desired molecular weight of poly(trimethylene carbonate) in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a salt, preferably an acetate, of an element of Group IA or IIA of the Periodic Table. In an alternative embodiment, high molecular weight poly(trimethylene carbonate) is produced without the use of an initiator, using the same catalyst and longer reaction times.

Abstract: Disclosed is an acrylic polyurethane coating composition characterized by improved impact resistance and high gloss and produced by reacting a polyol, optionally a catalyst, and a polyisocyanate crosslinking agent, wherein the polyol is substituted with 2 to 50% by weight of a polytrimethylene carbonate diol or triol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modified acrylic coating composition cured with melamine characterized by improved impact resistance which comprises: An acrylic polyol dissolved in a suitable solvent to 40-90% solids; 2 to 50% by weight of said acrylic polyol substituted with a polytrimethylene carbonate polyol selected from a polytrimethylene carbonate diol, a polytrimethylene carbonate triol, or a higher functionality polytrimethylene carbonate polyol; a melamine crosslinking agent; optionally a catalyst; and optionally pigments and other additives commonly used in coatings. Also disclosed in a related embodiment is a melamine/urea formaldehyde polytrimethylene carbonate coating composition that is prepared without acrylic.

Abstract: Disclosed is a carboxyl capped polyester powder coating composition, where the polyester has an acid number of 10 to 100 mg KOH/g, characterized by improved flexibility without significant loss of other properties, said powder coating prepared by substituting 5 to 90 mole % of the aliphatic diol in the polyester resin with 1,3-propanediol, and reacting with one or more dicarboxylic acids and trimethylolpropane, and formulating into a powder coating with a triglycidyl isocyanurate resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new class of TPUs with improved properties, based on poly(1,3-propanediol carbonate) diol, using 10 to 550 hard segment concentration, and cured with a diisocyanate. The composition provides a broader range of mechanical and thermal properties for TPU formulations, including improvements in hardness, higher elasticity modulus, and improved softening temperature and coefficient of thermal expansion, in addition to improved clarity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of poly(trimethylene carbonate) which comprises reacting trimethylene carbonate, a catalyst, and an alcohol, preferably a polyhydric alcohol, under nitrogen at atmospheric pressure and a moderate temperature, in a stoichiometric ratio to give the desired molecular weight of poly(trimethylene carbonate) in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a salt, preferably an acetate, of an element of Group IA or IIA of the Periodic Table. In an alternative embodiment, high molecular weight poly(trimethylene carbonate) is produced without the use of an initiator, using the same catalyst and longer reaction times.

Abstract: In accordance with the foregoing, the present invention comprises a polyester epoxy resin powder coating exhibiting improved impact resistance and flexibility, without the loss of other key properties and where the 1,3-PDO modified polyester has lower melt viscosity than polyesters made with 100% neopentyl glycol, which is formed by reacting:

Abstract: The present invention is directed to tracer-containing chemical compositions and to the use of at least one perfluorocarbon tracer in such compositions to provide a means of identifying and quantitatively analyzing such compositions.

Abstract: 1,3-Propanediol is prepared in good yield by hydrogenation of methyl 3-hydroxypropionate in the presence of a copper zinc oxide hydrogenation catalyst. The use of the copper zinc oxide hydrogenation catalyst enables greater productivity in an overall process for preparing 1,3-propanediol from ethylene oxide via methyl 3-hydroxypropionate intermediate.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to produce an unsaturated carboxylic acid which includes the steps of: providing an epoxy compound; contacting the epoxy compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst system comprising tin and cobalt under conditions effective for carbonylation of the epoxy; and recovering a .alpha.-.beta. unsaturated carboxylic acid product. The preferred epoxy is ethylene oxide which is reacted to acrylic acid by the method of the present invention.

Abstract: 1,3-propanediol is prepared in a process which involves hydroformylating ethylene oxide:(a) in an essentially non-water-miscible solvent in the presence of a non-ligated cobalt catalyst and a catalyst promoter at a temperature within the range of about 50.degree. to about 100.degree. C. and a pressure within the range of about 500 to about 5000 psig, to produce an intermediate product mixture comprising less than about 15 wt % 3-hydroxypropanal;(b) adding an aqueous liquid and extracting at a temperature less than about 100.degree. C. the 3-hydroxypropanal to provide an aqueous phase comprising 3-hydroxypropanal in greater concentration than the concentration of 3-hydroxypropanal in said intermediate product mixture, and an organic phase comprising the cobalt catalyst;(c) separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase;(d) hydrogenating the 3-hydroxypropanal to provide a hydrogenation product mixture comprising 1,3-propanediol; and(e) recovering 1,3-propanediol from said hydrogenation product mixture.

Abstract: Poly-p-dioxanone is prepared in a process comprising:(a) heating a reaction mixture comprising p-dioxanone and an effective amount of a polymerization catalyst under conditions of temperature and pressure effective to produce a reaction product mixture comprising molten poly-p-dioxanone and unreacted p-dioxanone;(b) solidifying the reaction product mixture and dividing it into a plurality of solid particles;(c) introducing the solid particles into a separator vessel and exposing the solid particles to a temperature within the range of about 25.degree. to about 110.degree. C. under reduced pressure and sweeping the particles with an inert gas, thereby separating the reaction product mixture into an unreacted p-dioxanone portion and a poly-p-dioxanone portion comprising less than about 3 weight percent p-dioxanone; and(d) removing the poly-p-dioxanone portion from the separator.The invention process permits the economical production of high molecular weight poly-p-dioxanone in the melt.

Abstract: Poly-p-dioxanone is prepared in a process comprising:(a) heating a reaction mixture comprising p-dioxanone and an effective amount of a polymerization catalyst under conditions of temperature and pressure effective to produce a reaction product mixture comprising molten poly-p-dioxanone and unreacted p-dioxanone;(b) adding to said reaction product mixture a cyclic anhydride under conditions effective for reaction of the poly-p-dioxanone with the cyclic anhydride to form an end-capped poly-p-dioxanone;(c) exposing the reaction product mixture to a temperature within the range of about 50 to about 150.degree. C. under reduced pressure and removing unreacted p-dioxanone from the reaction product mixture; and(d) recovering the end-capped poly-p-dioxanone.The invention process permits the economical production of high molecular weight poly-p-dioxanone in the melt.