Abstract: The present invention is a method comprising: providing a substrate; solvent coating onto the substrate a composition comprising a curable, highly aromatic, organic matrix material and porogens which are cross-linked nanoparticles consisting essentially of residual monomeric units derived from alkenyl functional and/or alkynyl functional aromatic monomers; and heating the coated substrate to a temperature no greater than 390° C., preferably no greater than 370° C., to cure the matrix and remove substantially all of the porogen material in a relatively short period of time to form small uniform pores in the cured highly organic matrix material.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an improved method of oxidizing substituted aromatic compounds (such as p xylene) to their corresponding aromatic acids (such as terephthalic acid). The improvement involves carrying out the oxidation reaction in an aqueous medium, wherein the aqueous medium contains at least 30 percent water, preferably up to 30 percent surfactant and preferably a low molecular weight material containing a hydrophilic end group as a co-surfactant. The reaction is carried out at a pH of less than 3.0.

Abstract: This invention is cross-linked, polymerized hydrocarbon particles which composition is characterized in that the particles have an average diameter of less than 30 nm, the particles exhibit a volume swell factor of no greater than 3.0; the composition is essentially free of metal ions; the particles have a polydispersity (polystyrene relative Mw/Mn) of less than 3.0, and the particles are characterized by a Mark-Houwink plot having a slope with an absolute value of less than 0.4 for the peak molecular weight range. The invention is also a method of making nanoparticles having a weight average diameter less than 30 nm by emulsion polymerization in the substantial absence of ionic components. Finally, the invention is a method of using such particles as thermally degradable components in making porous films.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an &agr;-dihydroxy derivative from an aryl allyl ether wherein such &agr;-dihydroxy derivative can be used to prepare an &agr;-halohydrin intermediate and an epoxy resin prepared therefrom including epoxidizing an &agr;-halohydrin intermediate produced from a halide substitution of an &agr;-dihydroxy derivative which has been obtained by a dihydroxylation reaction of an aryl allyl ether in the presence of an oxidant or in the presence of an oxidant and a catalyst.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an &agr;-dihydroxy derivative from an aryl allyl ether wherein such &agr;-dihydroxy derivative can be used to prepare an &agr;-halohydrin intermediate and an epoxy resin prepared therefrom including epoxidizing an &agr;-halohydrin intermediate produced from a halide substitution of an &agr;-dihydroxy derivative which has been obtained by a dihydroxylation reaction of an aryl allyl ether in the presence of an oxidant or in the presence of an oxidant and a catalyst.

Abstract: Applicants found that selection of reactive nanoparticles as poragens when combined with monomeric precusors to organic, particularly polyarylene or polyarylene ether, matrix materials are effective in obtaining very small pore sizes.

Abstract: This invention is cross-linked, polymerized hydrocarbon particles which composition is characterized in that the particles have an average diameter of less than 30 nm, the particles exhibit a volume swell factor of no greater than 3.0; the composition is essentially free of metal ions; the particles have a polydispersity (polystyrene relative Mw/Mn) of less than 3.0, and the particles are characterized by a Mark-Houwink plot having a slope with an absolute value of less than 0.4 for the peak molecular weight range. The invention is also a method of making nanoparticles having a weight average diameter less than 30 nm by emulsion polymerization in the substantial absence of ionic components. Finally, the invention is a method of using such particles as thermally degradable components in making porous films.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an &agr;-dihydroxy derivative from an aryl allyl ether wherein such &agr;-dihydroxy derivative can be used to prepare an &agr;-halohydrin intermediate and an epoxy resin prepared therefrom including epoxidizing an &agr;-halohydrin intermediate produced from a halide substitution of an &agr;-dihydroxy derivative which has been obtained by a dihydroxylation reaction of an aryl allyl ether in the presence of an oxidant or in the presence of an oxidant and a catalyst.

Abstract: A water-soluble polymer having a low polydispersity index and controlled molecular weight can be prepared by oxidative degradation and shearing of a water-swellable crosslinked polymer or by hydrolysis of the crosslinked polymer to a high molecular weight soluble polymer, followed by oxidative degradation of the high molecular weight polymer.