Abstract: Particle boards are currently prepared by treating the particles (e.g. wood chips) with a binder comprising an organic polyisocyanate and an internal release agent and then subjecting the treated particles to a forming process involving heat and pressure. While the resulting particle board will generally release well from the caul plates of the press after forming, due to the effect of the internal release agent, it has been found that the ease of release is enhanced by precoating the surfaces of the caul plates or platens which come into contact with the particle board with a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene which layer optionally contains an internal release agent.

Abstract: Novel liquid organic polyisocyanate compositions are disclosed which are obtained by reacting a carbodiimide-containing organic polyisocyanate with a carboxylic acid terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile low molecular weight copolymer in the proportions of from about 2 to about 30 parts of the copolymer per 100 parts of the polyisocyanate provided there is from about 0.01 to about 0.5 carboxylic acid equivalent per equivalent of carbodiimide.The liquid polyisocyanates are particularly useful in providing hard glassy polyurethanes having improved impact strengths.

Abstract: The use of polyisocyanates as binders in the preparation of particle boards is subject to the drawback that the boards exhibit a tendency to adhere to the face of the platens used in their formation. This problem is minimized by utilizing, in association with the polyisocyanate to be used as binder, minor amounts of one or more phosphates or thiophosphates of the formula: ##STR1## where R=alkyl (C.sub.3 and higher), alkenyl (C.sub.3 and higher), aryl, alkyl-substituted aryl, ##STR2## (where R.sub.2 is alkyl, aryl, or alkyl-substituted aryl, A and B are H, methyl, chloromethyl, 2,2,2-trichloromethyl, m=1-25) and lower-alkyl substituted by from 1 to 2 acyloxy groups where acyl is the residue of an aliphatic carboxylic acid having at least 2 carbon atoms; R.sub.1 is Cl, Br, lower-alkoxy, lower-alkylmercapto, arylamino, mono(lower-alkyl)amino, di(lower-alkyl)amino, hydroxy(lower-alkylene)oxy, aryloxy, hydrocarbylureido, and an enol residue; X=O or S and n=1 or 2.

Abstract: Substantially linear, segmented polyester amides are described which contain aromatic residues in the "hard" segments but which still possess sufficiently low melt properties to be injection moldable. The polyester amides are obtained by reacting a carboxylic acid-terminated prepolymer (derived by reacting an excess of a dicarboxylic acid with a polymeric diol of molecular weight 400 to 4000) with a stoichiometric amount of methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) or toluene diisocyanate or mixtures of these isocyanates and, optionally, a dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: Syntactic foams are described which consist of a spherical filler (microballoons, microspheres) embedded in a polyimide which is characterized by solubility in polar organic solvents and by thermoplasticity. These syntactic foams possess high structural strength, high resistance to deformation upon exposure to heat, and the ability to be subjected to further molding, e.g. for shaping and/or increase in density, if desired. These properties render the materials useful for a wide variety of structural and insulative applications e.g. in the preparation of mechanical parts and, using microballoons, lightweight, substantially non-burning, structural panels.

Abstract: Novel copolyamides having the recurring unit ##STR1## are disclosed wherein x, in 50 percent to 85 percent of the recurring units, is an integer from 6 to 10 inclusive, and, in 15 percent to 50 percent of the recurring units is 4, and Ar is an arylene radical. The copolyamides are characterized by ease of melt processing such as in molding, extruding, and injection molding, while at the same time possessing good physical properties, and being further characterized by their ease of conversion from the amorphous to the crystalline state which, in turn, gives rise to a high degree of versatility in their fabrication.

Abstract: Poly(ester amides) are obtained by heating a hydroxyl-containing or hydroxyl-free polyester of malonic acid with an organic polyisocyanate in the presence of a basic catalyst. Crosslinking of the polyester takes place by reaction of the isocyanate with the active hydrogen of the CH.sub.2 group of the malonate to give amide linkages, in addition to formation of urethane linkages in the case where the polyester contains free hydroxyl groups. The products range from elastomeric materials, where the isocyanate is in the form of an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer derived by reaction of an organic polyisocyanate with a polyol, to more rigid plastics where the isocyanate is a "simple" isocyanate, i.e. not in prepolymer form.

Abstract: High temperature resistant aromatic copolyimide fibers are disclosed together with processes for their preparation by wet and dry spinning techniques from solvent soluble copolyimides. The latter are prepared from benzophenone-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and a mixture of 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) and toluene diisocyanate (2,4-, or 2,6-isomer, or mixtures thereof). The wet spinning process can be stopped at any one of the stages taught, to yield useful fibers. The choice of coagulant fluid in the spin bath controls the fiber cross-section which in turn controls certain fiber characteristics. When glycerine or a low molecular weight aliphatic glycol is employed as coagulant fluid, the high temperature fiber obtained has advantageous properties which are otherwise difficult or impossible to obtain.

Abstract: A novel catalyst combination for the trimerization of polyisocyanates to polyisocyanurates is disclosed. The catalyst combination comprises (i) a tertiary amine trimerization catalyst, and (ii) a quaternary ammonium salt of an alkanoic acid. The use of this catalyst combination in the preparation of polyisocyanurate foams enables the foaming speeds to be varied from relatively slow to fast in the absence of foam shrinkage. The foams produced in accordance with the present invention are useful in applications calling for relatively fast rise characteristics such as in laminate production.