Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive which contains chlorine, bromine, or iodine directly linked to the nitrogen atom of an amide or imide group.

Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive containing chlorine, bromine, or iodine and either a nitrogen or a sulfur group.

Abstract: A biodegradable composition comprises a synthetic resin, a biodegradable granular filler such as natural starch and preferably a substance autoxidizable to yield a peroxide which attacks the carbon to carbon linkages in the resin.

Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive which contains chlorine, bromine, or iodine directly linked to the nitrogen atom of an amide or imide group.

Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive which contains chlorine, bromine, or iodine in alpha position in an arylmethyl structure.

Abstract: A plastic container for planting tree seedlings in a mechanized process, and being in the shape of a projectile suitable for penetration into soil. The planting container is highly oriented in its longitudinal direction with a number of longitudinal grooves positioned on the inside, outside or both sides thereof. The grooves include slits and holes to permit drainage, egress of growing roots, and aiding in the self-destruction of the container after being injected into the ground with a seedling. The self-destruction can be further promoted by the use of stress cracking agents within the plastic material comprising the planting container.

Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive which contains chlorine, bromine, or iodine directly linked to the nitrogen atom of an amide or imide group.

Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive which contains chlorine, bromine, or iodine directly linked to the nitrogen atom of an amide or imide group.

Abstract: A self-supporting, non-woven composite web is described which is readily dispersible in aqueous media containing enzymes. The web comprises intersecting randomly or partially oriented fibers and has low wet-strength in the absence of a binder, the fibers being bonded in web form by a polymeric binder which is attacked and disintegrated by enzymes, thus permitting the fibers to disperse rapidly in aqueous milieu containing enzymes. The webs of the invention are useful for production of articles useful for absorbing body wastes, e.g. diapers, bandages, etc.

Abstract: A plastic material such as a polyethylene which is adapted for use in packaging is rendered photodegradable under the direct action of sunlight by mixing therewith an amount, up to 3% by weight, of an additive consisting of 1.2.4.5 tetramethylbenzene.

Abstract: A polymer composition and a process for preparing the same are provided which composition is degradable under the action of ultraviolet light and/or sunlight and/or thermally and the polymer component of which comprises thermoplastic polymers or copolymers of .alpha.-olefins, or comprises polystyrene. The composition contains a photolyzable metal compound promoting degradation which is present at least partially in the composition in an extremely finely divided state.

Abstract: Aryl substituted 1,3-diones have been found to be useful as accelerators for the photodegradation of polyolefins.

Abstract: Photodegradable compositions based on vinyl chloride polymers containing a ferrocene and an .alpha.-phenylindole as sensitizers to accelerate natural photodegradation and their use in the production of hollow bodies. Said compositions undergo photodegradation appreciably more quickly than known compositions based on vinyl chloride polymers containing solely a ferrocene.

Abstract: Degradable polymers are obtained by either mixing a conventional thermoplastic polymer and a transition metal containing polymeric product in which the transition metal is bound in complex form through 1,3-dicarbonyl groups attached to the polymeric product or using the polymeric product as polymer alone. These polymers are degradable under the effect of natural weathering, ultraviolet rays and/or sunlight.

Abstract: A novel composition of matter is set forth which comprises an arylketone, an alkanol amine, prepared from the reaction of an aliphatic amine or polyamine with one or more equivalents of an olefinic epoxide, and an olefinic polymer.

Abstract: A method of promoting the growth of plants which comprises applying to the surface of a plant growth medium to be exposed to a source of ultraviolet radiation a light-degradable mulching film for agricultural use, comprising a resin composition, whose resin components consist essentially of1. from 5 to 50 percent by weight of polyisobutylene oxide resin,2. the balance of a second resin component selected from the group consisting of at least one polyolefin resin and a mixture of at least one polyolefin resin and at least one polydiene resin.The resin composition can be made into a mulching film which, when exposed to the sunlight, photolytically degrades into a pulverized condition within a selected period of time.

Abstract: A novel process for making polymers degradable by the direct action of sunlight is disclosed. The process is based on the addition to the polymer of a compound having the formula: ##EQU1## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of aromatic radicals with the proviso that one or two of them may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl and arylalkyl.

Abstract: A degradable composition is made from a polymer of a mono olefin having 2-3 carbon atoms or styrene and an additive comprising (1) a derivative of an organic compound of a metal which has at least two valence states and (2) a benzoyl derivative of an organic compound or a triazole.

Abstract: The oxidation of a high polymer such as polyvinyl chloride or polyolefin, which oxidation causes cleavages of carbon-carbon bonds in the main chains thereof to degrade the high polymer into lower molecular weight compounds, is remarkably accelerated when the high polymer is impregnated with a halogenated compound having a carbonyl group or carbonyl groups and exposed to sunlight or is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation in an ambient atmosphere of oxygen or a gas containing oxygen. This acceleration of the oxidation makes possible easy destruction of a shaped article made of such a high polymer.

Abstract: Difurfurylidene cycloalkanones have been found to be useful as accelerators for the photodegradation of polyolefins.

Abstract: A copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol which contains ketoether groups and is photodegradable under the direct action of sunlight is prepared by reacting an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer with alpha-diazoacetophenone in the presence of an organic solvent and a catalyst consisting of a Lewis acid.

Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive which contains chlorine, bromine, or iodine directly linked to the nitrogen atom of an amide or imide group.

Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive which contains chlorine, bromine, or iodine and an olefinic linkage.

Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive containing chlorine, bromine, or iodine and either a nitrogen or a sulfur group.

Abstract: A method of polymerizing imide type norbornene derivatives which comprises the ring-opening polymerization of imide type norbornene derivatives containing at least one N-substituted cyclic imide group or a mixture consisting of said norbornene derivatives as the main component and cycloolefins in the presence of a catalytic system comprising organic aluminum compounds and tungsten and/or molybdenum compounds.

Abstract: Water-degradable synthetic resin compositions substantially composed of a 3-component mixture ofA. one or more copolymers of an alkenic unsaturated monomer and maleic anhydrideB. one or more hydrophilic polymers of vinyl esters of lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acids and/or copolymers thereof with other vinyl monomers andC. one or more compounds having the general formula (R)OCH.sub.2 OCO(R'). The compounds are mixed by dissolving them in a solvent and the foils or articles are produced therefrom.

Abstract: A photo-degradable synthetic resin composition which consists of a blend of a butadiene-containing graft copolymer and a thermoplastic resin. The blend consists essentially of (A) 50-99 parts by weight of a graft copolymer containing at least 30% by weight of butadiene monomer, said copolymer being composed of 40-80 parts by weight of butadiene or a copolymer thereof, 60-20 parts by weight of styrene, methyl methacrylate or a mixture thereof and 0.01-5 parts by weight of a cross-linking agent copolymerizable therewith, and (B) 1-50 parts by weight of polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride or copolymers thereof.

Abstract: A biodegradable barrier film is provided which is useful as a barrier layer in absorbent pads such as sanitary napkins and diapers. The film comprises a matrix of a non-biodegradable film-forming material which is resistant to solubility in water having a biodegradable material homogeneously dispersed therein, the biodegradable material being present in said film in an amount from about 40 to about 60 weight percent based on the total weight of said biodegradable and said non-biodegradable film-forming material in said film.

Abstract: A photo-degrading resinous composition which comprises:A. from 50 to 100% by weight of a copolymer composed of i 95.0 - 99.9 % by weight of a monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene and methyl methacrylate, (ii) 5.0 - 0.1% by weight of a diene monomer and (iii) up to 4.9% by weight of an unsaturated ketone having the formula ##EQU1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be the same or different, represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl or phenyl group, andB. up to 50% by weight of a thermoplastic synthetic resin other than said copolymer.

Abstract: The biodegradable polymer having the formula:W--M--Zwherein M is a polyanhydroglucose block which does not contain any ester substituents and wherein W and Z are organic diisocyanates having the formula: ##EQU1## or ##EQU2## wherein R is an divalent organic radical and wherein X is a terminal group, --M--Z, --M--W or --M. The process of preparing the biodegradable polymer wherein M contains at least one ester substituted hydroxyl group which comprises deesterifying M to obtain M as a polyanhydroglucose block which does not contain any ester substituents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are plastic film compositions for agricultural mulch which will withstand outdoor weathering conditions for a desired time and then rapidly disintegrate. The film composition comprises starch, poly(vinyl alcohol), glycerol, and a water-resistant coating.

Abstract: There is disclosed a photoresistive plastic composition degradable by ultraviolet radiation, the composition comprising an organic polymeric material having dispersed therein a degradation controlling amount of an additive system consisting essentially of at least one organic photosensitizer and at least one organic derivative of a transition metal.

Abstract: An environmentally degradable polymer composition comprising an ethylene polymer base resin, and a synergistic combination of an auto-oxidative polymer or low molecular weight organic compound; certain polyvalent transition metal salt; and an antioxidant additive for the ethylene polymer. A product of this composition when discarded to the environment is caused to deteriorate by the action of the elements, thereby hastening the deterioration of litter.

Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive which contains chlorine, bromine, or iodine directly linked to the nitrogen atom of an amide or imide group.

Abstract: Polyolefins capable of photodegradation are prepared by incorporating in the polyolefin an additive which contains chlorine, bromine, or iodine in a position alpha to a carbonyl group and whicih also contains a phenyl group.

Abstract: Novel blends comprising biodegradable thermoplastic dialkanoyl polymer, e.g., poly(alkylene adipate), and additional material such as naturally occurring biodegradable product, e.g., tree bark; and to the novel shaped articles therefrom. In one aspect, the invention is directed to novel shaped containers fabricated from material comprising biodegradable thermoplastic dialkanoyl polymer, said containers possessing a germination medium, and optionally, a seed or seedling in such medium.

Abstract: Blends comprising biodegradable thermoplastic oxyalkanoyl polymer, e.g., epsilon-caprolactone polymer, and naturally occurring biodegradable product, e.g., tree bark. These novel blends are useful in the production of shaped articles such as mulch film, transplanter containers, package containers, and the like.