Abstract: Method of foaming thermoplastic polymeric materials using as blowing agents polycyclic fused ring heterocycles containing the tetrazole moiety.

Abstract: A novel protein adsorbent consisting essentially of a porous copolymer obtained by copolymerizing a monomer mixture comprising at least one cyano group-containing monomer and at least one cross-linkable monomer, said copolymer having an average pore diameter (d) of from 40 A to 9,000 A and a total pore volume of from 0.05.sqroot.X ml to 1.5.sqroot.X ml per gram of the copolymer in a dry state, in which X designates the weight proportion of said cross-linkable monomer expressed in terms of the percent by weight based on the total monomers. The present porous copolymer adsorbent has a remarkably high protein adsorbing capacity. The adorbent can advantageously be used for various purposes such as purification and separation of proteins, and removal of proteins. Copolymer-protein composites obtained by adsorption of proteins on the present porous copolymer also are industrially useful and have a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: Fire-resistant organic materials including foams, are made by heating at temperatures sufficient to cause polymerization and elimination of nitrogen and sulfur precursor aromatic polymers having sulfonamide linkages and aromatic compounds capable of forming said polymers, e.g. sulfamyl-type aminoaromatic compounds such as sulfanilamide, sulfaguanadine and the like. Preferred compounds are those providing para linkages in the sulfonamide polymer chain, those which are substantially free of oxidizing substituents, for example nitro groups, and those which are not fused-ring aromatic. Preferred foams are the high expansion foams, i.e. those having expansion ratios of at least about 3:1, more preferably at least about 8:1. The precursors of these fire-resistant organic materials can be incorporated into polymers such as polyvinylidene chloride, polyisocyanates, aminoplasts, and the like either physically by mixing or by chemical reaction to give improved fire-resistance.

Abstract: Novel, macroreticular cross-linked anion exchange and adsorbent copolymers of at least one monovinylidene ring-containing nitrogen heterocyclic monomer are prepared. Preferred monovinylidene ring-containing heterocyclic monomers are the various vinylpyridines.

Abstract: The invention relates to semipermeable membranes with a water absorption capacity of from 4.5 to 10% by weight preferably from 4.5 to 8% by weight as measured on approximately 40.mu. thick symmetrical films at room temperature and 65% relative air humidity, with a throughflow of at least 80 1/m.sup.2 d for a desalination level of at least 85% and consisting of a fully aromatic copolyamide with a relative viscosity of .gtoreq.1,4, as measured on a 0.5% N-methyl pyrrolidone solution at a temperature of 20.degree. C.

Abstract: An expansion agent comprising a foamable mixture of (a) 15-53 weight % of a foaming agent having 6 to 78 carbon atoms selected from the group of an ammonium salt, aliphatic amine salt and/or an alkali metal salt of an alkyl sulfate, hydroxyalkyl sulfate, alkyl ether sulfate and/or aryl alkyl ether sulfate; (b) 5-42 weight % of a dispersant having 22 to 260 carbon atoms selected from the group of an alkyl alkyleneoxy amine and/or its quaternary alkylsulfate, alkylhalide or alkylphosphate derivative; and (c) 5-40 weight % of a stabilizer having 8 to 68 carbon atoms selected from the group of a sodium and/or potassium salt of an alkyl sulfosuccinate; and the combination of said mixture with a synthetic resin, latex or natural rubber to provide a coating or finishing composition; the process of applying said composition to a substrate and the treated substrate product having incorporated the composition of the invention.

Abstract: The flameproof styrene polymer foam in accordance with this invention is obtained by melting a granular mixture of styrene polymer and aluminum hydroxide having a grain size of 20-100 .mu.m and a specific surface of below 1 m.sup.2 /g in an extruder, incorporating a physical expanding agent, and homogenizing and extruding the mixture.

Abstract: Blowing agents comprising urea dicarboxylic acid anhydride do not give rise to discoloring decomposition residues nor form acid or alkaline by-products. These blowing agents may be used for expanding thermoplastic resins.

Abstract: In a suspension polymerization process of preparing styrenic polymer particles from a styrenic monomer and small particles of a styrenic polymer in a definite particle size range, styrenic polymer particles having a uniform particle size are obtained without the formation of fine polymer powders by simultaneously but separately dropwise adding to an aqueous suspension of the small particles of the styrenic polymer (1) a solution of 100-60% by weight of a suspension polymerization catalyst and 1-10% by weight of the styrenic monomer and (2) a solution of 0-40% by weight of the catalyst and 99-90% by weight of the styrenic monomer simultaneously but separately from each other.

Abstract: Styrenic polymer particles having a substantially uniform particle size are prepared by suspending styrenic polymer particles having particle sizes in a certain range in water to provide an aqueous suspension and after adding to the suspension a styrenic monomer, a suspension polymerization catalyst and a polymerization retarder in an amount of 1/200 to 1/15 mole per 1 mole of the catalyst, conducting the suspension polymerization. By conducting the polymerization in the presence of a foaming agent, one can produce foamable styrenic polymer particles having a substantially uniform particle size.

Abstract: Bis-tetrazoles wherein the two tetrazole rings are bridged by a direct bond or a divalent organic residue in 5,5'-position or in 1,1'-position have been found to be suitable as blowing agents for thermoplastic resins. They decompose at temperatures of about 230 to 300.degree. C. and therefore can be used for the expansion of resins which are processed at such temperatures, for instance polypropylene, polycarbonates, polyphenyleneoxides or polyamides. Preferred are bis-tetrazoles bridges by aliphatic or araliphatic residues. The expansion can be carried out in an extruder or an injection moulding device.

Abstract: An acrylic polymer gel suitable for use as a carrier in the controlled synthesis of polypeptides is provided. The polymer comprises a diazotized terpolymer of the condensation product of a monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkyl acrylates and hydroxyalkyl methacrylates, a polyfunctional cross-linking monomer selected from the group consisting of alkylene diacrylates, alkylene dimethacrylates, polyacrylates and polymethacrylates of polyalcohols, alkylene bisacrylamides and divinylbenzene, and an aromatic ring-containing compound selected from the group consisting of aromatic acids and their anhydrides and chlorides, aromatic isocyanates, halogenophenylsilanes, and aromatic epoxy compounds. The condensate has its aromatic rings chlormethylated. The first monomer and the polyfunctional cross-linking monomer are copolymerized and the resultant copolymer is condensed with said compounds which contain an aromatic ring.

Abstract: A non-swellable three-dimensional polymer having a component which is a residue of an optically active compound, which residue is chemically removable from said polymer to leave behind in the physical structure of said polymer a void corresponding to the size and shape of said residue of optically active compound, and a particular steric arrangement of functional groups within the void of said polymer corresponding to the chemical structure of said residue of optically active compound, the original polymer having recurring units of the formulas ##STR1## wherein A, C and D are residues bonded to B of compounds which residues are polymerizable or polycondensable and B is a residue of an optically active compound; a process for preparing such polymer and the form of such polymer containing such void and free of the residue of optically active compounds.

Abstract: Expandable styrene polymer particles having reduced flammability are made by incorporating from 0.1 to 15 weight percent of non-polymeric organic halogen compounds into the polymer during impregnation of the polymer particles with a blowing agent in aqueous suspension. The addition of 0.001 to 0.5 weight percent of dialkyl tin maleates or fumarates during the impregnation step produces expandable styrene polymer particles with greatly improved molding characteristics such as reduced pruning tendency, increased mold fusion, and greater dimensional stability. Addition of a synergistic amount of 0.001 to 0.4 weight percent of a hindered phenolic antioxidant with the tin compounds gives improved molding characteristics with retention of polymer molecular weight.

Abstract: A thermosetting composition is disclosed characterized in that it comprises (by weight) from 60 to 90% of a bis-maleimide of the formula: ##STR1## in which A represents a divalent radical chosen from the group consisting of phenylene radicals and radicals of the formula: ##STR2## where T represents --CH.sub.2 --, --C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --, --O-- or --SO.sub.2 --; and from 10 to 40% of N-vinylpyrrolid-2-one. The preferred bis-maleimide is N,N'-(4,4'-diphenylmethane)-bis-maleimide. The composition may be modified by the addition of an unsaturated polyester. The composition is useful for the manufacture of molded articles or of articles having a cellular structure, or for the impregnation of electrical coils.