Abstract: A latex of a highly saturated nitrile rubber wherein the highly saturated nitrile rubber contains ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer units in a ratio of 10 to 60 wt %, has an iodine value of 120 or less, and has a weight average molecular weight of solubles in chloroform of 100,000 or less, and when removing volatiles contained in the latex and making a film of the highly saturated nitrile rubber, a loss tangent tan ?(50° C.) at 50° C. of the film is 0.3 to 0.6 and a complex torque S* at the time of 100% shear strain at 100° C. of the film is 20 dNm or less, and an adhesive composition containing the latex are provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball traveling a great flight distance on driver shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a spherical core and at least one cover layer covering the spherical core, wherein the spherical core is formed from a rubber composition containing (a) base rubber, (b) an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof as a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator, (d) a carboxylic acid having 1 to 14 carbon atoms and/or a salt thereof, and (e) a halogen-substituted thiophenol and/or a metal salt thereof as an organic sulfur compound, provided that the rubber composition further contains (f) a metal compound in the case of containing only (b) the ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms as the co-crosslinking agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a solid golf ball having a core and a cover. The core is formed of a rubber composition containing a base rubber, a co-crosslinking agent, a crosslinking initiator and a metal oxide. The base rubber contains polybutadiene, a styrene-butadiene rubber and, optionally, an isoprene rubber. The co-crosslinking agent is methacrylic acid, and the rubber composition includes a specific waste material in the form of a powder. The core deflection and the cover material are optimized. Utilizing a waste material in a solid golf ball conserves resources and thus is beneficial to the global environment. Even during prolonged use, the golf ball maintains its basic performance attributes (feel, flight, durability) at a high level.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed polymer composition comprise a first unsaturated polymer or polymer precursor, and an effective amount of a peptizer. The peptizer typically comprises a heteroaryl or a heterocyclic compound, other than morpholine as disclosed in assignee's prior applications. Disclosed polymer compositions are useful for making sports equipment, such as at least one layer of a golf ball, often a core. Because the compositions are useful for making golf balls, materials commonly known for making such golf balls can be used in combination with the polymer composition. A method for forming a golf ball also is disclosed. The method comprises providing disclosed compositions and then forming at least one component of a golf using the composition.

Abstract: The invention provides a solid golf ball having a core and a cover. The core is formed of a rubber composition containing a base rubber, a co-crosslinking agent, a crosslinking initiator and a metal oxide. The co-crosslinking agent is methacrylic acid, and the rubber composition includes a specific waste material in the form of a powder. The core deflection and the cover material are optimized. Utilizing a waste material in a solid golf ball conserves resources and thus is beneficial to the global environment. Even during prolonged use, the golf ball maintains its basic performance attributes (feel, flight, durability) at a high level.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having high resilience. The present invention provides a golf ball having a constituting member, wherein at least a part of the constituting member is formed from a rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber, (b) a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator, and (d) an organic sulfur compound, the organic sulfur compound being derivatives of thiophenols and disulfide with a strong electron withdrawing substituent.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having high resilience. The gist of the present invention resides in selecting an organic sulfur compound used for a golf ball rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber, (b) a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator, and (d) the organic sulfur compound from organic sulfur compounds having specific structures such that a sum of substituent constants of the substituents X in a structure represented by the following formula (4) is 0.2 or more and SP value of the structure represented by the following formula (4) is in a range from 19.0 (J/cm3)1/2 to 24.0 (J/cm3)1/2 and using the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anaerobically curable compositions demonstrating resistance to elevated temperature conditions.

Abstract: A thiocarbonyl compound represented by the following formula (a) is useful as a RAFT agent. By using this, a process for producing a polymer having a excellent reactivity or monomer conversion rate and its polymer are provided.

Abstract: A golf ball that includes (a) a core comprising a center; (b) an outer cover layer; and (c) one or more intermediate layers; wherein at least one of the core, the outer cover layer, or the intermediate layer comprises a composition that includes (i) at least one polyalkenamer and at least one polyamide or (ii) at least one polyalkenamer. A method for making a golf ball comprising a core, one or more intermediate layers and an outer cover layer is also disclosed, wherein the method includes forming a blend comprising at least one polyalkenamer rubber and at least one polyamide; and injection molding the blend into a spherical mold to form the intermediate or outer cover layer. Also disclosed is a polymer composition that includes at least one polyalkenamer and at least one thermoplastic copolyamide elastomer.

Abstract: A method that includes applying a color enhancing composition to a substrate and drying the color enhancing composition, where the color enhancing composition includes a carrier fluid; chromatically selective scattering particles having a particle size distribution as measured by (weight average diameter)/(number average diameter) of less than or equal to 1.1; and an absorber of visible light.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an environmentally safe golf ball having excellent resilience. The present invention provides a golf ball having constituting members, wherein at least a part of the constituting members is formed from a rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber, (b) a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator, and (d) an organic sulfur compound, wherein the organic sulfur compound includes a disubstituted compound of thiophenol, disulfide and/or thiophenol metal salt with Br, F or CF3 only at ortho positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bone cements and, more particularly, to multi-solution bone cements and methods for making the same. An embodiment of the present invention provides multi-solution bone cements which include cross-linked PMMA beads, thereby providing for a significant increase in the polymer-to-monomer (P:M) ratio. Another embodiment of the present invention provides cross-linked PMMA beads which are surface modified with unsaturated carbon double bonds. A further embodiment of the present invention provides multi-solution bone cements made with PMMA-PMMA spherical brush polymers.

Abstract: PVDF-g-PAN has been synthesized by grafting polyacrylonitrile onto polyvinylidene fluoride using an ATRP/AGET method. The novel polymer is ionically conducive and has much more flexibility than PVDF alone, making it especially useful either as a binder in battery cell electrodes or as a polymer electrolyte in a battery cell.

Abstract: Processes for making a core and core-shell copolymers are provided herein. Processes for making crosslinked elastomeric core particles includes emulsion polymerizing, in the presence of a radical polymerization initiator, a polymerization mixture containing at least one ethylenic elastomeric monomer, at least one crosslinking agent, and at least one sulfur-containing additive of the formula I below, where R and Z are defined herein. The core-shell copolymers formed are useful for example as additives in polymer matrices such as for modifying impact strength and improving optical properties.

Abstract: A two-component adhesive composition suitable for structural bonding of concrete/concrete, steel/concrete, or steel/steel, as well as for structural strengthening and reinforcing applications with fiber reinforced polymers, is disclosed. The composition includes a resin component A with a peroxide containing at least one norbornene group and at least one methacrylate containing compound and a hardener component B comprising a peroxide and at least one thiol. The resin component A and the hardener component B are spatially separated from one another to inhibit any reaction before mixing of the components.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-layer golf ball comprising at least one core or core layer, at least one intermediate layer, and at least one cover layer. The core has a diameter of about 1.20 to about 1.56 in. and a PGA compression of about 40 to about 90. The intermediate layer comprises a modified ionomeric polymer, and it has a thickness of about 0.01 to about 0.10 in. and a Shore D hardness of about 30 to about 70. The cover layer has a Shore D hardness of about 40 to about 75. The multi-layer golf balls of the present invention provide high driver ball speed and/or a high Coefficient of Restitution, while maintaining excellent shot feel.

Abstract: Provided are a polychloroprene latex composition giving immersion-molded articles superior in releasability from the mold during immersion molding and also superior in flexibility, a production method thereof and a molded article prepared by using the same. A polychloroprene latex composition containing an alkyldiphenyletherdisulfonic acid alkali-metal salt in an amount of 0.01 to 1.0 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of a polychloroprene latex is prepared by emulsion polymerization of the monomer in the presence of a rosin acid alkali-metal salt and an alkyldiphenyletherdisulfonic acid alkali-metal salt each in an amount of 3 parts or less by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the monomer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid golf ball that exhibits a high resilience performance and a high flight performance and gives a good shot feeling. The present invention relates to a solid golf ball including: a core including at least one layer; and a cover including at least one layer, the cover being provided to cover the core, wherein the at least one layer of the core is prepared by vulcanization-molding a rubber composition including: (a) a base rubber; (b) a co-crosslinking agent; (c) an organic peroxide; (d) a filler; and (e) a disulfide compound represented by formula (I): R1—S—S—R2??(I) wherein R1 and R2 each represent any one of the following groups: an aromatic hydrocarbon group; an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having two or more carbon atoms; a heterocyclic hydrocarbon group; and an alicyclic hydrocarbon group, each of which is optionally substituted, and R1 is a group different from R2.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of polyalkyl(meth)acrylate bead polymers with an average particle size V50 that ranges between 30 and 70 ?m for improving the stress cracking resistance of moulding materials containing polyalkyl(meth)acrylate. The invention also relates to moulding materials comprising: a) at least 50 wt. % of an impact resistance modifying agent, which contains at least one polyalkyl(meth)acrylate phase; b) at least 8 wt. % of a polyalkyl(meth)acrylate bead polymer with an average particle size V50 that ranges between 30 and 70 ?m; and c) between 0 and 42 wt. % of a polyalkyl(meth)acrylate with a molecular weight ranging between 20,000 and 350,000 g/mol, whereby the wt. % of the components a) to c) amounts to 100 wt. %, and to moulded bodies that can be obtained from said materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bone cements and, more particularly, to acrylic-based orthopedic bone cements, their use in spinal applications, and methods for making the same. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of grafting PMMA brushes on cross-linked PMMA nanospheres comprising at least one of the following steps: performing a hydrolysis reaction of surface methyl ester groups of said cross-linked PMMA nanospheres to form surface carboxylic acid groups of said cross-linked PMMA nanospheres; forming a 2-aminoethyl acrylate compound; coupling said surface carboxylic acid groups of said cross-linked PMMA nanospheres with said 2-aminoethyl acrylate compound to form a coupled compound with an initiating site; and grafting said PMMA brushes onto said initiating site.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for preparing organic nano-particles comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a solution comprising an unsaturated polyester and/or a vinyl ester resin and a hydrophobic monomer; (b) dispersing the solution obtained in step (a) in an aqueous phase to form a stable emulsion where the aqueous phase is the continuous phase; and (c) using an initiator to cure the emulsion obtained in step (b) in the presence of a water soluble inhibitor to form a dispersion of nano-particles. The invention further provides organic nano-particles obtainable by the process according to the invention; various uses of said nano-particles; such as in paper, dye, toner and personal care compositions and topical medicaments comprising said nano-particles.

Abstract: Provided is a multi-arm (greater than 3 arms) star ethylene polymer (sEP). The multi-arm star ethylene polymer is a polymer of an ethylene/maleic anhydride copolymer (EMAC) grafted with vinyl-terminated polyethylene. There are also provided a process for making the sEP and blend of a matrix ethylene polymer and the sEP.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for radically curing an unsaturated polyester resin or vinyl ester resin composition, wherein the resin composition contains at least 10 ppm radical inhibitor; the resin composition has an acid value of from 0.001 to 300 mg KOH/g resin composition and the curing is effected in the presence of at least 5 mmol Mn/kg primary resin system and at least 10 mmol of thiol/kg primary resin system. The invention also relates to cured objects or structural parts obtained from a resin composition obtained by such a process.

Abstract: The invention provides a rubber composition for golf balls which includes a base rubber, (B) a metal salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or an unsaturated carboxylic acid and zinc oxide, (C) an organic peroxide, and (D) from 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of a metal salt of a thiol having the general formula (R—S)nM (wherein R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group having from 12 to 30 carbons, exclusive of aromatic groups; n is an integer such as 1, 2 or 3; and M is a metal) per 100 parts by weight of the base rubber. The golf ball-forming rubber composition of the invention is suitable for pressure molding and has an excellent productivity because it does not lower the rate of vulcanization. The golf ball of the invention, which is formed using the composition, is endowed with an excellent rebound.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method for preparing olefin-based segmented copolymers through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), wherein the method comprises: a step of polymerizing vinyl-based monomers through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) using a trithiocarbonate-based chain transfer agent to synthesize vinyl-based polymers; and a step of grafting the synthesized vinyl-based polymers to olefin-based polymers. The method of the present invention successfully synthesizes olefin-based segmented copolymers through the two simple above-described steps.

Abstract: A thiocarbonyl compound represented by the following formula (a) is useful as a RAFT agent. By using this, a process for producing a polymer having a excellent reactivity or monomer conversion rate and its polymer are provided.

Abstract: Synthetic microgel polymer compositions are useful for treating and/or modifying hard surfaces, in particular by promoting the hydrophilization thereof, notably in cleaning or rinsing operations.

Abstract: Preformed compositions in shaped form comprising polymer blends, and the use of these preformed compositions in shaped form to seal apertures are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the preformed compositions are electrically conductive and are capable of shielding EMI/RFI radiation. The polymer blend includes a polysulfide component and a polythioether component.

Abstract: Golf balls including cores formed from polybutadiene reaction products having a percent change in dynamic stiffness from 0° C. to ?50° C. of less than 130 percent where the reaction products include a resilient polymer component, a crosslinking material, a cis-to-trans catalyst, and a free radical source. The golf balls may be formed with polyurethane covers, covers formed from castable reactive liquid materials, among other materials. The golf balls may also include an intermediate layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed polymer composition comprise a first unsaturated polymer or polymer precursor, and an effective amount of a peptizer. The peptizer typically comprises a heteroaryl or a heterocyclic compound, other than morpholine as disclosed in assignee's prior applications. Disclosed polymer compositions are useful for making sports equipment, such as at least one layer of a golf ball, often a core. Because the compositions are useful for making golf balls, materials commonly known for making such golf balls can be used in combination with the polymer composition. A method for forming a golf ball also is disclosed. The method comprises providing disclosed compositions and then forming at least one component of a golf using the composition.

Abstract: A fishing line is produced by forming a monofilament by subjecting a resin composition (C) containing 90 to 99.3% by weight of a polyamide resin (A) and 0.7 to 10% by weight of a silicone compound (B) having a number average molecular weight of 100,000 to 2,000,000 to melt-spinning and then drawing. This method can provide a fishing line which is excellent in abrasion resistance and also excellent in visibility. In this method, it is preferable to conduct melt-kneading of a part of the polyamide resin (A) with the silicone compound (B) in advance, adding of the residual polyamide resin (A) and further melt-kneading, subsequent melt-spinning, and drawing at a draw ratio of from 4 to 7.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dithiocarbamic esters, their preparation and their use for regulating the degree of polymerization during the polymerization of monomers, such as during the polymerization of chloroprene to give polychloroprene, and during the polymerization of 2,3-dichlorobutadiene to give poly-2,3-dichlorobutadiene, and during the copolymerization of chloroprene with 2,3-dichlorobutadiene. The present invention further relates to polymers which are obtainable via the polymerization of monomers in the presence of the dithiocarbamic esters of the invention. The present invention also relates to polymers which contain end groups derived from the dithiocarbamic esters of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rubbery core/shell polymers that have improved heat and ultraviolet light resistance. These polymers can be blended with thermoplastics to make leathery compositions. The core/shell polymers of this invention have an inner core and an outer shell. The inner core is has repeat units which are derived from (a) butyl acrylate, (b) a member selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, and ethyl acrylate, (c) optionally, an alkoxy ethyl acrylate or an alkoxy ethyl methacrylate, (d) acrylonitrile, (f) a cross-linking agent, and (g) a monomer containing reactive cure sites The outer core has repeat units which are derived from (d) acrylonitrile, (e) styrene, and (f) additional cross-linking agent. The outer core of these polymers is void of repeat units that are derived from methyl methacrylate.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, an outer cover layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the outer cover layer is provided. The core, intermediate layer, or cover layer includes a composition formed from a base polymer blend, a crosslink initiator, and at least one additive. The outer cover layer may comprise a polyurethane or polyurea composition. The base polymer blend preferably includes two or more rubber materials. The additive has at least one C—O—B linkage, the carbon in the linkage being a secondary or tertiary carbon and is selected from the group consisting of boranes, borates, boronates, borinates, heterocylic compounds having at least one boron atom as a ring member, boron-containing organosulfides, salts of such additives, and metal salts, organometallic salts, and non-metal salts of boron complexes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to resilient golf balls and portions thereof including compositions containing zinc dimethacrylate and zinc pentachlorothiophenol, and methods for making same. In particular, the present invention is directed to a golf ball having at least one of a center, cover, or intermediate layer that includes a reaction product that includes a resilient polymer component, a free radical source, zinc dimethacrylate and at least one halogenated organosulfur compound having the following general formula I: where R1-R5 can be substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl groups; halogen groups; thiol groups (—SH), carboxylated groups; sulfonated groups; and hydrogen; in any order.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition that can form a gel comprising a copolymer. Said composition is an aqueous composition, and the copolymer is a star copolymer. The invention also relates to useful copolymers, especially for the inventive compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dithiocarbamic esters, their preparation and their use for regulating the degree of polymerization during the polymerization of monomers, such as during the polymerization of chloroprene to give polychloroprene, and during the polymerization of 2,3-dichlorobutadiene to give poly-2,3-dichlorobutadiene, and during the copolymerization of chloroprene with 2,3-dichlorobutadiene. The present invention further relates to polymers which are obtainable via the polymerization of monomers in the presence of the dithiocarbamic esters of the invention. The present invention also relates to polymers which contain end groups derived from the dithiocarbamic esters of the present invention.

Abstract: Color enhancing compositions for enhancing, changing and concealing the color of substrates to which the compositions are applied are provided. The compositions include chromatically selective scattering particles having small sizes and narrow size distributions. Inks, paints and other coatings made from the color enhancing compositions are also provided.

Abstract: This invention concerns a free radical polymerization process, selected chain transfer agents employed in the process and polymers made thereby, in which the process comprises preparing polymer of general Formula (A) and Formula (B) comprising contacting: (i) a monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl monomers (of structure CH2?CUV), maleic anhydride, N-alkylmaleimide, N-arylmaleimide, dialkyl fumarate and cyclopolymerizable monomers; (ii) a thiocarbonylthio compound selected from Formula (C) and Formula (D) having a chain transfer constant greater than about 0.1; and (iii) free radicals produced from a free radical source; the polymer of Formula (A) being made by contacting (i), (ii) C and (iii) and that of Formula (B) by contacting (i), (ii) D, and (iii); and (iv) controlling the polydispersity of the polymer being formed by varying the ratio of the number of molecules of (ii) to the number of molecules of (iii); wherein Q, R, U, V, Z, Z?, m, p and q are as defined in the text.

Abstract: A low compression, resilient golf ball having a center including a material formed from the conversion reaction of sufficient amounts of polybutadiene, a free radical source, and a cis-to-trans catalyst to convert a portion of cis-isomer to trans-isomer in the polybutadiene, wherein said material has an amount of trans-isomer greater than the amount of trans-isomer present before the conversion reaction, and wherein the reaction product includes low levels or substantially no antioxidant.

Abstract: According to the present invention, aqueous multi-stage polymer dispersions comprising an acid-functional first polymer and an epoxy-functional second polymer, wherein 90 mole % or more of the said epoxy groups, based on the moles of epoxy groups in the monomer mixture used to form the second polymer, are retained in the aqueous dispersion after said dispersion is stored in a sealed container for 10 days at 60° C. Further, methods of making the aqueous multistage polymer dispersion comprise polymerizing the monomers used to make the second polymer in the presence of an aqueous dispersion of the first polymer. Preferably, the second polymer is formed in the presence of 0.3 wt. % or less, based on the total weight of the first polymer and the ingredients to form the second polymer, of one or more strong acid surfactant, and 3) 0.1 wt.

Abstract: A process for alkylating an aromatic compound comprising reacting (a) a first amount of at least one aromatic compound with a first amount of a mixture of olefins having from about 8 to about 100 carbon atoms, in the presence of a strong acid catalyst; and reacting the product of (a) with an additional amount of at least one aromatic compound and an additional amount of a strong acid catalyst, and optionally, with an additional amount of a mixture of olefins selected from olefins having from about 8 to about 100 carbon atoms, wherein the resulting product comprises at least about 80 weight percent of a 1,2,4 tri-alkylsubstituted aromatic compound.

Abstract: A thermosetting composite material, particularly for manufacturing sanitary articles and kitchen sinks, comprising a polymeric matrix that incorporates a filler material distributed in the matrix, the filler material being constituted by glass particles, the preponderant fraction of which has a size distribution from 0.2 to 1.5 mm.

Abstract: A molded rubber material for golf balls which is obtained by molding and curing a rubber compound composed of base rubber and such ingredients as crosslinking agent, co-crosslinking agent, and vulcanization accelerator, wherein the base rubber is polybutadiene which results from polymerization with the help of a catalyst of rare earth element and has a stress relaxation time (T80) no longer than 5 (measured according to ASTM D 1646-96), the vulcanization accelerator is hexamethylenetetramine, and the rubber compound contains an organosulfur compound. A method for producing the molded rubber material, and a golf ball having the molded rubber material as the solid core. The method permits efficient production of high-quality rubber molded material with high rebound resilience.

Abstract: Preformed compositions in shaped form comprising polymer blends, and the use of these preformed compositions in shaped form to seal apertures are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the preformed compositions are electrically conductive and are capable of shielding EMI/RFI radiation. The polymer blend includes a polysulfide component and a polythioether component.

Abstract: A golf ball is composed at least in part of a material molded under heat from a rubber composition which includes: (a) a base rubber composed primarily of a mixture of at least 60 wt % of a polybutadiene having a stress relaxation time (T80), defined as the length of time it takes from the moment when rotor rotation is stopped immediately after measurement of the ML1+4 (100° C.) value (the Mooney viscosity measured at 100° C. in accordance with ASTM D-1646-96) for the ML1+4 value to decrease 80%, of less than 4 seconds with up to 40 wt % of a polybutadiene having a stress relaxation time (T80) of at least 4 seconds; (b) an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof; and (c) an organic peroxide. The golf ball has an excellent manufacturability and rebound.

Abstract: Golf balls including centers formed from polybutadiene reaction products having a percent change in dynamic stiffness from 0° C. to ?50° C. of less than 130 percent where the reaction products include a resilient polymer component, a crosslinking material, a cis-to-trans catalyst, and a free radical source. The golf balls may be formed with polyurethane covers, covers formed from castable reactive liquid materials, among other materials. The golf balls may also include an intermediate layer.

Abstract: A method of making a golf ball comprising the steps of providing a preform comprising an uncured polybutadiene composition; coating the preform with a cure-altering material comprising an organosulfur compound, an inorganic sulfide compound, or a metal-containing organosulfur compound; curing the coated preform at a predetermined temperature to form a crosslinked golf ball core having an outer surface having a first hardness and a geometric center having a second hardness greater than the first to define a negative hardness gradient; and forming a cover layer about the core to form the golf ball.

Abstract: A low compression, resilient golf ball having a center including a material formed from the conversion reaction of sufficient amounts of polybutadiene, a free radical source, and a cis-to-trans catalyst to convert a portion of cis-isomer to trans-isomer in the polybutadiene, wherein said material has an amount of trans-isomer greater than the amount of trans-isomer present before the conversion reaction, and wherein the reaction product includes low levels or substantially no antioxidant.