Abstract: A process for the preparation of novel polyamides, the use of such polyamides for the production of fibers, sheets and moldings, and fibers, sheets and moldings obtainable from such polyamides, are provided.

Abstract: A two step method for solid state polymerization of dry crystalline thermoplastic polymers to form polymers with superior mechanical properties, first by mechanically fluidizing dry crystalline thermoplastic polymer particles in the absence of oxygen by means of blades moving through the fluidized polymer particles at velocities sufficient to heat the particles to an incipient melt temperature and maintain the temperature until solid state polymerization provides the desired molecular weight and before chemical degradation of the polymer occurs; and second by immediately quenching by application of liquefied cryogenic gases directly to the surfaces of the polymer particles in amounts sufficient to cool the particles to temperatures lower than the glass transition temperature of the polymer before crystals in the polymer aggregate into large spherulites.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the continuous polymerization of polyamides which is carried out under conditions of pressure, temperature and polymer concentration in water that will ultimately yield multiple phases (including a second liquid polymer phase or a polymer precipitate). However, a single phase operation is achieved under these conditions by appropriate management of residence time and using a well-mixed reaction environment in early stages of the polymerization.

Abstract: Polyhydroxyamides are polymerized to form highly-crosslinked, temperature-stable polymers. The polyhydroxyamides include as their central, parent structure a benzenetricarboxylic acid to which side chains containing a terminal reactive group are attached by an amide bond. By way of this reactive group, highly crosslinked polymers can be formed. In addition, the polyhydroxyamide can be added as an additive to polymers in order to bring about three-dimensional crosslinking.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semi-aromatic polyamide containing at least tetramethylene terephthalamide units and also hexamethylene terephthalamide units. The copolyamide has a melting point higher than approximately 290° C., a high crystallinity and a good stability. Preferably the copolyamide according to the invention contains approximately 30-75 mol % hexamethylene terephthalamide units and also approximately 0.01-20 mol % other units. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a semi-aromatic copolyamide containing at least tetramethylene terephthalamide units and hexamethylene terephthalamide units, characterized in that, successively, a first polymerization is effected in the melt phase, followed by an post-polymerization of the low molar mass polymer thus obtained in the solid phase; and to compositions and products that contain said copolyamide.

Abstract: A polyamide characterized in that the polyamide is obtained by thermal polycondensation of (a) dicarboxylic acid components comprising 10 to 80% by mole in total carboxylic acid components of 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid having a trans/cis molar ratio of 50/50 to 97/3 and (b) an aliphatic diamine component is disclosed. The alicyclic polyamide having 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid in a backbone thereof as a dicarboxylic acid unit, which is suitable as materials for various uses such as automotive parts, electric/electronics parts, industrial materials, engineering materials and daily household goods, and superior in heat resistance, low water absorption, light resistance, moldability and light weight, as well as superior in toughness, chemical resistance and appearance, and molded articles thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making polyamide. More particularly, the invention concerns a method for making polyamides derived from the reaction between a diacid and a diamine. It concerns a method for making a polyamide derived from the reaction of at least a diacid with at least a polyamide comprising the following steps: preparing a first mixture of diacid and diamine with a diacid/diamine molar ratio ranging between 0.8 and 0.995, preferably ranging between 0.95 and 0.99 in a first reactor (5); preparing a second mixture of diacid and diamine with a diacid/diamine molar ratio ranging between 1.005 and 1.2, preferably between 1.01 and 1.05, in a second reactor (4); introducing in melted form a first flow of the first mixture and a second flow of the second mixture in a stirred polymer reactor (7); drawing, preferably, continuously, from said reactor a flow of polyamide prepolymer; feeding said polyamide flow into a finishing step to obtain the desired degree of polymerisation.

Abstract: The invention describes polyamides having both strongly hydrophilic groups and unsaturated groups, the polyamides consequently being water-dispersible and curable. The hydrophilic groups are distributed along the chain, whereas the unsaturated groups are located at the ends. The polyamides of the invention are useful in many applications, especially in the preparation of intimate blends of polyamides with vinyl, acrylic and/or styrene polymers.

Abstract: Hot melt adhesives are prepared using thermoplastic polyamides derived from polymerized fatty acid components. The adhesives are particularly useful for bonding nonpolar substrates such as poly-&agr;-olefins.

Abstract: The present invention provides an amine or polyamine, which has a surface activity not inferior to a solid tallow-based amine and an excellent workability. A salt of the amine is suited for emulsifying asphalt and the like, and also provides an asphalt emulsion composition which is obtained by using the salt and which has a quick setting property. Namely, the prevent invention provides a polyamine represented by the formula (1), a process for producing the amine, and an asphalt emulsion composition containing a water-soluble salt of the amine. wherein R is a straight or branched hydrocarbon group having 8 to 22 carbon atoms; x is a number of 1 to 5; and each of y and z is a number of 0 to 5 with the proviso that both of y and z are not 0 at the same time.

Abstract: In the production of polyamide by the melt-polymerization of the present invention, the polymerization conditions are rapidly and accurately controlled by a near-infrared spectroscopy to enable the efficient production of a desired polyamide with a good stability in its quality.

Abstract: A low molecular weight, tertiary amide terminated polyamide may be blended with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a transparent composition having gel consistency, and this gel may be used to formulate a cosmetic. The tertiary amide terminated polyamide may be prepared by reacting “x” equivalents of dicarboxylic acid wherein at least 50% of those equivalents are from polymerized fatty acid, “y” equivalents of diamine such as ethylene diamine, and “z” equivalents of a monofunctional reactant having a secondary amine group as the only reactive functionality. The stoichiometry of the reaction mixture is preferably such that 0.9≦{x/(y+z)}≦1.1 and 0.1≦{z/(y+z)}<0.7. The gel contains about 5-50% tertiary amide terminated polyamide, with the remainder preferably being pure hydrocarbon.

Abstract: The instant invention provides an aromatic polyamide composition for molding which is of superior rigidity, strength, toughness, dimensional stability, resistance to chemicals, external surface appearance and sliding characteristics in high-humidity, high-temperature environments, which has a low coefficient of linear expansion and which is of low warpage.

Abstract: A curable composition is placed on a candle, and then the composition is exposed to curing conditions such as ultraviolet light, to thereby cure the coating composition and provide a candle having a cured coating. The curable composition may be the reaction product of TMPTA (trimethylolpropanetriacrylate), itself the reaction product of trimethylolpropane and acrylic acid) and oleyl amine (an unsaturated primary amine having eighteen carbons). The candle may be made of wax or a gelled solvent, i.e., a mixture of gellant and solvent, particularly a hydrocarbon or other low polarity solvent. The undiluted coating may be applied by spraying on the oily surface of the candle. Ultraviolet cure of the coating occurs in 1-2 seconds.

Abstract: A tertiary amide-terminated dimer acid-based polyamide may be blended with a solvent to form a gel. The solvent may be flammable, and a wick may be added to the resulting gel so as to form a candle. Depending on the composition, the candle may be formed into a free-standing pillar, or may be better suited to being placed in a container. The solvent may, for example, be mineral oil or triglyceride. A solid coating may be placed around the candle, for advantages including to enhance the mechanical stability of the gelled body, and to eliminate the tendency of a gel to have an oily feel and to accept noticeable fingerprints. The solvent which, in combination with the tertiary amine-terminated dimer acid-based polymer forms a gel, may be or include a fragrance material. The gelled composition may also include fatty acid and/or a compound containing one, two, or more ester groups. In one aspect, the article does not contain a wick, and is intended to function as a fragrance-releasing product.

Abstract: The present invention provides elastomeric copolyester amides, elastomeric copolyester urethanes, and methods for making the same. The polymers that are based on &agr;-amino acids and possess suitable physical, chemical and biodegradation properties. The polymers are useful as carriers of drugs or other bioactive substances.

Abstract: A structured, solid composition that contains at least one colorant, a liquid oil phase, and a gellant, wherein the gellant is a tertiary amide-terminated polyamide resin (ATPA) of the formula (1): wherein, n designates a number of repeating units such that terminal amide groups constitute from 10% to 50% of the total amide groups; R1 at each occurrence is independently selected from a C1-22 hydrocarbon group; R2 at each occurrence is independently selected from a C2-42 hydrocarbon group; R3 at each occurrence is independently selected from an organic group containing at least two carbon atoms in addition to hydrogen atoms, and optionally containing one or more oxygen and nitrogen atoms; and R3a at each occurrence is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-10 alkyl and a direct bond to R3 or another R3a such that the N atom to which R3 and R3a are both bonded is part of a heterocyclic structure defined in part by R3a—N—R3, the composition being in the form of a solid; the liquid

Abstract: The improved polyamide production method of the present invention is characterized by including a step of accurately regulating the molar balance between a diamine component and a dicarboxylic acid component to a desired balance in a batch-wise regulation tank, thereby preparing a slurry liquid substantially free from the amidation reaction. The slurry liquid thus prepared is fed to a batch-wise or continuous polymerization reactor, where the amidation reaction is proceeded to easily produce polyamide having a desired balance of the diamine component and the dicarboxylic acid component without causing a problem such as foaming, solidification, etc.

Abstract: 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a single-packaged epoxy resin coating composition comprising: (A) an epoxy resin having at least one epoxy group in a molecule and capable of being dissolved in the following organic solvent (D), (B) a ketimines compound having at least two primary amino groups blocked with a carbonyl compound and having no other amino groups than the above blocked amino groups, (C) a dehydrating agent and (D) an organic solvent, wherein the above organic solvent (D) comprises a hydrocarbon base solvent selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic hydrocarbon base solvent and an aromatic hydrocarbon base solvent having a boiling point of 148° C. or higher in a proportion of at least 95% by weight based on the above organic solvent (D).

Abstract: Blooming and/or syneresis in gel formulations can be reduced or eliminated by adding to an organic mixture an effective amount of a polyamide gelling agent having a softening point of less than about 105° C. wherein the polyamide is the reaction product of one or more diamines, optionally one or more mono-amines, one or more hydrogenated C36 dimer acids, optionally one or more C2-22 dicarboxylic acids, and optionally one or more C2-22 monocarboxylic acids.

Abstract: A tertiary amide-terminated dimer acid-based polyamide may be blended with a solvent to form a gel. The solvent may be flammable, and a wick may be added to the resulting gel so as to form a candle. Depending on the composition, the candle may be formed into a free-standing pillar, or may be better suited to being placed in a container. The solvent may, for example, be mineral oil or triglyceride. A solid coating may be placed around the candle, for advantages including to enhance the mechanical stability of the gelled body, and to eliminate the tendency of a gel to have an oily feel and to accept noticeable fingerprints. The solvent which, in combination with the tertiary amine-terminated dimer acid-based polymer forms a gel, may be or include a fragrance material. The gelled composition may also include fatty acid and/or a compound containing one, two, or more ester groups. In one aspect, the article does not contain a wick, and is intended to function as a fragrance-releasing product.

Abstract: Polymer derivatives based upon polyalkyleneimine backbones having a color stabilizing-effective amount of their reactive amino functionalities substituted by either a carboxylic acid or an amino-protecting group such as urea, are disclosed. Methods for preparing said derivatives are also disclosed. Fiber lubricant compositions comprising said polymer derivatives, and the resistance to yellowing associated with such lubricants are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for treating fibers using the polymer derivatives.

Abstract: A method of producing a polyamide resin by reacting with at least one diamine compounds at least one linear polyester resin consisting of at least one dicarboxylic acid component and at least one diol component and having an intrinsic viscosity of not less than 0.2 dl/g, so that the at least one diol component of the linear polyester resin is substituted by the diamine compound, resulting in the polyamide resin as a reaction product, wherein the improvement comprises: at least one of a carboxylic acid-activator and an inorganic salt being present in a reaction system of the linear polyester resin and the diamine compound.

Abstract: In the process of the present invention, a recovered polyamide is used as a part of the raw materials for producing polyamide. By carrying out the polycondensation under a condition such that the recovered polyamide is dissolved in the reaction system during the polycondensation, the properties of the polyamide being produced are not deteriorated as compared with those of polyamide which is produced without using the recovered polyamide. By changing the addition amount of the recovered polyamide, the crystallization speed of the resultant polyamide is controlled or increased as compared when produced without using the recovered polyamide.

Abstract: A structured, solid composition that contains at least one colorant, a liquid oil phase, and a gellant, wherein the gellant is a tertiary amide-terminated polyamide resin (ATPA) of the formula (1): 1

Abstract: 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a granule and granulate and to a process for the preparation of polyamide granules at least comprising

Abstract: Compositions comprising: (a) from about 51% to about 99.9% by weight of a polyamide resin component; and (b) from about 0. 1% to about 49% by weight of a wax component, wherein the polyamide resin component comprises a reaction product obtained by reaction of a dimerized fatty acid reactant, a carboxylic acid reactant and a diamine reactant, are disclosed for use in thermographic printing. The polyamide resin/wax component compositions disclosed herein exhibit decreased bloom and enhanced scratch/scuff resistance.

Abstract: A process for making partially aromatic polyamides is provided in which an aromatic dicarboxylic acid component, at least 20-100% by weight of the dicarboxylic acid in the acid component is in the form of an alkylated ester, and a diamine component, comprising a diamine having from 6-12 carbon atoms, are admixed in the presence of water and with heating to form polyamide having from 1-100% on a molar basis of N-alkylated amide and amine groups. The polyamides are particularly useful in the manufacture of products intended for use at elevated temperatures or products in which retention of properties at elevated temperatures is required, including articles using injection molding technology, parts for automotive end-uses and electronics. The polyamides can also be formed into films and fibers for use in associated products.

Abstract: A tertiary amide-terminated dimer acid-based polyamide may be blended with a solvent to form a gel. The solvent may be flammable, and a wick may be added to the resulting gel so as to form a candle. Depending on the composition, the candle may be formed into a free-standing pillar, or may be better suited to being placed in a container. The solvent may be mineral oil. A solid coating may be placed around the candle, for advantages including to enhance the mechanical stability of the gelled body, and to eliminate the tendency of a gel to have an oily feel and to accept noticeable fingerprints. The solvent which, in combination with the tertiary amine-terminated dimer acid-based polymer forms a gel, may be or include a fragrance material. In one aspect, the article does not contain a wick, and is intended to function as a fragrance-releasing product.

Abstract: A curable composition is placed on a candle, and then the composition is exposed to curing conditions such as ultraviolet light, to thereby cure the coating composition and provide a candle having a cured coating. The curable composition may be the reaction product of TMPTA (trimethylolpropanetriacrylate), itself the reaction product of trimethylolpropane and acrylic acid) and oleyl amine (an unsaturated primary amine having eighteen carbons). The candle may be made of wax or a gelled solvent, i.e., a mixture of gellant and solvent, particularly a hydrocarbon or other low polarity solvent. The undiluted coating may be applied by spraying on the oily surface of the candle. Ultraviolet cure of the coating occurs in 1-2 seconds.

Abstract: The polyamic acid of the invention can be obtained by the reaction of an acid anhydride component comprising pyromellitic anhydride and 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane with 2,2′-di-substituted-4,4′-diaminobiphenyls as a first aromatic diamine and any aromatic diamine component, as a second aromatic diamine, of 2,2-bis(4-aminophenoxyphenyl)propanes, 1,1-bis(4-(4-aminophenoxy)-3-t-butyl-6-methylphenyl)butane, 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-methylphenyl)hexafluoropropane and &agr;,&agr;′-bis(4-aminophenyl)diisopropylbenzenes in an organic solvent. The polyimide resin of the invention can be obtained by heating such a polyamic acid solution. In the production of a circuit board, by using a photosensitive polyamic acid having a sensitizer incorporated in such a polyamic acid solution, a patterned polyimide resin layer can be provided as an insulation layer on a metal foil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polyamide composition comprising: a polyamide containing an alkylene oxide group; and a metal salt. The polyamide composition of the present invention has long lasting antistatic properties and a lower surface resistivity than the polyamide alone.

Abstract: The synthesis of dimethyl-1,5-naphthalenedicarboxylate and polymers and articles formed therefrom is disclosed, as well as applications for dimethyl-1,5-naphthalenedicarboxylate, its corresponding acid 1,5-NDA, and various synthesis intermediates.

Abstract: A polyamide with excellent stretching properties is disclosed, which comprises 50 to 99.8 mol % of a unit derived from a lactam and/or an aminocarboxylic acid, 0.1 to 25 mol % of a unit derived from a dicarboxylic acid, and 0.1 to 25 mol % of a unit derived from a diamine component containing 10 to 100 mol % of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a branched saturated diamine having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, a branched alicyclic diamine having 6 to 16 carbon atoms, and a norbornanediamine.

Abstract: A molding polyamide resin composition with excellent weld strength is disclosed which comprises: 100 parts by weight of a polyamide resin comprising from 95 to 55 wt % crystalline, partly aromatic copolyamide resin containing one kind of aromatic monomer units and/or crystalline aliphatic polyamide resin and from 5 to 45 wt % polyamide resin comprising units derived from a xylylenediamine and units derived from an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or noncrystalline, partly aromatic copolyamide resin containing at least two kinds of aromatic monomer units; and from 5 to 200 parts by weight of an inorganic filler.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a process for modifying a polyamide polymer comprising contacting a reactive modifier with diamine/diacid salt and/or an amino-acid of a hydrolyzed lactam or lactam to form a modified polyamide. A second embodiment of the present invention is a process for modifying a polyamide polymer comprising contacting a reactive modifier with diamine then contacting the resulting modified diamine with diacid and/or lactam to form a modified polyamide.

Abstract: These prepolymers having maleimide functions (f) consist in the reaction products of at least one maleic anhydride represented by formula (I); of at least one compound (II) having at least one —NH2 function and at least another function F selected from the group consisting of —OH, —NH2, —NH—, —COOH, —COOR3 or —OOCR3; of at least one compound (III) capable of forming the chain of the prepolymers by polycondensation and/or polyaddition, said compound(s) (II) having first reacted with said maleic anhydride(s) (I) in order to open the maleic anhydride rings with formation of maleamic acid functions (f′), said maleamic acid functions having then been at least partially closed again under the action of heat into maleimides N-substituted by groups functionalized by a function F, the chain of said prepolymers having been formed by polycondensation and/or polyaddition of the N-substituted maleimide formed bearing the function F; of compound(s) (III) of uncyclized p

Abstract: A low molecular weight, tertiary amide terminated polyamide may be blended with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a transparent composition having gel consistency. The tertiary amide terminated polyamide may be prepared by reacting “x” equivalents of dicarboxylic acid wherein at least 50% of those equivalents are from polymerized fatty acid, “y” equivalents of diamine such as ethylene diamine, and “z” equivalents of a monofunctional reactant having a secondary amine group as the only reactive functionality. The stoichiometry of the reaction mixture is preferably such that 0.9≦{x/(y+z)}≦1.1 and 0.1≦{z/(y+z)}≦0.7. The gel contains about 5-50% tertiary amide terminated polyamide, with the remainder preferably being pure hydrocarbon. The gels are useful in formulating personal care products and other articles wherein some degree of gel-like or self-supporting consistency is desired.

Abstract: The present invention relates to materials which are barriers to gases and to liquids, which are resistant to water and which are capable of being shaped into single- or multimaterial thin layers or films which can be processed by drawing and/or thermoforming. These barrier materials are based on copolyamide composed essentially of units derived from hexamethylenediamine, iso- and terephthalic acids and optionally adipic acid. They can be used for the manufacture of composite materials comprising one or more thin layers, sheets and/or films, pipes or hollow bodies intended in particular for the packaging of chemicals, foodstuffs or pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic products.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of polyamide moulding compounds, their alloys or blends, which contain at least one homopolyamide, which has been obtained from long-chained aliphatic monomer blocks with cycloaliphatic monomer blocks, in order to manufacture moulded members for optical or electro-optical applications.

Abstract: The invention provide biodegradable copolymers of the copoly(ester-amide) or copoly(ester-urethane) type, which copolymers consist of building blocks with the general structure (I): [CB-VB] wherein CB and VB of different building blocks may be the same or different, and CB represents a block with a constant length and VB represents a block with a variable length.

Abstract: A process for producing a polyamide from dicarboxylic acid monomer and diamine monomer comprises the steps of: (a) mixing molten dicarboxylic acid monomer and molten diamine monomer in equimolar amounts, thereby producing a molten reaction mixture; (b) flowing the reaction mixture through at least one unvented reaction vessel, the residence time of the reaction mixture in the at least one unvented reaction vessel being between about 0.01 minutes and about 30 minutes, thereby forming a first product stream that comprises polyamide and water of polymerization; and (c) flowing the first product stream through at least one vented vessel, whereby water of polymerization is removed, thereby forming a second product stream that comprises polyamide. The process can operate continuously, and there is no need to add water to the dicarboxylic acid, to the diamine, or to the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Rod-like aromatic heterocyclic polymers having repeating units of the formula --(--Q--Ar--).sub.m --(--Q--Ph--).sub.n)-- where Q is ##STR1## X is --O--, --S--, or --NH--; m is 0.05 to 1.0; n is 1.0-m; Ph is 1,4-phenylene; Ar is ##STR2## R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same and are either H or CH.sub.3 ; and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are CH.sub.3.

Abstract: This invention relates to high temperature, semi-crystalline, semi-aromatic nylon copolymers with improved shrinkage and blistering resistance, made from terephthalic acid (TA), hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and another aliphatic dicarboxylic acid as monomers. These polymers display superior % TD (Transverse Direction) annealing shrinkage, superior resistance to blistering when formulated with flame retardant additives and reinforcement under infrared (IR) reflow soldering conditions for electronic conectors, as well as a very good balance of mechanical performance as high temperature nylons.

Abstract: A process for producing an aromatic polyamide which comprises:(a) a dicarboxylic acid component which consists of 30-100 mol % of terephthalic acid and optionally 0-70 mol % of at least one dicarboxylic acid other than terephthalic acid, and(b) a diamine component which consists of 50-100 mol % of an aliphatic alkylenediamine of 4-25 carbons and optionally 0-50 mol % of at least one alicyclic diamine of 3-25 carbons, said process comprising a first step of performing melt reaction of said dicarboxylic acid with said diamine, thereby giving a low molecular weight condensate having an intrinsic viscosity [.eta.] of 0.05-0.6 dl/g, a second step of subjecting it to solid phase polymerization, thereby giving an aromatic polyamide precursor having an intrinsic viscosity [.eta.] of 0.5-1.0 dl/g, and a third step of subjecting it to melt polymerization, thereby giving an aromatic polyamide having a desired intrinsic viscosity [.eta.] of 0.8-2.5 dl/g.

Abstract: An ester-terminated dimer acid-based polyamide may be blended with a solvent to form a gel. The solvent may be flammable, and a wick may be added to the resulting gel so as to form a candle. Depending on the composition, the candle may be formed into a free standing pillar, or may be better suited to being placed in a container. The solvent may be mineral oil. A solid coating may be placed around the candle, for advantages including to enhance the mechanical stability of the gelled body, and to eliminate the tendency of a gel to have an oily feel and to accept noticeable fingerprints. The solvent which, in combination with the ester-terminated dimer acid-based polymer forms a gel, may be or include a fragrance material, an insecticide or an insect repellent. A wick may or may not be present in this gel, but in any event, the composition provides for the release of the fragrance, insecticide or insect-repellent.

Abstract: A method of producing a polyamide resin by reacting with at least one diamine compound, at least one linear polyester resin consisting of at least one dicarboxylic acid component and at least one diol component and having an intrinsic viscosity of not less than 0.2 dl/g, the at least one diamine compound being used in an amount of 0.5-1.5 mol per 1 mol of the at least one linear polyester resin as calculated in the repeating unit thereof, the linear polyester resin and the diamine compound being reacted in a reaction medium comprising at least one solvent selected from aprotic protophobic polar solvents, so that the at least one diol component of the linear polyester resin is substituted by the diamine compound, resulting in the polyamide resin as a reaction product.

Abstract: A method for binding ceramic materials in aqueous media is disclosed. The method utilizes water-soluble cross-linked polyamides prepared by condensation polymerization for binding various classes of ceramic materials.