Abstract:
An aldehyde composition derived by hydroformylation of a transesterified seed oil and containing a mixture of formyl-substituted fatty acids or fatty acid esters having the following composition by weight: greater than about 10 to less than about 95 percent monoformyl, greater than about 1 to less than about 65 percent diformyl, and greater than about 0.1 to less than about 10 percent triformyl-substituted fatty acids or fatty acid esters, and having a diformyl to triformyl weight ratio of greater than about 5/1; preferably, greater than about 3 to less than about 20 percent saturates; and preferably, greater than about 1 to less than about 20 percent unsaturates. An alcohol composition derived by hydrogenation of the aforementioned aldehyde composition, containing a mixture of hydroxymethyl-substituted fatty acids or fatty acid esters having the following composition by weight: greater than about 10 to less than about 95 percent monoalcohol {mono(hydroxymethyl)}, greater than about 1 to less than about 65 percent diol {di(hydroxymethyl)}, greater than about 0.1 to less than about 10 percent triol, tri(hydroxmethyl)-substituted fatty acids or fatty acid esters; preferably greater than about 3 to less than about 35 percent saturates; and preferably, less than about 10 percent unsaturates. The alcohol composition can be converted into an oligomeric polyol for use in the manufacture of polyurethane slab stock flexible foams.
Abstract:
A joining device for electrofusion of at least one end of a pipe to a fitting is provided which includes a fitting of a polymeric material and a collar adapted to receive the end of the pipe. The collar is fabricated from a conductive polymer composite material and positioned within the fitting. A connector for connecting the collar to a source of current may be provided which may be integral to the fitting. Likewise, the collar may be integral to the fitting. All three of the connector, collar and fitting are preferably an integral unit. A method of making the joining device and a method of using the joining device are also provided.
Abstract:
A dye-sensitized solar cell with internal microlens array includes an anodic electrode, a cathodic counter-electrode, and an electrolyte. The anodic electrode includes a porous nano-structured active metal oxide layer having a sensitizer dye adsorbed thereon. In one embodiment, a microlens array comprising a plurality of microlens elements is disposed between the electrodes, and preferably between a transparent substrate of the anodic electrode and active metal oxide layer for dispersing light incident on the substrate to the active oxide layer. In some embodiments, the microlens elements may be convex or concave in configuration. The microlens array improves solar conversion efficiency of the solar cell. A method for forming a microlens array is further provided.