The Dow Chemical Company

Robert M Harnden

Robert B Turner

Ronald M Herrington

Donald W Calvin

Daniel W Baugh, Iii

A polymeric composition which degrades in the presence of oxygen either photochemically or thermo-oxidatively comprising a blend of polyethylene, e.g. low density polyethylene and cerium (III) stearate. This composition is especially useful in degradable food wrap and packaging and as an agricultural mulch film.

Environmentally degradable polyethylene composition

Polyurethane foams having a specified glass transition temperature are densified for transportation or other purposes by heating the foam to a temperature above its T.sub.g, compressing the heated foam, and then cooling the compressed foam to a temperature below its T.sub.g. The cooled foam remains in a densified state until re-heated to a temperature above its T.sub.g, whereupon it re-expands to assume its original dimensions.

Densifiable and re-expandable polyurethane foam

The present invention provides a method for reacting urea and beta-hydroxyethylcarbamate to make 2-oxazolidinone and ethyleneurea in a good yield and high selectivity, whereby the reaction method can be controlled to provide either the 2-oxazolidinone or the ethyleneurea as the major reaction product.

Preparation of 2-oxazolidinone and ethyleneurea

The present invention provides a selective process for the manufacture of diethylenetriamine from ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, and urea. The process comprises a reaction cycle in which ethylenediamine, ethanolamine, and urea are first reacted in step (a) to form aminoethylethyleneurea and ethyleneurea, which in turn are hydrolyzed in a second reaction step (b) to diethylenetriamine and ethylenediamine. The ethylenediamine made in the second reaction step (b) may be recycled to the first reaction step (a).

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Granville, OH, United States of America

Robert M Harnden