The present invention relates to relates to a method of optimizing a plastic composition formed from a plurality of resin feedstocks. A plurality of resin feedstocks are provided. The plurality of resin feedstocks are blended to form the plastic composition. One or more properties of the plastic composition, including radiation absorption, radiation transmission, gas evolution, radiation fluorescence, or melting properties, are measured. The ratio of the plurality of resin feedstocks being blended into the plastic composition is adjusted, based on said measuring, to form an optimized plastic composition. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.

Disclosed is a phosphorus-containing compound capable of serving as a flame retardant to be used in conjunction with other ingredients to make resin compositions, useful for fabricating such as a prepreg, a resin film, a resin film with copper foil, a laminate or a printed circuit board, having improved one or more properties including glass transition temperature, coefficient of thermal expansion, thermal resistance, flame retardancy, dielectric constant, and dissipation factor. In addition, a method of preparing the phosphorus-containing compound and a resin composition comprising the phosphorus-containing compound are also disclosed.

A Differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermal analysis method for the action of an applied electric field includes: step 1, in an experiment module of a differential scanning calorimeter, placing a microelectrode crucible and a reference crucible on corresponding sensors, connecting electrode wires of the microelectrode crucible with a signal generator, setting signal parameters to be output, placing a tested sample in a gap between electrodes, closing a microelectrode crucible lid, and closing the experiment module; step 2, at a temperature-varying stage, measuring a DSC curve of the tested sample under the action of an electric field, and at a reheating stage, measuring a DSC curve of the tested sample with no electric field; and step 3, analyzing the DSC curves in combination with the related theories of dielectrics and thermodynamics, and calculating an electric field intensity of the tested sample and a phase transformation rate of the tested sample.

A DSC (Differential Scanning calorimetry) electrode system capable of applying an electric field includes a differential scanning calorimeter, a computer, a signal generator, a self-pressurization liquid nitrogen tank and a reference crucible, wherein the self-pressurization liquid nitrogen tank is connected to the differential scanning calorimeter and used for controlling temperature in real time; the differential scanning calorimeter is connected to the computer and used for transmitting signals and recording experiment results. The DSC electrode system also includes a microelectrode crucible that includes a ceramic crucible, a ceramic crucible cover, welding spots, two electrodes and electrode wires, wherein the two electrodes are respectively fixed in the ceramic crucible; a gap is reserved between the electrodes and used for storing a tested sample; the welding spots are reserved at upper ends of the electrodes.

Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

The present invention provides an aqueous polyurethane dispersion (PUD) comprising an amorphous polyester having a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) as determined by differential scanning calorimetry of less than 30 C.; wherein the aqueous polyurethane dispersion (PUD) has a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of 0 C. to 20 C. and a hard block content of greater than 50%. Coatings, adhesives, sealants, paints, primers and topcoats, made from the inventive aqueous polyurethane dispersion (PUD) pass detergent resistance testing according to the American Architectural Manufacturers Association's standard, AAMA 615-13, have a pencil hardness according to ASTM D3363 of at least 3H, and are particularly suited for use on low surface energy substrates such as vinyl and other surfaces including floors, windows, doors, window frames, door frames, window shutters, railing, gates, pillars, arbors, pergolas, trellises, gazebos, posts, fencing, pipes and fittings, wire and cable insulation, automobile components, credit cards, and siding.

Disclosed herein are rejuvenating compositions for asphalt applications. In one aspect, the rejuvenating composition comprises a polymerized oil having a polymeric distribution ranging from about 2 to about 80 wt % oligomer content and Hildebrand solubility ranging from about 6 to about 12. In another aspect, the rejuvenating composition comprises an oil having a Hildebrand solubility ranging from about 6 to about 12 and a flash point ranging from about 100 C. to about 400 C. In yet another aspect, the rejuvenating composition comprises a modified oil having a Hildebrand solubility ranging from about 6 to about 12 and a flash point ranging from about 100 C. to about 400 C.

Described herein is a polymerized biorenewable, previously modified, or functionalized oil, comprising a polymeric distribution having about 2 to about 80 wt % oligomer content, a polydispersity index ranging from about 1.30 to about 2.20, and sulfur content ranging from 0.001 wt % to about 8 wt %. Methods of manufacturing the polymerized oil as well as its incorporation into asphalt paving, roofing, and coating applications are also described.

Described herein is a polymerized biorenewable, previously modified, or functionalized oil, comprising a polymeric distribution having about 2 to about 80 wt % oligomer content, a polydispersity index ranging from about 1.30 to about 2.20, and sulfur content ranging from 0.001 wt % to about 8 wt %. Methods of manufacturing the polymerized oil as well as its incorporation into asphalt paving, roofing, and coating applications are also described.

The present invention is directed to devices and methods for monitoring the purity of monomers, adjusting the polymerization conditions, and consequently improving a polymerization reaction process. In one method, monomer purity is estimated using an on-line evaluation by raising the temperature of the monomer formulation having a defined melting point to a first elevated temperature at least 20 C. above a preset melting point for a selected monomer formulation; cooling the monomer formulation at a controlled cooling rate in the range from about 0.5 to 50 C. per minute; measuring at least one critical property selected from the group consisting of a) crystallization peak temperature at the onset of crystallization, b) an area under the crystallization peak, which represents the heat or enthalpy of crystallization, Hc and combinations thereof, comparing the at least one of the selected critical properties measures relative to such properties for standard setting monomer formulations.