(19)

(11)

EP 1 147 394 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 24.10.2001 Bulletin 2001/43 (21) Application number: 99966168.9 (22) Date of filing: 14.12.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G01N 21/25, G01N 21/51 (86) International application number: PCT/US9929/508 (87) International publication number: WO 0036/399 (22.06.2000 Gazette 2000/25)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 15.12.1998 US 112360 P (71) Applicant: UNION CARBIDE CHEMICALS & PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Danbury,Connecticut 06817-0001 (US)	(72) Inventor: D'ESPOSITO, Louis South Charleston, WV 25309 (US) (74) Representative: Hayes, Adrian Chetwynd  Boult Wade Tennant,27 Furnival Street London EC4A 1PQ London EC4A 1PQ (GB)