Abstract: A heat exchanger tubing includes at least a pair of tubes (1) that are connected to and separated by a connecting member (3). The connecting member (3) has a number of fin projections (7) extending at an angle from the member (3), each fin projection (7) having an opening (9) to allow air to pass through the member. The tubing is arranged between headers (21) of a heat exchanger (20) in an angled configuration so that the fins align with the air flow (A) passing across the tubing for enhanced heat exchange. The connecting member (3) can also be multivoid tubing (41), which has the fin projections for heat transfer or uses the passageways (49) in the multivoid tubing and fluid flowing through the channels for heat exchange.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for the reduction of aluminum having a layer of interlocking cathode tiles positioned on a cathode block. Each tile includes a main body and a vertical restraining member to prevent movement of the tiles away from the cathode block during operation of the cell. The anode of the electrolytic cell may be positioned about 1 inch from the interlocking cathode tiles.

Abstract: A solid material (12′) circumscribing an anode system (10) in an electrolysis apparatus is made from a mixture of cryolite and/or alumina (Al2O3), where the solid material (12′) contacts and surrounds the anodes (14, 14′).

Abstract: An inert anode (10) for use in an electrolysis process to make metals such as aluminum, contains a hollow interior with an open top portion (16), an interior closed bottom (18) and interior walls (19) where the top interior side walls (16) have at least one interior groove (20) which helps relieve stress on the anode material and helps provide locking and support of the anode.

Abstract: A novel method for producing a ceramic phase particle dispersoid in metal and a novel product composed thereof. The method includes (a) providing a molten composition consisting essentially of molten aluminum alloy containing molten metal selected form the group consisting of Zr, V and combinations thereof; (b) providing a chloride salt containing fine carbon particles; and (c) reacting the chloride salt containing fine carbon particles in the molten aluminum metal liquid with the molten metal liquid to form a uniform distribution of finely sized carbide particles formed and dispersed in-situ in an aluminum alloy matrix.

Abstract: A batch process for an electric arc furnace (1) to manufacture steel (10) includes the steps of providing an empty furnace having a bottom (14) and sides (16) and electrodes (2, 3); adding molten metal to the empty furnace; adding other necessary ingredients through charge openings (26); applying current to provide an arc (4) and supplying oxygen through an oxygen lance (6) to react and melt the contents of the furnace and form a top slag (9) and bottom molten metal/steel (10); and stopping the reaction and pouring out all the slag through a slag tap (5) and molten metal tap (32) to provide an empty furnace for the next batch run.

Abstract: The present invention relates to additive, pigment or colorant materials which may be used for laser marking. The materials comprise oxides of bismuth and at least one additional metal. Preferred laser-markable bismuth-containing oxide compounds are of the formula BixMyOz, where M is at least one metal selected from Zn, Ti, Fe, Cu, Al, Zr, P, Sn, Sr, Si, Y, Nb, La, Ta, Pr, Ca, Mg, Mo, W, Sb, Cr, Ba and Ce, x is from about 0.3 to about 70, y is from about 0.05 to about 8, and z is from about 1 to about 100. The bismuth-containing material may be dispersed in a substrate which is subsequently irradiated by a laser to provide a contrasting mark in the irradiated region.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for preheating a molten salt electrolysis cell having inert anodes (24) using recuperative gas heating by combusting a first gas outside the cell chamber (20) in a combustion chamber (2) and using to heat a second gas in recuperator (8) which second gas us passed to the cell chamber (20). The inert anode can be a cermet inert anode.

Abstract: A process for producing thick aluminum/aluminum alloy sheet useful for truck parts and the like includes the steps of feeding molten aluminum/aluminum alloy (10) into a direct casting apparatus (12) to provide an ingot that is subjected to a cooling (15) and optional scalping step (14), followed by hot rolling (18) to provide a sheet having a thickness for from about 3.2 mm to 5.8 mm and is suitable to coil in step (20), and where the sheet is cooled (21) to less than to 60° C. and cold rolled (22, 24) at from about 120° C. to 160° C. to reduce the sheet to about 0.9 mm to 1.5 mm to 160° C., where heat generated during the cold rolling (22, 24) stabilizes the sheet without additional energy intensive oven furnace annealing. The reduced sheet can then be trimmed (28) and coated (30) as with paint or the like.

Abstract: Rare earth manganese oxides are used as pigments. The pigments are preferably of the formula (RexMn)Oy, where Re is at least one element selected from Y, La and Lanthanide elements, x is from 0.01 to 99, and y is the number required to maintain electroneutrality. Preferred rare earth elements include Y, La, Pr and Nd. The pigments are useful as colorants, and may possess improved reflectance characteristics in the infrared region, thereby reducing IR-induced heat buildup.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for applying a protective layer (42) to the cathode (40) of an electrolysis cell (10), where the cell also contains inert anodes (50) and the protective layer (42) can comprise a plurality of layers (70, 72, 74) with an inner layer (70) of TiB2 being preferred, and the protective layer (42) protects the cathode (40)from hot gases (64) used to pre-heat the cell (10).

Abstract: A method for aluminum recovery during the carbothermic production of aluminum in a smelting furnace (1,2) is disclosed, where during carbothermic reduction of alumina, aluminum and aluminum suboxide vapors are produced (3, 4), which are reacting with carbon. Reactive carbon is generated in situ by the cracking of hydrocarbon compounds (6) in a separate closed reactor vessel (5) at a temperature greater than about 1955° C. Solid aluminum carbide that formed during the reaction can then be recycled by a conduit (8) to the primary reactor for reduction to aluminum, and reactor gas (10) can be fed to a cooler (9).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a conductive coating on glass and enamelled steel using a screen-printable aluminum paste. The paste to be used contains: 40 to 80 wt. %, in particular, 50 to 75 wt. % aluminum powder; 5 to 40 wt. %, in particular, 9 to 25 wt. % glass frit having an initial softening temperature of 400 to 700° C., in particular, 420 to 580° C.; 10 to 35 wt. % of a liquid or thermoplastic medium; and 0 to 10 wt. % sintering aid. The substrate coated with the paste is heated at 500 to 750° C., in particular, 590 to 690° C. The coating on the substrate is characterized by having a low specific resistance of less than 100 &mgr;ohm·cm, in particular in the range of 10 to 70 &mgr;ohm·cm, and good adhesion.

Abstract: This invention provides deformable low density trauma mitigation or pressure reducing composition comprising a viscous fluid and a plurality of macroparticulates and, optionally, microparticulates dispersed within the viscous fluid. The viscous fluid can comprise a water/oil emulsion, a glycerin/water mixture, a plasticizer or the like. In a further embodiment the composition comprises a viscous fluid and an enhancer which is a polytetrafluoroethylene-molybdenum disulfide combination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to additive, pigment or colorant materials which may be used for laser marking. The materials comprise oxides of bismuth and at least one additional metal. Preferred laser-markable bismuth-containing oxide compounds are of the formula BixMyOz, where M is at least one metal selected from Zn, Ti, Fe, Cu, Al, Zr, P, Sn, Sr, Si, Y, Nb, La, Ta, Pr, Ca, Mg, Mo, W, Sb, Cr, Ba and Ce, x is from about 0.3 to about 70, y is from about 0.05 to about 8, and z is from about 1 to about 100. The bismuth-containing material may be dispersed in a substrate which is subsequently irradiated by a laser to provide a contrasting mark in the irradiated region.

Abstract: Laser markable coatings include a marking pigment and a fixing material. The marking pigment may comprise titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide or the like. The fixing material may comprise bismuth trioxide, antimony oxide and the like, and preferably has a melting temperature below 1,300° C. A preferred laser marking composition includes TiO2 and Bi2O3 in a weight ratio of about 1:1. After application to a substrate and laser irradiation, the fixing material stabilizes the resultant mark.

Abstract: Manganese vanadium oxides are used as pigments. The mnanganese vanadium oxide pigments are of the formula Mn2V2O7. The, pigments are useful as colorants, and also possess improved reflectance characteristics in the infrared region, thereby reducing IR-induced heat buildup.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling ants and other pests are provided. A micromachine has a battery and a remotely actuatable electrical switch operatively associated therewith. The micromachine has at least a portion thereof covered by an ant attractant such as food or bait, for example. The micromachine is of such size and weight as to be readily transportable by a fire ant or carpenter ant or other pest. In one embodiment, a resistance heating element is energized by the battery when the switch is closed thereby causing communication between a recess containing a pheromone or fungus or other ant controllant substance and the exterior of the micromachine. A thermally deformable bimetallic element may be employed for this purpose. Alternatively, a plastic film, which will degrade under the influence of heat, may be employed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for carbothermic production of aluminum where molten bath aluminum carbide and aluminum oxide are produced in a low temperature compartment (2), and continuously flow into a high temperature compartment (3) where the aluminum carbide is reacted with alumina to produce a top aluminum layer (31), where the aluminum layer (31) forms a layer on the top of a molten slag layer and is tapped from the high temperature compartment (3) at outlet (5), and where off-gases from the two compartments are treated in reactors fed by one or more columns (9, 19). According to the invention the low temperature compartment (2) and the high temperature compartment (3) are located in a common reaction vessel (1) where the low temperature compartment is separated from the high temperature compartment by an underflow partition wall (4).

Abstract: Alkaline earth-manganese oxides are used as pigments. The alkaline earth-manganese oxide pigments are preferably of the formula MexMnOy, where Me is at least one metal selected from Ca, Sr, Ba and Mg, x is from 0.01 to 99, and y is greater than or equal to x+1 and less than or equal to x+2. The pigments are useful as colorants, and also possess improved reflectance characteristics, particularly in the IR region, and may reduce IR-induced heat buildup. These colorants can be used to form colored objects, or coat objects when they are either added into or applied onto materials such as paints, inks, plastics, glasses, ceramics and the like. The patent also covers the production of these pigments.