Abstract: A method of forming foamed fibers which comprises the steps of forming a melt of a polymer of fiber-forming molecular weight in which is admixed a blowing agent, and a closed-cell-forming additive, extruding said melt through a spinnerette, quenching said melt downstream of said spinnerette under conditions at which bubbles form in said melt, and drawing said melt as it is quenched to produce a foamed fiber having fine bubbles contained therein is disclosed. The product fibers may contain substantially only closed-cells and/or substantially uniform cross sectional area cells.

Abstract: Nickel based alloy compositions are disclosed comprising between about 25 and about 35 atom percent palladium, about 10 to about 13 atom percent of at least one of boron and silicon, from about 5 to about 20 atom percent cobalt, up to about 5 atom percent molybdenum, the alloys exhibiting a liquidus temperature of less than about 950.degree. C. The alloys are particularly suited for brazing stainless steel and cemented carbide joints. Also disclosed are brazing processes utilizing the alloys.

Abstract: Brazing of metal parts employing a thin, homogeneous, ductile, filler metal foil is disclosed. The brazing foil, useful for brazing stainless steels, is less than about 0.064 mm (0.0025 inch) thick and has a composition consisting essentially of 0 to about 6 atom percent iron, 0 to about 21 atom percent chromium, 0 to about 4 atom percent molybdenum, 0 to about 5 atom percent tungsten, 0 to about 20 atom percent cobalt, 0 to about 19 atom percent boron, 0 to about 12 atom percent silicon, 0 to about 22 atom percent phosphorus, 0 to about 3 atom percent carbon and the balance nickel and incidental impurities. In addition to containing the foregoing elements within the above-noted composition ranges, the composition must be such that the total of iron, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt and nickel ranges from about 70 to 84 atom percent and the total of boron, silicon, phosphorus and carbon ranges from about 16 to 30 atom percent.

Abstract: A lead based alloy is modified by adding thereto a surfactant consisting of about 0.01 to 0.5 weight percent tellurium, about 0.01 to 0.5 weight percent selenium, about 0.01 to 0.5 weight percent selenium plus about 0.1-0.5 weight percent antimony, and mixtures thereof. The alloy is rapidly solidified by forming a melt thereof containing the surfactant addition and quenching the melt on a moving chill surface at a quenching rate of at least about 10.sup.3 .degree. C./sec. Addition of the surfactant lowers melt surface tension and thereby promotes improved wetting.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer is provided that uses a layer of magnetostrictive ferromagnetic material having high magneto-mechanical coupling. The ferromagnetic material is adhered to a part of the outer surface of a resilient rod, so that an incident acoustic signal causes a change in stress in the magnetic material and, in turn, a change in the material's magnetization. An electrical coil surrounds the magnetic material and converts the changing magnetization into an electrical signal. A plurality of transducers may be assembled into an array and towed behind a ship to detect underwater acoustic signals.

Abstract: A nickel based high melting point, homogeneous, ductile brazing foil composition consists essentially of about 17 to 20 atom percent chromium, about 4 to 10 atom percent boron, about 10 to 16 atom percent silicon, the balance being nickel and incidental impurities. The composition is such that the total of nickel and chromium ranges from about 74 to 84 atom percent.

Abstract: Hardfacing of metal parts employing a thin, homogeneous, ductile foil is disclosed. The hardfacing foil has a composition consisting essentially of 0 to about 32 atom percent nickel, 0 to about 10 atom percent iron, 0 to about 30 atom percent chromium, 0 to about 2 atom percent tungsten, 0 to about 4 atom percent molybdenum, about 5 to about 25 atom percent boron, 0 to about 15 atom percent silicon and 0 to about 2 atom percent manganese and 0 to 5 atom percent carbon the balance being cobalt and incidental impurities with the proviso that the total or iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, tungsten and molybdenum ranges from about 70 to 88 atom percent and the total of boron, silicon and carbon ranges from about 12 to 30 atom percent. The ductile foil permits continuous hardfacing of soft matrix, like low carbon and low alloy steels, imparting superior resistance to wear and corrosion.

Abstract: A mini-extruder apparatus for extruding small quantities of material. The apparatus is designed to overcome the problems of excessive heat transfer from the heated portion of the barrel to the feed portion of the extruder barrel and the premature failure of the long thin extruder screws employed in extruders. The mini-extruder includes an extruder barrel having a substantially circumferential, radially extending cavity formed in an isolator portion of the extruder barrel to thermally isolate the feed portion from the heated portion. The mini-extruder also includes a drive system constructed to drive the extruder screw at both ends. The mini-extruder can also be designed as a co-rotating or counter-rotating twin screw extruder where each end of each extruder screw is driven.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved, flexible articles of manufacture comprising a plurality of first flexible layers arranged in a first portion of said article, each of said first layers consisting essentially of fibers, the fibers of each of said flat layers comprising fibers having a tensile modulus of at least about 300 g/denier and a tenacity of at least about 15 g/denier and a plurality of second flexible layers arranged in a second portion of said article, each of said second flexible layers comprising fibers, the resistance to displacement of fibers in each of said second flexible layers being greater than the resistance to displacement of fibers in each of said first flexible layers.

Abstract: A process using hydrogen dissolving metals, alloys and intermetallic compounds to drive otherwise thermodynamically unfavorable dehydrogenation reactions is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of selecting an organic reactant comprising carbon and hydrogen, and exposing the organic reactant to a material at a temperature and pressure sufficient to remove at least one hydrogen from one said organic reactant and to form a material hydride, the material being selected from the group of metals, alloys and intermetallic compounds having a negative standard free energy of formation for a hydrided product MH.sub.y, where M is the material, H is hydrogen and y is a non-zero number between 0 and about 4 and represents the total hydrogen to material atom ratio wherein the standard free energy change for the reaction of the organic rectant in the present of the material to remove at least one hydrogen atom therefrom and from the material hydride is negative.

Abstract: Solutions of intermediate molecular weight polymers from about 200,000 to about 4,000,000, such as polyethylene, in a relatively non-volatile solvent are extruded through an aperture at constant concentration and thereafter stretched at a ratio of at least about 3:1 prior to cooling to form a first gel. The first gels are extracted with a volatile solvent to form a second gel, and the second gel is dried to form a low porosity xerogel. Stretching occurs with any one or more of the first gel, second gel or xerogel. The polyethylene products produced by our process include products having a molecular weight between about 200,000 and about 4,000,000 a tenacity of at least about 13 grams/denier, a modulus of at least about 350 gram/denier, a porosity of less than 10% by volume, a crystalline orientation function of at least about 0.95, and a main melting temperature of at least about 140.degree. C.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for separating heavy isotopes of hydrogen. The process uses multiple protium-deuterium, protium-tritium or deuterium-tritium exchange reactions between a metal protide and gaseous hydrogen alternately depleted and enriched in at least one heavy isotope of hydrogen. The apparatus for performing the process comprises two multistage reaction zones, one for forming a metal hydride enriched in at least one heavy isotope and one for converting the enriched hydride to a depleted hydride and enriched hydrogen gas. The apparatus is simple in design and the process is much less energy intensive than existing prior art processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved fabric which comprises at least one network of fibers selected from the group consisting of extended chain polyethylene (ECPE) extended chain polypropylene (ECPP) fibers, extended chain polyvinyl alcohol fibers and extended chain polyacrylonitrile fibers. A low modulus elastomeric material, which has a tensile modulus of less than about 6,000 psi, measured at about 23.degree. C., substantially coats the fibers of the network. Preferably, the fibers have a tensile modulus of at least about 500 grams/denier and an energy-to-break of at least about 22 Joules/gram.

Abstract: Inorganic metal oxides having high surface area and pore volume are prepared by spray drying. The admixture which is spray dried to yield the metal oxides is produced from reactants comprising at least one hydrolyzable metal compound, a sufficient amount of water to at least partially hydrolyze the metal compound and an organic solvent. The admixture is supplied as a plurality of droplets to a reaction zone operated under conditions of temperature and pressure below the critical temperature and pressure of the reactants but sufficient to produce a product comprising metal oxide powders and a gas comprising organic solvent vapors. The powders are separated from the gas in a known fashion and collected. Spray drying of non-aqueous systems unexpectedly produces metal oxides having properties generally intermediate conventionally produced oxides and aerogels.

Abstract: A bipolar electrode for generating electrical power in an electrochemical cell includes a base member, which is comprised of a core portion composed of titanium. An integral, substantially continuous and non-porous layer of lead is electroplated onto at least one face surface of the core portion and diffused a selected distance into the core portion. A substantially continuous, residual layer of the titanium alloy in the core portion remains substantially free of lead. A negative-type active mass is connected to a first face surface of the base member, and a positive-type active mass is connected to a second face surface of the base member.

Abstract: A process employing two- and three-compartment electrodialytic water splitting for conversion of basic sodium material such as dry-mined or subterranean deposits of trona or nahcolite into a liquid comprising aqueous sodium base such as NaOH and/or Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3. The basic sodium material is contacted with a liquid comprising aqueous hydrogen ions for a time sufficient to produce a liquid comprising aqueous sodium ions. A liquid comprising water is introduced into each base compartment and the liquid comprising aqueous sodium ions is introduced into each remaining compartment of a two- or three-compartment water splitter. Direct current is passed through said water splitter to produce, a liquid comprising an aqueous sodium base in the base compartment and a liquid comprising aqueous hydrogen ions in an acid compartment of said water splitter. At least a portion of the liquid comprising aqueous hydrogen ions is used in the initial contacting step.

Abstract: An electrodialytic water splitting process for recovering SO.sub.2 -containing gases for converting the spent materials used in alkaline sodium scrubbing of SO.sub.2 -containing gases into NaOH. The alkaline sodium scrubbing materials such as Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3, NaHCO.sub.3 or mixtures thereof are used in the form of an aqueous slurry or aqueous solution to scrub SO.sub.2 from gases containing same to form a reaction mixture comprising Na.sub.2 SO.sub.3, Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4, and possibly NaHSO.sub.3, and a gas depleted in SO.sub.2. The reaction mixture is contacted with an aqueous hydrogen ion solution comprising Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 formed in an acid compartment of a two- or three-compartment electrodialytic water splitter to form a solution comprising aqueous SO.sub.2 values and aqueous Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4. Contact of the reaction mixture with the aqueous hydrogen ion solution may be performed externally, of the water splitter or internally, in an acid compartment of the water splitter.

Abstract: Crimped foamed fibers are produced by a process which eliminates any mechanical deformation steps. The process comprises the step of forming foamed fibers having a plurality of randomly arranged cells distributed asymetrically over a given cross section and occupying at least about 10% of the cross sectional area of the fiber, and heating the foamed fibers while maintaining the fibers under no load condition to produce a crimped foamed fiber. The crimped foamed fibers are used in apparel, carpet fibers, thermal insulation, acoustic and filtration.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved, ballistic-resistant composite article of manufacture which comprises a network of high strength fibers having a tensile modulus of at least about 500 grams/denier and an energy-to-break of at least about 22 Joules/gram. An elastomeric matrix material substantially coats each of the individual fibers, and has a tensile modulus of less than about 6,000 psi, measured at 25.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of producing a thin film comprising a conductive metal silicide and the products produced therefrom are disclosed. The method is much less complex than methods employed in the prior art for producing conductive thin films and the method reduces substrate damage by maintaining processing temperatures at about 1,000.degree. C. or less. The process employs a stable suspension comprising ultrafine powders in a solvent. This suspension is deposited on a surface of a substrate and is subsequently heated to form a thin conductive film. The thin conductive film comprises polycrystalline metal silicide, preferably a refractory metal silicide, and may also contain silicon. Composites comprising the thin conductive films and a substrate are also disclosed. The process and products are particularly suited for use in VLSI and VVLSI production.