Abstract: Two-phase Al--Si alloy foils are made directly from Al--Si alloy powders by hot pressing. These Al--Si alloy foils are characterized by having a thickness of 0.017 in. or less, and by the fact that they are fine-grained and substantially free of oxygen, nitrogen and deformation-induced defects. The as-pressed Al--Si foils where the primary phase is the Al solid-solution phase are also generally ductile and adapted for subsequent forming operations, including cold rolling. The reduction in thickness imparted in a single pass to an Al-11.6Si alloy foil through cold-rolling was at least about 10%, with up to about 90% reduction in thickness accomplished by a plurality of such passes. These reductions in thickness were accomplished without stress relief annealing, but such annealing may be employed if desirable for microstructural modification.

Abstract: A method for separating volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as trichloroethylene, from air by sorption followed by desorption of the VOCs. The VOCs from the contaminated ground water are air stripped and then sorbed on a sorbent, such as a polyester elastomer or carbon filled rubber. The VOCs are then desorbed by, for example, heating the sorbent, to recover the VOCs. The recovered VOCs may be incinerated or reused.

Abstract: A method for significantly improving the dechlorination of chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds is disclosed. The method involves admixing preformed ferrous citrate with chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminated aqueous compositions both in situ and ex situ. The use of ferrous citrate decreases the oxidation potential of the Fe.sup.+2 /Fe.sup.+3 redox couple to cause oxidation by the chlorinated hydrocarbon with its concomitant reduction, thereby generating chloride ion.

Abstract: Iron and ferrous sulfide in specific amounts are combined under aerobic or anaerobic conditions to reduce halogenated hydrocarbons in aqueous compositions to non-toxic by-products at near neutral pH and Eh values below -325 mV. The combination of iron metal and ferrous sulfide in relative amounts gives the unexpected result of a faster reduction rate using iron or ferrous sulfide alone and a controlled pH.

Abstract: Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) Ni-base alloy foils are made directly from powders of these alloys by hot pressing. These ODS Ni-base alloy foils are characterized by having a thickness of 0.017 in. or less, and by the fact that they are fine-grained and substantially free of nitrogen and deformation induced defects. The as-pressed ODS Ni-base alloy foils are adapted for subsequent forming operations, including cold rolling. The reduction in thickness imparted in a single pass to an Ni-base alloy foil through cold-rolling was about 8%. The total reduction in thickness was about 55% based upon a plurality of such passes. For reductions in thickness greater than 20%, annealing is employed for stress relief.

Abstract: A method of forging Ni-base superalloys is described which avoids the growth of abnormally large grains in the surface region of a forged article. The method involves forging and/or annealing a Ni-base superalloy in a carburizing environment. Forging and/or annealing in a carburizing environment is done to maintain the carbon concentration in the surface region at a level that is sufficient to prevent the depletion of carbides and carbonitrides. The carburizing environment may also be selected so that it is non-oxidizing with respect to aluminum, in order to prevent the depletion of aluminum and the reduction of the .gamma.' phase in the surface region.

Abstract: A method is provided for remediation of contaminated solutions using a tiered metal wall or column. The tiered metal wall or column has at least three zones with graduated sizes of reducing metal particles. Contaminated solutions pass through the tiered wall or column to dehalogenate contaminant halogenated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method for stimulating microbial dechlorination of the unflanked para-chlorine substituent of PCBs having one or two unflanked para-chlorine substituents in an active PCB-contaminated sediment having a population of microorganisms capable of para-dechlorinating PCBs involves incubation of the sediment with a fluorochlorobiphenyl compound such as 2,6-difluoro-4-chlorobiphenyl that has a para-chlorine at position 4, hydrogens on positions 3 and 5, and fluorines on positions 2 and 6, for a time and under conditions sufficient to decrease the levels of PCBs containing unflanked para-chlorines.

Abstract: A method for making triniobium tin superconductor with improved critical current density is disclosed where an annealed niobium-base substrate is passed through a tin alloy bath containing tin, copper, and bismuth, to coat the substrate with tin and then annealing the coated substrate to form triniobium tin superconductor. A tin alloy bath containing up to twenty weight percent copper and up to one weight percent bismuth is disclosed.

Abstract: The process for removal of contaminants from coolants involves using an inorganic hydrophilic membrane, such as a ceramic membrane with varying pore sizes, to remove lead particulates, including soluble lead that is converted to insoluble lead precipitates, and oil from machining coolant solutions. The treated coolant with the lead substantially removed is then recycled back to the coolant tank that is used for machining lead alloy parts.

Abstract: A method of removing iodine from an environment which had been previously treated with a composition containing iodine and an iodide salt is disclosed. The method involves the addition to the environment of at least one reagent which is a metal sulfite salt or a hydroxide-producing compound, in an amount sufficient to water-solubilize substantially all of the iodine, followed by recovery of the iodine. This technique is particularly useful for recovering iodine from extractant solutions used in the removal of mercury from contaminated materials.

Abstract: A method for the removal of halogenated organic contaminants from particulate material by admixing an additive selected from the group consisting of a sodium salt and an ammonium salt with the particulate material, and passing a vapor phase of steam through the material to substantially remove the halogenated organic contaminant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for atomizing liquid metal are disclosed. A liquid metal supply is coupled to a nozzle for atomizing a stream of liquid metal in an atomizing zone extending from the nozzle. A viewing instrument provides a field of view extending to the atomization zone. A sensor coupled with the viewing instrument generates an image of the atomizing zone, and a control adjusts a flow rate of the stream responsive to the image.

Abstract: An improved method for forming fluid inflatable metal structures is taught. The improvement concerns the patterning of the portion of the structure to be inflated. Patterning is accomplished by first applying a strippable flexible mask coating and then scoring this coating so that a patterned portion may be removed therefrom. The parent portion is the portion of the sheet article to be inflated by subsequent processing. After the patterned portion has been removed, a stop-off is applied to the exposed surface of the first sheet. After the stop-off material has been applied, the remainder of the strippable mask is removed and washed with a detergent to remove the residue from the mask. The sheet having stop-off applied in the pattern to the first sheet is then superposed over a second sheet, and heat and pressure are applied to cause diffusion bonding between the exposed surfaces of the two sheets.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system, having an improved cathode cup assembly which provides reduced tube manufacturing costs and reduces failures due to filament misalignment or sagging of the filament during both the manufacturing process and during operation, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method is described which increases the critical current of triniobium tin by bonding thermal contraction control layers to the triniobium tin superconducting articles at a process temperature to form a composite, and subsequently cooling the composite to a test temperature.

Abstract: Metal alloy foils are made directly from metal alloy powders by hot pressing. These metal alloy foils are characterized by having a thickness of 0.017 in. or less, and by the fact that they are fine-grained and substantially free of oxygen, nitrogen and deformation-induced defects. In particular, Ti-base alloy foils having an average thickness of about 0.011 in. have been formed directly from Ti-base alloy powders. These as-pressed Ti-base alloy foils are also ductile and adapted for subsequent forming operations, including cold rolling. The deformation which may be imparted in a single pass through cold-rolling to these Ti-base alloy foils is at least about 5%, with up to about 45% deformation imparted to one of these alloys in multiple passes without stress relief annealing. Total reductions in thickness of up to 90% are achieved by a combination of cold-rolling and stress relief annealing.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to deposit aluminum and a metal oxide on substrates for improved corrosion, oxidation, and erosion protection. Low temperature chemical vapor deposition is used. A homogeneous biphase coating may be deposited, as well as layers of aluminum and metal oxides.

Abstract: A method of making a high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode includes making target/tubular stem assembly and then assembling it to a rotor body assembly. This particular method reduces tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance and provides an improved rotating x-ray tube anode assembly.

Abstract: Methods of making an improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/tubular stem combination which, when combined with a rotor body assembly, reduces tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance and methods of bonding a metallic target and a metal tubular stem and connecting the combination to a rotor body assembly to provide a rotating x-ray tube target are disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum or its alloys, is placed between the target and the niobium-alloy tubular stem and then bonded thereto to produce the x-ray tube target/tubular stem assembly having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which, when connected, such as by bolting to the rotor body assembly, the resulting anode assembly retains proper balance during x-ray tube operations.