Abstract: Single walled carbon nanotubes are selectively produced to the substantial exclusion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes by subjecting a mixture of solid hydrocarbon, such as coal, and a transition metal catalyst, to heat generated by an RF induction system sufficient to vaporize both the solid hydrocarbon and the catalyst, and thereafter collecting the single walled carbon nanotubes thereby formed.

Abstract: Golf club structures, including club heads and shafts, composed of composites comprised of a matrix of metal, such as an aluminum alloy, or a plastic material and a fiber such as graphite or a ceramic, which may be whiskerized, and which may also be selectively weighted as in the toe and heel of a club head, with heavy particles such as tungsten metal. The club structure may also be surface hardened by applying a coating of fullerenes to a metal club structure and heat treating it to produce a hard coating of metal carbide, preferably by coating a titanium golf club structure with fullerenes and heat treating the coated structure to produce a titanium carbide surface.

Abstract: A novel fluid heat transfer agent suitable for use in a closed heat transfer system, for example, wherein energy is transferred between an evaporator and a condenser in heat exchange relationship with the heat transfer agent that is caused to flow from one to the other. The novel heat transfer agent is a complex comprising a body of heat transfer fluid, for example, ethylene glycol or water, having suspended therein carbon nanoparticles in a quantity sufficient to enhance the thermal conductivity of the body of heat transfers fluid, per se. The carbon nanoparticles are selected from carbon in the form of sp2 type and sp3 type bonding and preferably comprise nanotubes or fullerenes and may have a coupling agent bonded thereto or enclosed therein when the nanotube or fullerene forms a hollow capsule. The coupling agent may be a polar organic group covalently bonded to the carbon nanoparticles and miscible in the fluid medium.

Abstract: A compressed gas such as hydrogen is stored at elevated pressure by introducing it into a plurality of storage cells having a common gas distribution manifold thereby maintaining the same pressure in all cells. The flow of gas between the manifold in any given cell is blocked in the event of a sudden pressure drop in such cell such as may occur in the event of a leak in the cell. Preferably, the cells are constructed in modular form to include a plurality of the cells and the modular material is preferably made of porous gasar material. The low pressure, i.e., leaky cell, is preferably blocked by a closure formed of pliable rubber like material that is forced against the passageway leading from the manifold to the cell by higher gas pressure in the manifold, which occurs when the pressure becomes lower in the given cell due to a leak.

Abstract: A bipolar or unipolar separator plate for an electrochemical fuel cell is formed of an insulating slab of plastic material such as a polymer matrix having a plurality of electrically conductive elements embedded therein for conducting electricity from an adjacent electrode of the cell to an electrical conductor on the opposite side of the slab for deriving electricity from the cell. The conducting elements are preferably formed of aligned carbon fiber composite cylinders and the insulating slab is formed of a plastic such as epoxy, polyamide, polystyrene, polyphenylene oxide or polyphenylene sulfide molded around the conductive elements.

Abstract: A method for making foam structures suitable for use as mechanical energy absorbers, structural members, filters, catalyst carriers or the like. A composite rod comprising an outer shell and an inner core is formed of respective mixtures of powders. The mixture for the outer shell comprises a sinterable powdered structural material such as ceramics, metals, intermetallics, and a powdered binder such as paraffin, wax or polymer. The inner core comprises a powdered channel-forming filler material such as melamine or polymers, or soluble inorganic compounds or a metal that can differentially be removed from the structural material of the shell. The composite rod may be formed by extrusion. The composite rod is sectioned into a plurality of composite rod segments of predetermined length and a plurality of these segments is assembled in randomly oriented relationship to one another. The assemblage of rod segments is then consolidated, and the binder and filler are then removed, as by heating.

Abstract: A rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising a body of aprotic, non-aqueous electrolyte, first and second electrodes in effective electrochemical contact with the electrolyte, the first electrode comprising positive active cathode materials such as a lithiated intercalation compound serving as the cathode and the second electrode comprising a modified carbon material formed of a graphite or carbon based materials, for example, having a hydrogenated fullerene material, such as hydrogenated C.sub.60 or C.sub.70, adsorbed thereon and serving as the anode; whereby they provide a lithium-ion cell having improved reversible energy storage characteristics and irreversible energy loss characteristics as compared with similar lithium-ion cells having carbon anodes that are not so-modified with hydrogenated fullerene material.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the synthesis of high bulk density high gas absorption capacity adsorbents for gas storage applications. Specifically, this invention is concerned with novel gas absorbents with high gravimetric and volumetric gas adsorption capacities which are made from fullerene-based materials. By pressing fullerene powder into pellet form using a conventional press, then polymerizing it by subjecting the fullerene to high temperature and high inert gas pressure, the resulting fullerene-based materials have high bulk densities and high gas adsorption capacities. By pre-chemical modification or post-polymerization activation processes, the gas adsorption capacities of the fullerene-based adsorbents can be further enhanced. These materials are suitable for low pressure gas storage applications, such as oxygen storage for home oxygen therapy uses or on-board vehicle natural gas storage.

Abstract: A carbon composite structure, for example, an automotive engine piston, is made by preparing a matrix including of a mixture of non crystalline carbon particulate soluble in an organic solvent and a binder that has a liquid phase. The non crystalline particulate also contains residual carbon hydrogen bonding. An uncured structure is formed by combining the matrix mixture, for example, carbon fibers such as graphite dispersed in the mixture and/or graphite cloth imbedded in the mixture. The uncured structure is cured by pyrolyzing it in an inert atmosphere such as argon. Advantageously, the graphite reinforcement material is whiskered prior to combining it with the matrix mixture by a novel method involving passing a gaseous metal suboxide over the graphite surface.

Abstract: A non-pyrolytic cigarette substitute device which, in response to suction supplied by a user, delivers to the user a nicotine-simulating vapor mixture having a cigarette-like taste and aroma. The device has absorbed therein a solution of a volatile nicotinomimetic agonist in an amount effective for its released vapors to satisfy the physiological needs for nicotine of the user, and volatile palatability enhancing agents in amounts effective for their released vapors to neutralize any unpleasant taste and aroma of the nicotinomimetic agonist vapors and to impart a cigarette-like taste and aroma to the released vapor mixture.

Abstract: Aqueous-based nail coating compositions comprising an aqueous emulsion polymeric binder capable upon drying of forming a flexible hard film having adhesion to the nail, and an organofunctional hydrolyzable silane coupling agent additive in an amount effective to enhance the durability of the binder film in both its hardness and adhesion to the nail.

Abstract: A liquid spray air purification apparatus utilizing at least two liquid migration eliminator members for providing effective containment of substantially all of the spray liquid employed in the system to within a segregated spray liquid loop so as to prevent spray liquid from interfering with the operation of electrical and other auxiliary components within the apparatus and to minimize spray liquid loss from the recirculation cycle. The segregated spray liquid loop is formed by a liquid spray chamber, a spray liquid sump and recirculation means interconnecting the sump and the liquid spray chamber. Auxiliary components include a particulate filter, fan means, germicidal ultraviolet light means, dehumidification means, heating means and a compressor. The apparatus is designed for use in efficiently improving interior environmental air quality within homes, offices, hospitals and the like, and is adaptable for use in motorized vehicles.

Abstract: Fullerenes are synthesized by subjecting carbon in the form of particulates or as the carbon of a liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon, that can be continuously fed to a variety of intense, heat-generating processes that vaporize the carbon from the fluid comprising the particulates or hydrocarbons into an environment that condenses the vaporized carbon to the new form of carbon fullerenes.

Abstract: A method for making multi-channel structures suitable for use as filters, catalyst carriers or the like. A composite rod comprising an outer shell and an inner core is formed of respective mixtures of powders. The mixture for the outer shell comprises a sinterable powdered structural material such as ceramics, metals, intermetallics, and a powdered binder. The inner core comprises a powdered carbon channel-forming filler material such as graphite or amorphous carbon, and a powdered binder. The composite rod may be deformed, as by extrusion, to reduce its diameter. A bundle of composite rods is assembled and deformed, as by extrusion, to reduce the diameter of the bundle and of its component composite rods. Further bundles of the reduced diameter bundles of composite rods may be likewise deformed by extrusion to reduce further the diameter of the component composite rods of the successive bundles, thereby also increasing the number of such rods per given cross section area of the bundle.

Abstract: A method for making multi-channel structures suitable for use as filters, catalyst carriers or the like.A composite rod comprising an outer shell and an inner core is formed of respective mixtures of powders. The mixture for the outer shell comprises a sinterable powdered structural material such as ceramics, metals, intermetallics, and a powdered binder such as paraffin, wax or polymer. The inner core comprises a powdered channel-forming filler material such as melamine or polymers, or soluble inorganic compounds or a metal that can differentially be removed from the structural material of the shell.The composite rod may be deformed, as by extrusion, to reduce its diameter. In any event, a bundle of composite rods is assembled and deformed, as by extrusion, to reduce the diameter of the bundle and of its component composite rods.

Abstract: A chemically derived product that rusts metal instantly upon contacting the surface of a metal and which can be easily and safely used by ornamental metal craftpersons. The chemically derived product is a liquid compound that contains the following constituents: (a) 93.0% by weight of water; (b) up to 5.0% by weight of a copper salt, the copper salt being selected from a copper salt group consisting of copper sulfate, copper nitrate, and copper chloride; and (c) a remaining amount consisting of an acid compound selected from an acid compound group consisting of sulfamic acid, oxalic acid, hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. The liquid compound can be particularly formulated for oxidizing steel or copper and may be produced having a predetermined coloring dye constituent selected from a color dye group consisting of copper, auburn, or gold, if oxidizing steel, or a color dye selected from a color dye group consisting of patina, aqua blue, or green, if oxidizing copper.

Abstract: A synthetic polymeric ice nucleation inhibitor is employed for protecting light frost-sensitive plants against frost injury by inhibiting the ice-nucleating activity of the ice-nucleating bacteria normally present on the plants, and thereby reducing the temperature at which frost injury occurs. The inhibitor is applied to the plants in the form of a solution of a synthetic polymer having covalently bound to its main backbone chain both pendant hydrophobic groups and pendant hydrophilic groups. The ratio of and average intermolecular spacing between the hydrophobic groups and the hydrophilic groups in the polymer, and the molecular weight of the polymer, are selected so that in combination they provide the polymer with a limited room temperature water solubility within the range of from about 1 .mu.g/ml to about 100 mg/ml.

Abstract: A bioassay method for supporting human tumor stem cell colony growth is disclosed. The method is suitable for culture of a variety of neoplasms of differing histopathology. Tumor stem cell colonies arising from different types of cancer have differing growth characteristics and colony morphology. The present bioassay may be employed in clinical studies of the effects of anticancer drugs or irradiation on human tumor stem cells.

Abstract: Radioiodination of aminoacyl-transfer RNAs with either .sup.125 I or .sup.131 I resulted in the preferential addition of radioiodine to bound tyrosine. The radioiodinated tyrosyl-tRNA was 10-fold purified by chromatography and was found to consist essentially of monoiodo- and diiodo-tRNA in approximately equal isotopic proportions. The radioiodinated tyrosine was readily incorporated into proteins synthesized in broken cell reactions.The specific activity of the iodine-labeled proteins can be modulated up to the highest theoretical value (radioiodine in each tyrosine) yielding products that are valuable for use in immunoassay procedures in research and in the determination of proteins of clinical importance. In addition to the mature proteins (processed by natural post-synthetic reactions) the product proteins can comprise prohormone-type molecules which represent the precursor of normal circulating forms of hormones. The .sup.

Abstract: Frost-sensitive plants are protected against frost injury by topical application thereto of non-phytotoxic virulent bacteriophages which are species-specific to the ice-nucleating bacteria normally present on the plants. The bacteriophages selectively attack the ice-nucleating bacteria and inhibit their ice-nucleating activity, thereby reducing the temperature at which frost injury occurs.