Abstract: An engine exhaust system is disclosed which in operation is capable of substantially reducing the quantities of hydrocarbons emitted to the atmosphere during engine start-up. The system utilizes molecular sieve means, such as a high-silica zeolite, which function to adsorb hydrocarbons emitted during engine start-up, before the catalytic converter has attained its effective operating temperature. The system is designed so that, once the catalytic converter has attained an effective operating temperature, the hydrocarbons can be desorbed from the molecular sieve means and conveyed to the converter for conversion to non-toxic by-products.

Abstract: A metal honeycomb heating element is protectively mounted in an enclosure comprising a one-piece enclosure wall, the heater being supported between a circumferential support member and a circumferential compression ring attached to the enclosure wall. A diametrically balanced compressive force is maintained on the edges of the heating element by the compression ring and support, this force operating to significantly extend the life of the heater element under hot vibration. Heater slot separators and electrode feedthrough structures for extending the life of the heater element are also provided.

Abstract: A metal honeycomb heater is protectively mounted in an axially assembled enclosure comprising opposing tubular enclosure sections incorporating internal bore stops and a resilient mounting material to support the heater. An axial force of predetermined magnitude is applied to the sections during assembly, preloading the resilient mounting material and generating a selected spring tension and preloading force on the honeycomb. The sections are fastened together under this force so that the preloading force and spring tension are retained during subsequent use of the assembly.

Abstract: Thick-skinned extruded metal honeycomb structures, and a method and apparatus for making them, are disclosed wherein a plasticized powder metal extrusion batch is extruded though a die assembly comprising a die and annular mask, the mask having a central outlet for extrusion of the skin and honeycomb core and an extrudate reservoir adjacent the central outlet, the die and mask cooperating to form a skinforming gap fed by the die and by the extrudate reservoir, such that batch material supplied from the reservoir and directly from the die combines to form a thickened outer skin which is integral with, and resistant to separation from, the honeycomb core.

Abstract: Novel oxide coatings which can be conveniently applied to reinforcing fibers such as silicon carbide fibers, and which when introduced as a fiber coating into fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites provide composites exhibiting improved resistance to embrittlement at high temperatures, are described. Oxides effective to provide the improved composites in accordance with the invention include CeO.sub.2 and ZrO.sub.2.

Abstract: A light source module for generating collimated laser light wherein a solid-state laser light source is mounted within the bore of an optical mounting tube at a preselected distance from the light output end of the tube, and a convergent glass lens within a metal lens mounting is permanently attached to the output end of the tube, lens attachment being at a location insuring permanent and accurate alignment of the collimated light output from the laser with the bore axis of the mounting tube, and a method for making it, are described.

Abstract: Cordierite-containing articles are produced by a method comprising the steps of providing raw materials including including alumina-yielding ingredients, magnesia-yielding ingredients, and silica-yielding ingredients, suitable to form an analytical batch composition by weight on an oxide basis of 9-20 weight percent MgO, 30-50 weight percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and 41-56.5 weight percent SiO.sub.2. The raw materials include talc having a BET surface area of no greater than about 4.0 m.sup.2 /g, and uncalcined clay having an average particle size of no greater than about 2.0 .mu.m. The raw materials are blended with an effective amount of vehicle and forming aids to form a plastic mixture. The plastic mixture is anisostatically formed into a green body and dried. The dried green body is fired at a temperature and for a time effective to form a cordierite/containing ceramic article. The cordierite-containing articles exhibit a coefficient of thermal expansion of not greater than about 4.0.times.10.sup.-7 /.

Abstract: A porous catalyst support which may be used in a catalytic converter for treating automotive exhaust gases. The support comprises a substrate having a multichannel structure of generally thin walls and washcoat particles of colloidal particle size mainly or wholly within the pores of the walls so as to increase open frontal area and reduce back pressure. Substrate is either ceramic or metal. In a ceramic substrate with microcracks in the walls, the washcoat colloidal dispersion is free of soluble inorganic constituents and the particles do not fill the microcracks so as to prevent undesirable increase in thermal expansion and corresponding decrease in thermal shock resistance.

Abstract: A method and die apparatus for manufacturing a honeycomb body of triangular cell cross-section and high cell density, the die having a combination of (i) feedholes feeding slot intersections and (ii) feedholes feeding slot segments not supplied from slot intersections, whereby a reduction in feedhole count is achieved while still retaining good extrusion efficiency and extrudate uniformity.

Abstract: An article of manufacture comprising protectively coated titanium, titanium alloy or titanium aluminide, and a method for making it, wherein the protective coating is an adherent crystalline alkaline earth silicate glass-ceramic coating having a composition consisting essentially, in weight percent on the oxide basis, of about 20-75% total of oxides selected in amounts not exceeding the indicated proportions from the group consisting of up to about 50% BaO, 55% SrO, and 35% CaO, 25-60% of SiO.sub.2 and, as optional constituents, 0-25% MnO, 0-20% MgO, and 0-30% total of other compatible bivalent and trivalent metal oxides. The coating is applied as a continuous glassy coating and is converted to a crystalline glass-ceramic coating by heat treatment.

Abstract: A color-coded hermetically coated optical waveguide, consisting of glass optical fiber incorporating a light-absorbing hermetic coating but exhibiting improved color stability and differentiability, is produced by interposing a pigmented white opaque polymer coating exteriorly of the hermetic coating and interiorly of the color coding ink, the pigmented coating operating both to mask the hermetic coating and to accentuate the brightness of the ink color.

Abstract: In the method for making a ceramic matrix composite article comprising the steps of providing a porous preform for the article formed of a combination of a fibrous reinforcing material and a ceramic matrix material, and thereafter consolidating the preform by the application of heat and consolidation pressure thereto, improved consolidation of preforms of curved or other complex configuration is achieved by applying consolidation pressure to the preforms through the medium of a softened glass.

Abstract: Plastic ducts suitable for use alone or as components of telecommunications cables to provide for easy installation of optical fibers by blow-in methods, together with optical cable designs incorporating such ducts, are described. The ducts, most preferably provided as plastic tubes, are characterized by inner sidewall compositions of a modified polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based compound, the compound consisting at least predominantly of PVC polymer but additionally containing up to about 20% by weight of fluorocarbon polymers compounded directly with the PVC.

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite articles are fabricated by combining inorganic reinforcing fibers with dispersions of powdered ceramic matrix materials in organic vehicles which are thermoplastic solids. The dispersions are solid at room temperature, and are melted and combined with the fibers as heated liquid dispersions. Following application to the fibers, the thermoplastic dispersions are solidified by simple cooling; no solvent removal or drying step is required.

Abstract: Ceramic matrix composite articles comprising a ceramic, glass-ceramic or glass matrix and a fiber reinforcement phase disposed within the matrix consisting of amorphous or cyrstalline inorganic fibers, wherein there is provided, on or in close proximity to the surfaces of the inorganic fibers, a layer of sheet silicate crystals constituting a sheet silicate interface between the inorganic fibers and the ceramic, glass, or glass-ceramic matrix. Optionally, the composition of the matrix may be the same as the sheet silicate interface so that the matrix provides the sheet silicate layer.

Abstract: A method of making a fiber reinforced glass matrix composite wherein a continuous length of fiber is impregnated with glass and at least partially consolidated to form a fiber-glass matrix system encompassing the continuous length of fibers, cutting the fiber-glass system into a plurality of short fiber reinforced composites, heating the short fiber reinforced composites to form a composite batch wherein the glass matrix is in a molten condition, and molding the composite batch to form a reinforced glass composite article with uniform random distribution of short fibers, is disclosed.

Abstract: A vapor phase method for making a metal halide material useful for the manufacture of an infrared transmitting optical waveguide fiber or other optical device, and the use of the method for making such a device, wherein a halogenated beta-diketonate of a metal to be incorporated in the device is converted to the corresponding metal halide by controlled decomposition of the halogenated diketonate, are described.

Abstract: Anamorphic lenses or lens arrays are formed in photosensitively crystallizable glass by selective exposure of the glass surface and thermal treatment to cause the crystallization of the glass surrounding the lenses. The lenses, which have elongated cross-sections in the plane of the exposed glass surface and raised curved surfaces resulting from the densification of the surround material, exhibit different surface curvatures over their major and minor transverse axes and thus anamorphic light-focusing properties.

Abstract: Silicon-carbide-whisker-reinforced cordierite ceramic products are prepared by uniformly incorporating the whiskers in the ceramic batch, forming the batch into a product preform, e.g. by extrusion, and firing the preform according to a process wherein the conversion of the oxide batch materials to cordierite occurs under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. Significant improvements in product strength and thermal downshock resistance are obtained.

Abstract: ThF.sub.4 --BeF.sub.2 glasses of specified composition exhibit sufficiently low high-temperature viscosity and melt stability to be useful for the fabrication of optical devices for ultraviolet or infrared light transmission. The low melt viscosity renders the glasses suitable as host materials for rare earth and transition metal dopants so that they can be used for optical devices such as lasers and optical filters.