Abstract: An intumescent coating system and method therefor is disclosed for thermally protecting a substrate having a surface exposed to fire conditions. The coating system of the present invention is provided as having a first component which forms a rigid carbonific char foam having toughness and rigidity, and a second component which forms an insulative carbonific char foam having a density about half the density of the rigid carbonific foam to give insulation properties. The two foam components may be separately provided in a laminate-type arrangement as, respectively, an inner coating layer coated and cured on the surface of the substrate to form an inner film layer, and an outer coating layer coated and cured on the inner film layer to form an outer film layer. Alternatively, the two foams may be provided as being formed from components blended to comprise a single coating layer which is coated and cured on the surface of the substrate to form a film layer.

Abstract: An intumescent coating system and method therefor is disclosed for thermally protecting a substrate having a surface exposed to a flame environment. The coating system of the present invention is provided as having a having a first component which forms a rigid carbonific char foam having toughness and rigidity, and a second component which forms an insulative carbonific char foam having a density about half the density of the rigid carbonific foam to give insulation properties. The two foam components may be separately provided in a laminate-type arrangement as, respectively, an inner coating layer coated and cured on the surface of the substrate to form an inner film layer, and an outer coating layer coated and cured on the inner film layer to form an outer film layer. Alternatively, the two foams may be provided as being formed from components blended to comprise a single coating layer which is coated and cured on the surface of the substrate to form a film layer.

Abstract: A method for cracking and shifting a synthesis gas by the steps of providing a catalyst consisting essentially of alumina in a reaction zone; contacting the catalyst with a substantially oxygen free mixture of gases comprising water vapor and hydrocarbons having one or more carbon atoms, at a temperature between about 530.degree. C. (1000.degree. F.) to about 980.degree. C. (1800.degree. F.); and whereby the hydrocarbons are cracked to form hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide and the hydrogen content of the mixture increases with a corresponding decrease in carbon monoxide, and carbon formation is substantially eliminated.

Abstract: Thermally-reversible polymer compositions are obtained by reacting compounds with isocyanate and labile-hydrogen functionality. Aromatic polyimide, aromatic polycarbonate, polyarylsulfide, aromatic polyester with liquid crystal property, and polyarylimidazolidine oligomers are incorporated into the isocyanate or labile hydrogen compounds to give high-performance characteristics. Such thermally-reversible isocyanate-based polymer compositions with high-performance characteristics are useful, among other things, as finish surface coatings on composite materials such as polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate. Novel phenolic-hydroxyl terminated polyarylsulfide and polyarylimidazolidine oligomers and their preparation are also described.

Abstract: A continuous process for making a crystalline ceramic powder having a perovskite structure, ABO.sub.3, comprising:a. preparing a first acidic aqueous solution containing one or more elements that are insoluble precursor elements capable of forming the perovskite structure;b. preparing a second basic solution containing a sufficient concentration of hydroxide to precipitate the elements in step (a);c. mixing the first acidic solution with the second basic solution to precipitate a substantially pure mixture of hydroxides;d. washing the precipitate to remove hydroxide and salt impurities;e. forming a slurry of oxides or hydroxides of one or more of the elements that are soluble precursor elements capable of forming in the perovskite structure, and heating the slurry to a temperature sufficient to dissolve the soluble oxides or hydroxides of the soluble precursor elements;f. redispersing the washed precipitate and heating to the temperature of the soluble oxides or hydroxides of step (e);g.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition comprising a sintered mixture represented by the formula:Bi.sub.2-x (Zn.sub.(2+y)/3 Nb.sub.4/3)O.sub.7-3x/2+y/3where: 0.240.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.333, and 0.120.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.300; and a dielectric composition given by the formula:(Bi.sub.1-z Ca.sub.z).sub.2-x (Zn.sub.(2+y)/3 Nb.sub.4/3)O.sub.7-3x/2+y/3+xz/2-zwhere: 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.667, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.300, and 0<z.ltoreq.0.200; substitutions for Bi can be selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Y, Pb, Cd, La and other rare earth oxides having atomic numbers 58-71 of the periodic table; substitutions for Zn can be selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Co, Mn, Ni, and Cu; and substitutions for Nb can be selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, and Ta; wherein the substitutions comprise less than 20 mol % based on the Bi, Zn, and Nb content respectively.Typically, BZN and calcium-modified BZN ceramics are prepared by the initial preparation of a ZnNb.sub.2 O.sub.6 precursor; mixing of ZnNb.

Abstract: A thermal storage mixture activated by exposure to microwave energy is provided. The thermal storage mixture comprises a liquid phase of a microwave active fluid; and, a solid phase suspended within the microwave active fluid. The solid phase is preferably selected from material having a melting point at or below a temperature to which the liquid phase is heated, during use. The thermal storage mixture may be utilized in a container, to provide a thermal storage unit in a variety of applications. Herein, a thermal storage construction (heating construction) comprising a seat cushion having a thermal storage unit therein, to advantage, is described. Further, a process of storing thermal energy for release over an extended period of time is described.

Abstract: An apparatus useful in immunoassay of a fluid, light is directed to an optical sensor wherein the light is transmitted to a replaceable optical device that is responsive to index of refraction in a sensing region thereof that is exposed to the fluid. One portion of the light is transmitted via a compensation path that includes the sensing region to a first detector. Another portion of the light is transmitted via a sensing path that includes the sensing region to another detector. In one embodiment a ratioing device receives an output from each detector and provides a signal responsive to the ratio of the outputs. The replaceable optical device typically comprises a pair of channel waveguides in directional coupling arrangement, or a pair of channel waveguides in an interferometer arrangement, or a ridge waveguide having a curved or serpentine path configured so that nonspecific sensing effects are compensated.

Abstract: The invention includes a method that produces a low cost aqueous solution of high molecular weight solubilized collagen by the steps of: (a) providing an aqueous ground slurry of insoluble collagen; (b) adjusting the water or solid content of the wet ground slurry whereby the insoluble collagen is at a concentration that promotes substantially maximum solubilized collagen concentration and molecular weight in a final product; (c) adjusting the pH of the slurry from Step b to obtain activity for a proteolytic enzyme added in Step d; (d) adding the proteolytic enzyme to the pH adjusted slurry and reacting at a temperature, T, and for a time, t, effective for forming high molecualr weight solubilized collagen from the insoluble collagen particles; (e) controlling the reaction conditions for obtaining a high concentration of soluble collagen and a high molecular weight of the solubilized collagen by simultaneously measuring the concentration of solubilized collagen and the molecular weight of the solubilized coll

Abstract: An aerogel matrix composite of a bulk aerogel and fibers dispersed within the bulk aerogel, and a method for preparing the aerogel matrix composite having the steps: Making a first solution by mixing a metal alkoxide with an alcohol; making a second solution by mixing an alcohol, water, and base; mixing the first and second solutions to form a third solution and mixing fibers therewith; aging the third solution containing the fibers to obtain a gelled composition; completely submerging the gelled composition in a liquid suitable for supercritical drying; heating and pressurizing the gelled composition at a rate between about 75.degree. C. per hour to about 500.degree. C.

Abstract: An imager and an analog to digital converter yield a series of digital signals from successive frames of images of scenes in which selected types of high-speed events may take place. The signals are sampled, and changes in the sampled signals typically indicative of such events are detected. Random access memory temporarily stores a sequence of the signals including each such changed signal. Analytic circuitry determines whether the sequence contains a record of such an event, and, if it does, provides a videotape record of the event.

Abstract: A first electrode arrangement and a transport element are movable relative to a support. A working space is disposed between the movable elements for advancing moist material along a processing path. As the moist material advances, electrical current is passed through the material between the first electrode arrangement and a second electrode arrangement adjacent the transport element. An acoustic transducer arrangement disposed adjacent the working space simultaneously subjects the moist material to an acoustic field as the material moves along the processing path. The acoustic field is generated by an array of acoustic transducers spaced along part of the processing path.

Abstract: A method for treating soil contaminated by organic compounds wherein an ozone containing gas is treated with acid to increase the stability of the ozone in the soil environment and the treated ozone applied to the contaminated soil to decompose the organic compounds. The soil may be treated in situ or may be removed for treatment and refilled.

Abstract: Atoms in a neodymium:glass rod 20 are excited to a substantially spatially uniform metastable state by flashlamps 21. A flowing fluid 26 cools the flashlamps, but not the rod; so that low temperature gradients are maintained in the rod during isothermal laser operation. Automatic control means 22 turn off the electrical power supply 24 when the temperature in the rod reaches a predetermined limit. A flowing fluid 23 then cools the rod, at a rate low enough to avoid thermal stress therein, while it is not lasing. Segments of reflectors 25 focus the pump photons in the rod so as to substantially balance the cylindrical lensing action of the rod against the radial attenuation through it, and thus to provide substantially uniform density of stored energy in the rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating soil contaminated by organic compounds wherein an ozone containing gas is treated with acid to increase the stability of the ozone in the soil environment and the treated ozone applied to the contaminated soil in a manner adapted to decompose the organic compounds; one embodiment of the apparatus comprises a means to supply ozone as a gas-ozone mixture, a stability means to treat ozone obtained from the supply and distribution means to apply the stabilized gas-ozone to soil. The soil may be treated in situ or may be removed for treatment and refilled.

Abstract: A method for producing a thin film of a ferroelectric perovskite material having the steps of providing a first substrate; depositing a first layer of a sol-gel perovskite precursor material wherein the crystallization of this precursor material to the pervoskite phase is insensitive to the first substrate; depositing a second layer of a sol-gel perovskite precursor material wherein the crystallization is sensitive to the first substrate; and heat-treating the deposited layers to form ferroelectric perovskites. A heat treatment step to form perovskites may optionally follow the deposition of the first layer. The first layer of sol-gel perovskite precursor material is selected to produce a perovskite upon heat treatment of: lead titanate (PbTiO.sub.3), or strontium titanate (SrTiO.sub.3). The second layer of sol-gel perovskite precursor material is selected to produce a perovskite upon heat treatment of: lead zirconate titanate (Pb(Zr,Ti)O.sub.3), lead zirconate (PbZrO.sub.

Abstract: In apparatus useful in immunoassay of a fluid, light is directed to an optical sensor wherein the light is transmitted to a replaceable optical device that is responsive to index of refraction in a sensing region thereof that is exposed to the fluid. One portion of the light is transmitted via a reference path to a first detector. Another portion of the light is transmitted via a sensing path that includes the sensing region to another detector. A ratioing device receives an output from each detector and provides a signal responsive to the ratio of the outputs. The replaceable optical device typically comprises a pair of channel waveguides in directional coupling arrangement, or a pair of channel waveguides in an interferometer arrangement, or a ridge waveguide having a serpentine path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for starch adhesive bonding of paper, paperboard, and natural cellulosic-fiber materials, especially liner and fluted corrugating medium, into manufactured items, particularly corrugated board. The method includes applying an adhesive coating, comprising starch and water, to a first substrate (e.g. tips of flutes of a corrugated medium), contacting the applied coating with another substrate (e.g. liner) and while so positioned contacting an exterior surface of at least one of the substrates with an ultrasonic energy generating means so as to transmit the ultrasonic energy to the adhesive coating to increase coating adhesion to the substrates.

Abstract: A process for making a crystalline ceramic powder having a perovskite structure, ABO.sub.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the in-situ removal of soil contaminants by the concurrent application of a D.C. electrical field and an acoustic field.