Abstract: The invention resides in a novel ignition resistant activated biregional fiber that is extremely flexible due to the presence of an inner core of a thermoplastic polymeric composition in the fiber that is surrounded by an outer sheath of activated carbon. The invention also discloses a process for the manufacture of flexible activated biregional fiber(s) by heating oxidation stabilized biregional fibers or carbonaceous biregional fibers in an activating atmosphere for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to form an activated carbonaceous outer region in the fiber while the inner core of the fiber remain as a thermoplastic polymeric composition. The activated biregional fibers are particularly characterized by having a highly porous internal structure with an internal surface area of from about 50 m2/g to greater than 2000 m2/g depending on fiber diameter.

Abstract: A flexible, ignition resistant, biregional fiber is disclosed, wherein the fiber is preferably derived from a single homogeneous polymeric precursor composition, said biregional fiber comprising an inner core region of a thermoplastic polymeric composition and a surrounding outer sheath region of a thermoset carbonaceous material. The biregional fiber is particularly characterized by having a ratio of the radius of the core region with respect to the total radius of the fiber (r:R) of from about 1:4 to about 1:1.05, an LOI value of greater than 40, a breaking twist angle of from 4 to 13 degrees, and a bending strain value of from greater than 0.01 to less than 50%.

Abstract: A novel ignition resistant or fire blocking composite is disclosed comprising a multiplicity of biregional fibers with a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer, wherein each said biregional fiber comprises an inner region of a thermoplastic polymeric core and an outer region of a carbonaceous sheath, and wherein said biregional fibers are present in the composite in an amount of from 10 to 95% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite. In one embodiment, the multiplicity of biregional fibers are treated with up to 20% of a polymerizable silicone resin. In a further embodiment the thermoplastic or thermoset polymer is in the form of a sheet or panel and said multiplicity of biregional fibers are distributed throughout the polymeric matrix of the sheet or panel in an amount of from about 20 to 75%.

Abstract: An electrode is disclosed comprising a multiplicity of flexible biregional fibers, each fiber having an inner core region of a thermoplastic polymeric composition and a surrounding outer region of an electrically conductive carbonaceous sheath. The biregional fiber is derived from a biregional precursor fiber having an inner core region of a thermoplastic polymeric composition and a surrounding outer region of an oxidation stabilized sheath, and wherein the biregional precursor fiber is derived from a polymeric fiber comprising a single homogeneous polymeric composition, the flexible biregional fiber is particularly characterized by having a ratio of the radius of the core region with respect to the total radius of the fiber (r:R) of from about 1:4 to about 1:1.05 and a breaking twist angle of from about 4 to about 13 degrees. Also disclosed are secondary electrical storage devices employing electrodes of the invention.

Abstract: A novel flexible carbon article for an electrode is disclosed for use in an electrical storage device in which the flexible carbon article, such as a planar sheet of a plurality of substantially parallel fibers or ribbons, and in which the fibers or ribbons have a Young's modulus of less than 1 MM psi (6.89 Gpa). The invention also resides in an electrical energy storage device, such as a secondary battery, comprising a water impermeable housing having at least one and preferably more than two cells in series, wherein a battery containing at least two cells also contains at least one shared bipolar electrode made of the flexible carbon article. Each cell has a foraminous separator between each pair of electrodes and contains an electrolyte comprising an ionizable salt in a non-aqueous fluid. Also disclosed are methods of making the electrode from an unfiltered precursor polymer and from a sub-acrylic polymer.

Abstract: A novel flexible carbon fiber is disclosed which has a generally non-circular or tubular cross-sectional shape, a Young's modulus of from greater than 1 MM psi (6.9 GPa) to 55 MM psi (380 GPa), and a bending strain value of from greater than 0.01 to less than 50%. The invention also resides in an electrode for a secondary energy storage device utilizing the carbon fibers of the invention and containing a non-aqueous electrolyte. The invention further resides in a secondary energy storage device comprising a water impermeable housing having at least two cells containing at least one shared bipolar electrode made of the flexible carbon fibers of the invention. Also disclosed is a pseudo bipolar electrode and terminal electrode for use in a lithium ion battery in which the fibers or a portion of the carbon fibers are coated with an ion active lithium salt of a metal oxide. Also disclosed is a novel battery stack and a method of manufacture of the secondary energy storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing a solution of a crystalline or a semi-crystalline polymer sample to determine a crystallinity versus weight percent profile concurrently with viscosity average molecular weight. The polymer sample is first precipitated from solution over a cooling temperature gradient to produce a precipitated polymer sample, which is precipitated as a function of its crystallinity. The precipitated polymer sample is then eluted and redissolved over a heating temperature gradient to produce successive fractions of a fractionated polymer sample solution, which are measured to produce concentration and specific viscosity data from which the intrinsic viscosity and viscosity average molecular weight are calculated.

Abstract: A reversible liquid/solid phase change composition for storing thermal energy. The composition comprises at least one hydrated inorganic salt selected from a salt or mixture of salts that are subject to segregation of its chemical components during repeated freezing and thawing cycles, and a surface active thickening agent in the form of a cationic surfactant and selected from an amine, salts of the amine, or a quaternary ammonium salt of the amine, wherein the thickening agent is present in the hydrated salt in an amount sufficient to form a micelle structure throughout the hydrated salt to prevent such segregation.

Abstract: A reactor system for producing useful thermal energy and valuable isotopes, such as plutonium-239, uranium-233, and/or tritium, in which a pair of sub-critical masses of fissile and fertile actinide slugs are propelled into an ellipsoidal pressure vessel. The propelled slugs intercept near the center of the chamber where the concurring slugs become a more than prompt configuration thereby producing a fission explosion. Re-useable accelerating mechanisms are provided external of the vessel for propelling the slugs at predetermined time intervals into the vessel. A working fluid of lean molten metal slurry is injected into the chamber prior to each explosion for the attenuation of the explosion's effects, for the protection of the chamber's walls, and for the absorbtion of thermal energy and debris from the explosion. The working fluid is injected into the chamber in a pattern so as not to interfere with the flight paths of the slugs and to maximize the concentration of working fluid near the chamber's center.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are taught in which variable analog data, representative of a plurality of physical parameters are recorded on a thermo-sensitive recording paper which is movable along an axis representative of time. A thermal recording head is transversely movable over the recording paper for sequentially recording the variable analog data in their order of value in a unidirectional sweep of the recording head over the paper. The variable analog data signals arriving in the recorder are updated to obtain their instantaneous values and are gathered and transferred to memory locations in a sequential order. The sequential analog data is then tabulated in the order of value in an ascending or declining magnitude and recorded in such order on the recording paper. Successive recordings of tabulated analog values provide tracings on the recording paper giving, in graphic form, a continuous read-out of physical parameters.