Abstract: A method of processing light fraction tar includes pre-heating the light fraction tar before directing it through a reactor. The reactor has a top and a bottom and a surface spanning between said top and said bottom. A film of the light fraction tar flows down the surface under the force of gravity and with heated gas blowing thereon. The portion of the film that reaches the bottom of the reactor has improved properties making it more widely useful for carbon products.

Abstract: A composite heat spreader (10) having an in-plane thermal conductivity of greater than 600 W/m*K and a thickness of greater than 50 microns, the composite heat spreader including a first element (20) which includes at least one sheet of compressed particles of exfoliated graphite having a density of at least about 1.4 grams/cc; and a second element (30) which includes at least one sheet of synthetic graphite having a density of at least 1.8 grams/cc and an in-plane thermal conductivity of at least 700 W/m*K, where the first element and the second element are joined into a composite sheet without the use of adhesives.

Abstract: A composite heat spreader includes a first flexible graphite layer, a second flexible graphite layer, and a gas evolving layer positioned between the first flexible graphite layer and the second flexible graphite layer. The gas evolving layer is temperature sensitive and when a threshold temperature is reached, the thermal conductivity of the gas evolving layer is reduced by at least factor of five.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of cylindrical battery cells. Damage caused by thermal energy generated in the battery pack is minimized by a one or more graphite sheets in contact with a portion of each cylindrical battery cell.

Abstract: A carbon article having a first zone and a second zone wherein in the first zone formed from a first mix design and the second zone formed from a second mix design and the first and second mix designs have at least one difference selected from the group of differences of a presence of a certain material, a concentration of a certain material, the size of the a certain material and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a fluid transfer layer and a first external layer. The fluid transfer layer is made from an elastomeric material and the first external layer includes flexible graphite. The fluid transfer layer includes at least one channel and is configured to form a passage for receiving a thermal transfer fluid between the channel and a portion of the first external layer.

Abstract: A method and system automatically determines when an electrode add event occurs in an electric arc furnace having a plurality of electrode columns, each carried by an electrode positioning system. Data is received correlating to the harmonic distortion of the electrical current output to the plurality of electrode columns. Data is also received correlating to control pressures in the electrode positioning systems. Steady state control pressure data is captured when the harmonic distortion data indicates a steady state condition. An electrode add event is thereafter determined when a pressure spike is identified in the steady state control pressure data.

Abstract: A reinforced carbon foam material is formed from carbon fibers incorporated within a carbon foam's structure. First, carbon fiber bundles are combined with a liquid resol resin. The carbon fiber bundles separate into individual carbon fiber filaments and disperse throughout the liquid resol resin. Second, the carbon fiber resin mixture is foamed thus fixing the carbon fibers in a permanent spatial arrangement within the phenolic foam. The foam is then carbonized to create a carbon fiber reinforced foam with improved graphitic characteristics as well as increased strength. Optionally, various additives can be introduced simultaneously with the addition of the carbon fiber bundles into the liquid resol, which can improve the graphitic nature of the final carbon foam material and/or increase the foam's resistance to oxidation.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery pack includes a plurality of prismatic lithium polymer cells and one or more graphite heat spreaders. Each spreader has at least two major surfaces and is made of one of a sheet of a compressed mass of exfoliated graphite particles, a graphitized polyimide sheet, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A graphite crucible for processing silicon includes a bottom wall including a bottom wall interior facing surface. A plurality of side walls extend upwardly from the bottom wall, each side wall including a side wall interior facing surface. A contact point is provided on the side wall to prevent upward movement of the crucible during ingot removal. The side walls have a coefficient of thermal expansion perpendicular to the solidification direction that is less than 95% of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the silicon processed therein. Also, the side walls and the bottom wall have a thru-plane thermal conductivity from about 90 to about 160 W/m·K at room temperature.

Abstract: A floor heating system includes a flooring substrate having a heating or cooling element in heat transfer relationship therewith. A heat spreader is in heat transfer relationship with the flooring substrate. The heat spreader includes a layer of flexible graphite material. A floor covering overlies the layer of flexible graphite material. Temperature variations across an exposed surface of the floor covering are reduced by the presence of the flexible graphite heat spreader, thus providing an improved and more uniform heating to the floor and to the room with which the floor is associated.

Abstract: A method for reducing temperature-caused degradation of the performance of a digital reader comprising pixels, the method including positioning at least one sheet of compressed particles of exfoliated graphite adjacent to a plurality of the pixels of the digital reader.

Abstract: A floor heating system includes a flooring substrate having a heating or cooling element in heat transfer relationship therewith. A heat spreader is in heat transfer relationship with the flooring substrate. The heat spreader includes a layer of flexible graphite material. A floor covering overlies the layer of flexible graphite material. Temperature variations across an exposed surface of the floor covering are reduced by the presence of the flexible graphite heat spreader, thus providing an improved and more uniform heating to the floor and to the room with which the floor is associated.

Abstract: A carbon foam article useful for, inter alia, composite tooling or other high temperature applications, which includes a carbon foam having a ratio of compressive strength to density of at least about 7000 psi/g/cc.

Abstract: A substrate useful for the formation of, inter alia, a flow field plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, the substrate formed of at least one resin-impregnated sheet of compressed particles of exfoliated graphite comprising two major surfaces, the substrate having an active area with flow field channels thereon, the sheet of compressed particles of exfoliated graphite having a local web thickness in at least about 50% of its active area that is no more than about 55% greater than the minimum web thickness of the active area of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention presented is a method for applying heat spreaders to a plurality of plasma display panels, including (a) providing a plurality of heat spreader composites, each of which comprises a heat spreader material having an adhesive thereon and a release material positioned such that the adhesive is sandwiched between the heat spreader material and the release material; (b) removing the release material from a plurality of the composites; and (c) applying at least one of the composites to each of the plurality of plasma display panels each such that the adhesive adheres the heat spreader material to the plasma display panel.

Abstract: The invention presented is a method for applying heat spreaders to a plurality of plasma display panels, including (a) providing a plurality of heat spreader composites, each of which comprises a heat spreader material having an adhesive thereon and a release material positioned such that the adhesive is sandwiched between the heat spreader material and the release material; (b) removing the release material from a plurality of the composites; and (c) applying at least one of the composites to each of the plurality of plasma display panels each such that the adhesive adheres the heat spreader material to the plasma display panel.