Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for cathodic protection of steel reinforced concrete which comprises using an anode structure made of an array of valve metal strips activated by an electrocatalytic coating and having voids therein, supported by or inserted into insulating spacers, said strips being connected by connection means either provided with voids or without voids, or rods, bars, insulated cables. The anode structure is applied to the reinforcing steel cage during Construction before the concrete is poured. The anode structure of the present invention exhibits a remarkable mechanical resistance and has an anode surface which may be tailored in order to provide for the necessary protection current on the basis of the density of the reinforcing bars contained in the structure to be cathodically protected.

Abstract: A composite of a thermoplastic copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether), and a porous membrane of polytetrafluoroethylene, at least a portion of the thermoplastic copolymer being dispersed within the pores of the porous polytetrafluoroethylene. The composite is useful as insulation for wire and cable.

Abstract: Sheeting in the form of fibre board comprising cellulose fibres and a thermosetting resin in an amount sufficient to bond the cellulose fibres together when compressed the sheeting having a density of 1100 kg/m.sup.3 or greater. The method of manufacturing the sheeting comprises the steps of combining the cellulose fibres and thermosetting resin together and forming a mat or web, and thereafter heating and compressing the mat or web to a density of at least 1100 kg/m.sup.3.

Abstract: A process for producing pictorial labels representing content of a composition of food, the process including the following steps: obtaining nutritional data for a composition of food, the nutritional data representing a quantity of a nutrient in the composition; defining a pictorial image representing a standard for daily human consumption of the nutrient; defining an area representing the quantity; and printing a label having the pictorial image and the respective area, to form a pictorial comparison of the quantity of the nutrient in the composition with the standard.

Abstract: A polyester fiber having the following characteristics, and a method of manufacturing the same;(a) an intrinsic viscosity of between 0.45 and 0.85,(b) tan.delta..ltoreq.0.140T.sub.max .ltoreq.130.degree. C.wherein tan.delta. stands for a peak value of a dynamic loss tangent, and T.sub.max stands for a peak temperature,(c) E.sub.2 /E.sub.1 .ltoreq.0.49wherein E.sub.1 stands for an elongation from zero to a secondary yield point, and E.sub.2 stands for an elongation from the secondary yield point to a breaking point,(d) a stability coefficient expressed by a reciprocal value of a product of a work loss .DELTA.E at 150.degree. C. and a shrinkage factor under a dry heat at 175.degree. C., of 50 or more.A strength, a modulus of elasticity, and a resistance to fatigue of the polyester fiber in accordance with the present invention are superior, and a dimensional heat stability of this polyester fiber is remarkably improved.

Abstract: New x-ray photoconductive compositions are disclosed which are certain composites containing (1) inorganic clusters of VB-VIB semiconductors, VB-VIIB semiconductors, IIB-VIB semiconductos, IIB-VB semiconductors, IIIB-VB semiconductors, IIIB-VIB semiconductors, IB-VIB semiconductors and/or IVB-VIIB semiconductors and (2) polymers which are essentially non-carrier-transporting in the absence of x-rays. Also disclosed is an x-ray radiograpy apparatus which employs an image receptor which is a composite of certain inorganic clusters and polymers. A method is disclosed for enhancing the x-ray absorbing efficiency of a polymer which is essentially non-carrier transporting in the absence of x-rays and the x-ray photoconductivity of said polymer by doping the polymer with an effective amount of clusters having a size within the range of from about 0.001 .mu.m to 10 .mu.m.

Abstract: These transparent members, capable of withstanding mechanical stresses, comprise at least one glass member (A1) of stem, reed, tube, strip or sheet type and/or glass members (A2) of bead, particle or fragment type, transparent fibers (B) and a cured transparent resin (C) in which the fibers (B) and the members (A2) are embedded; the fibers (B) and the resin (C) with which they are coated being bonded to the members (A1), the resin (C) being chosen so as to exhibit, in the cured state, a refractive index which does not differ, at a wavelength of 510-520 nm, by more than 0.001 from that of the fibers (B) and from that of the members (A1) and (A2), it being nevertheless possible for the difference in index between the resin (C) and the members (A1) of strip or sheet type to range up to 0.01 when these members are large in dimension in relation to the overall structural member.

Abstract: At a first station 202, flexible material 204 is deformed into a predetermined configuration defined by a mould recess 210. This configuration corresponds to the internal configuration of one of two housing parts 136, 138, situated at a second station 206. The deformed region of the flexible material 204 is advanced to the second station and secured between the housing parts 136, 138, to form a flexible partition within the container so formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of improving the vibrational damping characteristics of a circuit article. The method involves adding damping layer(s) to the laminate material that is processed into a circuit article. The damping material effectively increases the damping of the circuit article and reduces the amplitude of resonant frequencies of the circuit article excited by environmental vibrations or shocks that the circuit board may encounter in use and thereby potentially improving the performance of the circuit article for vibration and shock related performance issues without the addition of add-on dampers to the circuit articles surface or by isolating the circuit board by means of vibration and shock isolators.

Abstract: The pyrolytic carbon lamellar interphase is formed on the reinforcing fibers inside a chamber in which a plurality of successive cycles is performed, each cycle comprising: injecting a reaction gas in which the pyrolytic carbon precursor is selected from alkanes, excluding methane taken as a sole component, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof; the gas is maintained inside the chamber for a first predetermined time period to form an interphase layer of controlled thickness of nanometer size; the gaseous reaction products are then evacuated during a second time period; the cycles being performed consecutively in the chamber until the thickness desired for the interphase has been obtained, thereby achieving a lamellar interphase that is highly anisotropic, whose lattice fringe texture has distorted fringes of total length (L.sub.2) not less than 4 nanometers on average with maximum values exceeding 10 nanometers.

Abstract: A high dielectric (K'.gtoreq.5), comparatively low thermal coefficient (absolute value of TCK'.ltoreq.200 ppm/.degree.C.) polymeric composite matrix is presented comprising commonly available and low cost fillers such as titania, alumina and magnesium oxide.

Abstract: The prevention of counterfeiting of currencies, passports, cheques, bank cards, credit cards, optical disks and the like is addressed by introducing thin film structures having both optically-variable security properties and encoded optical data decodable by optical means. The thin film structures comprise a substrate and a multilayer interference coating carried by the substrate, producing an inherent color shift with a change of viewing angle. The multilayer interference coating has a dielectric material which is transparent and the recording layer made of a light absorbing material, a crystalline-structural changing material or a magneto-optic material. The encoded data is in the form of bar codes or digital data. The information is encoded by photolithographic means or by optical recording means. The encoded data is retrieved by an optical recording system having a light source and an optical guiding system and a light detector.

Abstract: An optical information medium comprises an optically transparent substrate and a protective layer formed on the substrate for protecting a record portion so that information which is optically readable by means of a laser beam can be recorded. A hydrophilic film is formed at a side opposite to a side through which reproduction light of the optically transparent substrate is passed. The film has a hydrophilic surface on which an aqueous printing ink is fixable. Printing is possible on the hydrophilic surface by use of an ink jet printer. A method for printing on the hydrophilic surface is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cover for shielding an article from incident heat energy and includes a first, non-heat reflective, sheet of material, a second sheet of material adapted to reflect heat, and a layer of non-abrasive sheet material. The sheets are superimposed and secured together to comprise a laminate, with the covering being tailored to provide a desired configuration. The covers are flexible thermal insulation covers tailored to fit and cover a particular shape of article which requires thermal insulation. The cover has spaced round its perimeter pockets or flaps into which are secured extensible members having a free end adapted to be hooked round a part of the article to maintain the cover securely in position.

Abstract: Encapsulation of metals inside multilayered polyhedral shells of carbon (nanoencapsulates) is described. Many materials, such as metals and metal-carbides, can be encapsulated by the method of present invention, including metals such as lanthanides, transition metals, actinides and alloys. Some of these nanoencapsulate materials exhibit ferromagnetic and paramagnetic properties and have uses in the biomedical field as well as in recording media and composite materials.

Abstract: A flip chip integrated circuit device (110) is provided having a surface, a perimeter, and solder bumps (112) located on the surface. At least one solder bump (112), and preferably a plurality of solder bumps (112), are spaced apart from the perimeter of the device (110). Electrically conductive runners (118) extend from the perimeter of the device (110) to each of those solder bumps (112) that are spaced apart from the perimeter, so as to electrically interconnect the solder bumps (112) to a point, such as a pad (116), at the perimeter. As a result, not all of the solder bumps (112) employed by the device (110) need be accommodated at the perimeter of the device (110), such that the size and number of the solder bumps (112) does not dictate the size of the device (110).

Abstract: A superconductor element includes a first layer of an oxide superconductor, a second layer of an insulator, semiconductor, or metal, and an interlayer interposed between the first and second layers and formed of AgO.sub.x (where in 0<.times.< 1/2) .

Abstract: The present invention provides a copper-clad laminate characterized in that an electrolytic copper foil on the glossy (shiny) surface side of which a copper electrodeposit is formed, is bonded at its glossy surface side to one side or each of both sides of a substrate, which has a fine-pitch wiring (circuit) pattern and exhibits a high etching factor. The present invention further provides a copper-clad laminate which can be suitably employed in the production of such a printed wiring board.

Abstract: A two-phase stainless steel wire rope having a high fatigue resistance and a high corrosion resistance, containing two-phase stainless steel wires of 0.03 to 0.1% by weight of C, 0.33 to 1.0% by weight of Si, 0.65 to 1.5% by weight of Mn, 0.019 to 0.04% by weight P, 0.004 to 0.03% by weight of S, 18.21 to 30% by weight of Cr, 3.10 to 8.0% by weight of Ni, 0.1 to 3.0% by weight of Mo, with the balance being Fe, and 30.0 to 80.0% by volume of ferrite, which wire rope has a means slenderness ratio, M.sub.R, of 4 to 20 by wire drawing.

Abstract: Phase-change-type optical recording medium comprises a first dielectric layer, a recording layer made of a phase change material, a second dielectric layer and a reflecting layer wherein the thicknesses of the first and second dielectric layers are determined for a given thickness of the recording layer so that the following conditions are satisfied;.DELTA.A+.DELTA.R.gtoreq.20% and .DELTA.A.gtoreq.5%wherein.DELTA.A=A(cry)-A(amo),A(cry), A(amo): light absorption rates of the recording layer in the crystal state and amorphous state, respectively,.DELTA.R=R(cry)-R(amo),R(cry) and R(amo): light reflection rates of the recording lates in the crystal state and amorphous state, respectively.