Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a metal oxide varistor body. Conventional manufacturing techniques through sintering are utilized on any metal oxide varistor formulation which includes bismuth oxide. Following sintering, the devices are heat treated at a temperature between 750.degree. C. and 1200.degree. C. for a time in excess of about 10 hours. The heat treatment increases the alpha of the devices and substantially lowers the leakage current.

Abstract: A fired ceramic bottle and, particularly, a porcelain bottle is disclosed having an integral threaded neck of fired material for receiving a screw cap. The threaded neck is, preferably, an adapter separately formed apart from the bottle by the "dry press" method and then fired into an integral piece therewith. Additionally, the same method is used to provide a very small opening in ceramic bottles. Also disclosed are means for securing a decorative ceramic top on such a porcelain bottle.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the production of multi-ply battery separators utilizing mats of melt-blown, randomly laid, self-bonded thermoplastic resin fibers. The process involves the production of at least three separate plies of self-bonded, melt-blown thermoplastic fibers, which are joined in the absence of separate adhesive materials to form a cohesive, multi-ply material. The multi-ply material comprises an internal structure having fiber size, porosity and other characteristics particularly suitable for use in lead-acid battery separator application. The outer plies are formed to have characteristics more suitable for strength and abrasion resistance. In the process of the invention, the several plies are separately formed by melt-blowing techniques, in themselves known, and the several plies are joined in the presence of heat and/or heat and pressure, forming a multi-ply structure entirely free of external adhesive material.

Abstract: A hot pressed composite structure, and method of making same are provided, wherein such structure is reinforced in three X, Y, and Z directions and comprises a matrix material, a plurality of straight elongate rigid reinforcing members embedded in the matrix material in spaced parallel relation and each disposed with its elongate dimension parallel to one of the above-mentioned directions, and a plurality of substantially straight elongate rigid reinforcing members embedded in the matrix material each with its elongate dimension disposed substantially along an associated one of the remaining two of the directions.

Abstract: The method of preparing superhard articles consists of placing a mixture of powdered hard-alloy matrix material and diamond grains into a hard-alloy envelope formed from a hard-alloy material, preferably of exactly the same composition as the hard-alloy matrix material of the mixture, with the thickness of the hard-alloy envelope over the entire area thereof exceeding by at least 3-4 times the maximum space between any two adjacent diamond grains within the mixture. The mixture in the envelope is then subjected to sintering in a free condition thereof, without any external mechanical loads being applied thereto.

Abstract: Metal nitride sintered moldings are produced by mixing metal nitride powders with an organosilicon compound or an organosilicon high molecular weight compound as a binder, molding the mixture into a desired shape and heating the formed molding under a non-oxidizing atmosphere to sinter the metal nitride powders.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for substantially uniformly distributing glass fibers onto a forming bed. The apparatus is mounted above the bed for movement relative thereto along the length of the bed and is receptive of glass fibers for chopping same into desired lengths. A hood structure is downstream of the chopping and comprises three chambers. A first chamber defining a receiving zone in the process receives the chopped glass fibers which are dropped into the hood and a second chamber defining a dispersing zone is in communication with the first chamber and downstream thereof and disperses the glass fibers received from the first chamber to effect a random uniform matrix thereof along the width of the bed. The dispersion is carried out by a turbulence that is created within the chamber. The third chamber defining a distributing zone is disposed downstream of the second chamber and has an adjustable length elongated outlet aperture which extends across a desired width of the bed.

Abstract: Short filaments, or strands near filaments, of, for example, glass are introduced into a vessel such as a cyclone in which whirls around a gas such as air, resulting in entanglement of the filaments into ball-like lumps. Preferably the whirling of the gas and the introduction of the filaments into the vessel are made such that the fiber lumps are discharged downwards from the vessel while the gas is discharged upwards. The product is useful as a stuffing for heat- and/or sound insulation.

Abstract: A carbon black pellet formed by the pelleting of flocculent carbon black. An outer portion of the pellet contains antioxidant to prevent oxidation of the pellet during drying. The antioxidant is contained in a shell having a thickness sufficient to prevent oxidation of the pellet instead of being distributed throughout the thickness of the pellet. The antioxidant can be admixed with additional carbon black and the admixture used to form the outer layer of a layered pellet or the antioxidant can be mixed with the pelleting liquid used to aid in pelleting the additional carbon black used to form an outer layer of a layered pellet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing small hollow spheres of glass, metal or plastic, wherein the sphere material is mixed with or contains as part of the composition a blowing agent which decomposes at high temperature (T.gtoreq.600.degree. C.). As the temperature is quickly raised, the blowing agent decomposes and the resulting gas expands from within, thus forming a hollow sphere of controllable thickness. The thus produced hollow spheres (20 to 10.sup.3 .mu.m) have a variety of application, and are particularly useful in the fabrication of targets for laser implosion such as neutron sources, laser fusion physics studies, and laser initiated fusion power plants.

Abstract: A high thermal conductivity substrate is formed by making a sintered diamond composite and thereafter modifying the electrical properties of the composite by leaching graphite and other non-diamond materials from the composite and subsequently infusing the leached composite with material having known electrical properties. Alternatively, a diamond composite having high thermal conductivity known electrical properties if prepared and subsequently leached to remove graphite and other materials which interfere with the known electrical properties of the composite material.

Abstract: A stream of molten slag is produced. A preferably hydraulic binder powder which is compatible with the molten slag is added to the stream in a predetermined proportion therewith. The molten slag is blasted together with the binder powder added thereto to form mineral wool fibers provided with the binder. The mineral wool fibers provided with the binder are combined in a web.

Abstract: A method of producing mechanically strong sintered pellets suitable for consumable use in smelting furnaces from non-oxidizable metal oxides is disclosed. The metal oxide is combined with a carbon-containing material whereafter the formed pellet is sintered in a shaft furnace.

Abstract: A method of reshaping magnetically relatively weak ferrite particles of substantially arbitrary shape into substantially spherically-shaped globules including the steps of transporting the particles by a carrier gas stream within a conduit into the vicinity of a stream of warm gases, separating the particles from the carrier gas stream prior to contact with said warm gas stream, feeding the separated particles into the stream of warm gases, melting the particles therein, and subsequently allowing the particles to solidify into substantially spherically-shaped globules.

Abstract: A method of producing sintered pellets containing metal oxide is disclosed. The pellets obtained are mechanically strong and are produced at substantially less cost than is encountered with known methods.

Abstract: An improvement in the process of forming plastic articles wherein such articles are forged from a compression formed briquette of resinous powder, such improvement comprising (1) compressing a resinous powder having lamellar crystalline nonspherulitic morphology into a substantially unoriented briquette having green strength, (2) removing the briquette from the compressing device and placing the briquette in a forging press wherein lubrication is provided between the contacting surfaces of the briquette and the forging press to permit plug flow, and (3) forging the briquette into a shaped article while maintaining the briquette at a temperature between the alpha-transition temperature and the melt temperature of the resinous powder.

Abstract: A process for deposition of polycrystalline silicon from the gas phase on ated carrier bodies of carbon, which comprises assembling the carrier bodies from extremely thin flexible graphite foils, heating the bodies to deposition temperature, while contacting them with a gaseous mixture containing a decomposable silicon compound and, if desired, hydrogen, and separating the deposited silicon from the carrier body, after termination of the deposition process, by mechanical means. The polycrystalline silicon can either be deposited in the form of shaped hollow bodies for use as laboratory equipment or in the semiconductor industries, or it may be processed to monocrystalline materials.

Abstract: A system for disposing of fly ash where the dry fly ash is transported by pneumatic hose to a portable container which is utilized in the manner of a mold. The container is of a general truncated pyramidal shape, closed at the top end and open at the bottom. The fly ash is blown into the container and simultaneously wetted by sprayed liquid within the container. The air which is used for transporting the fly ash is removed from the container by a filtering system and the fly ash is allowed to harden into cement-like ingots or cakes for further handling thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing a self-sustaining sheet of essentially cellulosic fibrous material with improved strength wherein a dry-laid web is moistened and then consolidated by passage along a heated consolidating surface wherein the web is held against this surface by one side of a supporting band, against the other side of which at least two spaced apart pressure rolls exert a pressure acting through the supporting band against the web, which pressure is preferably between 150 and 500 pounds per linear inch. The supporting band thereby maintains the web against the heated consolidating roll between said pair of pressure nips.

Abstract: A process for making densified kaolin clay pellets of high bulk density, good handling and bulk flow properties, and low moisture content is disclosed. The process consists essentially of mixing substantially dry kaolin clay with water to bring the total moisture content of the finely divided kaolin clay to from about 17% to about 26% by weight based on the weight of said dry kaolin clay during mixing in a first pin mixer, followed by micropulverization, and subsequent pelletization by pin mixing. The pellets are dried to 1% or less moisture content by weight based on the weight of dry kaolin clay.