Abstract: A method of manufacturing glass optical elements such as gratings, microlenses, Fresnel lenses, optical disks with pregrooves, and the like includes heating a glass plate to a temperature higher than the softening point of the glass and then press-molding the glass using upper and lower dies. The upper die includes a base made of a hard metal and a work layer made of a noble metal alloy which has been sputtered on a press plane of the base through a mask. The mask has a fine aperture pattern such as a line and space pattern corresponding to the fine pattern of concavities and convexities which is to be formed at the surface of the glass optical element.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for depositing a thin layer of a target material onto a substrate by illuminating the target material with at least one ring-shaped elliptical laser beam so that a ring-shaped deposition plume is emitted from the target material, and positioning the substrate to receive the emitted material. Concentric, ring-shaped elliptical laser beams are formed by use of a multi-faceted negative axicon.

Abstract: A member having a shank is selectively coated with a material such as a metal by loosely sliding a washer made of a material such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer onto the shank, securing the washer such that the washer is in intimate contact with the shank, and immersing at least a portion of the member into at least one coating bath so that a portion of the member is coated and the portion of the shank in contact with the washer is not coated. The member can be an input/output pin for an electronic device and the coating can be applied by methods such as electroless plating or electrolytic plating.

Abstract: Process for forming diamond-like carbon coatings on metal surfaces to produce increased resistance to penetration, abrasion, and corrosion. A Ni/P coating is formed on an uncoated metal workpiece by-electroless deposition. While the workpiece is heated to harden the Ni/P coating, a vaporized stream of silicon is directed onto the Ni/P coating and the stream of silicon over the Ni/P coating is bombarded with an ion beam such that a NiSi.sub.2 layer is formed at the interface of the Ni/P coating and silicon and a silicon overlayer is formed over the NiSi.sub.2 layer. A vaporized stream of carbon-containing precursor molecules is directed onto the silicon overlayer such that a film of the precursor molecules condenses on the silicon overlayer. The film of precursor molecules is bombarded with an ion beam sufficiently to form a layer of diamond-like carbon on the silicon overlayer. A Ni/B solution or Ni/SiC solution can be used instead of the Ni/P solution, and germanium can be used instead of silicon.

Abstract: Electrodes of an electrical charge storage device are separated by forming on the surfaces of the electrodes arrays of substantially uniform electrically insulating microprotrusions made preferably of an organic epoxide polymer. The electrodes are thin, flat electrically conducting metal sheets coated on one or both flat surfaces with electrically conducting porous carbon or a porous metal oxide. The microprotrusions are applied to the coated electrodes through a stencil by screen printing and essentially retain their shape and dimensions after curing.

Abstract: Volcanic ash is applied to hot asphalt roofing shingles during manufacture to maintain separation and inhibit color transfer between the shingles when stacked. Volcanic ash is separated into a fine particulate component which is a respirable dust and a remainder separating agent component which can be handled without respiratory equipment. After a roofing shingle core material such as an organic film or fiberglass sheet has been dipped into hot asphalt and colored roofing granules have been applied to one side of the hot asphalt-coated core material, the separating agent component is applied by spraying or gravity feed through a perforated plate to the opposite side of the hot asphalt-coated core material.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of coating an article by the use of electro-static attraction of ionized particles which are subsequently cured. The apparatus includes a first foraminous conveyor for carrying the article through a powder coating zone and a second conveyor for carrying the article through a curing zone. The surface of the article which rests on the foraminous conveyor is cleaned of particles as the article is transferred from the first foraminous conveyor to the second conveyor. The first foraminous conveyor is also cleaned of particles after the article has been transferred. After the articles have been cured to form a coating on the article, the article is put through the coating system again except that the article is supported on the conveyor so that the surface which was not coated in the first pass through the system is out of contact with the conveyor.

Abstract: A process for improving the adhesion of roofing granules to a hot asphalt surface in the manufacture of a roofing product. Onto an asphalt-based substrate having a hot asphalt surface, an amount of a non-asphalt adhesive effective for improving adhesion of roofing granules to the hot asphalt surface is applied and then roofing granules are embedded on the hot asphalt surface. The non-asphalt adhesive can be composed of or include as a component one or more of polyolefins, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-n-butylacrylate polymers, ethylene-methylacrylate polymers, styrene-containing block or graft copolymers, polyamide terpolymers, hydrocarbon rubbers, polyesters, polyurethanes, and siloxanes. The resulting roofing product includes an asphalt-based substrate with an asphalt surface having roofing granules imbedded thereon with a non-asphalt adhesive at the interface between the asphalt and roofing granules.

Abstract: A method for providing a traffic surface such as a path, roadway, passageway, deck, or airfield runway or taxiway with both anti-slip and retro-reflective characteristics. A first coating of paint is applied to the surface, solid particles are distributed onto the first coating such that the particles sink partially into the first coating, and a second coating of paint is applied over the particles and the first coating to lock the particles into the first coating with the particles projecting from the second coating. Before the second coating is set, retro-reflective beads are distributed over the second coating to sink partially into the second coating between the projecting particles. The beads are bonded into the second coating and project from the second coating. The beads are smaller than the particles and the particles project from the second coating by more than the beads to overshadow the beads.

Abstract: Extrusion apparatus and method includes a chamber of alterable volume having an outlet and a vent in a movable wall of the chamber to facilitate sealing the chamber upon application of force to the movable wall to displace viscous, fluid composition from within the chamber through the outlet and along a desired path. After displacement of a volume of the composition from the chamber, the vent is relieved to promote expansion of the composition within the chamber through the vent rather than through the outlet. The composition may be cured to substantially non-fluid condition along the desired path in response to applied thermal and/or ultraviolet radiant energy to provide traces of selected electrical properties on a work surface.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition is indirectly applied to a substrate by raising the temperature of the phase change ink composition to form a liquid phase change ink composition, applying droplets of the phase change ink composition in a liquid phase to a liquid intermediate transfer surface on a solid support in a pattern using a device such as an ink jet printhead, solidifying the phase change ink composition on the liquid intermediate transfer surface, transferring the phase change ink composition from the liquid intermediate transfer surface to the substrate, and fixing the phase change ink composition to the substrate. The phase change ink composition is malleable when the ink is transferred from the intermediate transfer surface to the substrate and is ductile after the ink has been transferred to the substrate and cooled to ambient temperature to preclude the ink from crumbling and cracking.

Abstract: A method for surface treating conductive copper powder comprises dispersing pure copper powder or silver-coated copper powder in a solution of coupling agent selected from the group consisting of silane, titanate, aluminate and zirconate and a ZB-3 treating agent which is the reaction products of peanut oil fatty acids, boric acid and triethanolamine in a molar ratio of 1:1:2 in an organic solvent, the total amount of the coupling agent and ZB-3 treating agent being controlled in the range of from 0.1% to 10%, based on the weight of the copper powder, filtering after 1 hour standing and drying at 40.degree.-60.degree. C. under vacuum.

Abstract: To form a sparkle finish by powder coating, an opaque initial layer is first applied to a substrate, e.g., by powder coating. Then a mixture of glass flake and clear coating powder is prepared by blending. This mixture is then applied to a substrate, e.g., electrostatically, and heated to fuse and/or cure the coating powder.

Abstract: A thin glass film is formed on a substrate using a sol-gel method by applying to the substrate a hydrolyzable solution which contains a metal alkoxide, water, an alcohol and an acid, contacting the applied solution with an atmosphere containing ammonia and an alcohol to polycondensate the metal alkoxide, and heating to form the thin glass film.

Abstract: A method of preparing a coated abrasive article in which the presence of multiple layers of abrasive grains are minimized. In one variation, the method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a backing; (b) applying a make coat precursor to the backing; (c) partially curing the make coat precursor; (d) applying, preferably by projecting, a plurality of abrasive grains into the partially cured make coat precursor; and (e) completely curing the partially cured make coat precursor. In another variation of this method, a size coat precursor is applied over the abrasive grains and cured make coat, and the size coat precursor is completely cured. In another variation of this method, a size coat precursor is applied over the abrasive grains and the partially cured make coat precursor, and the make coat precursor and the size coat precursor are completely cured. The make coat precursor preferably comprises an unsaturated resin that polymerizes via a free radical polymerization mechanism at the site of .alpha.,.beta.

Abstract: An application method for flux-free, frit-free luster pigments based on inorganic platelet-like particles with at least one metal oxide surface coating comprises initially applying the pigments to a vitreous surface such as a vitreous enamel on a metal substrate, a vitreous glaze on a ceramic substrate, glass, or an overglaze on a glass, enameled metal or glazed ceramic substrate. The vitreous surface is in a fused or unfused state prior to the luster pigment application. The luster pigment is surface applied to the vitreous surface. Next, the surface is heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to fix the luster pigments to the surface.

Abstract: The method for preparing a coating with a continuous compositional gradient includes introducing at least first and second powders into a plasma torch at separately controllable variable feed rates for each powder and co-depositing the at least first and second powders on the substrate and adjusting the relative feed rates of the first and second powders such that a smooth continuous compositional grading is achieved in the coating. The compositional gradient can follow a linear, exponential or variable function. A sublayer may be deposited onto the substrate prior to deposition of the compositionally graded layer. Additional materials that impart other desirable properties to the layer can be added with the layer or applied after deposition of the layer. Choice of atmosphere during deposition include vacuum, inert atmosphere, and oxidizing, carburizing and boriding atmospheres.

Abstract: A decorative painting is made by wetting a paper substrate, stretching the paper onto a rigid flat board, drying the paper, defining outlines of figures on the paper, masking the outlines, applying watercolor to the paper, applying crystals of rock salt on the watercolor by a method such as dropping, throwing, or scattering while the watercolor is wet, drying the watercolor, removing the rock salt, paining the figures, removing the masking, and painting the outlines. The rock salt reacts with the wet watercolor to create decorative gradiations in pigmentation.

Abstract: A decorative screw is manufactured by forming a three-dimensional pattern on the whole surface of the head of a screw, depositing a coating or plating film on the whole surface of the pattern and grinding the projecting areas of the pattern to provide the screw head with a decorative three-dimensional pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments of magnetoplasmadynamic processors are disclosed which utilize specially designed cathode-buffer, anodeionizer and vacuum-insulator/isolator structures to transform a working fluid into a beam of fully ionized plasma. The beam is controlled both in its size and direction by a series of magnets which are mounted in surrounding relation to the cathode, anode, vacuum insulator/isolators and plasma beam path. As disclosed, the processor may be utilized in many diverse applications including the separation of ions of differing weights and/or ionization potentials and the deposition of any ionizable pure material. Several other applications of the processor are disclosed.