Abstract: An identifying coding apparatus employing modulated reflectance technology involving a base station emitting a RF signal, with a tag, located remotely from the base station, and containing at least one antenna and predetermined other passive circuit components, receiving the RF signal and reflecting back to the base station a modulated signal indicative of characteristics related to the tag.

Abstract: A device that uses electrical discharges/nonthermal plasmas in a gaseous medium to activate a fuel or fuel-oxidizer mixture to promote more effective and efficient combustion, in which a dielectric barrier discharge or silent discharge plasma is used to break up larger organic molecules (the fuel) into smaller ones that are more easily and completely combusted. The discharge also creates free radicals that promote more efficient combustion. The device is a cylindrical, coaxial (cylinder in a cylinder) dielectric barrier discharge/silent discharge plasma reactor. It includes two conducting electrodes, one or both of which are covered by a dielectric material. The electrodes are separated by a thin, gas-containing space. A high voltage is applied to the electrodes to create electric discharge streamers in the gas. The discharges are the source of the nonthermal plasma.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for telemetry communication with oil-well monitoring and recording instruments located in the vicinity of the bottom of gas or oil recovery pipes. Such instruments are currently monitored using electrical cabling that is inserted into the pipes; cabling has a short life in this environment, and requires periodic replacement with the concomitant, costly shutdown of the well. Modulated reflectance, a wireless communication method that does not require signal transmission power from the telemetry package will provide a long-lived and reliable way to monitor down-hole conditions. Normal wireless technology is not practical since batteries and capacitors have to frequently be replaced or recharged, again with the well being removed from service. RF energy generated above ground can also be received, converted and stored down-hole without the use of wires, for actuating down-hole valves, as one example.

Abstract: The present invention is a non-metallic article that has been coated with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating. A coated article of the present invention has increased hardness, increased abrasion resistance, and a reduced coefficient of friction when compared with the same properties of the article prior to the article being coated. DLC coatings of the present invention are applied in a chamber filled with hydrocarbon plasma and with application of electrical pulses.

Abstract: A method of detecting and treating tumors within a subject is disclosed together with a process for the non-invasive measurement of tissue temperature within a subject.

Abstract: A long-range communications apparatus utilizing modulated-reflector technology is described. The apparatus includes an energy-transmitting base station and remote units that do not emit radiation in order to communicate with the base station since modulated-reflector technology is used whereby information is attached to an RF carrier wave originating from the base station which is reflected by the remote unit back to the base station. Since the remote unit does not emit radiation, only a low-power power source is required for its operation. Information from the base station is transmitted to the remote unit using a transmitter and receiver, respectively. The range of such a communications system is determined by the properties of a modulated-reflector half-duplex link.

Abstract: A long-range communications apparatus utilizing modulated-reflector technology is described. The apparatus includes an energy-transmitting base station and remote units that do not emit radiation in order to communicate with the base station since modulated-reflector technology is used whereby information is attached to an RF carrier wave originating from the base station which is reflected by the remote unit back to the base station. Since the remote unit does not emit radiation, only a low-power power source is required for its operation. Information from the base station is transmitted to the remote unit using a transmitter and receiver, respectively. The range of such a communications system is determined by the properties of a modulated-reflector half-duplex link.

Abstract: The present invention is a non-metallic article that has been coated with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating. A DLC coated article of the present invention has increased hardness and increased abrasion resistance when compared with these same properties of the article prior to the article being coated. DLC coatings of the present invention are applied in a chamber filled with hydrocarbon plasma and with application of electrical pulses.

Abstract: A flash spin pack for a flash-spinning apparatus is provided in which the pack includes a spin mixture inlet, that communicates with a spin mixture passage, that discharges through a spinning orifice that opens into a slot defined by two opposing faces of the body of the spin pack. The slot is 0.25 mm to 7 mm wide proximate the spinning orifice outlet, 0.25 mm to 10 mm at the slot outlet, and the distance from the orifice outlet to the slot outlet is 1.5 mm to 40 mm. The spin pack may have five or more spinning orifices that each discharge into a different slot so configured.

Abstract: A field emission electron emitter comprising an electrode formed of at least one diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon composite fiber, said composite fiber having a non-diamond core and a diamond, diamond-like carbon or glassy carbon coating on said non-diamond core, and electronic devices employing such a field emission electron emitter.

Abstract: A process of preparing diamond, e.g., diamond fiber, by subjecting a hydrocarbon material, e.g., a hydrocarbon fiber, to a plasma treatment in a gaseous feedstream for a sufficient period of time to form diamond, e.g., a diamond fiber is disclosed. The method generally further involves pretreating the hydrocarbon material prior to treatment with the plasma by heating within an oxygen-containing atmosphere at temperatures sufficient to increase crosslinking within said hydrocarbon material, but at temperatures insufficient to melt or decompose said hydrocarbon material, followed by heating at temperatures sufficient to promote outgassing of said crosslinked hydrocarbon material, but at temperatures insufficient to convert said hydrocarbon material to carbon.

Abstract: A process is provided for flash-spinning plexifilamentary fiber from pitch. The fibers can be stabilized and graphitized. The flash-spinning requires polyethylene amounting to 0.3 to 3.5% of the spin mixture (4 to 20% in the resultant fiber) for satisfactory plexifilament formation.

Abstract: Solutions for flash-spinning substantially dry plexifilamentary film-fibril strands from fiber-forming polyolefins. The solutions comprise a mixture of 18 to 33 percent polyolefin by weight of the solution, 42 to 73 percent methylene chloride by weight of the solution and 9 to 25 percent carbon dioxide by weight of the solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for flash-spinning plexifilamentary film-fibril strands of polymers that are substantially plasticizable in carbon dioxide and/or water and have a melting point less than 300.degree. C. More particularly, the strands are flash-spun from mixtures of carbon dioxide, water and the polymer. The invention also relates to the film-fibril strands produced by the inventive process.

Abstract: This invention relates to para-aramide particles. More particularly, the invention concerns a process for flash spinning such particles from a mixture of poly(paraphenylene terephthalamide), carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: An improved process for flash-spinning plexifilamentary film-fibril strands from fiber-forming polyolefins is provided. A polyolefin is mixed to form a solution of 18 to 33 percent polyolefin by weight of the solution, 42 to 73 perceny methylene chloride by weight of the solution and 9 to 25 percent carbon dioxide by weight of the solution. The mixture is then flash-spun into substantially dry plexifilamentary strands.

Abstract: This invention relates to para-aramide particles. More particularly, the invention concerns a process for flash spinning such particles from a mixture of poly(paraphenylene terephthalamide), carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: A supported thin metal hologram is formed and mounted on a substrate using an adhesive. In a preferred aspect, the hologram is covered with a transparent resin which preferably is identical to the adhesive.

Abstract: A coating composition, in the form of an aqueous dispersion, which includes a water-insoluble wax, a nonionic surfactant and a water-insoluble resin, and optionally an antistat, is improved by the inclusion of finely divided particles of polytetrafluoroethylene in the dispersion to provide fibrous polyolefin sheets on which the coating is applied and dried with desirable blood-barrier characteristics. Such coated sheets are suitable for gowns and drapes in operating rooms.

Abstract: A process is provided for dyeing articles of unmodified polyolefin polymer with an aqueous dispersion of a fatty-acid-soluble, solvent dye, a fatty acid and an amine. After application of the dispersion to the article, the amine is volatilized from the applied dispersion. The process is particularly useful in providing novel, dyed, nonwoven fabrics made from polyethylene film fibrils.