Abstract: A method is described for making an electroconductive composite sheet electrode which is conformable and in which a slit-and-expanded or perforated nickel screen is embedded by heat and pressure, so that electrical leads can be easily and strongly attached to the nickel screen before or after integrally bonding a electroconductive sheet electrode to each side of at least one adjacent piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite sheet electrode which is non-conductive. After poling, the resultant transducer has an increased combined transverse stiffness which increases the hydrostatic voltage coefficient, g.sub.h, as well as the overall hydrophone Figure of Merit.

Abstract: An improved procedure is provided for increasing the electrical conductivity of graphite via intercalation. It has been found that fully halogenated hydrocarbons (as described) have the ability to substantially aid the intercalation of graphite by previously known intercalant mixtures of (a) fluorosulfonic acid, chlorosulfonic acid, or mixtures thereof, and (b) a boron trihalide, a tetrahalide of a Group IV element, a pentahalide of a Group V element, or mixtures thereof. The presence of a fully halogenated hydrocarbon, such as carbon tetrachloride, during the graphite intercalation reaction has been found to expedite the rate at which intercalation takes place and possibly enables the achievement of a greater electrical conductivity than would have otherwise been obtained. In a preferred embodiment the graphite carbon is present within a carbonaceous fibrous material at the time of its intercalation and the resulting product is substantially electrically oriented along the axis of the fiber.

Abstract: An improved procedure is provided for increasing the electrical conductivity of graphite via intercalation. It has been found that sulfur trioxide has the ability to substantially aid the intercalation of graphite by previously known intercalants such as (a) fluorosulfonic acid, chlorosulfonic acid, or mixtures thereof, (b) a boron trihalide, a tetrahalide of a Group IV element, a pentahalide of a Group V element, or mixtures thereof, and (c) mixtures of (a) and (b). Such presence of sulfur trioxide during the graphite intercalation reaction has been found to expedite the rate at which intercalation takes place and possibly enables the achievement of a greater electrical conductivity than would have otherwise been obtained. In a preferred embodiment the graphitic carbon is present within a carbonaceous fibrous material at the time of its intercalation and the resulting product is substantially electrically oriented along the axis of the fiber.

Abstract: An improved process for the relatively rapid thermal stabilization of a multifilamentary acrylic fibrous material in the substantial absence of filament coalescence is provided. The fibrous material is initially contacted with a solution of hydroxylamine (as described), and subsequently with a solution of ammonium permanganate, calcium permanganate, magnesium permanganate, or mixtures thereof (as described). The resulting fibrous material which possesses a chemically altered structure is heated in an oxygen-containing atmosphere until a thermally stabilized acrylic fibrous material is formed which is capable of undergoing carbonization and is non-burning when subjected to an ordinary match flame.