Abstract: Disclosure is made of methods, systems, and apparatus for changing characteristics of noise of premixed flames supported on burners by heating burner passageways by an amount that attenuates combustion noises arising from premixed flames.

Abstract: Disclosure is made of methods, systems, and apparatus for changing characteristics of noise of premixed flames supported on burners by heating burner passageways by an amount that attenuates combustion noises arising from premixed flames.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modifying the surface of a polymeric substrate, e.g., to improve the wettability of the polymer film surface and/or alter the reactivity of the surface of the substrate by further oxidation, comprising exposing the substrate to a flame. The flame is supported by a fuel and oxidizer mixture that includes an effective amount, for modifying the polymeric substrate, of at least one oxygen-containing compound that functions as a fuel substitute. Oxygen comprises between about 10 and 50 atomic percent of the compound. Large increases in the ASTM wetting test over that reported with conventional flame-treating processes, have been observed in films treated according to this invention. In addition, significant increases in polymer film surface oxidation levels have been observed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modifying the surface of a polymeric substrate, e.g., to improve the wettability of the polymer film surface and/or alter the reactivity of the surface of the substrate by further oxidation or affixation of nitrogen, comprising exposing the substrate to a flame. The flame is supported by a fuel and oxidizer mixture that includes an effective amount, for modifying the polymeric substrate, of at least one compound that functions as a fuel or oxidizer substitute and is selected from an oxygen-containing compound, in which the oxygen comprises between about 10 and 50 atomic percent of the compound, a nitrogen-containing compound or an oxygen-nitrogen-containing compound. In a preferred embodiment, which affixes nitrogen or nitrogen-containing chemical groups onto the surface of the film, the flame is supported by a fuel and oxidizer mixture that includes ammonia, nitrous oxide, nitric oxide or a mixture thereof in an effective amount.