Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes mixing the niobium oxide and niobium powder to form a powder mixture that is then heat treated to form heat treated particles which then undergo reacting in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the niobium powder, and at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Oxygen reduced niobium oxides having high porosity are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the oxygen reduced niobium oxides.

Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes mixing the niobium oxide and niobium powder to form a powder mixture that is then heat treated to form heat treated particles which then undergo reacting in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the niobium powder, and at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Oxygen reduced niobium oxides having high porosity are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the oxygen reduced niobium oxides.

Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes mixing the niobium oxide and niobium powder to form a powder mixture that is then heat treated to form heat treated particles which then undergo reacting in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the niobium powder, and at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Oxygen reduced niobium oxides having high porosity are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the oxygen reduced niobium oxides.

Abstract: Methods to at least partially reduce a niobium oxide are described wherein the process includes mixing the niobium oxide and niobium powder to form a powder mixture that is then heat treated to form heat treated particles which then undergo reacting in an atmosphere which permits the transfer of oxygen atoms from the niobium oxide to the niobium powder, and at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form an oxygen reduced niobium oxide. Oxygen reduced niobium oxides having high porosity are also described as well as capacitors containing anodes made from the oxygen reduced niobium oxides.

Abstract: Methods of heat treating barium titanate-based particles are provided, as well as compositions and devices formed from the particles. The methods involve forming a coating on surfaces of barium titanate-based particles and heating the coated particles, for example, to a temperature of greater than about 400° C. and less than about 1150° C. The heating step may increase the bond strength between the coating and barium titanate-based particles, reduce the average specific surface area of the coated particles, remove water present in the coating, and remove other contaminants from the composition, amongst other advantages. These effects of heat treating can improve the performance of devices (e.g., MLCCs) that include dielectric layers formed from the barium titanate-based particles.

Abstract: Unreacted monomer present in an ethylene/C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alpha-olefin copolymer product produced in a catalyzed fluid bed polymerization process is purged with a gaseous stream obtained by subjecting a portion of the gaseous effluent from the fluidized bed to a partial condensation, separating the liquid phase from the gaseous phase obtained and employing the gaseous phase as the gas to purge unreacted monomer from the copolymer product.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the removal of hydrocarbons from polymer slurries are disclosed. The invention includes feeding a hydrocarbon-containing polymer slurry to a flash tank to flash a portion of the hydrocarbon from the slurry. A fraction of the residual slurry is circulated through a heating means and recirculated back to the flash tank to flash additional hydrocarbon from the slurry. The invention is applicable to remove isobutane solvent from an aqueous polyethylene slurry. It is also applicable to the removal of other hydrocarbons, including solvents, monomer and comonomer from polymer slurries.