Abstract: A method for preparing R5X4 alloy materials where R is a rare earth element selected from one or more of La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu, Sc, and Y and X represents a non-rare earth alloying element such as silicon, germanium, tin, lead, gallium, indium and mixtures thereof. The method involves carbothermically reducing amounts of a rare earth element-containing oxide, an alloying element-containing oxide and/or alloying element in elemental or alloy form, and carbon at elevated temperature to form an R5X4 alloy material, which is melted, solidified, and optionally heat treated. Such a method provides an economical and efficient technique of configuring magnetic refrigerant, magnetostrictive and magnetoresistive alloys and products.

Abstract: A multi-stage cryocooler having a relatively low temperature stage to cool to less than about 15K and having a regenerator including a ductile intermetallic compound including one or more rare earth elements and one or more non-rare earth metals.

Abstract: An alloy made of heat treated material represented by Gd5(SixGe1?x)4 where 0.47?x?0.56 that exhibits a magnetic entropy change (??Sm) of at least 16 J/kg K, a magnetostriction of at least 2000 parts per million, and a magnetoresistance of at least 5 percent at a temperature of about 300K and below, and method of heat treating the material between 800 to 1600 degrees C. for a time to this end.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a phosphonium salt of the formula [R1R2R3P—CR4R5R6]X, comprising ball-milling a phosphine of the formula R1R2R3P with a compound of the formula XCR4R5R6; a method of preparing a phosphorus ylide of the formula R1R2R3P?CR4R5, comprising ball-milling a phosphonium salt of the formula [R1R2R3P—HCR4R5]X in the presence of a base; and a method of preparing an olefin of the formula R4R5C?CR7H or R4R5C?CR7R8, comprising ball-milling a phosphorus ylide of the formula R1R2R3P?CR4R5 with a compound of the formula R7C(O)H or R7C(O)R8. The inventive method produces phosphonium salts and phosphorus ylides by mechanical processing solid reagents under solvent-free conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a phosphonium salt of the formula [R1R2R3P—CR4R5R6]X, comprising ball-milling a phosphine of the formula R1R2R3P with a compound of the formula XCR4R5R6; a method of preparing a phosphorus ylide of the formula R1R2R3P═CR4R5, comprising ball-milling a phosphonium salt of the formula [R1R2R3P—HCR4R5]X in the presence of a base; and a method of preparing an olefin of the formula R4R5C═CR7H or R4R5C═CR7R8, comprising ball-milling a phosphorus ylide of the formula R1R2R3P═CR4R5 with a compound of the formula R7C(O)H or R7C(O)R8. The inventive method produces phosphonium salts and phosphorus ylides by mechanical processing solid reagents under solvent-free conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cost-effective method of producing pure hydrogen gas from hydride-based solid materials. The hydride-based solid material is mechanically processed in the presence of a catalyst to obtain pure gaseous hydrogen. Unlike previous methods, hydrogen may be obtained from the solid material without heating, and without the addition of a solvent during processing. The described method of hydrogen production is useful for energy conversion and production technologies that consume pure gaseous hydrogen as a fuel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a phosphonium salt of the formula [R1R2R3P—CR4R5R6]X, comprising ball-milling a phosphine of the formula R1R2R3P with a compound of the formula XCR4R5R6; a method of preparing a phosphorus ylide of the formula R1R2R3P═CR4R5, comprising ball-milling a phosphonium salt of the formula [R1R2R3P—HCR4R5]X in the presence of a base; and a method of preparing an olefin of the formula R4R5C═CR7H or R4R5C═CR7R8, comprising ball-milling a phosphorus ylide of the formula R1R2R3P═CR4R5 with a compound of the formula R7C(O)H or R7C(O)R8. The inventive method produces phosphonium salts and phosphorus ylides by mechanical processing solid reagents under solvent-free conditions.

Abstract: An alloy made of heat treated material represented by Gd5(SixGe1−x)4 where 0.47≦x≦0.56 that exhibits a magnetic entropy change (−&Dgr;Sm) of at least 16 J/kg K, a magnetostriction of at least 2000 parts per million, and a magnetoresistance of at least 5 percent at a temperature of about 300K and below, and method of heat treating the material between 800 to 1600 degrees C. for a time to this end.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a phosphonium salt of the formula [R1R2R3P—CR4R5R6]X, comprising ball-milling a phosphine of the formula R1R2R3P with a compound of the formula XCR4R5R6; a method of preparing a phosphorus ylide of the formula R1R2R3P═CR4R5, comprising ball-milling a phosphonium salt of the formula [R1R2R3P—HCR4R5]X in the presence of a base; and a method of preparing an olefin of the formula R4R5C═CR7H or R4R5C═CR7R8, comprising ball-milling a phosphorus ylide of the formula R1R2R3P═CR4R5 with a compound of the formula R7C(O)H or R7C(O)R8. The inventive method produces phosphonium salts and phosphorus ylides by mechanical processing solid reagents under solvent-free conditions.

Abstract: Method of making an active magnetic refrigerant represented by Gd5(SixGe1−x)4 alloy for 0≦x≦1.0 comprising placing amounts of the commercially pure Gd, Si, and Ge charge components in a crucible, heating the charge contents under subambient pressure to a melting temperature of the alloy for a time sufficient to homogenize the alloy and oxidize carbon with oxygen present in the Gd charge component to reduce carbon, rapidly solidifying the alloy in the crucible, and heat treating the solidified alloy at a temperature below the melting temperature for a time effective to homogenize a microstructure of the solidified material, and then cooling sufficiently fast to prevent the eutectoid decomposition and improve magnetocaloric and/or the magnetostrictive and/or the magnetoresistive properties thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cost-effective method of producing pure hydrogen gas from hydride-based solid materials. The hydride-based solid material is mechanically processed in the presence of a catalyst to obtain pure gaseous hydrogen. Unlike previous methods, hydrogen may be obtained from the solid material without heating, and without the addition of a solvent during processing. The described method of hydrogen production is useful for energy conversion and production technologies that consume pure gaseous hydrogen as a fuel.

Abstract: A cryocooler with a regenerator comprising one or more regenerator components, which are ductile and oxidation resistant, including a rare earth metal, an alloy of two or more rare earth metals, an alloy of a rare earth metal with a non-rare earth metal, and an alloy of a rare earth metal with at least one interstitial element.

Abstract: A method of making hydrogen storage powder resistant to fracture in service involves forming a melt having the appropriate composition for the hydrogen storage material, such, for example, LaNi.sub.5 and other AB.sub.5 type materials and AB.sub.5+x materials, where x is from about -2.5 to about +2.5, including x=0, and the melt is gas atomized under conditions of melt temperature and atomizing gas pressure to form generally spherical powder particles. The hydrogen storage powder exhibits improved chemcial homogeneity as a result of rapid solidfication from the melt and small particle size that is more resistant to microcracking during hydrogen absorption/desorption cycling. A hydrogen storage component, such as an electrode for a battery or electrochemical fuel cell, made from the gas atomized hydrogen storage material is resistant to hydrogen degradation upon hydrogen absorption/desorption that occurs for example, during charging/discharging of a battery.

Abstract: A dual stage active magnetic regenerator refrigerator as well as method using the Joule-Brayton thermodynamic cycle includes a high temperature stage refrigerant comprising DyAl.sub.2 or (Dy.sub.1-x Er.sub.x)Al.sub.2 where x is selected to be greater than 0 and less than about 0.3 in combination with a low temperature stage comprising (Dy.sub.1-x Er.sub.x)Al.sub.2 where x is selected to be greater than about 0.5 and less than 1 to provide significantly improved refrigeration efficiency in the liquefaction of gaseous hydrogen.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring heat capacity of a sample where a series of measurements are taken in succession comprises a sample holder in which a sample to be measured is disposed, a temperature sensor and sample heater for providing a heat pulse thermally connected to the sample, and an adiabatic heat shield in which the sample holder is positioned and including an electrical heater. An electrical power supply device provides an electrical power output to the sample heater to generate a heat pulse. The electrical power from a power source to the heat shield heater is adjusted by a control device, if necessary, from one measurement to the next in response to a sample temperature-versus-time change determined before and after a previous heat pulse to provide a subsequent sample temperature-versus-time change that is substantially linear before and after the subsequent heat pulse.

Abstract: Active magnetic regenerator and method using Gd.sub.5 (Si.sub.x Ge.sub.1-x).sub.4, where x is equal to or less than 0.5, as a magnetic refrigerant that exhibits a reversible ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic or ferromagnetic-II/ferromagnetic-I first order phase transition and extraordinary magneto-thermal properties, such as a giant magnetocaloric effect, that renders the refrigerant more efficient and useful than existing magnetic refrigerants for commercialization of magnetic regenerators. The reversible first order phase transition is tunable from approximately 30 K to approximately 290 K (near room temperature) and above by compositional adjustments. The active magnetic regenerator and method can function for refrigerating, air conditioning, and liquefying low temperature cryogens with significantly improved efficiency and operating temperature range from approximately 10 K to 300 K and above. Also an active magnetic regenerator and method using Gd.sub.5 (Si.sub.x Ge.sub.1-x).sub.

Abstract: A two stage Gifford-McMahon cryocooler having a low temperature stage for reaching approximately 10K, wherein the low temperature stage includes a passive magnetic heat regenerator selected from the group consisting of Er.sub.6 Ni.sub.2 Sn, Er.sub.6 Ni.sub.2 Pb, Er.sub.6 Ni.sub.2 (Sn.sub.0.75 Ga.sub.0.25), and Er.sub.9 Ni.sub.3 Sn comprising a mixture of Er.sub.3 Ni and Er.sub.6 Ni.sub.2 Sn in the microstructure.