Abstract: A tissue thickness compensator may generally comprise a first layer comprising a first biocompatible material sealingly enclosed in a water impermeable material and a second layer comprising a second biocompatible material comprising at least one encapsulation, wherein the first biocompatible material expands when contacted with a fluid. The tissue thickness compensator may comprise a haemostatic agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an antibiotic agent, anti-microbial agent, an anti-adhesion agent, an anti-coagulant agent, a medicament, and/or pharmaceutically active agent. The encapsulation may comprise a biodegradable material to degrade in vivo and/or in situ. The tissue thickness compensator may comprise a hydrogel. The reaction product may comprise a fluid-swellable composition. Articles of manufacture comprising the tissue thickness compensator and methods of making and using the tissue thickness compensator are also described.

Abstract: A metal matrix composite and method of making same wherein a metallic matrix includes fibrous reinforcements and non-fibrous pest particles that have shell walls controlled thick enough to improve fatigue properties of the composite.

Abstract: A metal matrix composite and method of making same wherein a metallic matrix includes fibrous reinforcements and non-fibrous pest particles that have shell walls controlled thick enough to improve fatigue properties of the composite.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cast piston for an internal combustion engine comprising a crown region subjected to relatively higher service temperature than other regions of the piston. The crown region has a microstructure including an alloy matrix with reinforcing material and strengthening precipitates providing strength properties suited to the higher crown service temperature by virtue of the precipitates having better resistance to averaging as compared to different strengthening precipitates formed in a microstructure of other regions of the piston subjected to lower service temperatures. The different precipitates at the other regions of the piston provide strength properties suited to relatively lower temperatures at those regions.

Abstract: Increased cooling rate of an article heated to an elevated temperature is achieved by flowing an inert gas mixture of helium and another inert gas over the article under conditions of turbulent flow.

Abstract: A smokestack emissions control device is mounted to a smokestack, or the like, to clean and cool the emissions from the stack. The apparatus includes a housing shaped to be mounted on top of an emission stack and has a liquid tank formed in the housing for supporting a liquid therein. The tank is mounted directly in the passageway of escaping emissions to force the emissions through the liquid. A tank baffle extends into the liquid tank and into a liquid therein to force the escaping emissions from the smokestack through the liquid. A reduced pressure chamber is located adjacent to the liquid tank to create a negative pressure on one side of the liquid in the tank to draw the smokestack emissions through the liquid. A separator is located near the base of the stack with pipes connecting the separator to the liquid bath for circulating the liquid in the liquid tank. The liquid in the bath can be specially formulated for the particular emissions from the emission stack.

Abstract: Early fatigue damage in aluminum is assessed by detection of microcracks in an anodized surface film using a hand-held electrode having a contact tip formed of a gel containing an iodide salt and starch. The gel tip is pressed against the anodized film and an electrical pulse is applied to pass current through the microcracks to oxidize iodide in the gel to form black iodine-starch complex. Thus, dark spots in the gel indicate the sites of fatigue-induced microcracks in the oxide and thus the extent of fatigue damage in the metal.

Abstract: Early fatigue damage in aluminum is assessed by detection of microcracks in an anodized surface film using a hand-held electrode having a contact tip formed of a gel containing an iodide salt and starch. The gel tip is pressed against the anodized film and an electrical pulse is applied to pass current through the microcracks to oxidize iodide in the gel to form black iodine-starch complex. Thus, dark spots in the gel indicate the sites of fatigue-induced microcracks in the oxide and thus the extent of fatigue damage in the metal.

Abstract: Accelerated testing method for determining the susceptibility of alloys to stress corrosion cracking. Test parts are anodized to form an oxide coating thereon. The anodized parts are deformed to a known amount of tensile strain sufficient to rupture the oxide. Microcracks created in the oxide coating occur at the situs of where stress corrosion cracks will occur in service. The parts are reanodized such as to anodically heal the microcracks and the reanodization current transient recorded. The rate of current decay during reanodization is indicative of the alloy's susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking.

Abstract: Testing method for the early detection and assessment of metal fatigue damage prior to the initiation of fatigue cracks. Test parts are anodized to form an oxide coating thereon. The anodized parts are fatigue tested. Microcracks created in the oxide coating occur at the situs of deformations induced at the surface of the parts during testing. The location and extent of the microcracking is determined electrochemically by reanodizing the parts such as to anodically heal the microcracks and measuring the reanodization charge required for healing. Reanodizing incremental portions of the part point up areas of the part which allow higher current transients which in turn indicate the locations where fatigue damage is accumulating.