Abstract: The invention provides a curing system that is useful for curing materials that consume carbon dioxide as a reagent. The system has a curing chamber that contains the material to be cured and a gas that contains carbon dioxide. The system includes apparatus that can deliver carbon dioxide to displace ambient air upon loading the system, that can provide carbon dioxide as it is needed and as it is consumed, that can control carbon dioxide concentration, temperature and humidity in the curing chamber during the curing cycle and that can record and display to a user the variables that occur during the curing process.

Abstract: A method of preparing and rapidly curing a composite material having a thin cross section. The composite material includes a mixture of solid particles, at least some of which are a material that reacts with CO2, such as a silicate, for example Wollastonite. The green material is prepared by mixing the solid components with a liquid such as water to form a slurry, and forming green bodies by placing the slurry in forms. The green bodies are reacted with CO2 to form cured composite materials having thin sections, in the range of 10 to 15 mm. Curing in periods of 6 hours has been demonstrated.

Abstract: The invention provides a curing system that is useful for curing materials that consume carbon dioxide as a reagent. The system has a curing chamber that contains the material to be cured and a gas that contains carbon dioxide. The system includes apparatus that can deliver carbon dioxide to displace ambient air upon loading the system, that can provide carbon dioxide as it is needed and as it is consumed, that can control carbon dioxide concentration, temperature and humidity in the curing chamber during the curing cycle and that can record and display to a user the variables that occur during the curing process.

Abstract: The invention provides novel railroad ties manufactured from novel composite materials that possess excellent physical and performance characteristics matching or exceeding existing concrete RRTs. The RRTs of the invention can be readily produced from widely available, low cost raw materials by a process suitable for large-scale production with improved energy consumption and more desirable carbon footprint and minimal environmental impact.

Abstract: The invention provides novel aerated composite materials that possess excellent physical and performance characteristics of aerated concretes, and methods of production and uses thereof. These composite materials can be readily produced from widely available, low cost raw materials by a process suitable for large-scale production with improved energy consumption, desirable carbon footprint and minimal environmental impact.

Abstract: In current practice, quantitative traffic data is most commonly acquired from inductive loops. In addition, video-image processing or time-of-flight laser systems can be used. These methods all have problems associated with them. Therefore, we have developed a new type of non-intrusive laser-based detection system for measurement of vehicle travel time. The system employs a fan angle laser, an image lens, a set of cylindrical optics, a linear photodetector array, and associated signal processing hardware and software. The system is positioned above the plane of detection and configured such that it can unambiguously find the object boundaries in all lighting conditions independent of the time-of-flight of the laser. Instead of depending upon the reflectance of the object being detected, or determination of the range or distance from the detector to the object being detected, the invention reflects the laser off of the pavement or other roadway surface.

Abstract: A process for forming ultrathin dense-layer asymmetric hollow fiber membranes with a dense layer of less than 500 .ANG. from a binary solution system comprising a polymer and a solvent. In this process, the spinning polymeric solution has a high viscosity and exhibits chain entanglement at the spinning temperature. The solubility parameter difference between the bore fluid and the spinning dope is less than 2.5 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.0.5 and the volume ratio of bore-fluid flow rate to the dope flow rate is between 0.45 to 0.75. The dope is wet-spun into hollow fibers using water as external coagulant. The ultrathin dense-layer asymmetric hollow fiber membranes are suitable for air and other gas separations.