Abstract: Undesired emissions from such sources as automobile engines are controlled by providing a confined path to be followed by these, mostly gaseous substances to be controlled. Along this path there is positioned means for establishing an electric field. Preferably, in other portions of the path, there are positioned one or more of the following: means for heating the gas to crack certain constituents into free elements; means for combusting certain constituents; and means for attracting certain constituents through affinity.

Abstract: A flexible technique for modifying various chemical substances utilizes a confined path to be followed by these substances in gaseous form or in a gaseous medium. Along this path there is positioned electrically energizeable means for establishing an electric field. Also along the path there are positioned electrically energizeable means for heating the gas to crack certain constituents into free elements; for combusting certain constituents; and for attracting certain constituents through affinity. The electrical energization of these means is controllable to provide the appropriate effect on the substances in the path.

Abstract: The surface characteristics of polymeric materials are altered by exposure to a reactive gas which has been activated by radio frequency electromagnetic radiations prior to being directed onto the surface. The reactive gas is selected from either the gases which occur naturally with 3-electron bonds, (e.g., NO, NO.sub.2, etc,) or from other gases capable of decomposition in the presence of an electromagnetic field to form (1) activated species which attack the polymer surface to break carbon-hydrogen bonds, forming free radical sites, and (2) free radicals which react with these sites. The process can also be practiced using separate activator and reactive gases, and when the reactive gas selected comprises organic material, the gas stream used to treat the polymeric surface is supplemented by an activator gas comprising the noble gases and nitrogen.

Abstract: A corona apparatus comprising at least one roller electrode assembly, a supporting surface acting as a counter electrode, and a generator for generating an alternating current voltage for said electrode assembly characterized in that the roller electrode assembly comprises: a central shaft, an electrode, means for mounting said electrode to said shaft, a tube, means for mounting said tube for rotation about said shaft, said electrode contained within said tube, means for electrically connecting said electrode to said generator and means for supporting said shaft whereby said tube is positioned adjacent to said counter electrode.

Abstract: A thin film of less than 300 microns in thickness can be obtained by crosslinking a surfactant with plasma or radiation. This thin film is as high in strength as an ordinary plastic film, and is usable as a substance-separating film, a substance-protecting film or an insulating film.

Abstract: A contact lens has a concave surface which is adapted to contact the cornea of an eye and a convex surface which is adapted to contact the eyelid. At least the convex surface of the lens possesses hydrophilic characteristics although the concave surface of the lens preferably possesses such characteristics also. In any event, the convex surface of the lens has a greater wettability than the concave surface thereof. The more highly hydrophilic character of the convex surface prevents the deposition thereon of fatty substances carried by the tear fluid which may cause opacity of the lens. The less highly hydrophilic character of the concave surface decreases the forces responsible for maintaining the lens in position in the eye, although not to such an extent that the lens does not remain properly positioned.

Abstract: A method for producing a plate or sheet useful in planographic printing which is characterized in that the surface of an oleophilic body comprising oleophilic resin is subjected to a corona discharge treatment to form a hydrophilic layer on said surface, and that said method can be carried out without difficulty at a low cost and the reproducibility of the printing plate thereby produced is excellent.

Abstract: Polymer films, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, having improved surface adhesion characteristics and produced by subjecting conventional polymer films to a heat treatment followed by a corona treatment at an energy density-to-film surface of at least 9 watt-minutes/ft..sup.2.

Abstract: The method of modifying materials in a uniform and reproducible manner which comprises activating and treating materials, the treating step being performed with modification agent. There is also disclosed an apparatus for modifying materials.

Abstract: A high intensity ionic bombardment reactor for submitting a member to a thermochemical treatment process of the type comprising a current duct or conductor forming a support for said member and having the form of a cylindrical metal rod, and an insulant for insulating said conductor from the reactor walls, said reactor further comprising a tube supported by said insulant coaxially surrounding said rod and spaced therefrom by a constant distance which is as small as possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a substrate with a layer of polymerized material by simultaneous glow discharge polymerization and sputtering is disclosed. A substrate and two electrodes are placed in a chamber which can be evacuated. An appropriate pressure of a gas which can form a polymer is introduced into the chamber. A glow discharge is established in the gas. Molecules of starting gas and reactive species created in the glow discharge deposit on the electrodes and on the substrate. Material deposited on at least one of the electrodes is sputtered onto the substrate by applying an electric potential, preferably an AC potential, across the electrodes. The glow discharge is preferably confined to a region adjacent to the sputtered electrode. This confinement may be accomplished by the use of a planar magnetron sputtering cathode. The method and apparatus disclosed allow the rapid deposition of high quality polymeric coatings at low gas pressures.

Abstract: Ultrathin membranes for separating substances are obtained by exposing shaped articles comprising a water-soluble polymer or a mixture of a water-soluble polymer and water-insoluble polymer to a plasma of a gas selected from helium, argon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, a hydrocarbon having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an epoxide having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or an alkylamine, or a mixture of these substances to crosslink the surface layer, and then washing the exposed articles with water to remove the unreacted portions. The membrane exhibits outstanding performance characteristics when used in the processes for separating or concentrating substances, such as reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and the like.

Abstract: Successive filter rod sections which are produced in a filter rod making machine are caused to pass through a body of ionized air before they leave the machine. This insures that ionized air destroys the electrostatic charges which the non-conductive wrappers and/or fillers of filter rod sections accumulate in the machine upstream of the ionizing station. The conveyor or conveyors which transport the filter rod sections through ionized air are designed to transport the sections sideways. At least one electrode of the ionizing device or devices for air is preferably connected with a source of high-voltage a-c energy.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of non-conductive foils or the like by subjecting them to a corona discharge of the type including two elongated electrodes with a gap between them and means for passing the foil or other sheeting through the gap has one of its electrodes, which is preferably the positive electrode, in the form of a profiled roller. The profile of the electrode roller comprises a series of ridges with troughs between them extending along the length of the roller parallel to its axis. The second electrode is also preferably in the form of a roller which has a smooth surface and is coated with dielectric material.

Abstract: A layered electret retaining a high surface potential for a prolonged period of time or substantially permanently consisting of a laminate of a plurality of unit electrets which are formed of a sheet of a synthetic plastic material, each side of the laminate having been covered by a thin film of a high molecular weight substance having a higher electric resistivity than that of the material of the unit electrets. In one modification, the thin film of the high molecular weight substance has been, in addition, interposed between adjacent unit electrets.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to an improved method for glow discharge treatment of organic high molecular weight film. When glow discharge treatment is effected in the presence of an organic monomer vapor, the deposit coating is found to be uniform throughout a wide area while being soluble in a particular organic solvent.

Abstract: The method of imparting contrast to the surface of an object to be viewed microscopically comprises the steps of introducing the object into a vacuum chamber, connecting the object to the positive pole of a high voltage d.c. source, evacuating the chamber, bombarding the surface of the object with a gas-concentrated electron-ion beam, and feeding into the chamber a gas which reacts chemically with the bombarded object surface. Under the effect of the electron beam and negative or neutralized ions a reaction layer then forms which is characteristic of the component parts of the object material. This layer, after the conclusion of the contrasting process can be observed and evaluated under a microscope.

Abstract: An article composed of a silicon elastomer and which includes activated silicon dioxide as a filler is subjected to ion bombardment. The nature and energy of the ions are such that certain regions of the outer silicone elastomer layers of the articles are destroyed while, at the same time, the silicon dioxide filler is exposed at these regions. The nature and energy of the ions are also such that the remaining regions of the outer silicon elastomer layers of the article are transformed into activated silicon dioxide. As a result, the surface of the article becomes hydrophilic. The effects achieved are due to rupture of the silicon-oxygen and/or silicon-carbon bonds of the silicon elastomer during the ion bombardment, that is, the kinetic energy of the ions is sufficient to break these bonds. The ions used are activated gas ions formed by gaseous discharge and the ions generally have a kinetic energy between 3 and 50 electron volts. Preferably, oxygen ions are utilized for the ion bombardment.

Abstract: Apparatus for purifying exhaust gases having ionizable and oxidizable gaseous components including an exhaust chamber having the exhaust gases flowing therethrough, a particle filter mounted in the chamber, a plurality of spaced electrodes located in the chamber downstream of the filter, and a power supply for providing a rectangularly-shaped AC voltage to the electrodes between which the exhaust gases flow.

Abstract: An electrical plasma discharge is established between adjacent tubular electrodes of an electrode structure having a stacked array of rows of tubular electrodes of opposite polarity row-by-row. A substrate is moved through the electrode structure along several paths of travel such that the electrical plasma discharge is substantially parallel to one or both surfaces of the moving substrate. During the electrical discharge, the electrodes are cooled by flowing coolant therethrough.

Abstract: A process for preparing pyridine derivatives, particularly dipyridyls which are intermediates for the production of herbicides and photographic and metal treatment chemicals, comprises passing an electrical discharge, preferably a silent electrical discharge of the type used in ozoniser equipment, through pyridine or pyridine derivatives in the liquid or vapour state in the absence of oxygen or oxygen-containing compounds.

Abstract: Trifluoromethyl-substituted compounds are formed in a corona discharge or glow discharge plasma of trifluoromethyl radicals from an organic trifluoromethyl source. A substrate possessing easily replaceable ligands such as halogen or carbonyl, is initially contacted either in the plasma and within a short distance from a downstream visible edge of the plasma or outside of the visible portion of the plasma and within a short distance from the downstream visible edge, to effect a substitution of the halogen or carbonyl ligand on the substrate with a trifluoromethyl radical without substantial decomposition of the substrate.