Abstract: A method of melt granulation for powdery material is disclosed wherein the powdery material is discharged onto the upper surface of a heated rotary spreader for migration under centrifugal force to the periphery of the spreader accompanying by melting of a portion of the material and enrobing of non-melted particles by the melted material for discharge as enlarged granules from the periphery of the spreader. To improve the quality of the granules produced, the feed material is supplied to the spreader at two separate locations. The first location is the central portion of the spreader to provide the melted material and the second location is adjacent to the periphery of the spreader. The spreader is preferably in the form of a concave bowl or inverted truncated cone or dish.

Abstract: A method of gel-coating a seed comprises opening and closing a gel flow channel in a nozzle main body containing a gel therewithin by a cutting plunger, forming a gel-coating layer by opening a valve, supplying a seed contained in a seed storing vessel through the inside of said cutting plunger to the gel-coating layer thereby gel-coating the seed, and then falling the gel-coated seed into a curing vessel by closing the valve. A gel-coating apparatus included a seed supply portion comprising a rotational drum having a small aperture for attracting a speed by vacuum created inside which is broken at a predetermined rotational position by an aperture closing member and a gel-coating portion having a cylindrical cutting plunger disposed at the inside of a nozzle main body for opening and closing a gel flow channel and means for the supplying the gel into the gel flow channel.

Abstract: Polypropylene articles are provided. The polypropylene articles include non-crystalline mesomorphous polypropylene having olefinic unsaturation-containing monomers graft-polymerized thereon by ionizing radiation in a dosage sufficient to degrade crystalline polypropylene. The irradiated polypropylene articles retain useful tensile properties after storage periods of as long as at least about four months.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of encapsulated bodies employing a dropping tank for a fluid to form the cores of the encapsulated bodies and a reaction tank containing a solution capable of forming gel skins upon contact with the core material in communication therewith. Double-walled cylindrical nozzles are arranged in a lower part of the drop tank, the inner and outer walls of the double-walled cylindrical nozzles being coaxial. A pressurized air feed pipe is in communication with an upper part of the dropping tank. The peripheral walls of the reaction tank are in the form of a double-walled cylinder whose upper peripheral portion of its inner wall contains a screen. A liquid feed pipe and a capsule discharge port are provided in communication with the interior of the reaction tank through lower parts of the double-walled cylinder. A liquid discharge port also is provided in communication with an annular spacing of the double-walled cylinder through its outer wall.

Abstract: Flakes of glass, basalt or other frangible material are formed by feeding a stream of the molten material in a downwards direction into a rotating cup (5) which has its open mouth facing upwardly with its rim disposed at a horizontal level between a pair of spaced apart parallel plates (9 and 11) which are mounted within a vacuum chamber (13) in such manner that, as air is drawn from outside the chamber (13) between the plates (9 and 11) the molten material is drawn radially outwardly without touching the plates and is cooled with the continuing outward movement causing the material to be broken into flakes.

Abstract: A process for removing contaminants such as phenolic-containing dusts and mists from an inert gaseous process stream by contacting the gaseous stream with an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution whereby the contaminants react with the alkali metal hydroxide to produce alkali metal salts of the contaminant compounds and produce water soluble contaminant salts.

Abstract: A method for producing a granulated riboflavin product comprises making a specific mixture of riboflavin, binder and water, followed by homogenizing the mixture and thereafter spray-drying the homogenized mixture so that granules are produced. The mixture has a relatively high vitamin and binder content but is reduced to a relatively low viscosity (via homogenization) so that spray drying can be performed.

Abstract: Perfectly spherical, smooth and uniform microcapsules, which may contain living cells, are produced having a diameter less than 700 .mu.m by employing an electrostatic droplet generator. A droplet is suspended from a pointed source, such as a needle, and is charged with high static voltage. A collecting vessel or ring device is charged with opposing polarity and attracts the droplet. When a voltage potential threshold is passed, the droplet moves from the source to the collecting vessel. The voltage pulse height, pulse frequency and length, and extrusion rate of the droplets are adjustable so that predetermined sizes of droplets may be repeatedly generated and collected.

Abstract: Bead producing process and an apparatus in which sol having enzymes, plant tissues, etc. dispersed therein is dropped into a solidifying liquid through a perforated plate. The sol is fed from a sol supply tank to a position near of the outer periphery of the planet gear of a planetary gear mechanism which is disposed on the perforated plate. At this moment, the sol supply tank is raised at a given rate in proportion to a decrease in the liquid level thereof so that the liquid level of the sol in the sol supply tank may be kept constant with respect to the perforated plate.

Abstract: Spherical gel particles with elastomeric surfaces are made by dripping a liquid silicone gel composition containing alkenyl-containing organopolysiloxane, organohydrogenpolysiloxane, and a platinum catalyst into water or surfactant-containing water, curing and then contacting the surface of the silicone gel particles to organohydrogenpolysiloxane and curing to provide the elastomeric surface. The liquid silicone gel composition can also be extruded in fiber form into the water or surfactant-containing water with stirring to form the spherical particles which are cured and then the surface is contacted with organohydrogenpolysiloxane forming the silicone gel particles with elastomer surface. Alternatively, the liuqid silicone gel composition can be dripped or extruded in fiber form into a liquid having organohydrogenpolysiloxane to form the silicone gel particles with elastomer surface when the particles are cured.

Abstract: A process for making foam-like material to form useful structures having a plurality of beads held together by a medium molded into a desired shape with interstices formed between the beads.

Abstract: A non-pressed cosmetic powder containing hydrophobic inorganic pigments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing uniform, monosize ceramic particles forming the microsize particles by vapor condensation or ultrasonic cavitation. Organometallic liquids are directed to an aerosol generator where a droplet stream is projected in free flight within a reaction chamber and a particle sorter. Through the process of sorting the droplets according to their velocity in flight, monosize droplets are collected. The particles may be reacted prior to or after sorting and collection to form the monosize ceramic particle of interest. Sintering aids are introduced into the process to produce ceramic particles capable of improved green body formation.

Abstract: Fiber mats formed by attenuating molten streams of attenuable mineral material by subjecting the streams to the action of a hot attenuating gas blast. The gas blast induces gas from the surrounding atmosphere, and the combined blast and induced gas forming a fiber-carrying current. The current is directed toward a preforated fiber-collecting conveyor on which the fibers are deposited in the form of a mat and the gas of the current passes through the conveyor. Provision is made for withdrawing a peripheral portion of the fiber-carrying current at a point intermediate the zone of attenuation and the perforated fiber-collecting conveyor.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing finely divided spherical glass powders. The process comprises forming a coating of a surface active agent which can be of the nonionic or anionic type on the surfaces of the particles of a glass powder, feeding the coated particles and a carrier gas into a high temperature zone and maintaining the particles in the zone for a sufficient time to melt at least about 50% by weight of the particles and to form droplets therefrom, and cooling the droplets to form glass particles having essentially a spherical shape with the majority of the particles having an average particle size of less than about 25 micrometers in diameter which is essentially the same size as the starting glass particles.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing composite powder particles consisting essentially of a matrix phase and a reinforcement phase. The process involves entraining agglomerated particles in a carrier gas, the agglomerated particles consisting essentially of titanium diboride and particles of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum based alloys. The agglomerated particles are fed through a high temperature zone having a temperature sufficient to allow the metal particles to melt, coalesce together, and encapsulate the titanium diboride particles. The metal is then resolidified, resulting in the formation of the composite powder particles wherein the matrix phase consists essentially of the metal and the reinforcement phase consists essentially of the titanium diboride particles.

Abstract: Loose fill packing material comprising a plurality of expanded, resilient, thermoplastic dunnage particles, which particles are rendered more effective by coating an outer surface thereof with an additive which additive results in the packing material having improved cushioning properties and reduces the tendency of articles to migrate through the dunnage particles, wherein the particles have an average maximum cross-sectional dimension of at least 0.5 inch.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the preparation of substantially uniform granules of magnesium coated with a mixed salt composition from a eutectic melt. The process comprises the steps of forming globules of magnesium by shear action in a molten eutectic mixed salt bath which is maintained molten at a temperature of at last ten degrees Centrigrade below the freezing temperature of the magnesium.

Abstract: Prilled wax particles are coated by tumbling and rubbing the particles and a scenting and/or a coloring agent together in a flexible container, either by hand kneading or with a mechanical agitator. Liquid carriers compatible with the wax particles are included in the coloring and scenting agents to facilitate absorption of the agents into the particles. A candle is subsequently formed by molding the coated particles under pressure with a central wick into either a free standing form or pressed into a surrounding container.

Abstract: A process of making a wound dressing is suggested, in which a technical conventional viscose solution is mixed with a polysaccharide derivative; the mixture is treated at increased temperatures such that it is thermally coagulated; the coagulate is wetted with a polyalkylene glycol and dried, whereby a particulate structure of the wound dressing is produced.

Abstract: Small rotund magnesium (or Mg alloy) granules dispersed in a friable salt matrix are obtained by preparing a molten salt mixture containing molten magnesium (or Mg alloy) stirring to effect good dispersion, and cooling the molten mixture to effect freezing of the magnesium (or Mg alloy) as small rotund globules dispersed in a solid friable matrix.

Abstract: Large, uniform hollow spherical shells are produced by forming uniform size drops of heat decomposable or vaporizable material, evaporating the drops to form dried particles, coating the dried particles with a layer of shell forming material, and heating the composite particles to melt the outer layer and decompose or vaporize the inner particle to form an expanding inner gas bubble which expands the outer layer. By cycling the temperature and pressure on the hollow shells, spherical shells with uniform walls are produced.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying pellets of particulate material such as carbon black is characterized by a columnar drying vessel containing inclined trays or screens positioned so that the pellets or particulates roll from screen to screen down the column. Preferably, the pellets are subjected to countercurrent flow of drying gases while flowing down the screens. In other aspects, carbon black is pelleted with a nonaqueous liquid pelleting fluid and dried with vapors of the same pelleting fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process comprising the cooling and comminuting of molten calcium carbide, wherein a molten stream of calcium carbide is tapped off from a furnace at 1900.degree. to 2100.degree. C., cooled and comminuted. More particularly, the molten calcium carbide is initially comminuted into droplets and the droplets are cooled to less than 200.degree. C. The process can be carried out with the aid of an apparatus comprised of a heatable or coolable feed duct, a nozzle for comminuting the molten stream, and a series of fluidized bed cooling zones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously generating sulphur seed nuclei inside the drum of a sulphur pelletizing system. The sulphur seed nuclei are generated in portions of the drum by elevating the temperature of the solid sulphur particles in the range of about 180.degree. to 230.degree. F. A portion of the sprayed liquid sulphur particles solidify into seed nuclei particles prior to contacting a falling curtain of solid sulphur particles in the area of the spray pattern having a minimum density of the liquid sulphur particles. The generation of seed nuclei may be confined to the feed end of the drum so as to leave the remaining portion of the drum available for product growth.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage composite pellet-shaped product of about 1/8 inch to 1 inch in size, formed of an outer seamless shell member which defines a cavity that permanently encases a phase-change composition, the composition being present in a quantity such that the total volume of the composition, whether in its solid form, liquid form, or both forms as in its transition state, never exceeds the volume of the cavity; and a process for making the product which includes using the phase-change composition in a compacted powder form as cast about which the shell member is formed by roll-coating steps.

Abstract: A method for preparing a galenic formulation for pharmaceutical, dietetic, cosmetic or diagnostic use, comprising forming a liquid mixture containing at least one active ingredient and at least one film-forming substance, spraying the mixture at a temperature between 50.degree. and 150.degree. C. to form droplets, drying the droplets in a current of drying gas at a temperature between 100.degree. and 150.degree. C. to obtain coated granules with a diameter comprised between 10 and 20.mu., collecting the coated granules, and subjecting the collected granules to lyophilization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for stabilizing dehydrated magnesium chloride by coating with a material having a high degree of affinity for water. The coating operation is preferably carried out with magnesium oxide in a layer thickness of at least 0.1 mm, the magnesium oxide being hydroxylated by adding water during the coating operation.

Abstract: Metal powder having low oxygen and carbon contents and suitable for powder metallurgy may be obtained by using, as an atomizing medium, a special composition containing an alcohol having 1-4 carbon atoms and water as its essential components when impinging the atomizing medium against a molten metal in a state isolated from the ambient air to produce the metal powder.

Abstract: Iron-containing refractory balls, in a retorting process for oil shale, permit effective magnetic separation of the balls from the spent shale. These ceramic balls can be made by a process such as admixing powdered alumina and water to form an extrudable mixture, extruding to form cylinders, reshaping cylinders into balls, overcoating with iron particles, further overcoating with alumina, and firing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing ammonium sulfate granules in which a starting solution of ammonium sulfate is spray dried, thereafter granulated by the addition of finely sprayed, highly concentrated water solution of ammonium sulfate.

Abstract: A vibrating body is so provided as to surround a jet stream composed of a capsule film material and a capsule filler material extruded from the orifice of two coaxial conduits positioned in a cooling liquid medium. The vibrating body can be controlled in reciprocating vibration in the upward and downward directions whereby it is possible to produce waves in the cooling liquid medium which are most suitable for obtaining the required diameter of capsules and the required speed of manufacture. The jet stream is formed into spherical capsule drops at markedly increased speed of manufacture owing to the control of vibration of the vibrating body and interfacial tension.The method for obtaining seamless capsules can ensure the possibility of manufacture of very small capsules, i.e. miniature capsules by mass production which has never been accomplished satisfactorily by the conventional methods and apparatus in the industry.

Abstract: The granulation of molten material using a heat transfer process whereby solid particles are heated, dried, or cooled by a gas: Particles are repeatedly lifted and dropped as, for example, in flighted rotary drums. By forced recirculation, gas is passed through showering particles generally perpendicular to their plane of fall. Examples show gas forced to contact particles in this manner imparts an overall volumetric heat transfer coefficient to a rotary drum superior to that expected from classical literature or presently operating rotary drum heat exchangers. Disclosure teaches gas temperature adjustment between forced recirculations. Technique usage will reduce exchanger capital cost, increase energy efficiency, and reduce pollution problems. Also, prewetting of the particles in certain instances can be utilized to effect substantially increased pseudo volumetric heat transfer coefficients when cooling non-hygroscopic materials.

Abstract: Process for preparing rotund particles of salt-coated magnesium or magnesium alloy, by adding molten magnesium or magnesium alloy to a substantially non-hygroscopic salt melt having a viscosity of from 1.5 to 5.0 cps containing at least 50% by weight of anhydrous alkali metal chloride, and having a density substantially the same as the density of the molten metal, stirring the molten metal and salt melt at a certain speed and temperature to obtain a dispersion of the molten metal in the salt melt containing up to 60% by weight of the molten metal, cooling the dispersion and disintegrating the resultant solid product.

Abstract: A two-phase material comprises a higher-melting phase dispersed in a lower-melting matrix. The material made by the method is new since, although it consists of particles of a higher-melting-point phase (e.g. iron) dispersed in a lower-melting-point matrix (e.g. aluminium), the particles being of a material soluble in the matrix at the melting-point of the matrix, no perceptible dissolution of the particles is evident in the material. Such materials may find application as friction materials, for example, in brake pads, stair edging, decking and industrial flooring.

Abstract: Non-fused hollow glass microspheres that consist primarily of silicate are rendered more water-resistant by treatment with multivalent metals. The hollow microspheres are slurried with water and then a solution of a multivalent metal salt such as Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 is added to the slurry. The rate of the addition is controlled so that the pH can be regulated. Separating, washing and drying complete the preparation.

Abstract: Salt-coated Mg granules are prepared by continuously and simultaneously feeding to a mixer a flow of molten Mg and a flow of molten salt at a predetermined ratio to provide up to about 68% molten Mg in the mixture, thereby dispersing the molten Mg as globules in the salt, continuously withdrawing the molten mixture from the mixer at a point distal to that of the feed, freezing the mixture, and milling the frozen mixture to pulverize the salt matrix and recovering salt-coated Mg particles therefrom.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to strengthening carbon-black particulate "Teflon" (PTFE) mixes destined to be formed into active layers in air cathodes, which comprises mixing an aqueous dispersion of particulate polytetrafluoroethylene with an aqueous suspension of particulate carbon-black; washing and drying; mixing with a pore-forming agent; fibrillating said mixtures; washing and drying; adding polytetrafluoroethylene fibers while chopping said dried fibrillated mixture and thereafter forming said chopped mixture into a sheet, which was washed and dried.

Abstract: A method for producing urea prills by passing molten droplets of substantially water free urea downwardly through a cooling zone countercurrent to a cooling gas. A dispersion of crystalline particles is maintained in at least a portion of the cooling zone, the crystalline particles having average dimensions of between 2 and 10 microns and being dispersed in the cooling gas in a quantity of between about 8 and 25 mg per m.sup.3 of the cooling gas at ambient temperature and pressure, whereby urea prills, built up of relatively small crystallites with random orientation having improved impact strength are formed.

Abstract: A metal powder of improved quality is obtained by causing molten metal held in a vessel to flow out in a smooth stream through an outlet formed at the bottom of the vessel, throwing the jet of an atomizing medium consisting of nonpolar solvents such as mineral oils, or animal and vegetable oils against the stream of molten metal thereby atomizing the molten metal, separating and recovering the produced metal powder and the used atomizing medium by means of a fluidized bed furnace, and if necessary subjecting the metal powder to decarburization and softening anneal. In this production, the molten metal, the path for the flow of the molten metal, and the produced metal powder are substantially insulated from the atmospheric air.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing rapidly cooled powder particles is disclosed. Concepts discussed include both convection cooling and conduction cooling of molten material from which the particles are fabricated.By one effective technique of the present invention, seed particles are dropped across the path of a molten droplet stream causing impact and solidification of the molten droplets on the seed particles. Particles of increased size which are formed of conductively quenched material result.

Abstract: A process for granulating slag melts, glass melts, ceramic melts, metal melts and melts of metal alloys, particularly blast furnace slag melts, the melt being shaped into at least one thin, liquid melt stream moving freely in a predetermined direction and which, by meeting at a predetermined incidence angle with a stream of fine-grained, solid particles and/or gas, particularly inert gas, flowing substantially freely in a substantially uniform direction at a high rate of flow in relation to the melt stream or melt streams, being converted at least partly into a substantially fine-grained granulate having a fan-shaped distribution over at least part of the opposite angle to the incidence angle.

Abstract: In a granulator of the jet layer type, all the liquid jetting openings are located in a passage for a gas jetted from the gas jetting opening and each liquid jetting opening is located at a position higher than the gas jetting opening by a vertical distance smaller than the inner diameter of the gas jetting opening. The granulator may have an additional device such as an excess size-having particle-collecting means, a five particle treating means, a rectifying pipe member, a fuffer member and a hindrance and breakage member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturng rapidly cooled powder particles is disclosed. Concepts discussed include both convection cooling and conduction cooling of molten material from which the particles are fabricated.By one effective technique of the present invention, seed particles are dropped across the path of a molten droplet stream causing impact and solidification of the molten droplets on the seed particles. Particles of increased size which are formed of conductively quenched material result.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process of granulation comprising dropping as liquid droplets the melt of a substance solidifiable by cooling or drying through a zone having a sufficient vertical distance to allow solidification of the droplets, forming a fluidized bed of the solidified droplets on the bottom of the said zone, spraying the same or a different melt from the above mentioned substance as fine liquid grains along with a gas stream into the fluidized bed thereby forming a spouted bed of the solidified droplets in the fluidized bed, coating and enlarging the solidified droplets with the fine liquid grains inside the spouted bed, and discharging the obtained large sized granules from the fluidized bed. There is also disclosed an apparatus for practicing the process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a granulating process which comprises the steps of providing a plurality of spouted bed granulation zones arranged in series and one or more fluidizing zones for cooling and drying purposes each disposed between two adjacent ones of the granulation zones, introducing priming granules of a particulate material into the first-stage granulation zone while spraying thereinto an adherent and solidifiable liquid together with a gas stream to enlarge the priming granules, cooling and drying the enlarged granules in the succeeding fluidizing zone, passing the resulting granules through the other granulation zones and fluidizing zones successively, and withdrawing the granules enlarged to a desired particle size from the last-stage granulation zone. Also disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out this granulating process.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for producing relatively uniform hollow spheres of a substance, the hollow spheres being formed with a gas therein as a result of the production process. The spheres, formed for example of hydrogen isotopes, are particularly useful as a fuel target for laser fusion applications. In accordance with the method of the invention, a jet of the substance of which the spheres are to be formed is provided in liquid form. Relatively uniform gas bubbles are injected into the liquid jet. In this manner, the bubbles break up or separate the liquid jet into relatively uniform hollow spheres of the substance, each with a bubble of the gas inside. The hollow spheres can be visualized as liquid droplets, each having a relatively uniform gas bubble therein.

Abstract: The preparation of micron sized droplets of high melting point metals by shearing the metal in the molten state into micron sized droplets while in a carrier in the form of a molten inorganic salt, glass or gas, in the presence of an oxidizing agent to form a thin protective coating on the micron sized particles while in their molten state and then allowing the formed micron sized particles to solidify.

Abstract: A bath bead composition is disclosed based on urea beads in combination with at least one active bath component selected from germicides, emollients, and surfactants. The composition dissolves in water to provide an approximately neutral solution, and is not irritating to the skin.

Abstract: In order to prevent a protective carbide layer on a graphitic molded article from splitting off under thermal stress, an external carbide layer is provided on a graphitic molded article having a graded content of silicon or zirconium (in the carbide state) that increases from near zero at the interior boundary of the layer to about 50 atomic percent at the exterior. Such a layer is produced either by dipping the graphitic molded article into melted silicon, dipping it into a succession of suspensions of carbon and either silicon or zirconium, with a greater silicon or zirconium content in each successive dip, the suspensions also including a binder resin, or by applying layers of a paste of carbon and either silicon or zirconium, also with some resin, each successive layer having a higher silicon or zirconium content.