Abstract: A process for catalytic production of diaryl carbonates by oxidative carbonylation of aromatic hydroxy compounds with carbon monoxide and oxygen achieves water removal during reaction by a process comprising the steps of: removing a liquid stream from an oxidative carbonylation reaction mixture in a reaction vessel and transferring the stream to a disengagement vessel, transferring a stream from the disengagement vessel to a flash vessel and subjecting the liquid stream to reduced pressure, and returning at least a portion of dried liquid stream to the reaction vessel. Typical catalyst systems for oxidative carbonylation contain (A) at least one Group 8, 9, or 10 metal having an atomic number of at least 44 or a compound thereof; (B) at least one guanidinium salt or onium salt; (C) at least one metal co-catalyst; and (D) at least one base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating contaminated media. The method comprises introducing remediating ions consisting essentially of ferrous ions, and being peroxide-free, in the contaminated media; applying a potential difference across the contaminated media to cause the remediating ions to migrate into contact with contaminants in the contaminated media; chemically degrading contaminants in the contaminated media by contact with the remediating ions; monitoring the contaminated media for degradation products of the contaminants; and controlling the step of applying the potential difference across the contaminated media in response to the step of monitoring.

Abstract: A system and method for classifying unknown data patterns in a multi-variate feature space. An observer 12 evaluates the closeness of the data to any one of a plurality of known classes in a multi-variate feature space. A classifier 14 classifies the evaluated data into one of the plurality of known classes. A flagger 16 flags data having an unknown classification. A label requester 18 requests that the flagged data be interpreted into either a new class or one of the plurality of known classes. If the interpretation is a new fault, then a new class adder 22 sets up a new cluster representative of the fault and inputs the new class to the classifier 14. Alternatively, if the interpretation is that the flagged data belongs to one of the plurality of known classes, then a class resetter 24 resets the boundaries of this class and informs the classifier 14 of the change.

Abstract: An article comprises a silicon-containing substrate and a zircon coating. The article can comprise a silicon carbide/silicon (SiC/Si) substrate, a zircon (ZrSiO4) intermediate coating and an external environmental/thermal barrier coating.

Abstract: A flame retardant polycarbonate composition includes (A) at least one polycarbonate and (B) a silsesquioxane flame retardant. The flame retardant polycarbonate composition can be made by providing a polycarbonate and incorporating a flame retardant amount of a silsesquioxane into the polycarbonate. An article can be molded from the composition.

Abstract: A washing machine having a variable speed motor. The washing machine has a basket for holding articles to be washed and has a first axis of rotation. A basket drive shaft connected to the basket drives the basket. An agitator disposed in the basket along the first axis of rotation agitates the article in the basket. An agitator drive shaft connected to the agitator drives the agitator. A variable speed motor, having a second axis of rotation which is not coincident with the first axis of rotation, drives the basket drive shaft and the agitator drive shaft. A coupler couples motion of the variable speed motor to the agitator drive shaft and basket drive shaft.

Abstract: System and method for predicting web breaks in a paper machine. Principal components analysis and an aggregated classification and regression tree (CART) model are used to predict web break sensitivity from measurements taken from a paper mill where the paper machine is located.

Abstract: An ultraviolet radiation absorbing layer formed over a polymeric substrate is disclosed herein. The layer is a doped metal oxide coating. The layer exhibits excellent weatherability and UV absorbing properties. The layer is preferably deposited by arc plasma deposition or by sputtering.

Abstract: While silicon-containing ceramics or ceramic composites are prone to material loss in combustion gas environments, this invention introduces a method to prevent or greatly reduce the thickness loss by injecting directly an effective amount, generally in the part per million level, of silicon or silicon-containing compounds into the combustion gases.

Abstract: A scintillator pack comprises an array of scintillator pixels and an x-ray absorbing layer disposed in inter-scintillator regions between the scintillator pixels. The x-ray absorbing layer acts to absorb x-rays and protect underlying regions of the inter-scintillator regions. The x-ray absorbing layer may be formed by a number of methods including casting and melt infiltration.

Abstract: Solid state polymerization of partially crystalline polycarbonate oligomers bearing ester-substituted terminal groups occurs at useful reaction rates despite their high level of endcapping. Partially crystalline polycarbonate oligomers having ester substituted terminal groups may be obtained in a single step by reaction of an ester substituted diaryl carbonate such as bis-methyl salicyl carbonate with a dihydroxy aromatic compound such as bisphenol A in the presence of a transesterification catalyst such as sodium hydroxide. Alternatively, amorphous oligomeric polycarbonates incorporating ester substituted endgroups may be obtained through careful control of the melt reaction conditions. The amorphous oligomeric polycarbonates are crystallized upon exposure to solvent vapor and subsequently undergo solid state polymerization at synthetically useful reaction rates.

Abstract: A catalyst system and method for making carbon fibrils is provided which comprises a catalytic amount of an inorganic catalyst comprising nickel and one of the following substances selected from the group consisting of chromium; chromium and iron; chromium and molybdenum; chromium, molybdenum, and iron; aluminum; yttrium and iron; yttrium, iron and aluminum; zinc; copper; yttrium; yttrium and chromium; and yttrium, chromium and zinc. In a further aspect of the invention, a catalyst system and method is provided for making carbon fibrils which comprises a catalytic amount of an inorganic catalyst comprising cobalt and one of the following substances selected from the group consisting of chromium; aluminum; zinc; copper; copper and zinc; copper, zinc, and chromium; copper and iron; copper, iron, and aluminum; copper and nickel; and yttrium, nickel and copper.

Abstract: A method and catalyst system for economically producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of carbonylating aromatic hydroxy compounds by contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system that includes a catalytic amount of an inorganic co-catalyst containing titanium. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include an effective amount of a palladium source and an effective amount of a halide composition. Further alternative embodiments can include catalytic amounts of various inorganic co-catalyst combinations.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a tagging material is provided wherein the tagging material comprises at least one organic fluorophore dye, at least one inorganic fluorophore, at least one organometallic fluorophore, at least one semi-conducting luminescent nanoparticle, or combination thereof, wherein the tagging material has a temperature stability of at least about 350° C. and is present in a sufficient quantity such that the tagging material is detectible via a spectrofluorometer at an excitation wavelength in a range between about 100 nanometers and about 1100 nanometers. Further embodiments of the present invention include a method for identifying a polymer and an article comprising a polymer wherein the polymer contains the aforementioned tagging material.

Abstract: A light-emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, and at least one organic electroluminescent (“EL”) material positioned between the anode and the cathode. Nanoparticles of at least one photoluminescent material are dispersed in the organic EL material. The organic EL material emits a first electromagnetic (“EM”) radiation having a first spectrum in response to an applied electrical field. The PL material absorbs a portion of the first EM radiation emitted by the organic EL material and emits a second EM radiation having a second spectrum. A plurality of the light-emitting devices are arranged on a transparent substrate to provide a panel display or a lighting source.

Abstract: The damping performance of an article and a polycarbonate composition is improved and a storage medium for data is provided with a glass transition temperature greater than about 150° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light source comprising one or more organic light emitting devices mounted on a mounting substrate, each of the organic light emitting devices comprising a first electrode which is light transmissive, an organic light emitting layer, a second electrode, a first device electrical contact extending from the first electrode to the mounting substrate, and a second device electrical contact extending from the second electrode to the mounting substrate. The invention also relates to a method of making such a light source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing the formation of leachable mercury in mercury arc vapor discharge lamps which comprises coating at least one of the metallic components of the mercury arc vapor discharge lamps with at least one noble metal coating.

Abstract: A method and catalyst system for economically producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of carbonylating aromatic hydroxy compounds by contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system that includes an effective amount of at least one Group 8, 9, or 10 metal source; an effective amount of at least one bromide composition; an effective amount of at least one activating organic solvent; an effective amount of a combination of inorganic co-catalysts comprising at least one titanium source and at least one copper source; and an effective amount of at least one base.

Abstract: A metal forming method is used for manufacturing vehicle wheels. The invention comprises manufacturing of a wheel block comprising a central part and initially formed rim; drawing of the rim by hot rolling to obtain a wheel profile that approximates a finished wheel, and a final wheel treatment process. The rolling is conducted from either side of the wheel block, which may comprise any granular microstructure. Rolling temperature-strain rate conditions correspond to the microstructure. For a coarse-grain microstructure, the rim includes a shoulder with a thickness greater than that of the finished wheel, and thickness differences transform the microstructure into a recrystallized and/or polygonized microstructure. For a fine-grain microstructure, the rim includes a shoulder or flange with a thickness close to a thickness of a finished wheel. For mixed microstructures, the rim includes a shoulder and has a thickness greater or equal to a finished wheel.