Abstract: A method and system are provided that efficiently compound high levels of inorganic filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer at a commercial rate into homogeneous filled and devolatilized silicone compositions. In the method, filled silicone compositions are compounded by compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a first compounding apparatus to produce a first dispersed composition and simultaneously compounding a filler, processing fluid and silicone polymer in a second compounding apparatus that shares a common extruder shaft with the first compounding apparatus to produce a second dispersed composition. The system comprises a first compounding apparatus and a sequential second compounding apparatus that shares a common shaft with the first compounding apparatus.

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.

Abstract: A piston production method produces an internal combustion engine piston. The method comprises forging a billet from an initial billet comprising an aluminum alloy that comprises silicon, intermetallic particles, and injected hardening particles, the forging is conducted under at least one of super-plasticity and hot deformation conditions; and heat treating the forged billet. The forging comprises forging at a temperature in a range from about 0.8 Tmelt to about 0.98 Tmelt. The forging also comprises forging at a STRAIN rate in a range from about 5×10−2 s−1 to about 5×10−5 s−1. The piston being formed with a configuration that enables other as parts to be connected to the piston. The initial billet comprises at least one of: coarse grain silicon, intermetallic particles, and injected hardening particles having at least one of a lamellar, comprehensive shape, and fine grain silicon, intermetallic particles, and injected hardening particles being globular in shape.

Abstract: A method and catalyst system for producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system having an effective amount of a nickel source in the absence of a Group VIII B metal source. In various alternative embodiments, the carbonylation catalyst system can include at least one inorganic co-catalyst, as well as a halide composition and/or a base.

Abstract: Extrusion of a mixture of an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate, such as bis(methyl salicyl) carbonate, a dihydroxy aromatic compound such as bisphenol A and a transesterification catalyst such as tetrabutylphosphonium acetate (TBPA) affords polycarbonate having a weight average molecular weight of greater than 20,000 daltons. The extruder is equipped with one or more vacuum vents to remove by-product ester-substituted phenol. Similarly, a precursor polycarbonate having ester-substituted phenoxy endgroups, for example methyl salicyl endgroups, when subjected to extrusion affords a polycarbonate having a significantly increased molecular weight relative to the precursor polycarbonate. The reaction to form a higher molecular weight polycarbonate may be catalyzed by residual transesterification catalyst present in the precursor polycarbonate, or by a combination of any residual catalyst and an additional catalyst such as TBPA introduced in the extrusion step.

Abstract: A shroud for a welding torch includes a hydrophilic skirt supported by a frame. The skirt is soft and pliable when wet and is self protected from the heat of welding by the water absorbed therein. The frame supports the skirt around the weld site and permits a good seal with the workpiece for excluding water during the welding process.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering a substantially water-soluble solvent from a reaction mixture comprising at least about 35% by weight aromatic hydroxy compound, which comprises the steps of: (i) extracting a reaction mixture at least once with aqueous acid wherein the solvent remains substantially in the organic phase; and (ii) recovering solvent from the organic phase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for processing records to extract relevant, reusable diagnostic information and make the information available in a form capable of being used by field engineers to speed the diagnosis and repair or adjustment of equipment.

Abstract: A packaged solid state device having a package, a chip, and an encapsulate having an epoxy resin, a boron containing catalyst that is essentially free of halogen. A LED device having a package, a LED chip, a encapsulate having a cycloaliphatic epoxy resin and a boroxine catalyst essentially free of halogen. A method of encapsulating a solid state device whereby a solid state device is placed into a package, and an encapsulant comprising an epoxy resin, and a boron containing catalyst that is essentially free of halogen, are provided.

Abstract: A permanent magnet for an MRI scanner is made by removing extraneous elements from an ore containing rare earth elements to leave elements Pr and Nd therein, and then selectively stripping therefrom a portion of the element Nd as a byproduct to leave an ore residuum including both elements Pr and Nd therein. The residuum is alloyed with a transition metal to form an alloy therewith. The alloy is then formed into a rare earth permanent magnet configured for use in the MRI scanner.

Abstract: A composition and method for making a silicone composition is provided which comprises at least one polysiloxane or silicone resin, at least one molecular hook, and at least one linker.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing component includes a quartz body characterized by silicon oxide filled micro cracks. The component is utilized as a processing component in a semiconductor furnace system. The quartz body is prepared by cleaning the component to remove a build up silicon layer and to expose micro cracks in the surface of the component and to etch the micro cracks into trenches. A silicon layer is applied onto the processing component body and at least a portion of the silicon is oxidized to silica to fill the trenches in the surface of the component body.

Abstract: A method for producing shaped articles of ceramic composites provides a high degree of dimensional tolerance to these articles. A fiber preform is disposed on a surface of a stable formed support, a surface of which is formed with a plurality of indentations, such as grooves, slots, or channels. Precursors of ceramic matrix materials are provided to the fiber preform to infiltrate from both sides of the fiber preform. The infiltration is conducted under vacuum at a temperature not much greater than a melting point of the precursors. The melt-infiltrated composite article substantially retains its dimension and shape throughout the fabrication process.

Abstract: An environmentally favorable method is described for treating an incandescent lamp with a heat curable substantially organic solvent free silicone composition to improve the shatter resistance of the lamp.

Abstract: A device structure and method for outdoor signs utilizing organic light emitting device (OLED) technology. Exemplary embodiments of the device include an OLED that is patterned into a sign combined with an exterior layer consisting of a highly scattering, non-absorbing coating over the OLED emitting regions and a highly absorbing coating over the non-emitting regions. The result is a sign that can be viewed using organic electroluminescent (EL) light under low ambient light level conditions, and due to the exterior coating, can also be viewed under high ambient light conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for testing elongation and cracking of coating arrays. The method includes simultaneously applying an elongating force to each of a plurality of coatings, and monitoring the cracks and thickness decrease in each coating. A relative performance characteristic of each coating is then determined based on a correlation between a detected crack and/or thickness decrease in the coating, and the corresponding elongating force.

Abstract: A sensor assembly can detect at least one target material in an environment. The sensor assembly comprises at least one sensor and an amorphous fluoropolymer material coating disposed on a surface of the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing phosgene which in one embodiment comprises contacting in at least one reactor a mixture comprising carbon monoxide and chlorine sequentially with a first catalyst followed by contacting the resulting gaseous reaction mixture comprising phosgene with at least one second catalyst of higher relative activity than a first catalyst. In another embodiment a method is disclosed for producing phosgene which comprises contacting in at least one reactor a mixture comprising carbon monoxide and chlorine with at least one catalyst bed comprising a first catalyst wherein at least a portion of said first catalyst is diluted with a second catalyst of higher relative activity than a first catalyst.

Abstract: An environmentally resistant coating comprising silicon, titanium, chromium, and a balance of niobium and molybdenum for turbine components formed from molybdenum silicide-based composites. The turbine component may further include a thermal barrier coating disposed upon an outer surface of the environmentally resistant coating comprising zirconia, stabilized zirconia, zircon, mullite, and combinations thereof. The molybdenum silicide-based composite turbine component coated with the environmentally resistant coating and thermal barrier coating is resistant to oxidation at temperatures in the range from about 2000° F. to about 2600° F. and to pesting at temperatures in the range from about 1000° F. to about 1800° F.