Abstract: The caster includes a pair of movable opposed belts, each of the belts having a casting surface and a pair of movable opposed dam blocks including a plurality of dam blocks having one end mounted to an orbiting support and a casting surface opposite the mounted end. The casting surfaces of the belts and the casting surfaces of the dam blocks define a bar casting zone for solidifying the molten metal into metallic bar. The caster also includes cooling bars for cooling the belts while the belts pass through the bar casting zone.

Abstract: A stemming agent is provided comprising: A) a neutralized acrylic acid polymer; B) a neutralized mixture of sodium silicate and a silicon oxide-containing material such as sand, clay, stones, volcanic ash, or the like; or C) a mixture of materials A) and B). The stemming agents produced are low cost, easily made, and preferably are free of nitrate salts. Accordingly, the use of these preferred stemming agents eliminates the contamination of ground water by nitrate salts. The stemming agents of the invention may be used in either bulk-delivered or packaged applications.

Abstract: Precipitation of fine azide core particles with in-situ coating with suspended tiny oxide particles, followed by concentration of the dilute suspension of these bodies to form a slurry with residual dissolved azide in the liquor, and finally converting the slurry in to solid aggregates of the pyrotechnic bodies by e.g. prilling whereby liquid phase evaporation releases dissolved azide causing the pyrotechnic bodies to be adhered together in to larger aggregates.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a delivery system for bulk explosives whereby said system is remotely controlled by electronic or electrical controls.

Abstract: A process for the production of explosives grade ammonium nitrate prill (EGAN) comprises the steps of(A). producing seed ammonium nitrate prill as substantially monosized prills; and then(B). fattening using melt/solution of ammonium or mixed nitrates, with drying and thermal treatments, the seed prill in an inclined rotating jacketed pan granulator or a cascade of such pans to produce a final fattened EGAN prill product preferably having at most about 4 mm diameter.

Abstract: Explosive grade ammonium nitrate (EGAN) prills are made by a process comprising the steps of:a. continuously spraying a 95 to 98% by weight solution/melt of ammonium nitrate (or a mixture of ammonium nitrate and minor proportions of one or more other EGAN--acceptable nitrates) in/with water under spray-head conditions causing the emergent jets to break into cascades of substantially mono-sized droplets;b. allowing the formed droplets to fall within a vertical duct;c. continuously feeding a stream of cooling gas upwards through the duct to effect cooling and solidification of the falling droplets and some removal of moisture so as to form substantially mono-sized EGAN prills of up to about 4 mm diameter, andd.

Abstract: A method of producing a coloured shock tubing comprising a visibly coloured hollow tube having an inner coating of a reactive material wherein the core loading of the reactive material in the tube may be measured by radiation absorption. The visible colouration of the hollow tube is effected by the addition of a coloured compound, which compound is essentially transparent to the radiation used to measure core loading. A one stage extrusion process may be utilized to prepare a shock tube wherein core loading is easily measured during production, and verified after production.

Abstract: An extrusion die assembly for making honeycomb structures of ceramics, glass, and other extrudable materials. The assembly is provided with an apertured, flow controlling forming plate placed against the input (upstream) surface of the extrusion die. The forming plate has a central opening through which the batch material to the input face of the die passes. A series of angularly spaced, flow controlling openings lies radially outwardly of the rim of this central opening. These forming plate openings are axially aligned with a shim reservoir downstream of the discharge slots of the die. This arrangement permits both the flow volume and rate of the batch material being extruded to the skin forming portions of the die assembly to be at least partially independently controlled relative to the flow volume to the main, radially central portion of the extrudate. By this construction, the formation of air checks in the shim reservoir and the formation of rippled skin on the extrudate is inhibited.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the preparation of articles exhibiting catalytic activity and, in particular, to articles which are exceptionally suitable for catalytically converting gases from organically fueled power plants, internal combustion engines, and other fluid and gaseous catalysis. The inventive articles comprise a unitary composite structure consisting essentially of a catalytically active precious metal and/or a base metal which, the base metals in particular, become catalytically active upon oxidation. The catalysts are integrally combined with a supporting structural metal.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in liquid-phase, gas-phase and mixed-phase reactions is disclosed for providing an efficient flow-through design within which results a low pressure drop. The apparatus may be used as a catalyst or electrocatalyst and consists essentially of a ceramic substrate having thin walls with open porosity wherein said walls define a plurality of cells extending substantially longitudinally parallel through-and-through the substrate. The substrate includes an electrically conductive layer, having a resistivity of no greater than about 100 ohm-cm. The apparatus exhibits an improved structural geometry and provides greater meniscus control.

Abstract: A structure with encapsulated catalyst-agglomerate bodies which are integral to a porous structure is presented. The catalysts may be singly and/or multiply dispersed on and/or throughout a high surface area material and subsequently mixed with batch material prior to firing the structure. This results in a structure wherein encapsulated catalyst-agglomerate bodies in a porous structure exhibit the same catalytic activity as in a break in aged catalyst coated substrate.

Abstract: A rigid mini-monolith structure formed by extrusion from a die. Such structures are useful as catalyst supports for treating exhaust gases from automobile. The structure is in the shape of a right circular cylinder with a plurality of internal cells extending along the substrate and an opening on both ends. In order to provide maximum crushing strength of the structure, as well as permitting uniform intercell wall thickness at the downstream face of the extrusion die which forms the structure, the majority of the cells are formed in the transverse cross section of a truncated (circular) sector and have the property that they each possess the same hydraulic diameter, although not all are of the same transverse cross sectional shape. The invention also is defined by a novel extrusion die formed by a plurality of concentric, collared tubes provided with longitudinally running slots in the tubes and notches on the collars, the tubes being radially spaced from each other.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the production of oxide-boride-silicon nitride ceramics consisting essentially of ceramic bodies of oxide and boride phases which have silicon nitride added to improve the properties of the ceramic body for use as wear material, durable interface material, and cutting tool inserts. The addition of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 to the oxide-boride body provides a durable ceramic material which provides a range of cutting speeds that may be utilized in both turning and milling operations.

Abstract: This invention relates to the high temperature stabilization of aluminum titanate and aluminum titanate-mullite compositions by the addition of iron oxide. It has been found that iron oxide concentrations greater than 5 weight percent and as high as approximately 25 weight percent have a stabilization effect at high temperatures on aluminum titanates. The resultant ceramic body is further enhanced by the addition of from 0.1 to 5 weight percent rare earth oxide.