Abstract: The instant invention relates to photosensitive glasses, i.e., glasses which, after an exposure to high energy or actinic radiations, can be heat treated in a certain manner to develop a colored transparent article, or which can be thermally opacified to produce a colored opal glass. More particularly, the instant invention is directed to alkali halide silver halide-containing photosensitive glasses which, through a unique sequence of shortwave radiation exposures and heat treatments, exhibit the total range of colors seen in the visible spectrum either in the transparent or in the opacified state and in three dimensions. The base glass composition can be varied widely, but the presence of silver, alkali oxide, fluorine, at least one of the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, and iodine, and, where ultra-violet radiations comprise the actinic radiations, cerium oxide is required. Multi-colored photographs and other unique decorative effects can be imparted into such glasses.

Abstract: An electrical cooking or heating unit comprising a plate of a glassy material inluding a selected portion thereof upon whose upper surface vessels are to be placed for cooking purposes. The lower surface of the selected portion of the plate is provided with at least one sinuous strip of a gold/platinum alloy which integrally forms the electrical resistance heating element for the heating or cooking unit. A porous and partially sintered overglaze or coating covers the heating element and the portion of the lower surface of the plate on which the heating element is provided, such glaze preventing or inhibiting cracking, peeling or agglomeration of the heating element to provide a resultant increase in electrical resistivity. The life of the heating or cooking unit is thereby substantially increased.

Abstract: Aluminum-coated glass-ceramic cookware of improved performance and durability is provided by a process comprising selecting a glass-ceramic vessel of specified strength and expansion characteristics, preheating the surface of the vessel to a temperature in the range of about 120.degree.-600.degree. C., flame-spraying molten powdered aluminum metal onto the surface of the vessel, optionally heat-treating the thus-coated vessel to provide an aluminum metal coating of excellent adherence and good thermal conductivity thereon, providing the aluminum coating with a film of phosphoric acid and heating said aluminum coating and film to a temperature at least sufficient to decompose the phosphoric acid. A supplemental oxide film may also be applied to protect the aluminum metal coating.

Abstract: In the sealing of two glass surfaces together in the formation of a hermetically sealed hollow article, it is important that the opposed seal edges be uniformly complementary along their sealing extent, and a method of sagging the seal edge to a desired surface contour is disclosed.

Abstract: An aqueous suspension of porous glass particles having a closely controlled average particle size within the range of about 0.7 to about 3.0 microns. The controlled particle size porous glass particles are prepared by initially milling course porous glass particles to yield particles of about 10 microns or less, leaching those particles to remove contaminants and residues, rinsing the particles, and then mixing the particles with an aqueous solution and subjecting the mixture to at least two controlled sedimentation steps.

Abstract: A method of anodizing porous tantalum material suitable for making a porous tantalum capacitor pellet or slug having decreased current leakage is described. After a pellet is anodized at a maximum predetermined desired voltage, it is removed from the anodizing bath and heated to a temperature of between 150.degree. C. and 300.degree. C. The pellet is maintained at such temperature for at least three minutes and then returned to the anodizing bath, at least once, and subjected to more electrical current.

Abstract: In the hot forming of TV funnels from molten glass, heat is extracted from the glass in the moil area at a lesser rate than that in adjacent areas by providing relatively thin mold portions in such area and thereby producing more fluid glass which may be formed with lower pressing forces. Further, by reducing the wall thickness of the nose portion of a pressing plunger, internal cooling may be applied to such nose portion during the pressing cycle to cool such nose portion and contract it away from the moil area, and thereby prevent the formation of checks and cracks during plunger withdrawal.

Abstract: An improved conductive coating for the inner wall of a cathode ray tube is disclosed. The coating consists essentially of 5-25% of at least one of the alkali metal oxides Na.sub.2 O, K.sub.2 O and Li.sub.2 O, 20-80% SiO.sub.2, 2-25% of at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of Ag.sub.2 O, CuO, CdO, CaO, SrO, BaO, CoO, PbO, MgO, HgO, NiO, ZnO, and MnO, 10-50% carbon, and 0-50% of a filler pigment, the total content of silica plus pigment being 45-85%.

Abstract: Method of determining the concentration of thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) in a fluid sample. The method comprises the steps of adding to the sample an excess amount of thyroxine (T.sub.4) and then analyzing the sample for T.sub.4 via immunoassay technique in the presence and absence of a blocking agent to establish a binding differential. The differential is then correlated with a standard curve which relates known TBG concentrations to binding differentials obtained in a similar manner.

Abstract: Solidified, polar, micorbial growth medium containing 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid or a salt thereof. Microbial colonies grown on the medium can be detected fluorimetrically.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for permanently splicing glass optical fibers. The fibers are aligned colinearly, and their endfaces are brought into contact. An electrical arc discharge is generated at the junction between the fibers and is moved along the junction to ensure complete fusing of the fiber endfaces. Best results are obtained by first applying only enough heat to the fiber junction to cause the fibers to adhere to each other without forming a good optical connection, and thereafter, increasing the arc current to a value sufficient to cause complete fusion of the fiber endfaces.

Abstract: Gel-like composition useful for separating and partitioning whole blood into serum and clot portions. The composition has a specific gravity between that of the serum and clot portions such that, when centrifuged in the presence of whole blood, the composition forms a chemical and physical barrier between the serum and clot portions. The composition comprises, in combination, a silicone fluid, an inert siliceous filler dispersed therein, and a network former consisting of a polysiloxane-polyoxyalkyl copolymer which stabilizes the composition by minimizing and/or avoiding "wet out" of the siliceous filler with time. The composition has a viscosity within the range of about 200,000 to about 600,000 centistokes, preferably within the range of about 350,000 to about 450,000 centistokes.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with the manufacture of refractory articles of a partially crystalline nature, i.e., materials having a substantial crystal content within a glassy matrix, but wherein the crystal phase normally comprises less than about 50% by volume of the materials. The bodies are produced through the heat treatment of glass articles having compositions within the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 --TiO.sub.2 --Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 and/or Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 system at elevated temperatures, but not in excess of about 1150.degree. C., to cause the in situ growth of crystals. The materials, containing aluminum niobate, aluminum tantalate, or an aluminum niobate-tantalate solid solution as the predominant crystal phase, exhibit a high degree of transparency to visible light, and retain that transparency even after very extended exposures to temperatures up to in excess of 1000.degree. C. That capability has recommended their utility as arc-tubes or as envelopes for high temperature lamps.

Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein high purity fused silica is produced from a liquid flowable form of a silica slurry or sol and the refractoriness of the fused silica is enhanced by homogeneously doping the silica with aluminum and/or titanium oxide, preferably in conjunction with elemental silicon.

Abstract: In apparatus for effecting a sealed separation or partition between two phases of a multiphase liquid upon centrifugation of the multiphase liquid, a device which facilitates access through the partition to a phase of a separated multiphase liquid which is confined between the partition and a lower or closed end of a vessel retaining such liquid.

Abstract: Method for determining the concentration of free (unbound) thyroid hormones (T.sub.3 or T.sub.4) in a fluid sample. The method comprises the steps of performing an immunoassay for total T.sub.3 or total T.sub.4 in the presence and absence of a blocking agent to establish a binding differential and then correlating that differential with a standard curve which relates known free thyroid hormone concentrations with binding differentials.