Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a rigid polyurethane foam material, a method of manufacturing a refrigerator using the material, and a refrigerator manufactured by the same method. The method includes recovering highly purified rigid polyurethane foam from a scrapped refrigerator, and decomposing the rigid polyurethane foam for recycling. The method includes steps of: shredding a scrapped refrigerator containing rigid polyurethane foam in order to separate rigid polyurethane foam lumps; grinding the rigid polyurethane foam lumps into a rigid polyurethane foam powder; liquefying the rigid polyurethane foam powder by either aminolysis reaction or glycolysis reaction; reacting thus obtained liquefied rigid polyurethane foam powder and supercritical/sub-critical water in order to decompose the rigid polyurethane foam powder into a crude material; and fractionating the crude material to obtain a raw material of rigid polyurethane foam.

Abstract: A system and method for computer controlled flexible manufacturing of aluminum articles having patterns thereon is disclosed. The pattern is digitized or otherwise reduced to computer-readable format and then printed onto an aluminum article under computer control. The pattern is preferably printed using an ink jet, dot matrix color printer which has been modified to feed the aluminum substrate in an essentially flat manner. The pattern can be sealed within the anodized coating of the aluminum article for permanence.

Abstract: A method of manufacture including bringing seed and aluminum hydroxide together in an aqueous medium and hydrothermally digesting for producing boehmite at the expense of the aluminum hydroxide is described. Also disclosed is a process for forming a ceramic body from colloidal boehmite and alpha alumina. Alpha alumina is added to ultimately produce a seeded gel containing microcrystalline boehmite, the seeded gel capable of being sintered at a low temperature to produce a ceramic product. The colloidal boehmite may be purified by ion exchange to remove alkali metal ions.

Abstract: An alpha/beta titanium alloy having improved fatigue crack growth resistance can be prepared through a thermomechanical process using a three-step thermal treatment. The first step includes a heat up and hold at a temperature above the beta transition temperature, while the second step is a stabilization treatment which includes a heat up and hold below the beta transition temperature, in the alpha/beta range. The third thermal treatment is an aging treatment. The invention is particularly useful in preparing forged parts for aircraft.

Abstract: In a process utilizing steam, the method of producing at least a portion of said steam includes heating a solid substance so as to generate steam, followed by capturing the generated steam at a pressure greater than one atmosphere gage pressure for use in the process at a pressure greater than one atmosphere gage pressure. Suitable solid substances are aluminum hydrate or aluminum fluoride. New hydrated aluminum containing products and uses for those products are obtained by the use of the process.

Abstract: A method for the production of aluminum hydroxide, including reacting water in the liquid phase and aluminum at a pH above about 12.4. In this pH range, aluminum hydroxide is produced at acceptable rates both for aluminum surface areas above 75,000 mm.sup.2 /g and for aluminum surface area of less than about 50,000 mm.sup.2 per gram, and even down to 20 mm.sup.2 per gram. According to an alternative view of the invention, it is characterized by the production of aluminum hydroxide by reacting aluminum with liquid water containing choline. Aluminum hydroxide particles having unique morphologies are obtained.

Abstract: A method of manufacture including bringing seed and aluminum hydroxide together in an aqueous medium and hydrothermally digesting for producing boehmite at the expense of the aluminum hydroxide.

Abstract: An improved method of making a lithoplate from a 5XXX type alloy which includes controlling the composition and casting practices to eliminate forming a pine tree metal structure in an ingot used for rolling a workpiece to be made into lithoplate. The method also includes homogenizing and hot rolling the ingot at a controlled initial temperature to produce a desired grain and metal microstructure in the sheet rolled from the ingot which is suited for providing a surface having substantially uniform and evenly distributed craters produced by an electrochemical method of graining.

Abstract: In a process utilizing steam, the method of producing at least a portion of said steam, including heating a water-containing, solid substance for generating steam and capturing the generated steam for said process. A suitable solid substance is Al(OH).sub.3 . New alumina products and uses therefor are obtained.

Abstract: A continuous salt-based process is provided for melting and reclaiming aluminum from aluminum scrap containing impurities including heating a molten salt in a heat bay, mixing the heated salt with aluminum scrap or skim in a charge bay to form a molten charge mixture, separating aluminum from impurities in the charge bay by coalescing aluminum to form a molten aluminum metal pad, chlorinating a portion of the charge mixture from the charge bay to form a chlorinated salt mixture and metal chlorides, removing metal chlorides from the salt mixture, and feeding the salt mixture back to the heat bay. In one aspect, the chlorinating step of the present invention includes introducing carbon monoxide or, preferably, solid carbon to control oxide concentration. The process further comprises adding fluorides and removing metal chlorides from the salt to maintain a preferred salt composition.

Abstract: Alumina having greater than 0.4 cc/g pore volume in the range 30 to 200 Angstroms pore diameter.A catalyst containing gamma alumina but essentially no eta alumina.The method of tailoring pore size distribution comprising bonding mixtures of particles of rehydration bondable alumina of different particle porosity.

Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of composite metal armour plating comprising ceramic inserts (42) regularly disposed through the thickness and giving reliable, reproducible ballistic efficiency.The ceramic inserts are positioned at regular intervals by disposing them in enveloping shells comprising male and female portions fitting into one another in order to bring about relative predetermined positioning and leave gaps into which the actual casting metal can flow during casting.

Abstract: Composite materials having improved fracture toughness are formed by dispersing ductile inclusions in a less ductile matrix. The matrices may be formed from metals, such as high-strength aluminum alloys or ceramics. Bonding should be present between the inclusions and the matrix so that cracks in the composite material must pass through the inclusions.

Abstract: An improved method of making a lithoplate from a 5XXX type alloy which includes controlling the composition and casting practices to eliminate forming a pine tree metal structure in an ingot used for rolling a workpiece to be made into lithoplate. The method also includes homogenizing and hot rolling the ingot at a controlled initial temperature to produce a desired grain and metal microstructure in the sheet rolled from the ingot which is suited for providing a surface having substantially uniform and evenly distributed craters produced by an electrochemical method of graining.

Abstract: A heat treating method comprising providing metal with a polymeric barrier coating, which acts as a barrier against diffusion of reactive species and which, upon thermal decomposition, acts as an oxygen getter or reducing agent, thus extending its protection past its point of thermal stability.

Abstract: Armor element for protection against projectiles, formed by a core made of ceramic material covered with a metal envelope obtained by casting around the core a resilient alloy having high antiballistic efficiency.The envelope is strongly prestressed at casting around the ceramic core in order to inhibit the fragmentation thereof under shock due to the impact of a projectile.The invention can be applied to constructing flexible armor implements by assembling and hingedly interconnecting juxtaposed armor elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for refining magnesium crude containing between about 0.7 and 1.5 wt. % calcium. The process includes mixing a flux containing from about 55 to 85 wt. % magnesium chloride and 45 to 15 wt. % alkali chlorides into a molten body of the crude. Refined magnesium is thereby produced, as well as a sludge containing calcium chloride which never has a liquidus exceeding the temperature of the molten body. The refined magnesium is then separated from the sludge.

Abstract: An electrolytic process comprising evolving oxygen on an anode in a molten salt, the anode comprising an alloy comprising a first metal and a second metal, both metals forming oxides, the oxide of the first metal being more resistant than the second metal to attack by the molten salt, the oxide of the second metal being more resistant than the first metal to the diffusion of oxygen. The electrode may also be formed of CuAlO.sub.2 and/or Cu.sub.2 O.