Abstract: There is disclosed a metallic bladder that is inflated by a gaseous stream generated by a gas generator. The inflatable metallic bladder is useful as a side impact air bag for motorized vehicles. The heat dissipating capability of the metallic bladder permits the use of energetic chemical compositions that generate a high temperature gas and very rapidly inflate the metallic bladder. The heat conducted by the gas is dissipated by the metallic bladder avoiding harm to occupants.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for suppressing a fire. The apparatus includes a gas generator containing as a propellant, a mixture of a fuel, strontium nitrate as an oxidizer, and magnesium carbonate. When the propellant is ignited, a nitrogen rich effluent is generated that is effective to suppress the fire. By providing the propellant with at least 35%, by weight, of magnesium carbonate, the generation of effluent by-products that are corrosive to aluminum is inhibited.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for suppressing a fire. The apparatus includes a gas generator charged with a combustive propellant. Upon ignition, the combustive propellant generates a copious volume of gas. The gas is directed by a first conduit to a chamber containing a packed powder that is effective to suppress a fire. A second conduit directs the gas driven packed powder to the fire. In one embodiment, the fire suppressing packed powder is magnesium carbonate.

Abstract: There is provided a molded plastic electronic package having improved thermal dissipation. A thermal dissipator, such as a heat spreader or a heat slug is partially encapsulated in the molding resin. The thermal dissipator has a density less than that of copper and a coefficient of thermal conductivity that is constant or increases as the package periphery is approached.

Abstract: There are disclosed processing methods to improve the properties of copper base alloys containing chromium and zirconium. One method of processing results in a copper alloy having high strength and high electrical conductivity. A second method of processing results in a copper alloy with even higher strength and a minimal reduction in electrical conductivity. While a third method of processing results in a copper alloy having improved bend formability.

Abstract: There is provided a metallic component for an electronic package. The component is coated with an electrically non-conductive layer and has a plurality of conductive circuit traces are formed on a surface. The circuit traces are soldered directly to the input/output pads of an integrated circuit device and to a second plurality of circuit traces. The component may include a heat sink to enhance dissipation of heat from an encapsulated integrated circuit device.

Abstract: There is provided a composite material particularly suited for electrical and electronic applications having a metallic core with a desired surface finish. An acicular superficial coating layer having an apparent thickness of less than 275 angstroms is adjacent to at least a portion of the metallic core. The superficial coating layer is removable from the metallic core without appreciable change to the metallic core surface finish.

Abstract: A catalytic gas generator for an electrothermal thruster comprises a catalyst chamber, a capillary propellant tube communicating to the chamber and a tubular thermal standoff connecting the tube to the chamber wherein the tube is connected at a location spaced from the tube inlet into the catalyst chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a decoppering agent that is added to a propellant charge to remove copper from the rifling of the internal bore of a gun barrel. The decoppering agent consists essentially of a lead-free pulverized additive dispersed in a combustible binder. One suitable decoppering agent is pulverized bismuth metal, dispersed in a nitrocellulose binder. The bismuth metal either vaporizes or liquifies when the propellant charge is ignited and either embrittles or dissolves the copper deposits facilitating removal.

Abstract: There are disclosed processing methods to improve the properties of copper base alloys containing chromium and zirconium. One method of processing results in a copper alloy having high strength and high electrical conductivity. A second method of processing results in a copper alloy with even higher strength and a minimal reduction in electrical conductivity. While a third method of processing results in a copper alloy having improved bend formability.

Abstract: There is disclosed a leadframe for electrically interconnecting a semiconductor device to external circuitry. The leadframe has an electrically conductive substrate that is coated with an oxidation resistant external layer. An intervening layer is disposed between a portion of the substrate and the external layer. The intervening layer is absent from the outer lead ends of the leadframe. Subsequent removal of the external layer from the outer lead ends enables a solder to directly contact the leadframe substrate.

Abstract: A self-contained, hermetic module for the transport of hazardous fluids such as space craft fuels. The module includes a base and a removable cover hermetically sealed to the base. The combination of the base and the cover define an enclosure. Located within this enclosure are a pressurized gas cylinder, a fuel tank and an evacuated vessel. An inert gas contained within the pressurized vessel expels a fuel contained in the fuel tank to fill the space craft. The evacuated vessel purges all lines and conduits to prevent hazardous fluids from escaping to the environment.

Abstract: There is provided a system for the manufacture of a diamond film. A plasma generator generates a hydrogen atom containing plasma stream into which a hydrocarbon containing gas is fed. The plasma dissociates the hydrocarbon to carbon radicals and carbon which are deposited on a substrate where the carbon crystallizes to a diamond film. The efficiency of the system is increased by heating the hydrogen source gas prior to generation of the plasma. Other means to increase the effectiveness of the system include using a plurality of plasma streams and shaping the plasma stream, A low internal strain, high quality optical film is generated by depositing the carbon on a substrate supported by a heat sink having nonuniform thermal conductivity such that the thermal gradient across the surface of the heat sink is less than about 8.degree. C./centimeter.

Abstract: An electronic package having improved electrical properties in which a plastic Quad Flat Pack is provided with upper and lower metallic plates encased in the plastic body and overlapping at least a portion of the length of the encased portion of the leads whereby the self and mutual inductance of the package is reduced. A ceramic Quad Flat Pack is provided with metal plates attached to the mating surfaces of the ceramic cover component and the ceramic base component so that at least a portion of the enclosed portion of the leads which are electrically connected to the electronic component inside the components is overlapped on the top and bottom by the metallic plates.

Abstract: A full metal jacket hollow point bullet is disclosed which has a portion of the jacket extending within the hollow open front end of the bullet. The portion of the jacket in the hollow front end has a plurality of radial slits and reinforced pointed prongs therebetween. A rearwardly extending completely empty blind bore extends from the tips of the prongs axially rearwardly into the bullet core. The base of each of the prongs is reinforced at the mouth of the front end by a fillet on each side between the ogive portion of the jacket and the base of the prong in the hollow front end. These prongs project generally radially outward upon upset of the bullet in soft tissue after passing through barrier materials such as clothing and deer hide.The jacket has a coating of copper oxide on its inner and outer surfaces which bonds the soft lead core to the jacket and minimizes lead wash.

Abstract: There is provided a gas generating composition consisting essentially of a mixture of nitroguanidine and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate. When the ammonium nitrate is phase stabilized with from about 7% to about 20%, by weight, of a potassium salt, the mixture is structurally and volumetrically stable over typical automotive operating temperatures and has a melting temperature in excess of 100.degree. C. The mixture generates large volumes of nitrogen and carbon dioxide when ignited with minimal generation of solids or toxic gases and is particularly useful as an inflating medium for automobile airbags.

Abstract: There is provided a leadframe having a plurality of coplanar electrically conductive leads. At least one metallic guard is bonded to the leads with a dielectric layer disposed between the metallic guard and the leads. The metallic guard has good adhesion to a polymer molding resin such that when the leadframe structure is encased in a molding resin, delamination is minimized. By restricting delamination, the ingress of water and water soluble contaminants to an integrated circuit device is inhibited.

Abstract: A segmenting warhead projectile has a fore section integral with an aft section. A mid section is disposed between the fore section and the aft section. Up range of a target, an explosive contained within the mid section is detonated separating the fore section from the aft section. When a desired separation distance is achieved, explosives contained within the fore and aft sections detonate, fragmenting the housing of the sections. The fragmentation patterns of the two sections overlap, providing a high dispersion of fragmentation segments along the line of flight compensating for range errors.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the assembly of an electronic package in which the outer lead ends of a leadframe are solderable to external circuitry without the necessity of a tin or solder coat. An oxidation resistant layer is deposited on the leadframe prior to package assembly. The oxidation resistant layer is removed prior to outer lead soldering providing a clean, oxide free metallic surface for soldering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the casting of metals in which a molten stream of metal is atomized into a spray of highly liquid droplets. The droplets are deposited on a moving substrate such as an endless belt provided with side dams. The droplets flow in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the substrate and are contained by the side dams. The droplets may have an average size of 300 microns and the spray may have a liquid to solid ratio of at least 50%. This arrangement overcomes the problems of splashing and turbulence caused by the relative flow between the melt and the belt in regular belt casting and overcomes porosity problems associated with spray casting.