Abstract: A battery separator is a microporous membrane. The membrane has a major volume of a thermoplastic polymer and a minor volume of an inert particulate filler. The filler is dispersed throughout the polymer. The membrane exhibits a maximum Z-direction compression of 95% of the original membrane thickness. Alternatively, the battery separator is a microporous membrane having a TMA compression curve with a first substantially horizontal slope between ambient temperature and 125° C., a second substantially horizontal slope at greater than 225° C. The curve of the first slope has a lower % compression than the curve of the second slope. The curve of the second slope is not less than 5% compression. The TMA compression curve is graphed so that the Y-axis represents % compression from original thickness and the X-axis represents temperature.

Abstract: A loop material for a hook and loop type fastener is a composite nonwoven. The composite nonwoven consists of a loop layer, a backing layer, and a plurality of bond regions. The loop layer may be a carded nonwoven of thermoplastic crimped staple fiber. The staple fiber may be between 1.5 to 6.0 dTEX. The loop layer may have a basis weight of between 10 and 35 g/m2. The backing layer may be a spunbond or spunmelt nonwoven having a basis weight of 5 to 30 g/m2. The loop layer may be superimposed face-to-face with the backing layer. The plurality of bond regions joins the loop layer to the backing layer and rendering said bond regions substantially air impermeable. The bond regions comprise between 35 to 55% of a surface area of the loop material.

Abstract: A water leakage-acoustic sensing method in a steam generator of a sodium-cooled fast reactor, the method including: calculating a standard deviation and an average of an octave band by octave band analysis of an input signal sound received from at least one predetermined acoustic sensor; comparing the calculated standard deviation and the calculated average of the octave band, and determining a size of the octave band based on a comparison result; calculating an average of standard deviations of the octave band recomposed by the determined size and normalizing the average of standard deviations; applying a predetermined weight, established by a predetermined neural network learning algorithm, to the normalized average of standard deviations; and generating leakage determination data based on the average of standard deviations to which the weight is applied.

Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer membrane comprising polyazoles containing sulfonic acid groups is obtainable by a process comprising: A) mixing one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic tetraamino compounds with one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof which contain at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, with at least part of the tetraamino compounds or the carboxylic acids comprising at least one sulfonic acid group, or mixing of one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic diaminocarboxylic acids, of which at least part comprises sulfonic acid groups, in polyphosphoric acid to form a solution or dispersion; B) optionally heating the solution or dispersion obtained by step A) under inert gas to temperatures of up to 325° C. to form polyazole polymers; C) applying a layer using the mixture from step A) or B) to a support, thus forming a membrane, and D) partially hydrolyzing the polyphosphoric acid moieties of the membrane from step C) until it is self-supporting.

Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer membrane comprising polyazoles containing phosphonic acid groups is obtainable by a process comprising: A) mixing one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic tetraamino compounds with one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof which contain at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, with at least part of the tetraamino compounds or the carboxylic acids comprising at least one phosphonic acid group, or mixing of one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic diaminocarboxylic acids, of which at least part comprises phosphonic acid groups, in polyphosphoric acid to form a solution or dispersion; B) optionally heating the solution or dispersion obtained by step A) under inert gas to temperatures of up to 350° C.

Abstract: A power supply includes a casing mounted in a computer housing, a power module disposed in the casing, and an electrical socket and a switch module embedded in an exposed side wall of the casing. The switch module includes an operating unit mounted movably in a mounting seat, and operable so as to move among a first position adjacent to the side wall, where two terminal units coupled respectively to the electrical socket and the power module disconnect electrically from each other such that the switch module is in an OFF mode, a second position distal from the side wall, and a third position between the first and second positions, where a conducting member contacts electrically the terminal units such that the switch module is in an ON mode. When the switch module is switched from the ON mode to the OFF mode, the operating unit is moved from the third position to the first position via the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed are two new crystalline forms, ? and ?, of perindopril erbumine. Those forms are suitable as therapeutic active substances for medicaments for the treatment of cardio-vascular diseases, especially high blood pressure and heart failure. The ? crystalline form is obtained in the crystallization of perindopril erbumine at from 30 to 45° C., preferably from 34 to 45° C., from MTBE containing from 1.5 to 2.5% (v/v) water; the crystallization is advantageously carried out with stirring. If the water is then removed, advantageously by azeotropic distillation, preferably at from 35 to 37° C., and stirring is then continued for at least 15 h at from 30 to 45° C., preferably from 35 to 37° C., the ? crystalline form is converted to the ? crystalline form. The ? crystalline form can also be obtained by stirring the ? or ? crystalline form at from 33 to 38° C. in tert.-butyl methyl ether containing from 0.9 to 1.4% (v/v) water with seeding with the ? crystalline form.

Abstract: The invention under consideration concerns novel high-molecular-weight polyazoles, which are suitable for the production of fibers, films, membranes, and molded articles, on the basis of their high molecular weight, expressed as intrinsic viscosity, of at least 1.3 dl/g. Moreover, the invention under consideration describes a method for the production of high-molecular-weight polyazoles.

Abstract: A sewing thread comprising a first yarn that is a filament yarn made or a fire resistant polymer and a second yarn that is a synthetic and/or natural yarn. The sewing thread may also contain a third yarn that is a synthetic and/or natural yarn. The first, second, and third yarns each have a first twist in the same direction. The first, second, and third yarns are then combined to form the sewing thread using a second twist which is in the opposite direction of the first twist. No bonding agent is used in the sewable, fire resistant thread.

Abstract: A method for producing a microporous material comprising the steps of: providing an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE); providing a filler; providing a processing plasticizer; adding the filler to the UHMWPE in a mixture being in the range of from about 1:9 to about 15:1 filler to UHMWPE by weight; adding the processing plasticizer to the mixture; extruding the mixture to form a sheet from the mixture; calendering the sheet; extracting the processing plasticizer from the sheet to produce a matrix comprising UHMWPE and the filler distributed throughout the matrix; stretching the microporous material in at least one direction to a stretch ratio of at least about 1.5 to produce a stretched microporous matrix; and subsequently calendering the stretched microporous matrix to produce a microporous material which exhibits improved physical and dimensional stability properties over the stretched microporous matrix.

Abstract: A liquid is degassed with an apparatus including a membrane contactor, where the liquid is drawn through the apparatus by gravity.

Abstract: In the present invention, a nonionic surfactant is noticed for a function of dispersing a carbon nanotube, and it is found that a mixture solution of an amide-based organic solvent and a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or of the amide-based organic solvent, the nonionic surfactant, and the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) has an excellent function as a dispersant for the carbon nanotube. Ultrasonication is required for dispersing a carbon nanotube in the dispersant. The ultrasonication may be carried out in the step of dispersing the carbon nanotube in the nonionic surfactant and/or the amide-based polar organic solvent, and then the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) may be mixed with the resultant dispersion. Alternatively, a mixture solution of the nonionic surfactant and/or the amide-based polar organic solvent, and the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is prepared, and then the ultrasonication may be carried out in the step of dispersing the carbon nanotube therein.

Abstract: The instant application relates to an X-ray sensitive battery separator for a secondary lithium battery and a method for detecting the position of a separator in a secondary lithium battery. The X-ray sensitive battery separator includes a microporous membrane having an X-ray detectable element. The X-ray detectable element constitutes less than 0.1% by weight of the microporous membrane. The method for detecting the position of a separator in a battery includes the following steps: (1) providing a battery including an X-ray sensitive battery separator; (2) subjecting the battery to X-ray radiation; and (3) thereby detecting the position of said separator in said battery.

Abstract: A method of making a skirt which comprises: providing a silicone sheet having a tab and a plurality of cut strands, applying an adhesive to the first side and rolling the first side of the silicone sheet about a non-stick whipping to form a skirt insert. A cap is provided where the cap is tubular having a first open end and a closed second end, the second end has an orifice and a tubular portion having an inside surface. An adhesive is applied to the inside surface of the tubular portion. The skirt insert is then inserted into the open end of the cap to form a skirt and the non-stick whipping is inserted through the orifice of the cap. The adhesive on the skirt insert and the cap is then cured to form a skirt. After curing the non-stick whipping is removed form the skirt.

Abstract: The instant invention is a mechanical pencil. The pencil includes a body having a cavity and a lead holding mechanism located in the cavity. The lead holding mechanism includes a pair of arms joined together by a bridge. Each arm terminates with a pair of fingers. The fingers close together when the lead holding mechanism is recessed into the cavity. The fingers open when the lead holding mechanism is advanced out of the cavity.

Abstract: A membrane contactor includes a housing, a stack of membrane mats, and a cap. The housing has a closed end and an open end. The closed end includes an outlet port. The cap is united to the open end and includes an inlet port. A stack of membrane mats is within the housing stacked substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing. Each membrane mat has a plurality of hollow fiber members. A potting material bonds the membrane mats to each other and simultaneously bonds one end of the stack to the closed end and bonds the other end of the stack to the cap. The potting material forms an internal chamber and at least one external chamber within the housing. The hollow fiber members extend through the potting material from the internal chamber into the external chambers. The inlet port and the outlet port are in communication with the internal chamber. At least one side port is in communication with the external chambers.

Abstract: The instant invention is a hollow fiber membrane contactor. The hollow fiber membrane contactor includes a cartridge, a shell, a first end cap, and a second end cap. The shell, which is adapted for enclosing the cartridge, has two ends and an opening. The cartridge further includes a perforated center tube, a hollow fiber fabric, a first tube sheet, a second tube sheet, and a plug. The perforated center tube has a first end and a second end, and the hollow fiber fabric surrounds the center tube. The hollow fiber fabric includes hollow fiber membranes, and each hollow fiber membrane has a lumen. A first tube sheet and a second tube sheet affixes said fabric to said center tube at each end of the center tube, and the plug is located at the first tube sheet. Hollow fiber lumens are open at the first tube sheet and hollow fiber lumens are closed at the second tube sheet. The first end cap and the first tube sheet define a first headspace therebetween.

Abstract: A method for preparing a catalyst comprising the steps of: providing a gold-silver alloy article, removing the silver from the article by immersing the article in a de-alloying solution to form a nanoporous gold (NPG) article with a plurality of nanopores followed by cleaning the surface of the NPG article and removing the de-alloying solution from the nanopores with deionized water. An electrode is attached to the NPG article and a monoatomic layer/lower layer of copper, silver, or lead, is deposited onto the surface of and within the nanopores of the NPG article by immersing the NPG article in an ion solution to form an M-NPG article. The M-NPG article is removed from the ion solution and the monoatomic/lower layer is replaced with platinum ions by immersing the M-NPG article into a platinum ion solution followed by cleaning the electrode and the NPG-Pt article with deionized water.

Abstract: The invention is a process for treatment of brown grease, where the brown grease comprises water, food solids and free-oil. This process starts with the collection of the brown grease into a container. The brown grease's pH is adjusted with a chemical treatment to produce an adjusted brown grease phase. To the adjusted brown grease phase an anionic copolymer treatment mixture is added along with a cationic copolymer to form a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture reacts for a period of time, and during this time wastewater is discharged from the reaction mixture to produce resulting solids. The resulting solids are then transferred from the container for disposal or are processed further into a fuel or soil additive.

Abstract: A hollow fiber cartridge includes a stack of hollow fiber mats. The stack has a major axis and two end faces. Each mat is substantially perpendicular to the axis. An end cap is united to each end face.