Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for producing rapid setting cement and to the compositions produced therefrom. The setting time of hydraulic cement compositions comprising Portland cement and fly ash can be accelerated by controlling the pH of an activator slurry used in the composition. The pH of the activator slurry is controlled by non-stoichiometrically balancing the accelerating salts therein such that the activator slurry is alkaline, or having a pH greater than 7. The slurry activator of the present invention generally includes a base component, an acid component, and water. The base component can include any basic alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxide, or a salt of the acid component. The acid component may include a hydroxycarboxylic acid, preferably citric acid. Mortar and concrete compositions can be prepared with this hydraulic cement wherein the compositions can achieve high strengths in a short time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to producing cobalt having a low oxygen and a low oxide inclusion content for use as a sputter target thereby reducing the arcing and metal defects during sputtering commonly associated with high-oxygen cobalt sputter targets. Notably, the method for reducing the oxygen content and the oxide inclusion content in cobalt are separate processes which may be combined in successive order to procuce a low-oxygen cobalt sputter target having a low oxide inclusion content. The reduction in oxygen content preferably is performed prior to reducing the oxide inclusion content. Accordingly, the artisan will appreciate that one process can be performed without the other depending upon whether a reduction in oxygen or oxide inclusions is preferred in a desired cobalt sputter target.

Abstract: A marine wet exhaust system (10) which injects water into the exhaust flow for cooling and attenuating noise includes a particulate capture and containment system (14) for removing particulates and fluid contaminants from the exhaust gas and the waste cooling water of the discharge. With a first embodiment, this is accomplished by separating the waste cooling water and entrained particulates from the exhaust gas in a muffler/separator (912); accumulating the waste cooling water and entrained particulates in a reservoir (52); and separating the entrained particulates from the waste cooling water in a filter (50). The system further includes a reservoir discharge pump assembly (54), a reservoir drain line (86) and a bleed line (74) to maintain water levels in the reservoir and the filter. With a second embodiment, a condensate trap (56) separates particulates and condensates from the de-watered exhaust gas and returns them to the reservoir (52).