Abstract: This invention concerns a mixture of a first component selected from talcs and a second component selected from feldspars and nepheline syenites, wherein the ratio of the first component to the second component provides an enhanced abrasiveness property. The invention further relates to an antiblock agent made from such mixture. This mixture provides favorable optical properties when used in a polyolefin film. This invention also relates to a polyolefin resin composition having the mixture therein, as well as to films made with such.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a paper coated with a coating pigment for rotogravure printing, and to a method for preparing such a paper. In addition, the invention relates to a method for the preparation of an aragonitic calcium carbonate pigment for coating paper that is useful in rotogravure printing. The present invention also relates to precipitated calcium carbonate particles having an aspect ratio of from about 3:1 to about 15:1, preferably from about 4:1 to about 7:1, and a multimodal particle size distribution, which is preferably bimodal or trimodal. Preferably, the aragonitic precipitated calcium carbonate is present in an amount from about 20 percent to about 100 percent by weight. Typically, the aragonitic precipitated calcium carbonate has a specific surface area of from about 4 m.sup.2 /g to about 15 m.sup.2 /g, preferably from about 5 m.sup.2 /g to about 7 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: An improved thermal ink jet recording paper, incorporating heat aged precipitated calcium carbonate ("PCC") and a binder, is disclosed. Heat aging the PCC in the presence of an organophosphonate produces discrete particles of PCC with a surface morphology and chemistry that enhances the ability of the PCC to bind to ink jet ink without binding so strongly that the color of the ink is changed. Ink jet recording papers incorporating the PCC and binders of the present invention have reduced feathering, spreading, and penetration or backside showthrough, as well as improved optical density, dry time, and water fastness.

Abstract: A field control system for a wound rotor synchronous motor-generator used in electrically powered automobiles is capable of optimizing the performance of the motor-generator for all driving conditions. Using a rotary transformer to transmit power across the rotational boundary, it has no wearing parts and is silent. Preferably, the field control system has common elements with the controller which generates the stator currents of the synchronous motor-generator.

Abstract: A flywheel support system isolates the flywheel (11) and its motor-generator (21) from the driving environment of an electrically powered motor vehicle. A suitable liquid (9), placed between the outer (8) and vacuum (10) housings of the flywheel assembly, provides buoyancy and damping to the vacuum housing, cooling the motor-generator, and serves as one of the barriers to rotor energy and angular momentum transfer in the event of and accident or failure. During normal operation, a shearable mechanical gimbal system (80) keeps the vacuum housing centered in the outer housing, reacts the spin moments generated by the motor-generator, and provides a path for the electrical leads into the vacuum housing. In the event of bearing seizure or rotor failure, the mechanical gimbal will shear and allow the vacuum housing to gradually spin down against the fluid. A system of angular-contact oil-lubricated ball bearings (12, 13) supports the rotating assembly including the rotor (21b) of the motor-generator.

Abstract: A data compression technique includes a subband decomposition of a source image followed by coding of the coefficients of the resultant subband decomposition for storage and/or transmission. During coding, three ordered lists are used comprising a list of significant pixels (LSP), a list of insignificant pixels (LIP) and a list of insignificant sets of pixels (LIS). The pixels in the LIP are tested, and those that are significant at a current quantization level are moved to the LSP. Similarly, sets are sequentially evaluated following the LIS order, and when a set is found to be significant it is removed from the LIS and partitioned into new subsets. The new subsets with more than one element are added back to the end of the LIS, while the single-coordinate sets are added to the end of the LIP or to the end of the LSP, depending whether they are insignificant or significant, respectively.

Abstract: A method of recycling mineral pigments contained in the waste produced from the deinking of wastepaper. The deink residue is heated in an oxygen-containing atmosphere to a temperature sufficient to completely oxidize all the organic hydrocarbons present. Heat, water, and carbon dioxide also are generated and may be captured and reused in the process. Combustion causes a chemical reaction to occur, so that the original pigments contained in the deink residue are converted to new, stable mineral forms. The ash from the combustion is primarily a mixture of gehlenite (Ca.sub.2 Al.sub.2,SiO.sub.7), anorthite (CaAl.sub.2 Si.sub.2 O.sub.8) and perovskite (CaTiO.sub.3). The ash containing the mixed mineral phases is added to a reactor in which carbon dioxide gas is bubbled through an aqueous slurry of calcium hydroxide so that precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) is produced.

Abstract: A rack system utilizing a structural beam comprises an elongate central web section with a pair of spaced apart, elongate first leg sections integral with opposite side edges of the central web section to form a generally C-shaped cross-sectional shape; and, an elongate second leg section integral with the central web section on that side opposite the first leg sections and positioned intermediate the height of the central web section to support a decking member flush with the top of the structural beam.

Abstract: A process for the precipitation of discrete prismatic calcium carbonate particles by carbonation of aqueous calcium hydroxide containing a saccharide or polysaccharide or a saccaride or polysaccharide and a metal ion at temperatures of from about 8.degree. C. to about 64.degree. C. is disclosed. The resulting product has specific surface areas between about 10 m.sup.2 /g and about 120 m.sup.2 /g and is useful in paints, plastics, paper coating, paper filling, and pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: A bearing system for positioning and supporting a rotor having a vertical shaft coincident with a main rotation axis included in a flywheel used for energy storage and high surge power in vehicular applications includes first and second radial force generators disposed in a first plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotor, the first and second force generators including only electromagnets, third and fourth radial force generators disposed in a second plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotor, the third and fourth force generators including only electromagnets, and upper and lower axial force generators each containing an electromagnet and a permanent magnet. According to one aspect of the bearing system, each of the force generators includes control circuitry having simple and complex lead networks so as to permit the force generators to rapidly respond to vehicular transients while maintaining a desired bearing stiffness.

Abstract: Novel precipitated calcium carbonate particles in clustered form, which when used as fillers impart improved strength, opacity and other advantages to paper, are prepared by a process involving adding lime and carbon dioxide to a reaction mixture containing seed material having a scalenohedral morphology, the lime and carbon dioxide being added simultaneously. The flow rates of the lime and carbon dioxide are adjusted to control the solution conductivity of the reaction minute to between about 2.0 and about 4.0 mS to form the clusters of calcite particles, the clusters having an average equivalent spherical diameter of between about 1.5 and 3.5 microns and a specific surface area of between about 2.0 and 9.0 m.sup.2 /g. At least about 25% of the particles of said clusters have a prismatic form.

Abstract: A method for lowering the iron content of calcium carbonate is disclosed. The method involves addition of an iron chelating agent to an aqueous calcium carbonate slurry, reducing the pH of the aqueous calcium carbonate by employing carbon dioxide containing gas, while maintaining the aqueous calcium carbonate slurry at an elevated temperature. The slurry is stirred, filtered, washed and dried. The calcium carbonate product resulting from the process of the present invention has a reduced iron content.Calcium carbonate produced according to the method of this invention is particularly suitable for use as food or pharmaceutical additives and may also be useful as a filler in papermaking processes or as additives in plastic products.

Abstract: Novel precipitated calcium carbonate particles of varying size and shape, are prepared by adding gaseous carbon dioxide to an aqueous slurry containing basic calcium carbonate under a selectively controlled reaction environment. In its preferred embodiment precipitated calcium carbonate particles having a prismatic shape and an average equivalent spheroidal diameter of between about 1.5 and about 6.5 microns; large irregularly shaped particles having an average equivalent spherical diameter of between about 15 and about 25 microns; and multi-faceted spheroidal particles having an average equivalent spherical diameter of between 5 and about 15 microns, are provided. The reaction environment includes temperatures of between 0.degree. C. and 60.degree. C. and a surface active polyphosphate additive present in amounts of from about 0.1 and about 1.0 percent by weight.

Abstract: An improved thermal ink jet recording paper, incorporating heat aged precipitated calcium carbonate ("PCC") and a binder, is disclosed. Heat aging the PCC in the presence of an organophosphonate produces discrete particles of PCC with a surface morphology and chemistry that enhances the ability of the PCC to bind to ink jet ink without binding so strongly that the color of the ink is changed. Ink jet recording papers incorporating the PCC and binders of the present invention have reduced feathering, spreading, and penetration or backside showthrough, as well as improved optical density, dry time, and water fastness.

Abstract: A flywheel rotor used in a flywheel energy storage system providing a high energy storage capacity while providing an ample volume for a high power motor-generator within its envelope includes an outer, primarily cylindrical body having conically tapered end sections, a conical hub section attached to the outer body, and a relatively short inner cylinder, which cylinder connects shaft to the inner portion of the conical hub section. In an exemplary case, the individual components are predominantly constructed of filament wound fiber composites while allowing material choices to be driven by both cost and performance. According to one aspect of the rotor, the inner portion of the inner cylinder can be a slotted aluminum cylinder.

Abstract: In a shared process control system for a power train of a hybrid electric vehicle operating responsive to operation of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal and including a gas turbine powering a first motor-generator, a flywheel powering a second motor-generator, and a traction third motor-generator operatively coupled for selectively driving and being driven by vehicle wheels, each of the first, the second and the third motor-generators being commonly connected to a high voltage bus via respective rectifier-inverters controlled by a single controller, the control system is operated by a method including steps for operating of accelerator pedal to produce a substantially instantaneous increase in output torque with an increase in load on the bus by the traction motor to thereby produce a voltage drop, initiating increased power output from the flywheel motor-generator in response to the voltage drop to hold up bus voltage, thereby decreasing flywheel shaft speed, and subsequently producing a proportional in

Abstract: A flywheel rotor used in a flywheel energy storage system providing a high energy storage capacity while providing an ample volume for a high power motor-generator within its envelope includes an outer, primarily cylindrical body having conically tapered end sections, a conical hub section attached to the outer body, and a relatively short inner cylinder, which cylinder connects shaft to the inner portion of the conical hub section. In an exemplary case, the individual components are predominantly constructed of filament wound fiber composites while allowing material choices to be driven by both cost and performance. According to one aspect of the rotor, the inner portion of the inner cylinder can be a slotted aluminum cylinder.

Abstract: An external circuit that works in conjunction with the existing tank thermostatic controls to control both a water heating heat pump and the existing resistance elements in a water heater. The existing resistance elements are disabled to allow the heat pump to heat the water unless a large volume of hot water is quickly withdrawn whereupon the upper resistance element is re-enabled to heat the water for a faster recovery rate.

Abstract: Multi-stage polymer particles comprising at least one hydrophobically-modified, ionically-soluble polymer stage polymerized from a) hydrophobic monomer, b) ethylenically-unsaturated, ionizable monomer, c) non-ionic, ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and optionally d) multi-functional compound are improved thickeners.