Abstract: This invention is directed to an electrorheological fluid which comprises nonconductive particulate susceptible to ionic and electronic polarization dispersed in a nonconductive fluid. The nonconductive particulate are a phenoxy organometallic salt. This salt is the reaction product of an esentially stoichiometric amount of phenoxy salt soluble or dispersible in a liquid and a divalent metal salt. The phenoxy salt can be made by reacting diphenol material with active metal or active metal hydroxide.

Abstract: Nitrogen doped polymeric carbon is prepared by reacting stannic chloride with a primary amine at an elevated temperature. The process is useful for coating glass to make reduced solar energy transmittance automotive and architectural glazings.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for oxidizing hydrocarbons in gases exhausted from an internal combustion engine 10. The method comprises passing exhaust gases, during initial operation of the engine, through a hydrocarbon trap 24, where the hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases are adsorbed before the gases are exhausted into the atmosphere. After a catalyst 16 is heated to the light-off temperature for hydrocarbons, the gases are prevented from passing through the hydrocarbon trap 24 and are passed through the catalyst 16 before being exhausted into the atmosphere. When the engine 10 speed is at steady state, such that the oxidation of hydrocarbons by the catalyst 16 is at peak efficiency, a portion of the gases exiting the catalyst 16 is diverted to pass through and flush hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon trap 24 while the remaining gas is exhausted into the atmosphere. The diverted gases containing the flushed hydrocarbons desorbed from the hydrocarbon trap 24 are then passed through the catalyst 16.

Abstract: The invention discloses internal combustion engines, particularly compression ignition engines such as diesel engines, having reduced nitrogen oxide emissions with concurrent reductions in particulate emissions. The invention provides a catalyst impregnated prechamber insert which operates in the fuel rich environments of internal combustion engines to reduce nitrous oxides.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for monitoring catalytic converter efficiency in treating exhaust gas, for example from an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. In a dual closed loop fuel control system having switch-type exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensors located upstream and downstream of the catalytic converter, the number of times the downstream EGO sensor switches from rich to lean and/or visa versa is compared to the number of times the upstream EGO sensor switches during normal system operation over the course of a test period. A catalytic converter efficiency value is determined by calculating the ratio of the switching frequencies. The impact of the speed and load dependence of the downstream EGO sensor switching frequency can be reduced by a normalizing effect of the frequency ratio calculation. The efficiency value is compared to a stored value predetermined to correspond to a minimum acceptable efficiency of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: The electrochemical device and method measures the relative amount of a measurement gas consisting essentially of at least one oxygen containing gas in a gas mixture containing at least a second oxygen containing gas which is capable of being pumped out or disassociated at a voltage less than that which is capable of disassociating the measurement gas. The mixture may comprise, e.g., O.sub.2, CO.sub.2, and H.sub.2 O. Two electrochemical pump cells and a support structure form a restricted volume in communication through an aperture to the gas mixture. The device comprises a first external electrical circuit means across a first pump cell for applying a voltage to cause molecules of substantially all second oxygen containing gas molecules inside the restricted volume to be pumped out from the restricted volume or disassociated.

Abstract: Fluorine-doped tungstic oxide is prepared by reacting together tungsten hexafluoride, an oxygen-containing compound, and a fluorine-containing compound.

Abstract: A novel process of sequentially mixing polymers comprisinga. mixing together and melt blending impact modifier and semicrystalline polymer to form a preblend, andb. mixing together and melt blending the preblend with amorphous polymer,and polymer compositions produced as a result of the novel process are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a selective combustible sensor having a pump cell and a sensor cell includes the steps of immersing the sensor in a gaseous atmosphere having at least two combustible gases and oxygen gas and allowing the gaseous atmosphere to enter a region between the pump cell and the sensor cell, applying a pumping current to the pump cell, sensing an e.m.f. (V.sub.s), across the sensor cell, varying at least either the V.sub.s or temperature to make the sensor insensitive to one of the combustible gases, and detecting the other combustible gases present in the gaseous atmosphere.

Abstract: A solid polymeric fast ion conducting layer for an electrochromic device is prepared by forming a plurality of partially cured fast ion conducting polymer spacers, inserting the spacers and additional fast ion conducting polymer between an electrochromic material layer and a counterelectrode, and fully curing the spacers and fast ion conducting polymer.

Abstract: Electrically conductive polythiopheneamine polymer networks are provided comprising conjugated crosslinks between polythiopheneamine polymer segments of the network. The network can be formed by crosslinking amine functional polythiopheneamine polymers, such as by crosslinking condensation reaction with conjugated polyketone crosslinkers. The amine functional polythiopheneamine polymers can be prepared by polymerization, such as by electropolymerization of amine functional thiophene monomers (the amine functionality generally being protected during polymerization) and, optionally, suitable conjugated copolymerization monomers such as thiophene, pyrrole and/or amine functional pyrrole.

Abstract: Electrically conductive polypyrrolecarbonyl polymer networks are provided comprising conjugated crosslinks between polypyrrolecarbonyl polymer segments of the network. The network can be formed by crosslinking carbonyl functional polypyrrolecarbonyl polymers, such as by self-crosslinking condensation reaction or crosslinking condensation reaction with conjugated diylide and/or conjugated polyamine. The carbonyl functional polypyrrolecarbonyl polymers can be prepared by polymerization, such as by electropolymerization of carbonyl functional pyrrole monomers (the carbonyl functionality generally being protected during polymerization) and, optionally, suitable conjugated copolymerization monomers such as thiophene, pyrrole and/or carbonyl functional thiophene.

Abstract: A spark plug is provided for an internal combustion engine and includes a center electrode having a combustion chamber end and a ceramic insulator having an end portion over which an ablative coating is formed for removing contaminants deposited thereon. The ablative coating is capable of ablating completely during sustained operation of the spark plug.

Abstract: Glazing article comprises a substrate bearing a substantially transparent coating comprising an optically functional layer and a thinner anti-iridescence layer undercoat mediate the optically functional layer and the substrate. The anti-iridescence layer eliminates or substantially reduces iridescence and, in addition, is readily designed to make the overall coating colorless or to provide a substantially uniform, muted color. The anti-iridescence layer comprises a high refractive index zone on the substrate, having a refractive index higher than that of the substrate. Multiple gradient step zones are stacked on the high refractive index zone, including a low refractive index zone. A second gradient step zone having a refractive index higher than that of the first gradient step zone is positioned on the low refractive index zone, such that the low refractive index zone is directly sandwiched between the two higher refractive index zones.

Abstract: A plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method is provided for depositing an oxide film onto a substrate surface. Deposition is achieved even onto a surface of a glass or other relatively non-receptive substrate. A sub-film is deposited under plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition conditions more strongly favoring deposition, followed by deposition of the desired oxide film under second plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition conditions less strongly favoring deposition. High quality oxide films can be achieved by deposition at second plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition conditions only marginally favoring deposition over etching.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for forming coatings comprising light metal fluorides on a substrate. More particularly, the coating comprising light metal fluorides is preferably made using sol-gel techniques and may comprise a concentration gradient of the light metal fluorides across the thickness of the coating to provide it with unique anti-reflective properties.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining the hydrocarbon conversion efficiency of a catalytic converter used in conjunction with an internal combustion (IC) engine to reduce the pollutants contained in the IC exhaust gas comprising the steps of: (a) determining the hydrocarbon content of the IC exhaust gas prior to its entry into the catalytic converter by sampling the exhaust and passing the sample to a catalytic differential calorimetric sensor; (b) contacting the catalyst in the converter with the IC exhaust; (c) determining the hydrocarbon content of the exhaust leaving the catalytic converter by sampling the exhaust and passing the sample to the catalytic differential calorimetric sensor; and (d) comparing the hydrocarbon contents of the exhaust samples from steps (a) and (c) and thereby determining the hydrocarbon conversion efficiency of the catalyst in the converter.

Abstract: Apparatus, method and system are provided for monitoring catalytic converter efficiency in treating exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. The air/fuel ratio fed to the engine is perturbed on a cylinder-to-cylinder basis above and below a mean or average air/fuel ratio. The signal from an exhaust gas exposed to the exhaust gas sensor downstream of the converter for the perturbation interval is compared to the signal for a non-perturbation interval. A signal is generated when the comparison indicates catalytic converter efficiency below a minimum acceptable level. The comparison may be carried out by comparing the difference in the mean value of the EGO sensor output signal for the perturbation and non-perturbation intervals to a preselected and stored reference value corresponding to the minimum acceptable efficiency. The efficiency monitoring test system may be incorporated into fuel control means for controlling air/fuel ratio during normal engine operation.

Abstract: In order to mold structural components where a resin is introduced into a mold containing a fibrous preform 24, the mold or tool halves 10, 12 are made as shells and have individually controllable heating circuits 34, 38, 52 around the mold surface. Different parts of the mold can therefore be held at different temperatures in order to ensure adequate resin flow to wet the whole of the preform.

Abstract: A blue glass composition is disclosed. This blue glass composition is based on a standard formulation for soda/lime silica glass, except that neither the basic glass composition nor the coloring components therefor contains nickel. The blue glass color is developed by using coloring components consisting essentially of 0.3-0.6% Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.004-0.008% .[.Co.sub.3 O.sub.4 .]. .Iadd.Co, .Iaddend.and is a neutral blue having a dominant wavelength of 482 nm.+-.1 nm, color purity of 13%.+-.1% and transmission (T) equal to at least 54%.+-.1% using Illuminant C (corrected to 0.25 inch glass thickness).