Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical contact which comprises a substantially rigid electrically conductive body and a substantially flexible contacting portion electrically connected thereto. The contacting portion includes a first segment of insulative material and a second segment of conductive material secured to a selected area on the first segment. The contact is ideally suited for use within a zero force printed circuit board connector, said connector also disclosed.

Abstract: Spherical particulates containing inorganic material are produced by forming a slurry of particles in an aqueous solution of a gellable organic binder, introducing droplets of the slurry into a two-phase liquid containing an upper hydrophobic phase for forming and maintaining the droplets in spherical form, and a lower ionic phase containing divalent or trivalent metal cations for promoting gellation of the organic binder, thereby converting the slurry droplets into substantially self-supporting spheres of particles dispersed in the gelled binder. Upon separation from the two-phase liquid and one or more optional heat treatments to remove the binder, to convert precursors into the desired final inorganic form, or to strengthen or densify the spheres, such spheres are useful, for example, as starting materials for single crystal growth from a melt.

Abstract: Plasma flame spray coatings exhibiting improved hardness and wear resistance are produced from flame spray powders comprising spray dried agglomerates of finely divided molybdenum and alumina powder subparticles, wherein the diameters of the agglomerates are at least two times the maximum diameter of the subparticles.