Abstract: Metal oxide and metal oxide-silica nanoparticles are disclosed wherein the surfaces thereof are complexed with a polymerizable, biocompatible, heterocyclic base. Polymerizable compositions are prepared by loading such nanoparticles into acrylate based monomer matrices, which compositions can then be photocured into X-ray opaque, transparent or translucent solids. Methods are disclosed for forming such complexed nanoparticles and compositions and for using such compositions as medical or dental restoratives.

Abstract: An amorphous carbon film, preferably disposed on and substantially filling the pores in a porous anodized aluminum outer surface, wherein the amorphous carbon film comprises as an integral component an effective amount of a lubricity-increasing agent, preferably sulfur.

Abstract: There are disclosed amphoteric nano-sized metal oxide particles functionalized with silyl esters of a phosphonate and composites thereof with an acrylate-based monomer, including liquid crystal monomers photopolymerizable at ambient temperature. Also disclosed are the method making such functionalized particular by reacting a metal oxide with a silyl ester of a phosphonate in the presence of a non-aqueous solvent and in an inert atmosphere and the method of making the composites wherein the functionalized particles are admixed with an acrylate-based matrix monomer, including liquid crystal monomers photopolymerizable at ambient temperature. Further disclosed is the method of dental repair wherein the composites are applied to a tooth and photopolymerized.

Abstract: A drilling fluid system comprising a brine and a quantity of cationic copolymers comprising a ratio of acrylamide monomers to cationic derivatives of acrylamide monomers, wherein the quantity and the ratio are effective to maintain effective rheology and fluid loss control in said drilling fluid system at temperatures of at least about 250° C. for at least about 16 hours.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing precursor polymers which decompose to a substantially pure refractory metal carbide or refractory metal boride. The method comprises mixing a transition metal compound with either (a) an organometallic, or (b) a backbone polymer comprising a plurality of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds. The mixing occurs under conditions effective to form organo-transition metal complexes The organometallic (a), comprises either a borane, a carborane, or an organometallic comprising a metal and at least one unsaturated carbon-carbon bond. When an organometallic (a) is used, the transition metal complexes must be polymerized to form the precursor polymers. When a backbone polymer (b) is used, the transition metal complexes, themselves, comprise the precursor polymers. The refractory metal carbides or metal borides formed upon decomposition of these precursor polymers may be used to make ceramic matrix composites and high temperature coatings.

Abstract: A thermal barrier protective coating composition having a thickness sufficient to protect a metal surface against heat, vibration, corrosive, and environmental damage and a method for making the same. The coating composition comprises polymerizable spray-dried hydrated sodium silicate powder, a forming agent, and lightweight ceramic microspheres is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for removing contaminants from an article using a supercritical or near supercritical solvent fluid held at substantially constant pressure in a pressure vessel. The article to be cleaned is first contacted with a solvent fluid in which the contaminant is soluble at a first supercritical or near-supercritical temperature. The contaminant-containing fluid is then cooled or heated to a second supercritical or near supercritical temperature to lower the solubility of the contaminant in the supercritical fluid and thereby precipitate or phase separate the contaminant. The contaminant is then recovered. Movement of the solvent fluid within the pressure vessel is preferably by convection induced by heating and cooling means in the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant, the coating comprising an antimicrobially effective amount of antimicrobial metal atoms incorporated into a coating of amorphous carbonaceous material.

Abstract: A drilling fluid and method of using same. The drilling fluid comprises water as a continuous phase, an amount of calcium chloride, and a quantity of a polyacrylamide copolymer. The amount of calcium chloride and the quantity of polyacrylamide copolymer in the drilling fluid are sufficient to produce a rate of penetration approaching that achieved using a synthetic oil-based drilling fluid while preventing substantial screen blinding. In a preferred embodiment, the continuous phase also comprises a second amount of a monovalent salt effective to increase gas hydrate suppression and decrease density when compared to a fluid consisting essentially of only a divalent salt in the absence of the monovalent salt.

Abstract: A process for inactivating viruses in blood and blood products in which a phenothiazine dye is added to the blood or blood product, and then irradiated with light. The use of a very small concentration of phenothiazine dye avoids any substantial adverse effects on the blood or blood products. Inactivation of the virus is effected by irradiation of the blood or blood product. After irradiation, the dye can be separated from the blood or blood product by a dye adsorbing agent.

Abstract: A method making sulfhydryl scavenging agents with reduced water content comprising treating the sulfhydryl scavenging agent to remove water. The sulfyhydryl scavenging agent preferably comprises an —N—C—N— moiety produced by condensation of an alkanolamine with an aldehyde. Preferred sulfhydryl scavenging agents are bisoxazolidines.

Abstract: A method for protecting integrity of a core sample during transport from a subterranean formation to the surface comprising: cutting a core sample from the subterranean formation using a drilling fluid; encapsulating the core sample with an encapsulating material that is separate from the drilling fluid and comprises a property which renders the encapsulating material capable of protecting the chemical integrity of the core sample during transport from the subterranean formation to the surface, wherein the property is other than a property selected from the group consisting of a viscosity which increases in response to a decrease in temperature and an ability to solidify in response to a decrease in temperature; and, transporting the encapsulated core sample from the subterranean formation to the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to pumpable heat transfer compositions wherein a solid polymeric porous structure having absorbed therein a polar or non-polar phase change material is incorporated with a heat transfer carrier liquid, with the phase change material being present in an amount sufficient to increase the heat capacity and/or heat transfer coefficient of the carrier liquid. The invention also relates to the method of increasing the heat capacity and/or heat transfer coefficient of a heat transfer carrier liquid by adding thereto a solid polymeric porous structure having absorbed therein a polar or non-polar phase change material.

Abstract: There are disclosed amphoteric nano-sized metal oxide particles functionalized with silyl esters of a phosphonate and composites thereof with an acrylate-based monomer, including liquid crystal monomers photopolymerizable at ambient temperature. Also disclosed are the method making such functionalized particular by reacting a metal oxide with a silyl ester of a phosphonate in the presence of a non-aqueous solvent and in an inert atmosphere and the method of making the composites wherein the functionalized particles are admixed with an acrylate-based matrix monomer, including liquid crystal monomers photopolymerizable at ambient temperature. Further disclosed is the method of dental repair wherein the composites are applied to a tooth and photopolymerized.

Abstract: A silicate drilling fluid having effective rheology and filtration control properties comprising water as a continuous phase wherein hematite is used as a weighting agent and manganese oxide is used as a bridging agent. The drilling fluids uses a minimal number of components, which includes a salt, preferably sodium chloride, water-soluble polymers for viscosification and filtration control, and a glycol for shale stabilization and filtration control.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating marine cuttings, preferably in situ, so that the cuttings can be discharged back into marine waters without causing oxygen depletion of marine sediment. In a preferred embodiment, the treatment emulsifies and then encapsulates free hydrocarbons in the marine cuttings.

Abstract: A method of forming titanium boronitride coatings using ion beam assisted deposition. The method involves exposing the substrate to a vacuum, depositing titanium onto the substrate, substantially simultaneously exposing the substrate to a source comprising boron and nitrogen, and substantially simultaneously bombarding the substrate with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form a quantity of titanium-boron bonds and a quantity of titanium-nitrogen bonds effective to produce a titanium boronitride coating having a hardness of at least about 5000 kg/mm2.

Abstract: Zirconium oxide nanoparticles having at least some surface acid sites functionalized with a silanating agent and at least some surface acid sites finctionalized with zirconate or a zircoaluminate. The nanoparticles are useful in composites comprising photopolymerizable alkene matrix monomers, and are primarily suitable for dental and medical restoration.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for modifying surfaces made from metal alloy and/or UHMWPE, preferably surfaces which are frictionally engaged, e.g., in an orthopaedic implant. The methods of the present invention reduce the coefficient of friction of the metal alloy component, reduce the shearing of fibrils from the UHMWPE component, and reduce sub-surface fatigue in the UHMWPE component. The method involves solvent immersion of the UHMWPE component to remove short chains of polyethylene at or near the surface of the component, and to swell and toughen the subsurface of the component. The method also involves firmly coating the surface of the metal alloy component with an adherent layer of diamond-like carbon (“DLC”) by creating a metal-silicide interface at the surface of the metal alloy to permit firmer adhesion of DLC.

Abstract: The present invention provides for faster and stronger tissue-implant bonding by treating a ceramic implant with an ion beam to modify the surface of the ceramic. The surface modification can give the ceramic improved ion-exchange properties depending upon the particular ceramic and the type of ions used. In a preferred embodiment, a bioactive ceramic orthopaedic, dental, or soft tissue implant is bombarded with a beam of cations. When implanted in the body, the surface modification causes an increase in the release of critical ions, such as calcium or phosphorus, from the surface of the ceramic implant, and thereby accelerates implant-tissue bond formation.