Abstract: A multicell holder e.g. a honeycomb or plate, or a collection of individual support particles, is treated with solutions/suspensions of catalyst ingredients to produce cells, spots or pellets holding each of a variety of combinations of the ingredients, is dried, calcined or treated as necessary to stabilize the ingredients in the cells, spots or pellets, then is contacted with a potentially reactive feed stream or batch e.g., biochemical, gas oil, hydrogen plus oxygen, propylene plus oxygen, CC12F2 and hydrogen, etc. The reaction occurring in each cell can be measured, e.g. by infrared thermography, spectroscopic detection of products or residual reactants, or by sampling, e.g. by multistreaming through low volume tubing, from the vicinity of each combination, followed by analysis e.g. spectral analysis, chromatography etc, or by observing temperature change in the vicinity of the catalyst e.g. by thermographic techniques, to determine the relative efficacy of the catalysts in each combination.

Abstract: Producing of near net shape carbon (optionally carbon--carbon composite) pistons and other artifacts by sintering (with or without carbon fibers, preferably pitch-based carbon fibers and most preferably blends of vapor grown carbon fibers(VGCF)) homogeneous powders derived from petroleum pitch. The powders preferably exhibit properties equal to or exceeding those of POCO AXF-5Q. Preferred specific technical steps are substantially as follows:1. Individually prepare, by evaporation, heat treating and/or oxidizing of carbon-containing pitches, followed by oxidizing, comminuting and/or spray drying, to produce sinterable pitch powders (and optionally create uniform dryblends of pitch powder with various fractions of vapor-grown or other carbon fiber.)2. Produce near net shape carbon--carbon artifacts, such as cup shapes which are convertible to internal-combustion (i-c) pistons with minimal machining, by pressing or injecting into molds, then sintering and carbonizing. Both uniaxially (e.g.