Abstract: A high power magnetostrictive transducer element comprising a material of the formula TbxDyyHozFe2−w wherein 0.24≦x≦0.28, 0.52≦y≦0.56, 0.13≦z≦0.22, x+y+z=1, and 0≦w≦0.20 and wherein the material is prestressed by a compressive force of from about 5 to about 100 MPa.

Abstract: A method of determining the concentration of a sample antigen in the presence of an interferant by (1) running two immunoassays on the sample: one assay where the interferant influences the binding of both the sample antigen and a labeled antigen and a second assay where the interferant influences the binding of the sample antigen but not the labeled antigen; (2) obtaining a plot of the possible sample antigen concentrations versus the possible interferant concentrations corresponding to the readout for the sample for each of the two immunoassays; and (3) determining the sample antigen concentration and the interferant concentration which correspond to the point that appears on both of the immunoassay plots.

Abstract: A method of determining the concentration of a sample antigen in the presence of an interferant by(1) running two immunoassays on the sample: one assay where the interferant influences the binding of both the sample antigen and a labeled antigen and a second assay where the interferant influences the binding of the sample antigen but not the labeled antigen;(2) obtaining a plot of the possible sample antigen concentrations versus the possible interferant concentrations corresponding to the readout for the sample for each of the two immunoassays; and(3) determining the sample antigen concentration and the interferant concentration which correspond to the point that appears in both the immunoassays plots.

Abstract: Ceramic composites of silicon carbide (SiC) grains and boron carbide (B.s4 C) grains which are uniformly coated with SiC are produced by reacting stoichiometric mixtures of silicon boride (SiB.sub.4, SiB.sub.6) and carbon (graphite or carbon black) in situ.

Abstract: A plasticizer-free propellant for inflating passenger airbags in vehicles mprising from about 78 to about 90 weight percent of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and from about 10 to about 22 weight percent of a plasticizer-free polymer binder formed by curing a mixture of a polyoctenamer and a polymer comprising an acrylate polymer or a methacrylate polymer having a glass transition temperature of -30.degree. C. or lower and 0.01 to 5 weight percent based on the total amount of the monomers, of a crosslinking monomer having two or more double bonds of substantially the same reactivity in the molecule or one double bond and a crosslinking functional group such as an epoxide ring, a hydroxyl group, or a carbonyl group. This propellant is useful in hybrid inflators for air/safety bags in vehicles.

Abstract: A liquid monopropellant having(1) from about 10 to about 80 weight percent of an substituted ammonium nate which is methylammonium nitrate, dimethylammonium nitrate, trimethylammonium nitrate, ethylammonium nitrate, diethylammonium nitrate, n-propylammonium nitrate, isopropylammonium nitrate, ethanolammonium nitrate, diethanolammonium nitrate, triethanolammonium nitrate, or mixtures thereof,(2) from about 5 to about 60 weight percent of ammonium nitrate, and(3) from about 5 to about 50 weight percent of water.A second embodiment of this invention is a monopropellant in which ammonium nitrate is omitted and from about 60 to about 95 weight percent of the substituted ammonium nitrate and from about 5 to about 40 weight percent of water is used.

Abstract: A method of preventing thermite reactions during the high temperature incineration (slag temperature greater than 1200.degree. C.) of waste material streams containing aluminum and iron (steel) by mixing a low melting SiO.sub.2 containing material such as water glass or a mixture of sand with NaHCO.sub.3 or Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 with the waste material.

Abstract: A liquid oxidizer for propellants or explosives comprising nitric acid (Hsub.3), ammonium nitrate (NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3), and water.

Abstract: A ceramic, metal, or metal alloy surface is covered with lithium permangae which is then thermally decomposed to produce a corrosion resistant coating on the surface. This coating serves as a primer coating which is preferably covered with an overcoat of a sealing paint.

Abstract: A melt cast explosive containing bis(2,2-dinitropropyl)fumarate or 2,2-diropropyl-4,4-dinitropentanoate and a metal fuel such as aluminum, magnesium, boron, hafnium, zirconium or alloys or mixtures thereof. An inert thermoplastic elastomer diluent may be added to improve the strength of the explosive.

Abstract: A shock resistant dielectric material comprising TiO.sub.2 particles disped in a matrix material which is (1) the polyurea reaction product of a poly(tetramethylene ether)glycol-di-p-aminobenzoate prepolymer and an aromatic diisocyanate or (2) a blend of the polyurea reaction product and a cyanate ester homopolymer of bis(4-cyanatophenyl)-1,1-ethane.

Abstract: A shock resistant dielectric material comprising TiO.sub.2 particles disped in a matrix material which is (1) the polyurea reaction product of a poly(tetramethylene ether)glycol-di-p-aminobenzoate prepolymer and an aromatic diisocyanate or (2) a blend of the polyurea reaction product and a cyanate ester homopolymer of bis(4-cyanatophenyl)-1,1-ethane.

Abstract: Ceramic composites of silicon carbide (SiC) grains and boron carbide (B.s4 C) grains which are uniformly coated with SiC are produced by reacting stoichiometric mixtures of silicon boride (SiB.sub.4, SiB.sub.6) and carbon (graphite or carbon black) in situ.

Abstract: A process for preparing energetic materials by (1) dissolving a vinylidenuoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer in a ketone that is acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, or mixtures thereof, (2) adding polytetrafluoroethylene particles and reactive metal (magnesium, aluminum, or their alloys) particles to form a slurry, (3) adding CO.sub.2 to the slurry to precipitate out the copolymer which then coats the polytetrafluoroethylene and reactive metal particles, and (4) separating the copolymer-coated particles from the ketone and CO.sub.2.

Abstract: A patterned multiple antibody substrate for use in biosensors or immunosensors is produced by (1) coating an antibody-adsorbent substrate with a material that resists antibody adsorption, (2) using ion beam sputtering, laser ablation, or mechanical scribing to remove the coating at specific sites on the substrate, and then (3) adsorbing specific antibodies at the sites. The substrate is capable of detecting multiple chemical species simultaneously.

Abstract: Silver metal-coated boron carbide (B.sub.4 C) particle reinforce aluminumthium alloy or magnesium-lithium matrix composites which are prepared by coating the B.sub.4 C particles with molten AgNO.sub.3, decomposing the molten AgNO.sub.3 to form a coating of silver metal on the B.sub.4 C particles, mixing the silver coated B.sub.4 C particles into a molten aluminum-lithium alloy or magnesium-lithium alloy matrix, allowing the mixture to cool and solidify the solid composite.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition process comprising reacting HfCl.sub.4 with Bsub.3 and SiCl.sub.4 with BCl.sub.3 on a surface heated at 1100.degree. C. to 1300.degree. C. in a vacuum to produce a two phase HfB.sub.2 -SiB.sub.4 ceramic coating on the surface, wherein the HfCl.sub.4, SiCl.sub.4, and BCl.sub.3 reactants are deposited onto the heated surface from a vapor phase, and wherein H.sub.2 is used to dissociate the HfCl.sub.4, SiCl.sub.4 and BCl.sub.3 molecules.

Abstract: A method for propelling a projectile by applying a high power pulse of elrical current to a metal fuel element (of Al, Al-Li, or Al-Mg) causing the element to explode dispersing molten metal fuel into water with which it reacts to rapidly generate hydrogen gas at high pressure; the hydrogen gas is used to push the projectile. After the peak current is reached, an inductive electrical energy source drives the electrical current into the molten metal fuel/water mixture thus driving the reaction to completion.

Abstract: Liquid oxidizer comprising an aqueous solution of hydroxyl ammonium nitrate nd a nitrate salt that is ammonium nitrate or hydrazine mononitrate.

Abstract: A process for producing high bulk density spheroidal nitroguanidine by fong a solution of from 2 to 9 weight percent of nitroguanidine, 0.5 to 2.0 weight percent of methylcellulose, and 0.5 to 2.0 weight percent of partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) in water at a temperature of from 50.degree. C. to 100.degree. C., and then cooling the solution at a rate of from I to 20.degree. C./minute until the solution temperature is less than 40.degree. C.