Abstract: A two-stage bonding technique for bonding high density silicon nitride and other ceramic materials to stainless steel and other hard metals, and multilayered ceramic-metal composites prepared by the technique are disclosed. The technique involves initially slurry coating a surface of the ceramic material at about 1500.degree. C. in a vacuum with a refractory material and the stainless steel is then pressure bonded to the metallic coated surface by brazing it with nickel-copper-silver or nickel-copper-manganese alloys at a temperature in the range of about 850.degree. to 950.degree. C. in a vacuum. The two-stage bonding technique minimizes the temperature-expansion mismatch between the dissimilar materials.

Abstract: A device for testing a battery, particularly a small, portable battery, comprising a flexible, transparent substrate on which is deposited a narrow band of a black light absorbing material. A conductive material, which tapers outwardly in opposite directions from a central point to a pair of outer terminals, is then deposited atop the substrate on the same side of the substrate as the absorber layer. A layer of a cholesteric liquid crystal material is then deposited on the substrate on the opposite side from the black absorber layer. The conductive material is an epoxy cement-based conductor, preferably silver, printed or painted directly on to the substrate. An indicator scale is located along sections of the tapered conductive material. To test a dry cell battery, the terminal ends of the conductive material are placed in contact with the battery terminals, causing a current to flow which heats the conductive material, the heat generated being the most intense at the central point and radiating outwardly.

Abstract: A device for testing a battery, particularly a small, portable battery, comprising a flexible, transparent substrate on which is deposited a narrow band of a black light absorbing material. A conductive material, which may taper outwardly in opposite directions from a central point to a pair of outer terminals, is then deposited atop the substrate on the same side of the substrate as the absorber layer or on the opposite side of the substrate as the absorber layer. A layer of a cholesteric liquid crystal material is then deposited on the substrate on the opposite side from the black absorber layer or over the absorber layer. The conductive material is an epoxy cement-based conductor, preferably silver, printed or painted directly on to the substrate. An indicator scale is located along sections of the conductive material.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for coating a substrate with a uniformly smooth layer of a boron hydride polymer. The method comprises providing a reaction chamber which contains the substrate and the boron hydride plasma. A boron hydride feed stock is introduced into the chamber simultaneously with the generation of a plasma discharge within the chamber. A boron hydride plasma of ions, electrons and free radicals which is generated by the plasma discharge interacts to form a uniformly smooth boron hydride polymer which is deposited on the substrate.

Abstract: A chromatographic column is disclosed in which flow through the separating medium bed takes place horizontally. The column is packed with small, rigid, high performance separation medium. The fluid sample containing several components flows horizontally through the stationary phase or medium and is separated at least partially into discrete components. Means for providing even horizontal flow distribution of the sample fluid and for collection of the discrete components of the sample fluid are included. The stationary phase consists of a packed bed of high performance, small size particles of either (a) absorbants such as silica, alumina etc; (b) packing for reverse phase ion-exchange, affinity, hydrophobic, chiral or ion chromatography; (c) hydroxylapatite; or packing used for desalting. The column as a whole may be fabricated to be disposable or may be constructed to have a more simplified but durable housing.

Abstract: A two-phase system employing the Fujiwara reaction is provided for the fluorometric detection of halogenated hydrocarbons. A fiber optic is utilized to illuminate a column of pyridine trapped in a capillary tube coaxially attached at one end to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A strongly alkaline condition necessary for the reaction is maintained by providing a reservoir of alkali in contact with the column of pyridine, the surface of contact being adjacent to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A semipermeable membrane caps the other end of the capillary tube, the membrane being preferentially permeable to the halogenated hydrocarbon and but preferentially impermeable to water and pyridine. As the halogenated hydrocarbon diffuses through the membrane and into the column of pyridine, fluorescent reaction products are formed. Light propagated by the fiber optic from a light source, excites the fluorescent products.

Abstract: An improved optical system which provides the operator a stereoscopic viewing field and depth of vision, particularly suitable for use in various machines such as electron or laser beam welding and drilling machines. The system features two separate but independently controlled optical viewing assemblies from the eyepiece to a spot directly above the working surface. Each optical assembly comprises a combination of eye pieces, turning prisms, telephoto lenses for providing magnification, achromatic imaging relay lenses and final stage pentagonal turning prisms. Adjustment for variations in distance from the turning prisms to the workpiece, necessitated by varying part sizes and configurations and by the operator's visual accuity, is provided separately for each optical assembly by means of separate manual controls at the operator console or within easy reach of the operator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing chromatographic separations utilizing horizontal flow through the separating medium bed are disclosed. The chromatographic separations may be carried out by using an apparatus involving a cylindrical column construction wherein the horizontal flow is in a radial direction as it passes through the separating medium bed or an apparatus involving a cubical column construction wherein the flow traverses from one end of the separating medium bed to the other end horizontally. The apparatus includes means for distributing the flow, achieving horizontal streamlines and collecting separated components. In one embodiment, the separating medium bed in adjustable in height.

Abstract: Porous metallic bodies having a substantially uniform pore size of less than about 200 microns and a density of less than about 25 percent theoretical, as well as the method for making them, are disclosed. Group IIA, IIIB, IVB, VB, and rare earth metal hydrides are heated in a confining container at a controlled rate to a temperature of about greater than the temperature at which the hydride decomposes. Hydrogen is removed from the container and the remaining metal is heated during a second stage to a temperature greater than the temperature at which it was previously heated but not greater than the temperature of 1/2 to 2/3 the temperature at which the metal melts at a controlled rate. The resulting porous metallic body produced has a density less than about 25 percent theoretical and a pore size of less than about 200 microns. The metallic particles of the present invention have high inner surface area and possess minimum resistance to gas flow.

Abstract: Improved, multiphase, high performance, high energy, extrusion cast explosive compositions, comprising, a crystalline explosive material; an energetic liquid plasticizer; a urethane prepolymer, comprising a blend of polyvinyl formal, and polycaprolactone; a polyfunctional isocyanate; and a catalyst are disclosed. These new explosive compositions exhibit higher explosive content, a smooth detonation front, excellent stability over long periods of storage, and lower sensitivity to mechanical stimulants.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for measuring temperature and for generating optical signals related to temperature. Light from a fiber optic is directed to a material whose fluorescent response varies with ambient temperature. The same fiber optic delivering the excitation beam also collects a portion of the fluorescent emission for analysis. Signal collection efficiency of the fiber optic is enhanced by requiring that the fluorescent probe material be in the shape of an oblong parabolically tapered solid. Reproducibility is enhanced by using Raman backscatter to monitor excitation beam fluctuations, and by using measurements of fluorescence lifetime.

Abstract: Flexible bellows are utilized between two systems, such as a pumping system and a process station, to partially absorb system vibrations and to compensate for misalignment between the systems. It is common practice to either clamp a rigid spacer between flanges of the two systems (FIG. 3B) to separate them from each other, or to maintain the bellows in unsupported relationship between these systems (FIG. 4B). In the former bellows arrangement, the rigid spacer transmits vibratory energy between the two systems and the bellows tends to function as an undamped or underdamped unit that resonates at its own frequency to create additional vibratory energy, transmitted to the systems. In the latter, unsupported bellows arrangement (FIG. 4B), the pressure differential prevalent between the fluid flowing through the bellows and ambient normally causes extension or retraction of the bellows and resulting misalignment problems.

Abstract: An improved process for the isolation and purification of HIFNs is disclosed wherein a partially purified preparation of the HIFN is sequentially passed through an antibody affinity column and a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic column. Organic solvents used during the elution are extracted and the protein concentrated for subsequent use.

Abstract: An improved process for recovering and purifying .beta.-HIFN from transformed bacterial comprising concentrating the bacteria; disrupting the cell wall and solubilizing the .beta.-HIFN into an aqueous medium with an appropriate solubilizing agent; extracting the .beta.-HIFN from the aqueous medium with 2-butanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol or mixtures thereof; precipitating and isolating the .beta.-HIFN from the alcohol phase; purifying the .beta.-HIFN by chromatography and diafiltering the .beta.-HIFN against distilled water or aqueous solutions of ethanol or glycerol at a pH of about 12; and therapeutic formulations and compositions of .beta.-HIFN within SDS levels therein reduced to less than 10 p.p.m.

Abstract: Alkali metal based electrochemical cells offer a great deal of promise for applications in many areas such as electric vehicles and load leveling purposes in stationary power plants. Lithium is an attractive candidate as the electroactive species in such cells since lithium is very electropositive, abundant and light weight. One type of lithium-based cell utilizes a molten salt electrolyte and normally is operated at elevated temperatures. The subject invention provides an electrochemical cell in one embodiment of which lithium is the electroactive species. The cell comprises an electrolyte, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode, either or both of which is an all-solid, composite microstructural electrode containing both a reactant phase and a mixed ionic-electronic conducting phase. The cells of the subject invention exhibit improved kinetic features, current and power densities. Repeated charging and discharging of these cells can be accomplished without appreciable loss of capacity.