Abstract: The present invention is directed to the effective dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polymer matrices. The nanocomposites are prepared using polymer matrices and exhibit a unique combination of properties, most notably, high retention of optical transparency in the visible range (i.e., 400-800 nm), electrical conductivity, and high thermal stability. By appropriate selection of the matrix resin, additional properties such as vacuum ultraviolet radiation resistance, atomic oxygen resistance, high glass transition (Tg) temperatures, and excellent toughness can be attained. The resulting nanocomposites can be used to fabricate or formulate a variety of articles such as coatings on a variety of substrates, films, foams, fibers, threads, adhesives and fiber coated prepreg. The properties of the nanocomposites can be adjusted by selection of the polymer matrix and CNT to fabricate articles that possess high optical transparency and antistatic behavior.

Abstract: Hetero-epitaxial semiconductor materials comprising cubic crystalline semiconductor alloys grown on the basal plane of trigonal and hexagonal substrates, in which misfit dislocations are reduced by approximate lattice matching of the cubic crystal structure to underlying trigonal or hexagonal substrate structure, enabling the development of alloyed semiconductor layers of greater thickness, resulting in a new class of semiconductor materials and corresponding devices, including improved hetero-bipolar and high-electron mobility transistors, and high-mobility thermoelectric devices.

Abstract: An arrangement for a heat exchange surface in a boiling application that retains particulate material between fins to provide nucleate boiling sites. The heat exchange surface most typically is part of a heat exchange tube and retains the particulate material by transversely extending the tops of the fins. The fins and extended tops form channels with a restricted opening at the top of the channel that prevents passage of the particulate material out of the channel. The surface may be formed on the inside or outside of tubes.

Abstract: A high efficiency FCC process obtains the necessary regenerated catalyst temperature for a principally thermal cracking stage by cracking a light feedstock such as naphtha or a middle distillate in a first riser that principally performs thermal cracking and then cracks a heavy FCC feed in a second riser with a blend of catalyst from the principally thermal cracking step and recycle catalyst from the heavy feed to provide the necessary coke content on the catalyst that will produce high regenerated catalyst temperatures. The high temperature of the regenerated catalyst in the first riser provides a convenient means of cracking naphtha under high severity conditions and then using the remaining activity of the contacted catalyst for the principally catalytic reaction of the heavier feed. A separate thermal cracked product may be recovered from an intermediate blending vessel downstream of the first riser.

Abstract: The invention improves a system and apparatus for the recovery of fine solid particles entering the slurry system of a fluidized catalytic contacting process by returning a portion of the recovered solids from the main separator directly back to the reactor stripper. The invention recovers fine particulate material from an FCC main column and returns the particulate material to an FCC stripper to reduce the amount of fine material that continues to recycle through the FCC reactor and product separator. By returning fine particulate material from the FCC product separation zone directly to a low velocity area of the stripping section, the invention breaks the reactor--main column recycle loop that concentrates the fines. Fines entering the reactor stripper will not be carried back into the cyclones for unwanted return to the main column. By the recycling of fines to the stripper via this invention, the fines concentration in the slurry system can decrease by up to 300%.

Abstract: A process for the production of C.sub.8 and higher carbon number alkene oligomers by the oligomerization of light olefins to heavier olefins is improved by the addition of heavy paraffins to the oligomerization zone. The recycle of the heavy paraffins extends the catalyst activity and improves the catalyst life. The non-reactive paraffin stream may be recycled through the process with minimal losses and make-up.

Abstract: A process for the production of C.sub.8 and higher olefins by the oligomerization of light olefins to heavier olefins is improved by the addition of cycloparaffins to the oligomerization zone. The recycle of the cycloparaffins extends the catalyst activity and improves the catalyst life. Cyclohexane provides an excellent solvent for removing deposits from the catalyst with chemical inertness to the process and a boiling range that allows its essentially complete recovery when producing nonenes and higher olefins from propylene feeds.

Abstract: A catalyst system comprising a physical mixture of particles of a non-acidic large-pore zeolite containing a platinum-group metal and particles comprising a refractory inorganic oxide which is metal-free is effective for the reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock. Reforming of paraffinic feedstocks to effect aromatization, particularly of a raffinate from aromatics extraction, provides improved activity in producing gasoline-range products when using the catalyst system of the invention.

Abstract: A process and arrangement for contacting a moving bed of compact particulate material, usually catalyst, with a radial flow of fluid maintains an unconfined surface of catalyst particles in place by passing fluid axially into the upper surface of the bed and maintaining radial gas flow across an inlet screen at an elevation that is above the upper most elevation of perforations for withdrawing gas flow from the particulate bed. Two vertical screens confine the bed of catalyst. Perforations cover substantially the entire length of the inlet screen. The outlet portion of the screen has perforations that end below the top of the free surface of the catalyst bed and define an upper bed portion therebetween. The inlet screen directs gas flow radially across the inlet screen into an upper portion of the bed and cause at least partial axial flow of gas through the upper portion of the particle bed.

Abstract: A spectroscopic fluid sample cell for the transmission and detection of radiation with the key components being a housing; a centripetal acceleration chamber formed by the housing and extending through the housing for circulating a fluid through the housing over a curvilinear flow path about a rotational axis; a pair of windows aligned along a common axis intersecting a portion of the chamber and parallel to the rotational axis; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in communication with the centripetal acceleration chamber; and a flow director positioned in the housing to induce centripetal acceleration on fluid passing through the chamber and establish a radial composition gradient across the fluid chamber has been developed.

Abstract: A novel catalyst and the use thereof in a reforming process is disclosed. The dual-function catalyst comprises a refractory inorganic oxide, indium, Group IVA(IUPAC 14) metal, and a platinum-group metal concentrated in the surface layer of each catalyst particle. Utilization of this catalyst in the conversion of hydrocarbons, especially in reforming, results in significantly improved selectivity to the desired gasoline or aromatics product.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for enhancing the production of light olefins with a catalytic reaction zone containing small pore zeolitic and non-zeolitic catalysts which can significantly improve the yield of ethylene and propylene in a process for the conversion of light olefins having four carbon atoms per molecule and heavier. Specifically, a C.sub.4 olefin stream from an ethylene production complex is converted in a reaction zone over a non-zeolitic catalyst at effective conditions to produce a product mixture containing ethylene and propylene. Ethylene and propylene are separated from the product mixture and recovered. A portion of the remaining heavy hydrocarbons and paraffins may be recycled to the reaction zone for further conversion, or oligomerized to produce valuable downstream products. The additional step of removing iso-olefins from the recycle stream provided significant advantages.

Abstract: The assembly of a connection that uses cooperating grooved surfaces to provide an easily disassembled and assembled connection is improved by the use of a centering surface and cooperating lip that engages the faces of the connection end to prevent lateral misalignment while the pipe ends are brought together for axial alignment. The centering device may be used with a clamping mechanism to provide single person assembly of this type of connection despite normal field misalignments. The centering surface in the face of the connection ends may use any type of gasketing surface to provide the desired amount of seal strength.

Abstract: The present invention uses a flow restrictor to provide a capillary size opening that minimizes any discharge of toxic gases from compressed gas cylinders in the unlikely event of the control valve or regulator failure. The use of this arrangement to provide a flow restriction in combination with a regulator in the form of a dispensing check valve provides a virtually fail safe system for preventing hazardous discharge of fluid from a pressurized cylinder or tank. A capillary tube or other structure can provide capillary size openings that minimizes any discharge of gas in the unlikely event of a failure of the regulator. Location of the inlet to the capillary tube at the midpoint of the cylinder can also prevent the discharge of liquid from the cylinder if the control valve system fails. Limiting the accidental discharge of fluid from the cylinder to gas phase fluids greatly reduces the uncontrolled mass flow rate at which fluid can escape from the cylinder.

Abstract: Reduction of the amount of 1,1-diphenylethane formed in the production of ethylbenzene by alkylation of benzene with ethylene and by transalkylation of benzene with polyethylbenzenes can be effected by reacting at a low concentration of ethylene. This invention allows operation at a low molar ratio of phenyl groups per ethyl group and leads to a product containing less than 1.0 wt-% 1,1-diphenylethane relative to ethylbenzene. This invention is applicable to processes for the production of a wide variety of other commercially important alkylated aromatics.

Abstract: An FCC feed injection arrangement injects feed transversely from the sides of a restricted opening into a stream of FCC catalyst to provide good feed and catalyst contacting in an arrangement that simplifies external pipe configurations and maintenance of the feed injection system. The invention forms a venturi or restricted opening by forming a generally square opening between two parallel extended chords on opposite sides of the riser. A venturi area may be built out of refractory lining or other abrasion resistant structures. The invention may use horizontally extended pipes that are tangentially positioned apart from each other across from the restricted opening to provide a simple construction for the feed injection arrangement. The pipes are easily inserted and withdrawn from the riser to permit easy maintenance of the nozzles in the highly erosive environment.

Abstract: Applicant has synthesized a family of novel non-pillared metal oxide compositions which have a triple layered perovskite structure and a surface area of at least 30 m.sup.2 /g. These compositions are described by the empirical formulaAB.sub.2 M.sub.3 O.sub.10-xwhere A is a monovalent exchangeable cation such as cesium, B is a divalent or trivalent cation such as strontium or lanthanum and M is a +2, +3, +4 or a +5 valent metal such as niobium, titanium, aluminum or copper.

Abstract: A probe for fiber optic spectroscopy, having a radiation transparent window for the emission of radiation and an optical fiber that extends through the interior of a hollow housing, surrounds the fiber with a cushioning sleeve to provide an optical cable that preserves optical fiber connections and dampen vibration of the optical cable. The sleeve provides a structure around the optical fiber that is more compressible than the optical fiber and has a significantly greater mass than the optical fiber. Excess cable length may be provided along its path through the housing to impinge the cable against the interior walls of the housing and thereby dampen vibration by providing additional node points through contact of the sleeve with the housing wall. Helical twisting of the cable along its path through the housing further stabilizes the shape of the fiber optic cable within the housing and maintains a regular spacing of contact points with the housing.

Abstract: A particulate catalyst is regenerated by upward transport in a combustor having an extended length and separated from combustion gases with a single stage of cyclones. The extended length combustor ends with a termination device arranged to tangentially discharge particulate catalyst and gases into an open disengaging vessel and to achieve a high separation efficiency. Initial high separation efficiency provided by the termination device permits a single downstream stage of cyclones to reduce particulate emissions to acceptable levels. The combination of the separation device and the extended combustor can accommodate changes in particulate densities in the extended combustor without inducing cyclone overload.

Abstract: A catalytic reforming process comprises a prereactor which provides an intermediate stream to a riser reactor with multiple catalyst injection points to obtain high aromatics yields from a naphtha feedstock. Product from the riser reactor typically is discharged into a fluidized-bed reforming reactor, in which the reforming reaction is completed and catalyst is separated from hydrogen and hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons from the reactor are separated to recover an aromatized product. Catalyst is regenerated to remove coke and reduced for reuse in the reforming process.