Abstract: Based on the discovery that the melting point and solubility of onium salts are affected by the asymmetry of the substitution on cation, and that the branched substituents effectively shield onium cations from electrochemical reduction, new onium salts are synthesized and high performance electrolytes based on these salts for electrochemical capacitor are provided. The composition of the new electrolyte comprises an onium salt or mixture of such onium salts dissolved in aprotic, non-aqueous solvents or mixture of such solvents. The electrolyte is able to perform at high rate of charge/discharge, at low ambient temperatures, and within wide operating voltage, due to the high solubility, low melting temperature, and the improved reduction stability of the new onium cations, respectively.

Abstract: A method for mixing an in-situ aluminum matrix composite with an aluminum-litium alloy via the spray deposition process to obtain an Al—Li composite.

Abstract: A multi-component material is represented by the general formula (I): Ba(1−y−y)PbyMxTiO3  (I) in which: M is Sr or Cd; x is the decimal fraction molar concentration of MTiO3, where x has a value equal to or greater than about 0.20 and less than or equal to about 0.75; and y is the decimal fraction molar concentration of PbTiO3, where y has a value greater than zero and less than or equal to about 0.40, and x+y is less than 1.0. In addition, a method of graphically estimating the composition of the multi-component material represented by the general formula (I) is disclosed herein. In a preferred embodiment, x has a value between about 0.28 and 0.66, and y has value greater than zero and less than or equal to about 0.34, while said material has a Curie point temperature of about 25° C. or room temperature. These room temperature Curie point materials are useful in uncooled thermal imaging applications.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the cure of a resin-impregnated material includes a pultrusion die; a plurality of first electrodes mounted in the pultrusion die; a plurality of insulators surrounding the plurality of first electrodes, respectively, in the pultrusion die; a resin-impregnated preform that includes a second electrode therein, the resin-impregnated preform being inserted into the pultrusion die; a constant contact electrode that contacts the second electrode; and a power supply connected to the constant contact electrode wherein electric current flows from the power supply to the constant contact electrode then to the second electrode then through the resin-impregnated preform to the plurality of first electrodes.

Abstract: A method of forming fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite structures having a low volume fraction of fiber reinforcement and carefully controlled thicknesses is provided. The method enables the production of composite structures having a fiber volume fraction of less than about 0.5 through the use of vacuum bag molding, thereby eliminating the need for expensive closed molds, The method also eliminates the occurrence of “racetracking” of uncured resin during the resin infusion process.

Abstract: An electrode for a rechargeable lithium-ion battery is formed by mixing stanous oxide (SnO) and lithium nitride (Li3N) in a stoichiometric ratio of 2 moles of Li3N to 3 moles of SnO to form a mixture, milling the mixture to obtain a milled powder, and processing the milled powder in accordance with an electrode-forming technique. The electrode forming technique can be any one of die pressing, spraying, doctor-blading and rolling. Conductive additives, such as carbon and binders (PVDF, cellulose and Teflon), can be introduced during the processing step. Preferably, the method is carried out in a dry, inert atmosphere of argon or helium. As a result of the invention, a smaller, lighter and more efficient lithium-ion battery is produced.

Abstract: An antimicrobial agent which is a composite composition of matter comprising a metal or metal-containing compound distributed on or in a dendritic polymer, and a method of treating wounds comprising applying to the wounds said antimicrobial agent. In a most preferred embodiment, said antimicrobial agent comprises discrete nanosized silver or silver containing compounds distributed on or in dendritic polymers.

Abstract: A window assembly for transmitting light into and from a vessel containing a high pressure, high temperature, highly reactive environment includes a truncated conical window which is substantially transparent to radiation, a truncated conical metal seal which circumferentially engages the window, and a case to which the window and the seal are secured. To facilitate automatic cleaning of the window, the surface of the window which is exposed to the high-pressure environment is seated substantially flush with the high-pressure surface of the case. By initially seating the window assembly by means of mechanical pressing, then subjecting the window assembly to a series of successively higher transient combustion pressures, a window assembly can be fabricated which can withstand prolonged service in a harsh environment such as that encountered in a large caliber artillery cannon or equivalent scientific and industrial applications.

Abstract: A lithium ion secondary electrochemical cell includes an anode comprising both a material capable of reversibly incorporating an alkali metal, and a copper current collector, a cathode capable of reversibly incorporating an alkali metal, and an electrolyte which includes a solution of an alkali metal salt dissolved in a polar organic solvent. A method of preventing the electrochemical dissolution of the copper current collector in the lithium ion battery electrolyte includes charging the lithium ion cell immediately after its assembly. By immediately charging the freshly assembled lithium ion cell, lithium will be intercalated into carbon. The copper current collector, therefore, will be at the lithium-carbon potential and thus will be cathodically protected, and will not electrochemically dissolve in the lithium ion battery electrolyte.

Abstract: A laser-based photoacoustic sensor performs trace detection and differentiation of atmospheric NO and NO.sub.2 in order to obtain respective concentrations for NO and NO.sub.2 using photoacoustic spectroscopy. The device of the invention employs a single, pulsed laser having two outputs near 454 nm and 227 nm, respectively, to irradiate a sample vapor, the sample vapor being collected by a hand-held wand. A photoacoustic response from both NO and NO.sub.2 is detected using microphone detectors, is converted into electrical signals, and is analyzed using a microcomputer. The results of the analysis--the respective concentrations of NO and NO.sub.2 in the sample vapor--are displayed on a digital oscilloscope. Preferably, the electrical signals are amplified prior to analysis, and a boxcar integrator is used to sample and average the electrical signals during the analysis operation.

Abstract: Apparatus including two containers, two liquids or liquid mixtures pressued within the containers, a blending section for dispersing intimately one liquid into the other, and a nozzle providing sufficient flow resistance so that the moieties remain liquid in the blending section, and vaporization of the vaporizable moiety occurs within and/or beyond the nozzle.

Abstract: A drawbar device that facilitates engagement to, maneuvering of, and disegement from a loaded slipsheet includes a top plate, base plate, and roller for frictionally engaging a slipsheet tab, a means for disengaging the roller therefrom, and a connecting means for transmitting to the base plate the force necessary for maneuvering the loaded slipsheet. The present invention advantageously facilitates the movement of heavy supplies and material in the absence of conventional mechanized material handling equipment.

Abstract: Anti-armor projectiles comprising a main projectile having a single warhe and an additional autonomous precursor warhead which is stowed with the main projectile and attached to the main projectile just before firing, thereby providing a tandem warhead capability and improved lethality for the main projectile. The attachable precursor warhead is packaged with the main projectile so that the length and diameter of the main projectile is not increased while it is stored and until the autonomous precursor warhead is attached just prior to firing. The autonomous warhead may be a chemical energy (CE) warhead or a kinetic energy (KE) warhead so that when attached to existing CE warhead or KE warhead projectiles, tandem CE-CE, tandem CE-KE, tandem KE-KE, or tandem KE-CE warhead projectiles are created. The autonomous, attachable warhead is completely self-contained and prior to firing is affixed to and stowed adjacent the main projectile without exceeding the length and diameter constraints of the main projectile.

Abstract: Ceramic ferroelectric composite materials comprising barium strontium titte/magnesium and oxygen-containing compound composite further doped with rare earth (lanthanide) oxides. More particularly, these inventive composites are comprised of Ba.sub.1-x Sr.sub.x TiO.sub.3 /Mg--O based compound/rare earth oxide composite, wherein x is greater than or equal to 0.0 but less than or equal to 1.0, and wherein the weight ratio of BSTO to Mg compound may range from 99.75-20 wt. % BSTO to 0.25-80 wt. % Mg compound, and wherein said rare earth oxide additive comprises less than about 10 mole percent of the composite. The rare earth oxides of the composite include all oxides of the lanthanide series elements including scandium and yttrium, as well as combinations thereof. The magnesium-based compound may be selected from the group consisting of MgO, MgZrO.sub.3, MgZrSrTiO.sub.3, MgTiO.sub.3, and MgCO.sub.3.

Abstract: Thin films of ferroelectric composite material comprising barium strontium titanate (BSTO) combined with magnesium oxide additive are produced by metalorganic decomposition. The barium strontium titanate magnesium oxide ferroelectric composite comprises Ba.sub.1-x Sr.sub.x TiO.sub.3 /MgO, wherein x is greater than 0.0 but less than or equal to 0.75 and preferably is 0.4, and wherein the weight ratio of BSTO to magnesium oxide may range from 99 to 40 weight percent BSTO to 1 to 60 weight percent magnesium oxide. These films have desirable electronic properties and may have application to both active microwave and dynamic random access memory devices, including low dielectric constant, low loss factor, high tunability, and high resistivity. The films produced are uniformly thick and impurity free, with thicknesses of only 0.4 microns.

Abstract: A novel ceramic ferrite/ferroelectric composite material having a low dissipation factor, voltage tunability, and proper impedance matching for the incident medium. The material comprises ferrites doped with the ferroelectric Barium Strontium Titanate (BSTO) or ferrites doped with the ferroelectric Barium Strontium Titanate (BSTO)/MgO. Preferred composites are magnesium ferrites doped with BSTO and magnesium ferrites doped with BSTO/MgO. Most particularly, the inventive composites are comprised of magnesium ferrites doped with Ba.sub.1-x Sr.sub.x TiO.sub.3 and magnesium ferrites doped with Ba.sub.1-x Sr.sub.x TiO.sub.3 /MgO, wherein x is greater than 0.00, but less than or equal to 0.75, and wherein the percent weight ratio of magnesium ferrite to BSTO or BSTO/MgO is 60 to 95 percent ferrite to 40 to 5 percent BSTO or 60 to 95 percent ferrite to 40 to 5 percent BSTO/MgO ferroelectric. A particularly well suited composite, i.e., one having a .mu./.di-elect cons.

Abstract: Mesh susceptors for use in induction heating and bonding processes are tailored to obtain more uniform heating across the susceptor and hence, the bondline, when bonding composite parts. The susceptors are tailored by cutting and removing segments from the mesh areas where the induced current and hence, heat generation, is highest. An algorithm is employed to predict the induced current patterns throughout the mesh so that areas of high heat generation can be identified and then cut and removed. In this way, essentially uniform temperatures in metal mesh susceptors may be achieved by specifically designed cut patterns within the mesh even though the mesh susceptor is subject to non-uniform magnetic fields.

Abstract: An improved, liquid, explosive composition comprising nitromethane, a nitethane sensitizer and an energetic compound. The energetic compound is selected from the group consisting of 4,5-dihyro-3-nitroisoxazole, 1,3-dinitropropane, trans1,2-dinitrocyclopropane and 1,1-dinitroethane.

Abstract: A test specimen holder for positioning a test specimen while protecting the hands and fingers of the user. In accordance with the present invention, a test specimen holder is provided having a main body with a handle portion located to the side of the main body. An adjustable fixed block and a spring-biased slidable blocking are provided in the main body. A pair of legs are disposed on opposite sides of the slidable and fixed blocks. A free space is provided between the two legs into which the test specimen fits and is engaged by the slidable and fixed blocks. The slidable and fixed blocks are provided with a variety of engagement surfaces, such as flat surfaces for planar specimens and notched surfaces having V-shaped grooves for cylindrical specimens. In operation, a test specimen is placed between the slidable and fixed blocks and held in place by the spring-biased slidable block holding the specimen against the fixed block.

Abstract: Binary alloys of uranium and vanadium having high hardness and strength prepared by selectively adjusting both the composition of the alloy and the solutionization temperature between the gamma-eutectoid and the eutectic points.