Abstract: Fibers having reduced surface roughness have a continuous coating of a silicone resin that undergoes pyrolysis in hydrogen or helium to form a hard, amorphous solid coat containing silicon, oxygen, and carbon. This silicon oxycarbide glass coating has exceptional high temperature strength and chemical stability compared to even vitreous silica. The coating is resistant to crystallization and oxidation at temperatures above 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: Blow moldable polycarbonate is produced by first producing a polycarbonate preform by a melt transesterification process. The polycarbonate preform comprises 2.1 to 10 mole percent polyfunctional branching agent, based on the total moles of polycarbonate in the polycarbonate preform. The polycarbonate preform is then melt equilibrated with a second polycarbonate to produce a blow moldable grade.

Abstract: A process for making polyarylene ether-siloxane copolymers is described and the process comprises the step of contacting polyarylene ethers with a hydroxyaromatic or aromatic ether terminated siloxane reagent in the presence of an oxidant.

Abstract: Close-coupled atomization systems and methods employing non-axisymmetric gas flow have demonstrated superior efficiency in the production of fine superalloy powder, compared to conventional close-coupled atomization utilizing an axisymmetric annular gas orifice and an axisymmetric melt nozzle. A means has been devised for convening otherwise axisymmetric plenums into non-axisymmetric plenums that produce non-axisymmetric gas flow.

Abstract: A method of supersolvus forging is described for Ni-base superalloys, particularly those which comprise a mixture of .gamma. and .gamma.' phases, and most particularly those which contain at least about 40 percent by volume of .gamma.'. The method permits the manufacture of large grain size forged articles having a grain size in the range of 50-150 .mu.m. The method comprises the selection of a fine-grained forging preform of a Ni-base superalloy. Supersolvus forging in the range of 0.degree.-100.degree. F. above the alloy solvus temperature then performed at slow strain rates in the range of 0.01-0.001 s.sup.-1. Subsequent supersolvus annealing followed by controlled cooling may be employed to control the distribution of the .gamma.', and hence influence the alloy mechanical and physical properties. The method may also be used to produce location specific grain sizes and phase distributions within the forged article.

Abstract: Foil used in the manufacture of superconductor material is cleaned using a mechanical abrasive pad that produces longitudinal hills and valleys or elliptical swirls on the surface of both sides of the foil to yield high quality and uniform superconductors.

Abstract: A piezoelectric or electrostrictive composite exhibiting anisotropic 3-3 connectivity with a dense ceramic phase and an infiltrate polymer phase. The ceramic phase is an interconnected ceramic lamelli structure that is arranged substantially parallel in one direction. The ceramic lamelli have greater connectivity in the z direction than in the x and y directions, while the connectivity in the x and y directions are essentially equal.

Abstract: Macrocyclic polyester oligomers are converted to linear polyesters by contact at a temperature of about 160.degree.-300.degree. C. with a cyclic titanium catalyst such as di-(1-butyl)-2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-dioxytitanate, bis(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propylene) titanate or 1-(1-butoxy)-4-methyl-2,6,7-trioxa-1-titanabicyclo[2.2.2]octane. Such catalysts have high activity and produce linear or branched polyesters of very high molecular weight.

Abstract: An ultrasound/vibration detector array includes an electrically pumped vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array. The cavity length of each laser or pixel of the array is modulated by the acoustic field at the point where the acoustic field contacts the pixels. The resulting laser output is frequency modulated by the acoustic field. This modulation is converted to amplitude modulation at the detector head and then either detected with a charge-coupled-device (CCD) array with the information being electrically communicated to the signal processing assembly or sent directly by optical fiber to the signal processing assembly for processing. This ultrasound/vibration detector array provides high frequency bandwidth detection, fine spatial resolution, and minimal electric cabling.

Abstract: A silanol condensation-equilibration catalyst is provided in the form of a mixture of a linear phosphonitrilic chloride and an effective amount of a protic acid having a pKa.ltoreq.5, such as HCl. A material capable of generating a protic acid in situ during equilibration, such as an organohalosilane, is also effective.

Abstract: By heating a wire and positioning the wire against a specimen, the specimen may be pyrolyzed to release a pyrolysate therefrom. The pyrolysate is collected in a hood and carried to a membrane separator from which the pyrolysate may be spectrochemically analyzed. The heated wire may be repeatedly indexed for replacing the adulterated portion of the wire with a clean portion of the wire for each subsequent pyrolysis and spectrochemical analysis of the pyrolysate therefrom. A pyrolysis instrument includes a movable probe supporting the heated wire with the probe being preferably joined to a remote membrane separator flexibly joined thereto.

Abstract: A method for mitigating crack initiation and propagation on the surface of metal components in a water-cooled nuclear reactor. An electrically insulating coating doped with a noble metal is applied on the surfaces of IGSCC-susceptible reactor components. The preferred electrically insulating material is yttria-stabilized zirconia doped with palladium or platinum. The presence of an electrically insulating coating on the surface of the metal components shifts the corrosion potential in the negative direction without the addition of hydrogen. Corrosion potentials .ltoreq.-0.5 V.sub.SHE are believed to be achievable even at high oxidant concentrations and in the absence of hydrogen, although the coatings are believed to be particularly suited to applications where a reductant, such as hydrogen, is present.

Abstract: A sensitive chemiluminescence immunoassay method for field detection of the presence or the amount of low chlorinated biphenyl compounds in a solution is disclosed. The assay has a five minute analysis time and a working range of detection as low as about 1 part per billion chlorinated biphenyl. Kits for the detection of chlorinated biphenyls are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/stem connection wherein at least about 40,000 x-ray scan-seconds are accomplished prior to tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance comprising a metallic target and a metal stem bonded to provide a composite rotating x-ray tube target is disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum alloy, is placed between the target layer and the stem and then bonded thereto to produce a composite x-ray tube target/stem having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which retains its balance throughout the manufacturing process and during x-ray tube operations is also disclosed.

Abstract: A superconductive lead assembly for a superconductive device (e.g., magnet) cooled by a cryocooler coldhead having first and second stages. A first ceramic superconductive lead has a first end flexibly, dielectrically, and thermally connected to the first stage and a second end flexibly, dielectrically, and thermally connected to the second stage. A jacket of open cell material (e.g., polystyrene foam) is in general surrounding compressive contact with the first ceramic superconductive lead, and a rigid support tube generally surrounds the jacket. This protects the first ceramic superconductive lead against shock and vibration while in the device. The rigid support tube has a first end and a second end, with the second end thermally connectable to the second stage.

Abstract: A quantum splitting oxide phosphor is described for use with VUV radiation. The oxide material has an atomic ratio, comprising: Sr.sub.1-X Pr.sub.X Al.sub.12-X Mg.sub.X O.sub.19 ; where 0<X.ltoreq.0.20. The material is stable and compatible for use as a phosphor with VUV radiation created by Hg vapor discharge.

Abstract: Addition-curable platinum group metal catalyzed silicone compositions are provided which utilize an adhesion promoter in the form of a Michael reaction product of a bis(aminoalkyl)tetraalkyldisiloxane, such as bis(aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane, with an acryloxyorganotrialkoxysilane, for example, acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. The addition-curable silicone compositions can bond to plastic and metal substrates at temperatures of less than 100.degree. C. and in less than 1 hour, forming composites which fail cohesively upon separation.

Abstract: Capacitors with high dielectric strength and low dissipation factor over a wide range of frequencies comprise two or more conductive layers separated by at least one dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is of silicon-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, with suitable dopants including silane (which is preferred), tetraalkoxysilanes and polyorganosiloxanes.

Abstract: A method for detecting and destroying various chlorinated hydrocarbons and unsaturated hydrocarbons in the environment using electrochemical techniques has been invented. By concentrating the chlorinated hydrocarbons or unsaturated hydrocarbons in a solvent by liquid-solid or liquid-liquid extraction, and then passing current through the solvent extractant containing the chlorinated hydrocarbons or unsaturated hydrocarbons electrochemically removes chlorine and oxidizes unsaturated hydrocarbons. The potential is measured to correlate to the concentration of the chlorinated hydrocarbon specie.

Abstract: Insulating foam for refrigerators and the like is prepared by blowing in the presence of carbon dioxide as the sole or principal blowing agent. The thermal conductivity of the foam is decreased by sealing said foam in a gas-impervious enclosure with at least one getter, such as an alkaline material, capable of removing carbon dioxide and at least one drying agent which will produce a relative humidity greater than the equilibrium relative humidity over a saturated aqueous solution of the getter, thus removing water without rendering the getter anhydrous. For example, calcium chloride dihydrate may be used when the getter is sodium hydroxide.