Abstract: Disclosed are various methods, kits, and compositions in the field of electroless nickel plating and chemical polishing. An electroless nickel plating composition may include a surfactant-brightener; a coupler; a bismuth metallic stabilizer; and organosulfur stabilizer and a bismuth complexer. Prior to plating, a substrate may be polished with a polishing composition that includes a surface blocker and a surface leveler. When practiced in accordance with the preferred teachings described herein, the electroless nickel plating composition is capable of providing a mirror-bright, lustrous finish, and has good leveling properties. The composition may be made without lead or cadmium.

Abstract: Disclosed are various methods, kits, and compositions in the field of electroless nickel plating and chemical polishing. An electroless nickel plating composition may include a surfactant-brightener; a coupler; a bismuth metallic stabilizer; and organosulfur stabilizer and a bismuth complexer. Prior to plating, a substrate may be polished with a polishing composition that includes a surface blocker and a surface leveler. When practiced in accordance with the preferred teachings described herein, the electroless nickel plating composition is capable of providing a mirror-bright, lustrous finish, and has good leveling properties. The composition may be made without lead or cadmium.

Abstract: A device for cutting aquatic vegetation is provided. In one embodiment, the device has a plurality of cutting blades that rotate freely on an elongate shaft and cut aquatic vegetation as the device travels through a body of water. In one approach, the device includes an impact accommodating mechanism that permits the device to absorb an impact between the device and submerged objects in the body of water. A method is also provided that includes providing an aquatic vehicle having disposed thereon a cutting device, the cutting device having a shaft with at least one cutting blade journaled for free rotation on the shaft. The vehicle is moved through a body of water to cause rotation of the cutting blade and cutting of aquatic vegetation in the body of water.

Abstract: A process for treating an emulsion or solution of water and oil or the like comprising the steps of (a) contacting said emulsion or solution with an inorganic salt; (b) contacting said emulsion or solution with a synthetic polyelectrolyte flocculant; and, after steps (a) and (b), contacting said emulsion or solution with a demulsifying agent whereby said emulsion or solution is split into separate oil and water phases for subsequent separation. Preferably the salt is sodium chloride, the flocculant is an anionic synthetic flocculant having a molecular weight of six to eight million and a charge of three (3), and the demulsifying agent is sulfuric acid. The process may be used with emulsions or solutions which have previously been processed by ultra or micro filtration.