Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of SiC whisker- and/or fiber-reinforced, internally-nucleated glass-ceramic matrix composite articles consisting essentially of 0.5-60% by weight SiC whiskers and/or 15-70% by volume ceramic fibers substantially uniformly distributed in a glass-ceramic matrix consisting essentially, in weight percent on the oxide basis, of 16-20%, CaO, 38.5-46% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 35-42% SiO.sub.2, and up to 10% total of at least one nucleating agent in the indicated proportion selected from the group consisting of 0.1-3% Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.25-3% HfO.sub.2, 2-5% MoO.sub.3, 0.25-3% Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, 0.25-3% Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, 0.25-3% WO.sub.3, and 1-10% ZrO.sub.2, wherein Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is present in an amount which is at least 5 mole percent and up to 50 mole percent in excess of that present in stoichiometric triclinic anorthite, and wherein the predominant crystal phases in the glass-ceramic are triclinic anorthite and mullite and/or .alpha.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. Up to 1.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the production of ceramic alloys consisting essentially of ZrO.sub.2, titania, and yttria or rare earth oxides such as gadolinia, ytterbia, neodymia, and ceria. Mole % concentration values as low as 0.25 mole % for yttria have been found to provide a hard and tough ceramic alloy in the presence of the titania-zirconia body. These compositions have been found to produce effective hard and tough ceramic bodies when mixed with refractory fibers and/or whiskers and hard refractory ceramics.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of producing an elongated, fiber-reinforced composite having a glass or glass-ceramic matrix and an elongated axial form. A continuous length of fibers is impregnated with glass and the impregnated fiber body consolidated by being pultruded through a die. A combination of axial tension to pultrude the fiber body and sintering pressures exerted by the die result in a composite body of continuous length.

Abstract: The invention is a flexible mask for use in charging a flowable material into selected cells of a honeycomb structure and is of particular utility in charging a sealing material into the ends of selected cells of such a structure during fabrication of solid particulate filter bodies and other selectively plugged honeycomb structures. The mask has a central body with a set of openings extending therethrough which allow passage of the flowable material through to the selected cells and a second set of protrusions extending from one of the surfaces of the mask which are used to align the mask to the end face of the structure and which extend into and sealably cover the cells which are not to receive the flowable material. The mask may be formed from a polymer, preferably an elastomer, using any of three disclosed die apparatuses.

Abstract: Metal halide glasses of CdF.sub.2 -LiF-AlF.sub.3 -PbF.sub.2 composition but comprising KF and one or more of LaF.sub.3 and YF.sub.3 as stabilizers, and also including a minor amount of oxygen as a further stabilizer, exhibit excellent glass stability and low hydroxyl content as evidenced by high transmittance over the infrared wavelength range 2-6 microns.

Abstract: There is disclosed a glass melting furnace having various forms of baffles located within the melt for dividing the furnace into zones and creating extended flow paths within the furnace for increasing the minimum residence time of the glass within the furnace and thereby improving glass melting and refining.

Abstract: An offset printing process is utilized for printing an acid resist ink onto both sides of a TV aperture mask. Printing is accomplished after the mask has been formed into an approximate spherical or cylindrical shape, and after a peripheral frame has been attached thereto. The resist ink employed is a pressure-sensitive hot-melt composition which forms an acid resistant film when deposited on the mask.

Abstract: Method of producing precision shaped apertures in glass is shown. A hollow glass member defining a longitudinal aperture is provided. A carbon graphite member is shaped externally to a desired shape, disposed within the longitudinal aperture in the glass member, which member is thereafter collapsed about the graphite member taking its shape and size. The graphite member is removed leaving the glass member with a precision aperture therein.

Abstract: The various wavelength components propagating in a transmission optical fiber are delayed different times. A conventional dispersion compensation system connects the transmitted signal to wavelength dispersor means which spatially separates the different wavelength components of the transmitted signal. Each wavelength component is then propagated by an optical fiber delay line the length of which is such that the delay line fibers substantially fully compensate for the differences in propagation times of the wavelength components in the transmission fiber. The amount of light collected by the delay line array can be increased and the "dead spots" due to cladding layers between adjacent fiber cores in the array can be eliminated by optimizing fiber shape and by employing staggered, multiple arrays. Also, lens arrays and/or masks can be employed at the input end of the delay line array to reduce or eliminate the cladding effects.

Abstract: Glass products such as glass lens elements are formed by an improved direct molding process at glass viscosities in the range of 10.sup.8 -10.sup.12 poises. Selected moldable alkali aluminofluorophosphate optical glasses are pressed to an optical surface finish in air utilizing an optically smooth titanium nitride molding surface, the surface being provided, for example, as a surface coating on a stainless steel mold or on a nickel chromium alloy mold supporting an electroless nickel base coating.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the production of essentially lead-free glass compositions demonstrating softening points below 500.degree. C. and coefficients of thermal expansion somewhat below 88.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. The glasses consist essentially, in weight percent on the oxide basis, of______________________________________ Li.sub.2 O 1-4 Na.sub.2 O + K.sub.2 O 0-12 ZnO 20-30 CaO 0-7 B.sub.2 O.sub.3 32-42 SrO 0-10 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 2-5 BaO 0-15 ZrO.sub.2 2-6 CaO + SrO + BaO 0-15 P.sub.2 O.sub.5 6-10 V.sub.2 O.sub.5 0-22 Na.sub.2 O 0-8 Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-16 K.sub.2 O 0-8.40 V.sub.2 O.sub.5 + Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 5-25 ______________________________________wherein a minimum of 5% V.sub.2 O.sub.5 +Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 is required in the presence of a least 2% Na.sub.2 O or 5% K.sub.2 O, and a minimum of 9% V.sub.2 O.sub.5 +Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 is required in the essential absence of Na.sub.2 O or K.sub.2 O, but in the presence of at least 3% CaO or 6% SrO or 9% BaO.

Abstract: Cermet body formed by reaction sintering at pressures ranging from subatmospheric to superatmospheric of admixed and shaped particulate exothermic reactants, which have maximum particle size substantially not greater than 150 .mu.m and can be elements, compounds, intermetallic compounds and/or alloys, in stoichiometric proportions to substantially form 40-95 mole percent of first phase or phases being boride, nitride, silicide, sulfide or combination thereof of one or more of the elements of Groups 2a, 3a exclusive of B, 4a, 2b, 3b including lanthanide and actinide series elements, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b and 8, and 5-60 mole percent of second phase or phases being metal, alloy, intermetallic compound or combination thereof of one or more of the elements of Groups 3a exclusive of B, 4a, 2b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, iron, cobalt and nickel, wherein the maximum grain size of the first phase or phases is substantially not greater than 10 .mu.m and which body contains 0 to 4 weight percent oxygen.

Abstract: This invention is directed to transparent photochromic glasses that can darken to a comfort range, i.e., between about 35-60%, or to a dark range, i.e., below 35%, depending upon glass composition, and will exhibit a faded transmittance after five minutes' removal from actinic radiation higher than 70%. The base compositions of the glasses consist essentially, in weight percent, of about______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 46-60 MgO 0-3.5 B.sub.2 O.sub.3 16-28 CaO 0-6 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 4-11 SrO 0-6 ZrO.sub.2 2-6 BaO 0-6 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 + ZrO.sub.2 6-13 MgO + CaO + SrO + BaO 0-7 Li.sub.2 O 2-5 P.sub.2 O.sub.5 0-5 Na.sub.2 O 0-4 TiO.sub.2 0-3 K.sub.2 O 2.5-9 ______________________________________For a comfort glass the photochromic elements consist essentially, as analyzed, of ______________________________________ Ag 0.13-0.18 Br 0.08-0.14 Cl 0.16-0.34 CuO 0.001-0.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the production of glass microsheet which strongly resists solarization and exhibits an ultraviolet cutoff at 370 nm, the glass consisting essentially, expressed in terms of weight percent on the oxide basis, of______________________________________ Na.sub.2 O 6.75-7.75 B.sub.2 O.sub.3 8.75-10 K.sub.2 O 6.25-7.0 SiO.sub.2 59-63 ZnO 6.5-7.5 CeO.sub.2 4-6 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 2-2.5 TiO.sub.2 1-3 Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-0.5 CeO.sub.2 + TiO.sub.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the production of inorganic crystalline fibers containing a minor amount of Mo0.sub.3 and/or W0.sub.3 and/or As.sub.2 0.sub.3 and wherein the predominant crystal phase is selected from the group of a fluormica, a fluoramphibole, canasite, potassium and/or sodium fluorrichterite, fluorapatite, and a lithium-containing, beta-spodumene-type crystal.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with preparing fixed partial dentures consisting of abutment crowns and pontics connected through male/female attachments and being sealed together by means of a joining medium. In the most preferred embodiment, the parts of the dentures are formed from machinable glass-ceramic materials and the joining medium is curable through exposure to visible light radiation.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a glass for optical and/or ophthalmic applications having an index of refraction between about 1.78-1.82, an Abbe number greater or equal to 31, and a density less than about 3.80 g/cm.sup.3 consisting essentially, expressed in terms of weight percent on the oxide basis, of:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 15-30 CaO 15-28 B.sub.2 O.sub.3 2-17 SrO 0-11 SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3 24-36 BaO 0-11 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-6.5 MgO + CaO + 16-33 SrO + BaO Li.sub.2 O 0-5 ZnO 0-11 Na.sub.2 O 0-5 La.sub.2 O.sub.3 16-30 K.sub.2 O 0-5 ZrO.sub.2 0-10 Li.sub.2 O + Na.sub.2 O + K.sub.2 O 0-6 Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 5-26 MgO 0-6 TiO.sub.2 0-14.

Abstract: A heating oven for processing glass materials from which optical waveguide fibers are prepared is provided which comprises:(a) an elongated chamber for receiving the glass material to be processed; and(b) means for heating the chamber, said means comprising an elongated susceptor, the longitudinal axis of the susceptor being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber, an induction heating coil, means for moving the induction heating coil along a path parallel to the longitudinal axes of the susceptor and the chamber, and means for energizing the induction heating coil.

Abstract: An electric melting furnace is described for melting high electrical resistivity glass, such as E-glass, within a melting chamber surrounded by a relatively low electrically resistivity refractory, such as chromic oxide refractory, by utilizing interconnected peripherally positioned batch electrodes at substantially the same potential as the chromic oxide walls and centrally positioned electrodes which are immersed a greater distance than the batch electrodes. A quiescent zone is formed adjacent a lower portion of the melting chamber and the batch blanket and effective hydrostatic head of the molten bath are adjusted by controlling the immersion of the batch electrodes within the molten bath.