Abstract: A porous glass optical waveguide preform is formed by depositing a coating of glass particulate material on the lateral surface of a core which may be a porous glass body continuously produced by the axial deposition of glass particles. The core rotates and moves longitudinally in one direction with respect to two flame hydrolysis burners which emit streams of glass particles having different compositions. In addition, the two burners reciprocatingly move with respect to a portion of the length of the core. The speed of each burner varies as it traverses along its path of reciprocating motion. The thickness of the layer produced by a burner at a given point is inversely related to the speed of the burner as it passes that point. The layers formed by the completion of a single traverse by both burners combine to form a conically-shaped layer, the composition of which varies from the base toward the apex thereof.

Abstract: A method of preparing a monolithic catalyst support having an integrated high surface area phase is provided. A plasticized batch of ceramic matrix material intimately mixed with high surface area powder is formed into the desired shape for the monolith and then heated to sinter the ceramic. The resulting monolith has a strong substrate of the ceramic matrix material and a high surface area phase provided by the high surface area powder extruded with the batch.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for curing a coating applied to an optical fiber. An elongated ultraviolet lamp and the optical fiber emerging from the coater are located at focii of an elliptical mirror which focuses the ultraviolet energy onto the coated fiber. The fiber is surrounded by a cylindrical chamber that is transparent to ultraviolet light. The chamber includes a jacket through which there flows a fluid which absorbs infrared energy. A cooling gas flows from a annular slot located at the bottom end of the chamber. The slot is so angled that gas flowing therefrom is directed upwardly and inwardly toward the coated fiber so that there exists within the chamber a recirculating flow of cooling gas. This enables the cooling gas to repeatedly absorb heat from the coated fiber and give up that heat to the chamber wall which is cooled by the fluid.

Abstract: A method of making a sealing glass suspension composed of a sealing glass, a gelling agent and a vehicle is disclosed. The glass and gelling agent are combined and stored prior to exposure to the vehicle.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with the fabrication of flat panel display devices wherein a film of large crystal polysilicon is grown on a substrate. More particularly, the present invention is drawn to such devices wherein the substrate is prepared from a strontium aluminosilicate glass consisting essentially, in mole percent, of about 9-12% SrO, 9-12% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and 77-82% SiO.sub.2.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the fabrication of flat panel display devices wherein a film of large crystal polysilicon is grown on a substrate. More specifically, this invention is drawn to the fabrication of such devices wherein the substrate is fashioned from a phase separated glass consisting essentially of extremely fine-grained crystals homogeneously dispersed in a glass matrix, the base glass therefor being essentially free from alkali metal oxide and consisting essentially, in mole percent, of 2-6% BaO and/or SrO, 18-26% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and 68-80% SiO.sub.2.

Abstract: Monolithic catalyst support structures in which a support phase of high surface area oxide material is disposed on or within a sintered ceramic material are improved by using a mixture of alumina and silica as the high surface area oxide support phase. The mixtures of alumina and silica retain higher surface area, after firing or exposure to elevated service temperatures, than does either component individually, and thereby impart higher overall surface area to the monolithic support structures.

Abstract: A method of forming a monolithic ceramic catalyst support having a high surface area phase of porous oxide embedded within the monolith structure is provided. The porous oxide phase is incorporated into a sinterable ceramic structure as a discrete discontinuous phase. The high surface area necessary for effective catalyst support is thereby provided within the ceramic structure, which is sintered to provide appreciable density and strength.

Abstract: A catalyst support having both substantial high strength and high surface area can be produced by heating a shaped mixture of a porous oxide having a surface area of at least 20 m.sup.2 /g and the precursor of an inorganic binder for the porous oxide. The binders are precursors of alumina, silica, or titania, and are capable of imparting substantial strength to the support at relatively low firing temperatures.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method forming fluorine-doped glass. A coating of glass particles is deposited on the surface of a cylindrical rod of high purity glass. The coated rod is inserted into a furnace which contains a cylindrical muffle formed of high silica content glass. A fluorine-containing atmosphere is flowed through the muffle and over the outer surface of the coating of glass particles and also flows inwardly through the interstices thereof. The temperature within the furnace is sufficiently high to cause fluorine to diffuse into the surfaces of the glass particles and to cause the particles to fuse and form a fluorine-containing dense glass coating on the surface of the rod.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the preparation hybrid composite bodies composed of an essentially alkali-free, alkaline earth aluminosilicate glass matrix reinforced with SiC whiskers and continuous ceramic fibers.

Abstract: A family of synthetic mica glass-ceramic compositions is disclosed based on a modified sodium fluoromontmorillonoid stoichiometry. These are spontaneously crystallizable glass-ceramics which are composed of 50-62% SiO.sub.2, 20-28% MgO, 5-15% Na.sub.2 O, and 8-13% F. The method comprises supplying excess fluoride during melting to devise a synthetic mica having sodium fluoromontmorillonoid or a solid solution on the talc axis as the dominant crystal phase.

Abstract: A liquid transfer ball formed from sintered zirconium oxide particles which exhibits utility as the ball element of a ball pen writing instrument to transfer ink from an ink reservoir to a writing surface such as paper. The ball exhibits a porosity of less than 8% by volume and is immune to corrosive action of inks.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the production of boards and other relatively thick-walled shapes of various configurations from inorganic silicates. The method for preparing such products involves five general steps: first a fully or predominantly crystalline body is formed containing crystals consisting essentially of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, and solid solutions therebetween; second, that body is contacted with a polar liquid, customarily water, to cause swelling and disintegration of the body accompanied with the formation of a gel; third, the gel is contacted with a source of large cations to effect an ion exchange reaction between the large cations and the Li.sup.+ and/or Na.sup.

Abstract: The instant invention is concerned with the production of essentially transparent glass/plastic composite articles. The articles consist of glass particles having water-free surfaces and dimensions of about 0.5-100 microns dispersed within a plastic matrix, the glass particles constituting up to 50% by weight of the articles and having a refractive index appropriate to or compatible with the plastic matrix.

Abstract: Glass preforms for optical fibers or the like having refractive index profiles which vary in stepped or graded fashion across the preform, are made from porous glass preforms by introducing a first dopant into the porous preform during manufacture, partially sintering the preform to selectively modify the internal surface area thereof, introducing a second vapor-infusible dopant into the selectively sintered preform to cause selective doping of the porous glass, and then consolidating the resulting doped preform to clear glass.

Abstract: Electrically energizable heating means are disclosed for supplying heat to a bottom portion of a melting furnace having a metal lined refractory vessel, wherein the heating means are in the form of electrodes or resistance heaters which are protected from the body of the melt by a shroud forming a portion of the metal liner for the refractory vessel, and such heating elements are raised above the bottom of the refractory vessel to prevent the corrosion thereof due to the heat produced by the heating units.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to SiC whisker and/or fiber reinforced glass-ceramic matrix composite articles wherein an alkaline earth aluminosilicate constitutes the predominant crystal phase. More particularly the composite articles will consist essentially of 10-60% by weight SiC whiskers and/or 15-70% by volume ceramic fibers and the glass-ceramic matrix will consist essentially, by weight on the oxide basis, of______________________________________ CaO 0-25 MgO 0-15 SrO 0-30 Na.sub.2 O 0-4 CaO + SrO 10-30 K.sub.2 O 0-6 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 25-38 TiO.sub.2 0-12 SiO.sub.2 35-60 ZrO.sub.2 0-15 BaO 0-25 As.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-3 BaO + MgO + Na.sub.2 O + K.sub.2 O + TiO.sub.2 ZrO.sub.2 + As.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-30 ______________________________________The preferred predominant crystal phase is selected from the group of anorthite and its pseudo-binaries, with mullite, cordierite, barium osumilite, and albite solid solution.

Abstract: A glass melting furnace is disclosed having a refractory melting vessel provided with a protective liner formed of an oxidizable refractory metal such as molybdenum, wherein the liner projects upwardly within a molten bath contained within the vessel and through its fusion line into a batch blanket retained thereabove which is low in carbonates. The upper end of the liner is provided with a seal to prevent the flow of batch material between the liner and the refractory vessel and thereby prevent contamination of material behind the liner and reduce corrosion of the refractory vessel.