Abstract: A method of preparing colloidal zirconium oxide sols having substantially uniformly spherical particles in the size range of from about 0.01 to about 2.0 microns is described. The process comprises the steps of(A) preparing a liquid mixture comprising at least one zirconium salt and a compatible liquid vehicle;(B) contacting said liquid mixture with an anion exchange resin for a period of time sufficient to form a zirconium hydrate sol having a pH of at least about 5.0; and(C) recovering the zirconium hydrate sol from the resin. Colloidal size zirconium oxide powders can be prepared from the colloidal zirconium oxide sols by drying and calcining the sols at an elevated temperature. The zirconium oxide powders obtained in accordance with the present invention can be stabilized by the incorporation of certain stabilizers such as yttrium oxide, lanthanum oxide, cerium oxide, calcium oxide and magnesium oxide.

Abstract: A hydrotreating catalyst is described which comprises at least one Group VI metal, metal oxide, or metal sulfide, at least one Group VIII metal, metal oxide, or metal sulfide, and a halogen supported on a carrier wherein(A) the catalyst comprises from about 10% to about 35% by weight of combined metal and the atomic ratio of the Group VIII metal to Group VI metal is in the range of from about 0.5:1 to about 2:1;(B) the catalyst contains from about 0.5 to about 10% by weight of halogen;(C) the carrier comprises from about 10 to about 50% by weight of silica and from about 40 to about 90% of alumina; and(D) the catalyst is characterized as having a median pore radius of from about 20 to about 90 Angstroms, and a surface area of from about 90 to about 230 m.sup.2 /g.The catalyst is useful in the production of lubricating oils from crude lubricating oil stocks.

Abstract: A radiation detector useful for well logging and other applications contains a stabilizing pulsar device comprising a scintillator coupled to a photodetector and including a radio-active source such as an Am.sup.241 which simultaneously emits gamma rays and low energy particles such as .alpha. or .beta. particles upon decay. The pulsar device is coupled to the radiation detector which utilizes a scintillation crystal and photodetector, and the outputs from the two photodetectors are processed through a coincident/anti-coincident gate alternately to stabilize the gamma rays or to read the environmentally induced radiation.

Abstract: A TLD card reader comprising infeed and outfeed carousels for sequentially indexing cartridge holders for stacks of TLD cards to infeed and outfeed stations, and a shuttle transport for sequentially transferring TLD cards from the infeed station to a card read station and then to the outfeed station. At the read station plural photomultiplier tubes are mounted in opposition to respective hot fingers which are independently adjustable along three axes as well as independently biased for engagement with respective TL elements in a TLD card. For photomultiplier tube calibration a shuttle assembly is operable to move reference lights into the path of the shuttle transport for alignment with respective photomultiplier tubes. A light seal of star-like cross-section also is provided to seal the shuttle passageway at the read station.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for the continuous monitoring of a solution such as an electroless nickel plating bath, and the routine adjustment of the bath during use. The apparatus comprises a probe adapted to be placed directly into the plating tank, and controller for means for replenishing nickel ions and other plating additives as they are depleted from the bath. The probe uses a light source for passing a beam of monochromatic light through a portion of the bath and a detector for measuring the intensity of the light. Means are used to prevent air and hydrogen bubbles in the bath from affecting the reliability of the measurements. Additional means are used for cooling of the electronics and the portion of the bath through which the light is directed.

Abstract: A rugged scintillation detector uses a hermetically sealed window assembly welded or otherwise bonded to the detector housing. A method and apparatus useful in forming a reproducible hermetic seal between the glass and an annular metal retaining ring is described. The glass and ring are chosen so that the ring diameter is slightly larger than that of the glass at room temperature. A thin layer of frit at the interface ensures a very tight mechanical seal, and a surface layer of chromium oxide on the ring ensures a secure chemical bond. The assembly device uses pressure and counterpressure to uniformly and reproducibly assemble the glass window into the retainer ring at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A radiation detection and acquisition system including a plurality of radiation detector modules each characterized by the integration in a compact package of a scintillator probe and supporting electronics which provide digital pulse count signals in response to detected scintillations that may be transmitted by a differential line driver on twisted shielded wire pairs over great distances to a count signal processing unit while maintaining signal integrity. The digital pulse count output is independent of the type of radiation detected whereby the same count signal processing unit may be employed with different detectors for respective different radiations. The detector module may also have an analog signal output so that it may be interfaced to an analog signal analyzer and a third output of the detector module provides a digital output signal that reflects saturation of the electronics due to a high rate of detected scintillation events (pulse pile-up).

Abstract: An extruded copper chromite-alumina catalyst is prepared by blending together from 40-82% by weight of copper chromite and 18-60% of an extrudable alumina, typically having a pseudoboehmite or .alpha. hydroxy boehmite structure. The extruded catalyst after calcining is useful for the liquid and vapor phase hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of various carbonyl compounds and the functional side groups of aromatic compounds.The extruded catalyst is characterized as having a surface area of between 20 and 225 square meters per gram and a packed apparent bulk density of between about 0.70 and about 1.20 g/cc.

Abstract: Scintillators, and more particularly inorganic scintillation crystals such as cadmium tungstate, bismuth germanate, barium fluoride and calcium fluoride are coated with successive coatings of particulate materials such as barium sulfate and titanium dioxide to provide a highly reflective surface layer capable of providing internal reflection of scintillation events in the region of 200-700 nm. The reflective surface enhances the pulse height and resolution of the scintillator when coupled to a suitable detector such as a photomultiplier tube or a silicon photodiode.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gray vinyl polymer material having improved tolerance to sunlight and other sources of infra red radiation. The vinyl polymer contains an inorganic pigment composed of chromium oxide (Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3) and iron oxide (Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3) wherein the weight ratio of the oxides is about 3:1. The pigment may be blended with titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) to give a continuous spectrum of shades ranging from dark gray to light gray. The pigment is prepared by co-calcining the oxides of chromium and iron in finely divided form (-325 mesh) at a relatively low (900.degree.-950.degree. C.) temperature followed by grinding of the co-calcined product to 99% -325 mesh.

Abstract: The addition of a getter consisting essentially of reactive oxides of boron and silicon, to a melt of an alkali metal halide serves to overcome problems of unacceptable color, afterglow and hardness attributable to trace impurities present in the melt. These trace impurities are generally metals present in a concentration less than 1 part per million (ppm) parts of melt. An ingot melt-grown from charge stock treated with the getter provides high quality optical bodies such as light pipes, laser windows and scintillators. Specific problems characteristic of a scintillator ingot grown from a highly purified alkali metal halide "remelt", such as is obtained by crushing and melting portions of a melt-grown ingot, are overcome by adding to the remelt a portion of fresh powder stock in which the getter has been uniformly distributed.

Abstract: A light-reflective, flowable and curable composition is described which comprises a resin containing light-reflective solid particles in an amount and of average particle size sufficient to provide the desired light reflectance/transmittance characteristics to the cured composition. Preferably, the composition is self-leveling, and the solid particles may be particles of magnesium oxide, barium sulfate, aluminum oxide or mixtures thereof. The compositions of the invention are useful as reflective coatings in various applications such as for radiation detector devices including scintillator crystals.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for hot press-forging a normally frangible optically integral crystalline mass ("optical body") in a closed die, by directly pressing a surface of the mass while it is peripherally surrounded by a crystal powder the amount of which is computed from the deformation ratio desired and the geometry of the die. The crystal powder is compacted by the non-uniformly directed forces transmitted to it by the optical body, and eventually the crystal powder is sufficiently dense so as dynamically to constrain the optical body at its peripheral surface. The dynamic constraint of the optical body while it is being forged is effected in such a way as to permit deformation of the optical body without fracturing it, and, without affecting its optical integrity.

Abstract: A Geiger-Mueller ("GM") tube containing a noble gas mixture of about 98-99.9% Ne and the remainder Ar, and in addition containing from 2-5% ethylene as the quench gas, provides high stability and high count rates in the temperature range from about -100.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. When this GM tube is provided with a sleeve-and-screen liner in electrical contact with an outer cathode, the tube exhibits exceptional sensitivity. The sleeve may be a continuous deposit of a heavy metal having an atomic number from about 73 to about 83, deposited on the inner surface of the cathode tube, or the sleeve may be a foil liner of tungsten or tantalum. The screen is woven of metal wire on which is deposited a heavy metal.

Abstract: Cracking of hydrocarbons with a mixture of acid dealuminated, rare earth metal exchanged Y-zeolite having a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 molar ratio of more than about 6 and not more than about 300, and non-dealuminated rare earth metal exchanged Y-zeolite and a matrix.

Abstract: Preparation of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts is improved by incorporating a viscosity-reducing agent, having the general formula of Al.sub.2 (OH).sub.5 NO.sub.3, in the aqueous slurry containing the catalyst components of zeolite, clay, aluminous binder, and a silica source, prior to drying of the slurry. The viscosity-reducing additive allows an increase in the solids content of the aqueous slurry and thus improves the efficiency of the drying operation.

Abstract: A barrel loading and unloading station that includes a barrel support stand 10 for supporting a plating barrel 18 in predetermined positions and a door handling apparatus 14 for releasing and separating a barrel access door 16 from the plating barrel. The door handling apparatus 14 includes a door assembly 40 mounted for reciprocating motion towards and away from the plating barrel by a pair of trackways 42 that are mounted to an elevator mechanism 44 that is operative to raise and lower the trackways to increase accessibility to the barrel after the access door has been removed. One embodiment of the door handling assembly 40 includes a pair of rotatable spindles 56 operative to engage and rotate locking knobs 220 on the barrel access door 16 and a slide mechanism 120 for unlatching the door from the barrel. Another embodiment of the door handling assembly 40' includes a plurality of clamp engaging spreader arms 366 operative to spread and release resilient clamps 352 from the plating barrel.

Abstract: This invention relates to exchanging the sodium contained in a crystalline zeolite by partially removing sodium by exchange with another cation, partially drying the exchanged zeolite and re-exchanging the dried zeolite.

Abstract: The addition of a getter consisting essentially of reactive oxides of boron and silicon, to a melt of an alkali metal halide serves to overcome problems of unacceptable color, afterglow and hardness attributable to trace impurities present in the melt. These trace impurities are generally metals present in a concentration less than 1 part per million (ppm) parts of melt. An ingot melt-grown from charge stock treated with the getter provides high quality optical bodies such as light pipes, laser windows and scintillators. Specific problems characteristic of a scintillator ingot grown from a highly purified alkali metal halide "remelt", such as is obtained by crushing and melting portions of a melt-grown ingot, are overcome by adding to the remelt a portion of fresh powder stock in which the getter has been uniformly distributed.