Abstract: A method for manufacturing Li.sub.2 M.sub.b Mn.sub.2-b O.sub.4 which comprises the steps of providing LiM.sub.b Mn.sub.2-b O.sub.4 ; providing a lithium salt; forming a mixture of the LiM.sub.b Mn.sub.2-b O.sub.4 and lithium salt in a liquid medium; adding a reducing agent to the mixture; heating for sufficient time to effect substantially complete conversion; and separating the product Li.sub.2 M.sub.b Mn.sub.2-b O.sub.4 .

Abstract: The present invention provides modified particulate metal oxides having desired properties and methods of producing the metal oxides. The methods basically comprise the steps of reacting a particulate metal oxide in an aqueous solution or emulsion containing ceric ion to produce hydroxyl free radicals on the surfaces of the metal oxide and then reacting the metal oxide with a polymerizable vinyl monomer to graft the monomer to the metal oxide and polymerize the monomer. The graft polymerized metal oxide compositions produced have improved properties such as compatibility and ease of mixing with water based, oil based and plastics formulations.

Abstract: A pipe coupling 1 for connecting together two pipes in a fluid-tight manner comprising an outer tubular casing 10, an inner tubular casing 20 and a tubular sealing sleeve 30. The sealing sleeve 30 has two sets of inwardly projecting ribs 32, which in use, are pressed into sealing engagement with the respective ends of the pipes. The inner and outer casings are longitudinally split and tensioning screws 17 on the outer casing can be tightened to tighten the outer casing around the inner casing and the sealing sleeve. Frusto-conical gripping rings 40 grip the pipes by engaging radial abutment surfaces facing away from the pipe ends and positioned close to the ends of said pipes in order to secure the pipes against axial displacement.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing Li.sub.1+x Mn.sub.2 O.sub.4 comprising the steps of providing LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 or .beta.-MnO.sub.2 ; providing a source of lithium; dissolving lithium from the lithium source in a liquid medium in which lithium generates solvated electrons or the reduced form of an electron-transfer catalyst; and contacting the LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 or .beta.-MnO.sub.2 with the liquid medium containing the dissolved lithium and the solvated electrons or the reduced form of the electron-transfer catalyst.

Abstract: A rutile mixed metal oxide pigment can be prepared by calcining a rutile ore with a transition metal oxide. The rutile mixed oxide pigment can be dispersed in an emulsion to produce a paint or coating or the pigment can be combined with a network former and network modifier to produce a ceramic glaze.

Abstract: A process for preparing a low-dusting, free-flowing pigment which has not been subjected to any micronizing treatment comprising the steps of providing an inorganic pigment material; providing a source of water; forming a fine, well dispersed slurry of the pigment and water; milling the slurry; depositing a treating agent having the formula ROOCCHSO.sub.3 MCH.sub.2 COOR' wherein R and R' are monovalent alkyl radicals having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, and M is a metallic monovalent cation on the slurried milled pigment; and drying the pigment material having a treating agent deposited thereon. The invention also provides the free-flowing pigments produced by this process.

Abstract: Pigmentary titanium dioxide having a high durability when used in paint or the like exposed to solar radiation and methods of producing such pigmentary titanium dioxide are provided. The durable pigmentary titanium dioxide of the invention is comprised of rutile titanium dioxide particles having cerium oxide and dense amorphous silica deposited thereon. The particles preferably also have an outer coating of hydrous alumina deposited thereon.

Abstract: Two liners are provided: one for containers with dry contents, one for containers with liquid contents.The liner for dry contents has layers pulp/foil/wax/paper/heat seal, which are laminated and placed into a closure. The closure is mounted on a container neck, after which an induction heating process is carried out. After induction, the pulp and foil layers remain in the closure while the wax layer is absorbed into the paper layer and stays on the container neck along with the heat seal layer.The liner for liquid contents is composed of pulp/foil/polyester/wax/paper/polyester/heat seal. This liner, which is also laminated, is placed into a closure and mounted to a container neck. Following an induction heating process, a pulp/foil/polyester laminate remains on the closure while the paper/wax layer (wherein the wax has been absorbed by the paper) remains on the container neck along with a polyester layer and the heat seal layer.

Abstract: A continuous method of preparing a single phase lithiated manganese oxide intercalation compound of the formula Li.sub.1+x Mn.sub.2-x O.sub.4 comprising the steps of: mixing intimately a lithium hydroxide or a lithium salt and a manganese oxide or a manganese salt; feeding the intimately mixed salts to a reactor; continuously agitating the mixed salts in the reactor; heating the agitated mixed salts in the reactor at a temperature of from about 650.degree. C. to about 800.degree. C. for a time not in excess of about 4 hours in an oxygen-containing atmosphere; and cooling the reacted product to less than about 200.degree. C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere for a time not in excess of about 2 hours.

Abstract: Improved alumina-coated inorganic pigments having a first coating of boehmite alumina, a second coating of amorphous alumina, and a third coating of boehmite alumina which exhibit good durability, dispersibility, and optical properties in plastic compositions are disclosed. Also disclosed is a process whereby an aqueous slurry of an alumina-containing inorganic pigment is milled to achieve a particular particle size distribution, a first coating of boehmite alumina is precipitated onto the pigment material within a first pH range, a second amount of an alumina coating agent is added to the aqueous slurry within a second pH range to obtain a second coating of amorphous alumina over the first boehmite alumina coating, and then the pH of the slurry is adjusted to a third pH range thus forming a third boehmite alumina coating over the second amorphous alumina coating.

Abstract: To provide a therapeutic dose of an aqueous slurry of activated charcoal to a poisoning victim, an opaque straw is coated internally with a viscous flavoring solution and the slurry is sucked up from an opaque container using the straw. The use of natural and/or artificial sweeteners in the slurry masks the gritty particles and improves the taste.

Abstract: A child-resistant closure container system allowing easy opening by debilitated adults. The closure has moveable panels on the side wall which, when depressed, allow the unscrewing of the closure from the neck of the jar or vial. The moveable panels include tabs engaging stationary locking lugs on the neck finish annulus, which prevent removal of the closure without depressing the tabs. The annulus and stationary locking lugs can be an integral part of the jar or vial.

Abstract: A method for separating coarse particles from TiO.sub.2 powder in a fine powder composition by the steps of: providing a system in which a source of the fine powder composition communicates with a minimally fluidizable bed of the fine powder composition within the system; delivering the fine powder composition from the source to the bed; imparting energy into the bed and delivering a fluidizing gas to the bed at a rate to cause the TiO.sub.2 powder and coarse particles of the fine powder composition to separate into a TiO.sub.2 powder phase and a coarse particle phase; removing the TiO.sub.2 powder from the system; and removing the coarse particles from the system.

Abstract: A container for use with tamper-evident closures, or tamper-evident child-resistant closures, having tamper-evident bands is provided. The container has threads for engaging corresponding threads on the tamper-evident closure. The container further has ramps for engaging tamper-evident elements on the tamper-evident band of the tamper-evident closure. The ramps hold the tamper-evident elements down while the closure is being rotated off of the container. Furthermore, the slant of the ramps actually serves to force the tamper-evident elements downward while the closure is rotated off. This greatly enhances the ease of removal of the tamper-evident closure, thus making the closure far easier to use, without sacrificing the important tamper-evident quality. Furthermore, the accelerated separation of the band from the closure enhances the tamper evidency features of the package by causing band separation upon distortion, before the closure/bottle seal is broken.

Abstract: A dispenser of dispensing tablets one at a time which includes a feature which prevents children from dispensing tablets. The dispenser has a reservoir and a moving slider member that can be moved from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position, after an locking pin or detent is unlocked. The unlocking pin or detent is mounted on a movable thumbpad, which requires the application of upward force to unlock the locking pin or detent from a locking hole or recess. The slider member has a chamber which holds only one tablet, which chamber moves from a position where the tablet is blocked from dropping from the chamber to a position where the chamber is aligned with a dispensing opening. In the dispensing position, the tablet in the chamber is dispensed, whereas the remaining tablets in the dispenser prevented from entering the chamber by a wall on the slider member.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a particulate product including electrostatically charging a fuel and/or oxidizer and/or ionizable inert gas present during the synthesis is provided. The method can include a step of collecting the particulate product which exploits the charged nature of the particulate reaction product.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing Li.sub.2 Mn.sub.2 O.sub.4 comprising the steps of providing .beta.-MnO.sub.2 or .lambda.-MnO.sub.2 ; providing a source of lithium; dissolving lithium from the lithium source in a liquid medium in which lithium generates solvated electrons or the reduced form of an electron-transfer catalyst; and contacting the .beta.-MnO.sub.2 or .lambda.-MnO.sub.2 with the liquid medium containing the dissolved lithium and the solvated electrons or the reduced form of the electron-transfer catalyst.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing Li.sub.2 Mn.sub.2 O.sub.4 comprising the steps of providing LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 ; providing a source of lithium; dissolving lithium from the lithium source in a liquid medium in which lithium generates solvated electrons or the reduced form of an electron-transfer catalyst; and contacting the LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 with the liquid medium containing the dissolved lithium and the solvated electrons or the reduced form of the electron-transfer catalyst.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing Li.sub.2 M.sub.b Mn.sub.2-b O.sub.4 which comprises the steps of providing LiM.sub.b Mn.sub.2-b O.sub.4 ; providing a lithium salt; forming a mixture of the LiM.sub.b Mn.sub.2-b O.sub.4 and lithium salt in a liquid medium; adding a reducing agent to the mixture; heating for sufficient time to effect substantially complete conversion; and separating the product Li.sub.2 M.sub.b Mn.sub.2-b O.sub.4.