Abstract: A composite material (M) comprising: at least 75% by volume of a mixed electronic conductor compound oxygen anions O<2->(C1) selected from doped ceramic compounds which, at the temperature of use, are present in the form of a crystalline network having ion oxide lattice vacancies and, more particularly, in the form of a cubic phase, a fluorite phase, a perovskite phase, of the aurivillius variety, a Brown-Millerite phase or a pyrochlore phase; and 0.01%-25% by volume of a compound (C2) which is different from compound (C1), selected from oxide-type ceramic materials, non-oxide type ceramic materials, metals, metal alloys or mixtures of said different types of material; and 0%-2.5% by volume of a compound (C3) produced from at least one chemical reaction represented by the equation: xFC1+yFC2----->zFC3, wherein FC1, FC2 and FC3 represent the raw formulae of compounds (C1), (C2) and (C3) and x, y and z represent rational numbers above or equal to 0.

Abstract: A valve is provided to control the flow of a pressurized fluid, in particular a medical or industrial gas. The inventive valve consists of a body with an internal fluid distribution circuit, within this internal fluid distribution circuit are a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a internal fluid passage that connects them. There is a means for controlling the fluid flow that can prevent the circulation of a fluid in this passage, and a handling means utilizing a pivoting lever that can be manually actuated by an operator. This lever pivots around a pivot point and can move between at least three stable positions that are angularly staggered in relation to each other. In the rest position, this lever is fixed and solidly connected to the body of the valve, and there is zero fluid flow in the internal fluid passage.

Abstract: A polyimide MMC membrane useful for the production of oxygen-enriched air or nitrogen-enriched-air, for the separation of carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons or nitrogen, and the separation of helium or hydrogen from various streams. Membranes of polyimide polymers, such as polyimide polymers sold under the tradename P-84, are mixed with molecular sieve materials, such as SSZ-13, to make MMC membranes. The MMC membranes of the invention provide improved membrane performance compared to polymer only membranes, particularly when used to form asymmetric film membranes or hollow fiber membranes. The MMC films exhibit consistent permeation performance as dense film or asymmetric membranes, and do not interact with components of the process streams, such as organic solvents. The membranes of the invention exhibit particularly surprisingly good selectivity for the fluids of interest.