Abstract: Composite materials that can be used to block ultraviolet radiation of a selected wavelength range are disclosed. The materials include dispersions of particles that exhibit optical resonance behavior, resulting in absorption cross-sections that substantially exceed the particles' geometric cross-sections. The particles are preferably manufactured as uniform nanosize encapsulated spheres, and dispersed evenly within a carrier material. Either the inner core or the outer shell of the particles comprises a conducting material exhibiting plasmon (Froehlich) resonance in a desired spectral band. The large absorption cross-sections ensure that a relatively small volume of particles will render the composite material fully opaque (or nearly so) to incident radiation of the resonance wavelength, blocking harmful radiation.

Abstract: Composite materials that can be used to block radiation of a selected wavelength range or provide highly pure colors are disclosed. The materials include dispersions of particles that exhibit optical resonance behavior, resulting in the radiation absorption cross-sections that substantially exceed the particles' geometric cross-sections. The particles are preferably manufactured as uniform nanosize encapsulated spheres, and dispersed evenly within a carrier material. Either the inner core or the outer shell of the particles comprises a conducting material exhibiting plasmon (Froehlich) resonance in a desired spectral band. The large absorption cross-sections ensure that a relatively small volume of particles will render the composite material fully opaque (or nearly so) to incident radiation of the resonance wavelength, blocking harmful radiation or producing highly pure colors.

Abstract: Composite materials that can be used to block radiation of a selected wavelength range or provide highly pure colors are disclosed. The materials include dispersions of metal particles that exhibit optical resonance behavior, presenting to the selected radiation absorption cross-sections that substantially exceed the particles' geometric cross-sections. The particles are preferably manufactured as uniform nanosize spheres, and dispersed evenly within a carrier material having compatible dielectric characteristics. The large absorption cross-sections ensure that a relatively small volume of particles will render the composite material fully opaque (or nearly so) to incident radiation of the resonance wavelength, blocking harmful radiation or producing highly pure colors. The durability of the particles themselves ensure resistance to mechanical wear forces and the bleaching effects of intense radiation (e.g., sunlight).

Abstract: A method of making a gas-impermeable, chemically inert container wall structure comprising the steps of providing a base layer of an organic polymeric material; conducting a pair of reactive gases to the surface of the base layer preferably by pulsed gas injection; heating the gases preferably by microwave energy pulses sufficiently to create a plasma which causes chemical reaction of the gases to form an inorganic vapor compound which becomes deposited on the surface, and continuing the conducting and heating until the compound vapor deposit on the surface forms a gas-impermeable, chemically inert barrier layer of the desired thickness on the surface. Various wall structures and apparatus for making them are also disclosed.

Abstract: Radiation-absorptive materials, suitable for fabrication into packages, sheets, inks, paints, decorative surface treatments, lotions, creams, and gels are disclosed. The materials exploit certain optical properties associated with uniform, spherical, nanosize particles to provide complete radiation absorption, over a selected bandwidth, at low concentration. One type of particle exhibits an "absorption edge" at a chosen wavelength, transmitting radiation whose wavelength exceeds the characteristic bandgap wavelength, while effectively absorbing all radiation with wavelengths smaller than that minimum. Another type of particle exhibits "optical resonance," which causes radiation of a characteristic wavelength to interact with the particles so as to produce self-reinforcing internal reflections that strongly enhance the amplitude of the radiation trapped within the particle.

Abstract: Radiation-absorptive materials, suitable for fabrication into packages, sheets, inks, paints, decorative surface treatments, lotions, creams, and gels are disclosed. The materials exploit certain optical properties associated with uniform, spherical, nanosize particles to provide complete radiation absorption, over a selected bandwidth, at low concentration. One type of particle exhibits an "absorption edge" at a chosen wavelength, transmitting radiation whose wavelength exceeds the characteristic bandgap wavelength, while effectively absorbing all radiation with wavelengths smaller than that minimum. Another type of particle exhibits "optical resonance," which causes radiation of a characteristic wavelength to interact with the particles so as to produce self-reinforcing internal reflections that strongly enhance the amplitude of the radiation trapped within the particle.

Abstract: A method of making synthetic color pigments comprises synthesizing monodispersed colloidal core particles by precipitation from a solution and applying dye material to the core particles either by adsorption directly into the core particles or by adsorption or incorporation into alumina fixation shells at the surfaces of the core particles. Additional functional shells may be applied to the dyed core particles for various reasons. The pigments are useful for the coloration of various media such as printing inks and paint compositions.

Abstract: A method of making synthetic color pigments comprises synthesizing monodispersed colloidal core particles by precipitation from a solution and applying dye material to the core particles either by adsorption directly into the core particles or by adsorption or incorporation into alumina fixation shells at the surfaces of the core particles. Additional functional shells may be applied to the dyed core particles for various reasons. The pigments are useful for the coloration of various media such as printing inks and paint compositions.

Abstract: Whitener pigment particles that offer good hiding power consist of particles having a uniform shape (preferably spherical) and varying only slightly in dimension. The particles consist of an inexpensive, readily manufacturable core material which is surrounded by one or more thin, concentric layers or shells, one of which is titania. The core provides the central mechanical support for the shells. In addition to the titania shell, layers can be added to provide compatibility with the carrier in which the particles are dispersed and promote phase transformation. Also described is a production method and apparatus for generating large quantities of the particles.

Abstract: Transparent, refractory coatings and methods for their application to environmentally exposed substrates are disclosed. The coatings can be deposited over organic decorative materials, which generally prevent application of hard, protective, inorganic materials due to emission of exudates and vulnerability to excessive heat. The coatings are applied using plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor deposition techniques that reduce reaction temperatures and produce multilayer structures that seal organic exudates before a final layer of coating is applied, such multilayer protective coating structures being particularly suitable for protecting automobile bodies and the like against degrading external forces.

Abstract: A large thin web having a coherent crystal morphology throughout its extent is made on a continuous basis by drawing a meniscus of the web material from a hot melt thereof onto a heated support surface which moves relative to the melt so that the liquid is distributed as a thin liquid film over that support surface. The moving support surface advances the film progressively past a chiller which establishes a chill zone at the surface of the film which cools the film material at an isothermal front or boundary therein to a temperature below the melting point of the material so that the material solidifies. Also, a crystal seeding bar is located at the chill zone which is brought into contact with the film just ahead of the front so that when the film solidifies in the chill zone it assumes the crystal morphology of the seeding bar.