Abstract: A thermal camouflage material for use on a tank or other military vehicle in a desert environment includes an outer layer of knitted fiberglass alone or with polyester having an outer coating of PVC and carbon black, and an inner film of aluminum; and an inner layer defined by a three-dimensional decoupling fabric between the aluminum film on the outer layer. The decoupling fabric is formed of outer and inner polyester mesh films with polyaramid sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: Metal catalyst particles are deposited on carbon nanotubes by preparing a silane solution of a metal catalyst salt, e.g. platinum or ruthenium chloride, immersing an electrically conducting substrate carrying nanotubes in the silane solution to yield a composite structure of substrate, nanotubes and catalyst, and reducing the composite structure to yield a composite of substrate, carbon nanotubes and metallic catalyst particles.

Abstract: A method is provided herein for controlling insects which are harmful to agriculture and forestry and which are also harmful both to humans and to domestic animals. The method involves the steps of applying to a locus infested with such insects, a composition comprising a carrier and a biocidal-amount of a specifically-recited phototoxic, naturally-occurring thiophene, acetylene, or a synthetic, structurally-related derivative, analogue or acetylenic compound. Then, that composition, while at that locus, is subjected to UV radiation in the range about 300 nm to about 400 nm, for a sufficient time to impart, to such phototoxic naturally-occurring thiophene, acetylene, or synthetic, structurally-related derivative, analogue or acetylenic compound the desired insect control activity. Certain of these phototoxic naturally-occurring thiophenes, or acetylenes or synthetic, structurally-related compounds are also novel and provide novel insect control compositions.

Abstract: A venturi section or cone for a lightweight firearm such as a recoilles gun which is subjected to high transient pressures and temperatures on firing is formed from a resin impregnated multi-filament fiber material. The material in the form of an elongated tow is wound on a mandrel, cured, and then removed from the mandrel for subsequent operations such as machining or assembly. During manufacture, a hot gas erosion preventing layer is first formed on the mandrel and a plurality of layers of two are helically wound thereon at a helix angle selected to provide adequate axial and hoop strengths for resisting axial thrust and hoop loads produced on firing. Lightweight recoilless guns using such venturi cones are lighter and cheaper to fabricate than conventional guns and will fire more rounds before excessive erosion causes them to be unusable.

Abstract: A control system for a laser-intensity-modulator system to maintain the modulated component of the output beam at a constant amplitude. The electro-optical modulator has a resonant driving circuit supplied by a voltage controlled oscillator. A portion of the output beam is detected and a control signal representative of the amplitude of the modulated component is derived and supplied to the oscillator in addition to the normal bias voltage which sets the nominal frequency. This stabilizes the amplitude of the modulated component in the output beam.