Abstract: A method employed by an expert system for batch scheduling the multiple-pass manufacture of a plurality of parts (12) by at least one parts process (22), where the parts (12) have a plurality of delivery dates and the parts (12) and parts processor (22) have a plurality of production constraints variable during manufacture, includes creating a knowledge base of select characteristics of the parts processor and parameters of the parts, and generating a plurality of rules expressing a scheduling and planning strategy that substantially satisfies parts delivery dates, substantially maximizes use of the parts processor, substantially maximizes part throughput, substantially minimizes energy utilization of the parts processor and meets the production constraints. Parts (12) suitable for simultaneous processing by the parts processor are combined into all possible preferred combinations by applying a first plurality of the rules to the knowledge base.

Abstract: A system to mitigate the effect of an environmental release of a contaminant gas. The system includes at least one first fluid effect device (13) positioned in the vicinity of the environmental release (33). A first fluid stream (20), a second fluid stream (23) and a flame (24) may each selectively be discharged from the first fluid device (13) in proximity to the contaminant gas. At least one second fluid effect device (25) also may be positioned in the vicinity of the environmental release (33) and the first fluid effect device (13). A third fluid stream (30) may be discharged from the second fluid device (25) proximate to the contaminant gas. A method to mitigate the effect of an environmental release of a contaminant gas employing the foregoing system is likewise embodied herein.

Abstract: A technique for measuring the coefficient of thermal expansion of calcined petroleum coke. This technique involves pressing a pellet of calcined coke to determine the coefficient of thermal expansion. It has the advantage of eliminating the graphitization and machining steps resulting in reduced manpower and turnaround time and requires less sample which allows CTE determination of laboratory scale cokers. Results show good correlation between this technique and traditional extrusion techniques.

Abstract: A laminate having high strength and excellent resistance to moisture comprised of a fiberglass reinforced polyester panel adhesively attached with a water reactive adhesive to a tempered hardboard panel.

Abstract: A high temperature, preferably polycrystalline, ceramic fiber having a selectable diameter of between 1 and 200 microns. The fiber is stable in an inert atmosphere at a temperature above about 1700.degree. C. and is often stable even in air at a temperature above 1500.degree. C. The fiber comprises a sintered ceramic powder having a maximum particle size less than the diameter of the fiber and an average particle size less than 0.2 times the diameter of the fiber. The ceramic powder is also stable in an inert atmosphere at a temperature above about 1700.degree. C. At least 90% of the ceramic is selected from borides, nitrides, carbides, and silicides. The fiber is characterized by a smooth surface and is preferably out of round.The invention further comprises a textilable sinterable filament, comprising a flexible polymer matrix containing high temperature sinterable ceramic powder particles. The ceramic powder particles are selected from ceramic borides, nitrides, carbides, and silicides.

Abstract: A facilitated liquid membrane for the separation of olefins from a gaseous feed stream comprises a porous support structure (10, 15) and a liquid membrane which comprises an aqueous solution containing a metal salt facilitator capable of coordinating with olefin gases, and an alkyl carbonate co-solvent. A process for the separation of olefins from gaseous feed streams comprises the steps of passing a gaseous feed stream over one side of a facilitated liquid membrane according to the present invention and collecting the olefins on the other side of the membrane.

Abstract: Olefins such as propylene and isobutylene are converted to the corresponding unsaturated nitriles, acrylonitrile, and methacrylonitrile, respectively, by reacting a mixture of the olefin, ammonia, and molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst containing the oxides of molybdenum, bismuth, iron, cobalt, nickel, and chromium, and either phosphorus or antimony or mixtures thereof, and an alkali metal or mixture thereof, and optionally one element selected from the group of an alkaline earth metal, a rare earth metal, niobium, thallium, arsenic, magnesium, zinc, cadmium, vanadium, boron, calcium, tin, germanium, manganese, tungsten, tellurium, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a membrane for the selective separation of at least one component of a gaseous feed stream comprising a porous membrane, having pores of from about 10 Angstroms to about 200 Angstroms, the pores containing a facilitator liquid having an affinity for the at least one component to be selectively separated, the membrane being capable of operating at a transmembrane pressure of about 100 psig to about 1000 psig, and the membrane comprising a polymer, a solvent, an alcohol non-solvent, and a viscosity enhancer and pore former.

Abstract: A sensor and method for measuring the concentration of alcohol in an alcohol-hydrocarbon mixture for use with flexible fuel vehicles. The sensor and method are characterized by a pair of detectors or sensing elements which detect absorbance of two different wavelength bands of energy transmitted through the fuel. The first wavelength band is absorbed by the alcohol and substantially unabsorbed by the hydrocarbons and other non-alcohols in the fuel mixture. The second or reference wavelength band is selected where the absorbance of alcohols and hydrocarbons is essentially the same and preferably essentially zero. The output of the two detectors or sensing elements is ratioed to provide a signal representative of the alcohol content of the fuel mixture. In a preferred embodiment, the sensing elements are included in a differential thermopile.

Abstract: A process for spectroscopically measuring the content of a component in a liquid mixture involves passing a single optical beam through the mixture without the use of a reference beam and measuring the intensities of transmitted light in two different wavelength bands by means of two adjacent detectors responsive to light in the two wavelength bands respectively. The component being measured absorbs light within one of the wavelength bands. The ratio of the detector outputs can then be related to the component concentration. The principal use of the invention is for in-situ measurement of methanol in gasoline for motor vehicles.

Abstract: A fluid bed catalyst which has lost activity or fluidization quality through agglomeration, contamination, or a physical or chemical change on the surface of the catalyst is deagglomerated and/or its surface re-exposed, by contacting the fluidized catalyst with a high velocity gas sufficient to cause multiple collisions among the catalyst particles and thereby deagglomerating the particles and/or abrading the surface of the particles to expose fresh catalyst.

Abstract: A thermally conductive diamond metal composite comprising 5 to 80 volume percent diamond particles having a particle size ranging from about 1 to 50 .mu.m and a metal matrix comprising a thermally conductive metal. Preferably, a fine metal powder having particle size below 53 microns is utilized as the source for the metal matrix.

Abstract: A reinforced metal composite comprised of a mixture of fused yttria and a metal matrix selected from the group consisting of Ti, Nb, Fe, Co, Ni, Ti alloy, Co based alloys aluminides of Ti, aluminides of Ni, aluminides of Nb and their mixtures. Preferably, the metal matrix is Ti or a Ti alloy which has a low Cl content (e.g. less than 0.15 wt. % Cl).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises introducing into a reaction zone a feed which comprises a hydroxyl compound reactant, R"OH at least one amide reactant selected from R--CONH.sub.2 and R--CONHR', and a Lewis base as catalyst, thereby reacting R"OH with said amide reactant to produce a reaction mixture containing at least one disubstituted amide selected from R--CONR".sub.2 and R--CONR'R", whereineach of R, R' and R" contains no acetylenic unsaturation and 1 to 30 carbon atoms;each of R, R' and R" is selected from a hydrocarbyl groups and a hydrocarbyl group that is substituted with a group selected from carbamoyl, hydrocarbylcarbamoyl, dihydrocarbylcarbamoyl, and hydroxyl.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a coated reinforcement material comprising a reinforcement having a coating or the general formula:A.sub.x Si.sub.100-xwherein A is selected from the group consisting of Au, Pt, Ru, Rh,Ni, Pd, Ir and combinations thereof; andx is within the range of greater than zero to about 40.The invention further relates to a high strength, high temperature performance composite comprising a matrix material and a reinforcement material having a coating comprising silicon in combination with at least one of gold, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, nickel, iridium and palladium.

Abstract: Multilayered high barrier film products providing gas and moisture barrier properties. The film products comprise at least a first polymer film having low permeability to moisture and a polymer blend film containing a gas barrier polymer and a second polymer functionalized for compatibility with the gas barrier polymer and so as to allow the polymer blend film to adhere to the first polymer film. A method for the preparation of multilayered high barrier film products includes the steps of forming a gas barrier polymer film from a polymer blend containing a gas barrier polymer and a second polymer and, bonding a moisture barrier polymer film to at least one side of the gas barrier film.

Abstract: A process for forming a stable and processable polymer comprised of methacrylonitrile (10 to 80 percent) and acrylonitrile (20 to 90 percent) by controlling the ratio of the monomers in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises the reaction in a reaction zone of a nitrile, RCN, with a hydroxyl compound, R'OH, in the presence of water introduced into the reaction zone in the amount of more than 0.15 mole and up to 10 moles, per mole of RCN introduced to the reaction zone, thereby producing a reaction mixture containing at least one amide selected from R--CONHR' and R--CON(R').sub.

Abstract: A wafer (100) providing transverse sheets of semipermeable membrane (21). Such wafers include peripheral support means (101) defining a generally cylindrical ring and having inside (104) and outside surfaces (105), a plurality of transverse sheet membrane sleeves (16) carried within the peripheral support means, and a plurality of baffle plates (110, 125) carried between adjacent membrane sleeves. Apparatus (60) for the separation of a fluid into permeate and retentate portions comprises at least one transverse sheet membrane wafer (100), vessel means (61) providing a first port (68) for receiving the fluid, a second port (69) for withdrawing the retentate and a third port (70) for withdrawing the permeate, means for compressing (74) the wafer within the apparatus, and permeate chamber means (72) within said vessel, separate from the feedstream and the retentate by the means for compressing (74) and peripheral support means (101).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises the reaction in a reaction zone of a nitrile, RCN, with a hydroxyl compound, R'OH, in the presence of a Lewis base as catalyst introduced into the reaction zone, thereby producing a reaction mixture containing at least one amide selected from R--CONHR' and R--CON(R').sub.2, whereineach of R and R' contains no acetylenic unsaturation and 1 to 30 carbon atoms,each of R and R' is independently selected from a hydrocarbyl group and a hydrocarbyl group that is substituted with a group selected from cyano, carbamoyl, hydrocarbylcarbamoyl, dihydrocarbylcarbamoyl, and hydroxyl.