Abstract: The present invention is a composite material and process to produce same. That material comprises a fibrous structure which is initially predominantly coated with elemental carbon; that fibrous structure is then subsequently predominantly coated with at least one ceramic material, e.g., boron carbide, which is non-reactive with silicon. The composite material also comprises a silicon matrix which is continuous and predominantly surrounds the fibrous structure, which has been initially predominantly coated with elemental carbon and subsequently predominantly coated with at least one ceramic material. The matrix which has a fine grain crystalline structure of predominantly 20 microns or less in size. The at least one ceramic material is discontinuous within that matrix. The fibrous material pulls out of the elemental carbon, which initially predominantly coats that fibrous structure, when the composite is subjected to fracture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a scintillation-immune adaptive optics reconstructor is disclosed. The present invention includes a wavefront sensor (70) which determines illumination slope and amplitude of a number of subapertures (75). The slope and amplitude information is coupled to a slope weighting function (90), which weights the slopes of each subaperture (75) according to the amplitude of illumination of each subaperture. The present invention determines the variation in light amplitude received by the subapertures (75) and determines a slope of the light amplitude variation. The signal gain of the imaging system is then adjusted depending on the slope of the light amplitude variation, thereby yielding a closed-loop system that compensates for amplitude disturbances caused by scintillations in the images received by the imaging system (10).

Abstract: An electrically actuated aircraft brake and method characterized by the use actuator modules which can be easily and quickly replaced as a unit. Quick and easy replacement of the actuator modules can be effected without disassembly of the overall brake and wheel assembly. Accordingly, brake manufacturing, repair costs, overhaul, parts stocking and maintenance costs and requirements are minimized and/or greatly simplified compared to integrated brake designs used in the prior art. Also, a malfunctioning actuator module on an aircraft can be replaced and preferably quickly enough to allow the aircraft to remain in scheduled service and/or with a minimum of downtime.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ferrous metal article having a protective, adherent, wear resistant coating of metallic oxides and a method of forming a protective, adherent, wear resistant coating of metallic oxides on an iron-chrome article. The coating desirably has a thickness of from about 12.7 to about 102 microns (½ mil to about 4 mils) and is formed by exposure of the article to an oxidizing atmosphere, preferably air, preferably during heat treatment of the article.

Abstract: A catalyst system and a process for the bulk addition polymerization or of polycyclic olefins, such as norbornene, methylnorbornene, ethylnorbornene, butylnorbornene or hexylnorbornene, 1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanonapthalene, 5,5′-(1,2-ethanediyl)bisbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, and 1,4,4a,4b,5,8,8a,8b-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanobiphenylene are disclosed. The catalyst includes an organonickel or organopalladium transition metal procatalyst and an activator compound. Polymerization can be carried out in a reaction injection molding process to yield thermoplastic and thermoset molded polymeric articles possessing high glass transition temperatures.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a resin impregnated article includes the steps of providing a mold onto which a reinforcing material is placed, sealing the reinforcing material with an impervious sheet and regulating the pressure on the material and temperature of the material and resin by placing a fluid in contact with the impervious sheet and regulating the pressure and temperature of the fluid.

Abstract: A deicer is provided for breaking up and removing accumulated ice on an airfoil surface. The deicer includes a bondside surface that is bonded to the airfoil surface, a breezeside surface on which the ice will accumulate, and passage-defining surfaces therebetween. The passage-defining surfaces define a plurality of expansible and contractible inflation passages and include a moisture-impervious coating whereby moisture within the inflation passages will not be absorbed by the surfaces. The bondside, breezeside and passage-defining surfaces may be contained on a deicer panel and means may be provided for introducing inflation fluid to and evacuating inflation fluid from the passages to expand and contract the inflation passages to break up and remove the accumulated ice.

Abstract: Methods for the addition polymerization of cycloolefins using a cationic Group 10 metal complex and a weakly coordinating anion of the formula:

Abstract: The present invention relates to cyclic polymers and their use in photolithographic applications. The cyclic polymers contain a pendant acid labile functional group and a functional group containing a protected hydroxyl moiety.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a resin impregnated article comprises the steps of providing a mold onto which a reinforcing material is placed, sealing the reinforcing material with an impervious sheet and regulating the temperature of the reinforcing material and resin by placing a fluid in contact with the impervious sheet and regulating the temperature of the fluid.

Abstract: Low energy fuse for use in transmitting shock waves. The fuse consists of a hollow plastic tube fabricated of an ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene terpolymer, with a coating of reactive powder on an inner wall of the tube. The terpolymer contains a third polymer which enhances adhesion of the powder to the tube, and in the disclosed embodiment, the third polymer is hexafluoroisobutylene.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are prepared from polyols having high secondary hydroxyl content, diisocyanates, chain extenders and catalysts. The resulting polyurethanes have high molecular weight and can be prepared by a one-shot process wherein the reactants and any additional desired components are brought together and reacted simultaneously or substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation sensitive photoresist composition comprising a photoacid initiator and a polycyclic polymer comprising repeating units that contain pendant acid labile groups. Upon exposure to an imaging radiation source the photoacid initiator generates an acid which cleaves the pendant acid labile groups effecting a polarity change in the polymer. The polymer is rendered soluble in an aqueous base in the areas exposed to the imaging source.

Abstract: Methods for the addition polymerization of cycloolefins using a cationic Group 10 metal complex and a weakly coordinating anion of the formula: [(R′)zM(L′)x(L″)y]b[WCA]d wherein [(R′)zM(L′)x(L″)y] is a cation complex where M represents a Group 10 transition metal; R′ represents an anionic hydrocarbyl containing ligand; L′ represents a Group 15 neutral electron donor ligand; L″ represents a labile neutral electron donor ligand; x is 1 or 2; and y is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and z is 0 or 1, wherein the sum of x, y, and z is 4; and [WCA] represents a weakly coordinating counteranion complex; and b and d are numbers representing the number of times the cation complex and weakly coordinating counteranion complex are taken to balance the electronic charge on the overall catalyst complex.

Abstract: Polycyclic polymers containing pendant aromatic moieties are disclosed. The polymers exhibit light transparency properties to deep UV wave lengths making them useful for high resolution photolithographic applications. These polymers are particularly useful in chemically amplified positive and negative tone resists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cyclic polymers and their use in photolithographic applications. The cyclic polymers contain a pendant acid labile functional group and a functional group containing a protected hydroxyl moiety. The polymers are post modified by deprotecting the pendant hydroxyl moiety and reacting the deprotected hydroxyl containing moiety with a coreactant. The post-functionalized polymers find application in chemically amplified photoresist compositions.

Abstract: An airfoil device (10) for attachment to the wing (14) of an aircraft (12). The airfoil device (10) has a chamber (30) which is inflatable to provide a lift-enhancing airfoil geometry to the wing (14) and other chambers (32) which are inflatable to provide deicing forces to remove ice accumulation on the wing (14). When installed on the wing (14), the airfoil device (10) closely conforms to the wing's airfoil geometry (e.g., low camber, sharp leading edge) when the lift-enhancing chamber (30) and the deicing chambers (32) are in a deflated condition. The lift-enhancing chamber (30) can be inflated during take-off and landing to provide a high camber and less sharp airfoil geometry. If ice accumulates on the wing (14) during high speed flight, the deicing chambers (32) can be repeatedly inflated/deflated for ice removal purposes.

Abstract: An aircraft life raft assembly for use as a deployable escape slide from an egress opening of an aircraft. The escape slide is a longitudinally extending structure with a center line that extends from the head end of the slide, adjacent the egress opening, to a toe end that is located adjacent the horizontally extending ground plane. Pressurizing means is operative to inflate the escape slide, which escape slide has panels or panel members of flexible material with an upper sliding surface that extends in the longitudinal direction. The escape slide has a portion of its length that is curvilinear in plan view, which curvilinear portion maybe close to the egress opening of the aircraft or anywhere along the length of the escape slide.

Abstract: Low molecular weight &agr;-methylstyrene oligomers are obtained by oligomerizing &agr;-methylstyrene in the presence of a single component initiator complex containing a cation component and a weakly coordinating anion component. The initiator complex is non-corrosive and does not have to be neutralized or removed from the obtained product.

Abstract: A deicer (10) for a radome (12) includes an active portion (16) through which transmission occurs and a non-active portion (18) which is attached to an aircraft (14). The deicer (10) comprises a cap portion (20) covering the active portion (16) of the radome (12) but unattached thereto. The cap portion (20) comprises layers (36, 38) defining inflatable/deflatable chambers (24), the layers both being made of non-extensible material such as square woven nylon fabric. When the chambers (24) are inflated, the inner layer (38) lifts off of the active portion (16) of the radome (12). The deicer (10) can additionally comprise a skirt portion (22) which is stretchable to accommodate the inflation of the chambers (24).