Abstract: A solid state electrochemical cell comprises an anode having at least one alkali metal as its active material, a cathode and an electrolyte comprising an anion and a cation comprising at least one electrolytically active alkali metal ion.The anion is at least partially immobilized by it constituting part of a polymer, chain, e.g. as the poly (methacryloyl-oxy-benzoate) or poly (2-(4-carboxyhexafluorobutanoyl-oxy-)ethylmethacrylate ions, thereby to overcome problems associated with mobile anions. The cation is preferably Li.sup.+ and a polymer such as poly (ethylene oxide) may be blended into the electrolyte to improve its mechanical properties.

Abstract: A nickel oxide electrode is made by impregnating a porous nickel substrate with a dispersion of a nickel compound, converting the compound in situ to nickel hydroxide, and removing reaction products.In order to overcome corrosion problems, facilitate removal of by-products and improve electrode performance, the dispersion is provided in a non-aqueous medium (e.g. as a methanolic solution of NiCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O) such that the in situ conversion gives rise to the nickel hydroxide in the form of a gel and to easily removable (e.g. volatile) reaction products. Such a conversion may be carried out by contacting the methanolic solution with an epoxy compound such as propylene oxide.

Abstract: A fluidic diverter comprising a housing forming a chamber having an inlet at one end and two diverging outlets at the opposite end. An asymmetric configuration is produced within the chamber by axially spaced steps in opposing walls of the chamber and a single control port communicates with the chamber at a position associated with the step adjacent the inlet. In use and in the absence of a control at the control port, flow will emerge through the outlet at the side of the chamber associated with the control port. A fluidic pumping system includes a fluidic pump having the fluidic diverter in a delivery line of the pump.

Abstract: A transverse flow gas transport laser including a closed loop of ducting through which a gaseous lasing medium can be circulated so as to pass continuously through a lasing region of the ducting in which it can be excited into lasing activity, in which there is included means for extracting a portion of the gaseous lasing medium from a region of the ducting other than the lasing region, comprising the said portion of the lasing medium and injecting it back into the remainder of the lasing medium thereby to induce flow of the gaseous medium through the lasing region of the ducting.

Abstract: An electrode for use in electrochemical deionization comprises a current feeder support carrying an intimate mixture of an ion exchange material, and a binder.The electrode is provided with an inert, electrolyte-permeable outer envelope, adhered to the mixture, for maintaining the mixture in contact with the current feeder during use of the electrode in electrochemical ion exchange. The envelope may be in the form of a non-woven polyamide cloth and may be provided with an outer restrainer, e.g. in the form of a metal or plastics mesh.

Abstract: The present invention relates to materials and more particularly to particulate materials suitable for use as thermal spraying powders.There is disclosed a process for the preparation of a particulate material suitable for use as a thermal spraying powder which includes treating a mixture comprising an inorganic substance as a major component (as defined in the Specification) and a sol to gel the sol thereby to form an intermediate material comprising inorganic substance and gel and heating the intermediate material.One example of thermal spraying is plasma spraying.

Abstract: A solid state electrochemical cell comprises an anode having lithium as its active material, a polymeric electrolyte, and a cathode comprising a composite of an insertion electrode material or similarly active material and a polymeric material.One of the electrolyte and the cathode possesses an ionically conducting phase at ambient temperature and the other of the electrolyte and the cathode lacks such a phase. Ionic conductivity can be induced in said other of the electrolyte and cathode at elevated temperature thereby to render the cell operable and give rise to improvements in comparison with cells where such phases are present ab initio.

Abstract: An aqueous ink composition for ball-point pens which comprises (i) 84.5 to 99.7 parts by weight of an aqueous medium consisting of 40 to 95% by weight of water and 60 to 5% by weight of a wetting agent, (ii) 0.1 to 15 parts by weight of a water-soluble or water-dispersible coloring agent and (iii) 0.2 to 0.45 part by weight of xanthan gum in 100 parts by weight of the total composition; and an aqueous ink composition for ball-point pens which comprises (i) 74.5 to 99.2 parts by weight of an aqueous medium consisting of 33 to 95% by weight of water and 67 to 5% by weight of a wetting agent, (ii) 0.1 to 15 parts by weight of a water-soluble or water-dispersible coloring agent, (iii) 0.2 to 0.45 part by weight of xanthan gum and (iv) 0.5 to 10 parts by weight of a permeable organic solvent in 100 parts by weight of the total composition.

Abstract: A remote handling manipulator having a slave arm and a manually operated controller with a grip mechanism, is provided with a force feedback system to impose a force resisting operation of the grip mechanism related to a load experienced by the slave arm. A jaw mechanism of the slave arm is operated by a pressurized fluid, and in the system the pressure of the fluid and the effort exerted by the grip mechanism are compared to produce an error signal used for regulating the force applied to the grip mechanism.

Abstract: A silicon carbide-silicon matrix composite incorporates unreacted coarse carbon particles (e.g. graphite particles) dispersed throughout the composite. The coarse particles are incorporated in a coherent mixture of carbon and silicon carbide powders which, after compaction, is infiltrated with molten silicon to form a matrix of reaction bonded silicon carbide in a substantially continuous free silicon carbide phase. By using coarse carbon particles of density of at least 0.963 g/ml, the molten silicon reacts only with the surfaces of those particles which may as a result remain unreacted and dispersed throughout the composite.

Abstract: A laser pipe welder/cutter for use where a pipe to be welded or cut cannot be rotated, consisting of a focusing head mounted on a carriage which runs on a track surrounding a hole in a base plate through which a section of pipe to be operated upon can project. The focusing head is arranged to maintain the laser beam at normal incidence to the pipe as it traverses around the pipe and is linked to a laser source via a flexible laser beam guide which consists of at least two rigid sections joined by optical elbow joints which permit motion about two mutually perpendicular axes, the lengths of the rigid sections being such that the laser focusing head can traverse more than a full circle around the pipe without the rigid sections of the laser beam guide coming into contact with the pipe.

Abstract: This invention relates to aluminium compounds and their preparation.In accordance with the invention a peptizable alumina hydrate is prepared by hydrolyzing an aluminium alkoxide at a water:aluminium ratio at or near the stoichiometric value. One example of an aluminium alkoxide which has been hydrolyzed in accordance with the present invention is aluminium sec-butoxide (Al(OC.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.3.sup.s); thus alkoxide has been hydrolyzed at water:aluminium ratios of 3:1 and 4:1 to give peptizable alumina hydrates.Cold water (e.g. at 16.degree.-22.degree. C.) and aluminium alkoxide are preferably brought together to effect the hydrolysis.

Abstract: A logarithmic amplifier with a large range of input signal magnitude at high frequency. The amplifier comprises a number of similar stages arranged in cascades. Each stage has a logarithmic converter and an input stage constructed to maintain a consistent phase of signal and to feed a different range of signal amplitude to the respective converters. The outputs are summed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pump of the helical annular linear induction type has pumped flow along paths which lie both inside and outside pipes (21) passing through the pump annulus (14). The pipes may be sampling pipes of failed fuel element detection apparatus. A number of pumps according to the invention may be arranged in cascade with selected pipes passing in series through selected combinations of pumps in the cascade so that, with an appropriate energization of selected pumps, flow along one pipe can be created while flow along other pipes is prevented.

Abstract: Coated ceramic substrates or structures having a barrier layer against alpha-particle radiation and integrated circuits prepared therefrom. Ceramic surfaces having reduced or modified surface roughness are also provided.

Abstract: An anti-corrosion treatment process for protecting alloys containing chromium and cobalt and/or nickel against corrosion by superheated water, which consists of heating the alloy in contact with a solution containing EDTA and ferrous ions to within a temperature range that forms a thick, chromium oxide-rich glassy film over the surface of the alloy. Where the EDTA is present in the form of one of its disubstituted alkali salts, the solution is preferably heated to 200.degree. C. to 210.degree. C. under chemically reducing conditions. Further heating of the solution to 225.degree.-250.degree. C. improves the corrosion resistance of the film, by increasing its iron oxides content and converting at least part of its structure to microcrystalline. Films produced by the present process are found to have a very low nickel and cobalt content.

Abstract: A mandrel is provided for use on a filament winding machine in a process for making a fibre-reinforced plastic artifact. The mandrel 50 comprises a portion 66 of relatively low density cellular material such as foamed polyurethane about a stiff axial spine member 54. The mandrel 50 is therefore relatively light weight and yet is of sufficient rigidity for use on a filament winding machine. After formation of an artifact by winding on the mandrel 50, the mandrel 50 may be removed from inside the artifact by comminution.An alternative mandrel comprises a number of sections of the cellular material, and enables an artifact having a re-entrant surface to be formed by a filament winding process. A layer of resin-impregnated filaments is wound around the mandrel, and the layer is partially cured. A section of the mandrel is then removed by comminution, and the layer is deformed to the shape of the remainder of the mandrel.

Abstract: A thermal insulation layer, suitable for use in a duvet, comprises a convection inhibiting structure and at least one surface with a low thermal emissivity. The structure may be a flexible cellular foam sheet or a web of fibrous material, while the low emissivity surface may be a coating on the sheet or on a thin flexible thermally insulating film. Perforations are provided through the foam sheet or the film to permit diffusion of water vapour through the layer, and the layer may include an additional web of fibrous material or feathers adjacent to the low emissivity surface.

Abstract: A catalyst suitable for the catalysis of the oxidation of carbon monoxide is prepared by providing the substrate with tin (IV) oxide support material and with a catalytically active material.The tin (IV) oxide is provided by contacting the substrate with a dispersion of colloidal or non-colloidal particles in a liquid medium, said dispersion being convertible to tin (IV) oxide by drying and firing, followed by drying and firing. A catalyst can be so-produced having low flow resistance, high low temperature activity and relative insensitivity to deactivation by moisture. The dispersion may, for example, be a tin (IV) oxide aqua-sol made, for example, by peptising hydrated stannic oxide with a quaternary ammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: Apparatus for agitating and circulating a liquid 20 comprising a vessel having two upright chambers 10, 12 and two vertically displaced ducts 14, 18 connecting the chambers 10, 12. In use of the apparatus, a steady flow of gas into the top of one chamber 10 provides both an oscillation and a circulation of the liquid 20 in the apparatus, as the gas is periodically vented through the upper duct 18.The apparatus has one application in the dissolution of material from nuclear fuel pins during reprocessing.