Abstract: A exterior hull coating with drag reducing qualities for use on waterborne vehicles. The coating comprises a water-soluble polymer of high molecular weight in a vehicle, and a diluent, and contains a swelling deferent agent, driers, and pigments. The coating may be applied by the well-known techniques of brush painting rolling, and spraying. The coating ablates in a timed-release fashion into the fluid boundary layer adjacent to the vehicle skin to reduce drag by the reduction of turbulence and the promotion of laminar flow in the boundary layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of a highly densified boron carbide ceramic body by the pyrolysis of a mixture comprising boron carbide powder and a preceramic organosilicon polymer selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanes, polysilazanes, polysilanes, metallopolysiloxanes and metallopolysilanes. Such highly densified ceramic bodies can be prepared by sintering under pressure or by utilizing a pressureless process.