Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing, at a low temperature, a high purity reaction product consisting essentially of silicon, nitrogen, and hydrogen which can then be heated to produce a high purity alpha silicon nitride. The process comprises: reacting together a particulate elemental high purity silicon with a high purity nitrogen-hydrogen reactant in its liquid state (such as ammonia or hydrazine) having the formula: N.sub.n H.sub.(n+m) wherein: n=1-4 and m=2 when the nitrogen-hydrogen reactant is straight chain, and 0 when the nitrogen-hydrogen reactant is cyclic. High purity silicon nitride can be formed from this intermediate product by heating the intermediate product at a temperature of from about 1200.degree.-1700.degree. C. for a period from about 15 minutes up to about 2 hours to form a high purity alpha silicon nitride product.

Abstract: For preventing a semiconductor device from separation of a passivation film, there is disclosed a process of wire bonding comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an intermediate structure of a semiconductor device; (b) forming an inter-level insulating layer of an organic material on the intermediate structure; (c) forming at least one bonding pad on the inter-level insulating layer; (d) growing a passivation film of an inorganic material on the inter-level insulating film in a high temperature ambient, the passivation film exposing the bonding pad; and (e) connecting a bonding wire to the bonding pad at a temperature lower than that of the high temperature ambient.

Abstract: A method for adding silica fume to a dry shotcrete mixture wherein the silica fume is added together with the water supplied to the dry mixture in the spray nozzle.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for treating a clay mineral thereby to change its rheological properties when in aqueous suspension such that the fluidity of the aqueous suspension at a given temperature and percentage by weight of completely deflocculated clay mineral solids in the suspension is increased, which process comprises the steps of mixing with the clay mineral in a plastic state a minor proportion by weight of a water-soluble organic compound having a plurality of basic groups and a number average molecular weight not greater than 1000, and subsequently or simultaneously subjecting the mixture to mechanical working under conditions such that from 25 to 1000 KJ of energy per Kg of dry clay mineral are dissipated in the mixture.

Abstract: Certain substances are provided which have the ability to relax smooth vascular muscle, having an endothelial lining, when administered in vitro or by intravenous injection. Examples of useful substances which are pharmaceutically-acceptable include phospholipase A.sub.2 (PLA.sub.2) and certain lysolecithins. The concentration required is at least about 3 units of PLA.sub.2 and at least about 10.sup.-5 Molar lysolecithin. The lysolecithins are dissolved in a suitable solvent, such as dimethyl sulfoxide, for injection. Alternatively, phospholipase A.sub.2 is administered directly. The resulting solutions should have a pharmacologically-effective amount of the substance dissolved therein. Importantly, the body does not develop a tolerance to the lysolecithin.

Abstract: A composite structure including fibers embedded in a silica glass matrix is made by first forming a precursor of the structure by embedding the fibers in a matrix of a silica-based glass material which further includes a glass-forming additive that lowers the working temperature range of the material below that of pure silica glass, and by leaching the additive out of the glass matrix material. The thus obtained porous glass matrix may then be consoidated at an elevated temperature that is considerably lower than that which would be needed for manufacturing the glass matrix directly from a material having substantially the same composition as the material of the leached-out glass matrix.

Abstract: A method of controlling the epimeric distribution in the preparation of 16,17-acetals of pregnane derivatives characterized in reaction of a corresponding 16,17-acetonide with an aldehyde or ketone in (a) hydrocarbon solvent wherein the solubility of the pregnane derivative is less than 1 mg/l or in a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent together with a hydrohalogen acid or an organic sulphonic acid as catalyst and in the presence of small grains of an insert material in the reaction medium or (b) a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent together with a hydrohalogen acid an organic sulphonic acid as catalyst and in the presence of an epimeric distribution modifier.

Abstract: Composite ceramic materials and a method of the same are disclosed, in which a ceramic material mainly containing silicon nitride, and at least one compound selected from a group consisting of nitrides, carbides, borides, silicides, oxides and oxynitrides of elements belonging to IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IBb, Va, VIa and VIII are combined to form a sintered body, and particles and whiskers of the ceramic material and compound are interlocked with each other and fixed so that the sintered body has a porosity of 5 to 30%. In the above composite ceramics, the particle of the compound are coupled with each other through the whisker or particle of the ceramic material. Accordingly, the composite ceramics are small in charge rate of size due to sintering, and are excellent in tenacity, heat resisting property and thermal shock resisting property. Further, the resistivity of the sintered body can be varied by changing the mixture ratio of ceramic material and compound.

Abstract: Well cement slurries, water soluble dispersants therefor and methods of producing the dispersants are provided. The dispersants prevent high initial cement slurry viscosities and friction losses when the slurries are pumped, and are comprised of water soluble sulfoalkylated naphthols in which the naphthol molecules are alkylated with at least one group having the formula --C(R).sub.2 --SO.sub.3 M wherein R is selected from hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and M is an alkali metal.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a liquifier for mineral binding agents comprising condensing a member of a group consisting of naphthalene sulfonic acid and alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acids with formaldehyde or a formaldehyde precursor in a highly acidic solution until a viscosity of 4,000 to 8,000 mPas is reached, adding water periodically to reduce the viscosity of the mixture until the condensation is complete and neutralizing the mixture to obtain a water-soluble condensation product and the liquifier produced thereby and mineral binding agents containing the same.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a granular building material from refuse. Cylindrical granules, having a diameter of 8 mm and a length from 10 to 20 mm, are formed by granulation under a pressure of 600 bar of a homogeneous first powder mixture of 952 kg of crushed household refuse, 50 kg of quicklime and 5 kg of calcium carbonate. The granules are heated at 200.degree. C. for 30 minutes in a rotary tubular kiln so as to obtain 720 kg of granules having a moisture content of about 1% by weight. These granules are finely crushed and, in a malaxator, a second powder mixture is prepared which is composed of a mixture of 101 kg of Portland cement, 101 kg of powdered dolomite, 91 kg of calcium carbonate and 50.5 kg of water, and the fine powder resulting from the crushing of the granules. Finally, the second mixture is granulated under a pressure of 600 bar and the granules are left to harden with the setting of the cement. The final granular building material may be employed as granulate for making concrete.

Abstract: A process for production of a flyash-slag composite is described in which, in one embodiment, slag particles are tumbled with an aqueous suspension of finely divided clay, flyash and a cementitious material are added, and the mixture is tumbled to produce the desired composite.

Abstract: A method for producing a self-supporting ceramic composite structure comprising a ceramic matrix embedding a filler, includes oxidizing a parent metal to form a polycrystalline material comprising the oxidation reaction product of the parent metal and, optionally, one or more metallic constituents. The method includes heating the parent metal to provide a source of molten parent metal and a reservoir of molten metal which is in communication with the parent metal having a chemical composition which is different from the parent metal and contacting the molten parent metal with a permeable bedding of filler. The molten parent metal reacts with the oxidant to form the oxidation reaction product and is replenished by the reservoir as the reacting continues for a time sufficient to grow the oxidation reaction product to a desired extent and thereby embed at least a portion of the bedding of filler within the oxidation reaction product to form the ceramic composite structure.

Abstract: A method for preparing substrates for VLS fiber producing reactions and a method for preparing SiC fibers by the VLS process. The first method includes the steps of forming an alcohol sol containing a fiber growth promoter material precursor, applying the sol to at least one surface of the substrate and drying the sol. More particularly, the steps can include forming a sol of colloidal hydrous metal oxide particles in a liquid, the metal oxide being a fiber growth promoter material precursor and the liquid being capable of dissolving a salt of the metal and of wetting the substrate surface as a sol, applying the sol to at least one surface of the substrate and drying the sol.

Abstract: The use of pectins or the pectin-like materials carboxymethylcellulose, alginic acid, tannins or orthodiphenolic compounds, as additives to clay to provide clay compositions of enhanced plasticity and stability is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a metallization film including copper on a surface of a substrate, and depositing an insulating film on a surface of the metallization film at a temperature which is below the oxidation temperature of copper.

Abstract: A hydraulic cement composition comprising hydraulic cement and a copolymer of 60 to 85 mol % of an alpha,beta-unsaturated dicarboxylic acid and 40 to 15 mol % of an olefin or a water-soluble salt thereof, said copolymer having a number average molecular weight of 300 to 10,000 and containing not more than 10% by weight of a high-molecular-weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 20,000.

Abstract: A composition which is useful for bonding integrated circuits to inorganic dielectric substrates comprising an admixture of finely divided particles of a thermally conductive metal or metal-containing compound, non-aqueously milled amorphous glass frit and fatty acid-based surfactant dispersed, in a solution of primary organic solvent selected from ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, dimethyl adipate and mixtures thereof and optionally minor amounts of certain secondary solvents and an acrylic polymer which is free of polar functional groups.

Abstract: Ceramic alloys or solid solutions are formed by dispersing a powdery metal alloy or intimate mixture of two alloying metals in a precarbonaceous polymer such as polyacrylonitrile, forming the mixture into a molded article such as fibers, and heating the molded articles at a temperature and in a pyrolyzation atmosphere sufficient to carbonize the polymer and cause reaction of the metals with carbon and/or the pyrolyzation gas.

Abstract: Mixed lanthanide-magnesium aluminates and lasers using monocrystals of these aluminates.These lasers in particular incorporate two flash lamps for longitudinally pumping a monocrystalline rod of a magnetoplumbite-aluminate emitting visible or infrared light, amplified between a mirror, a polarizing prism being used for passing to the outside of the laser the amplified light beam. The aluminate is of formula:(La.sub.1-x Tr.sub.x).sub.1-y-v Mg.sub.1-z-t Al.sub.11-u+y+2z/3 Cr.sub.u O.sub.19-t-3v/3.in which Tr represents a) at least one single trivalent substance chosen from among lanthanides, Y.sup.3+, Sc.sup.3+, or b) at least one pair of lanthanides formed from a divalent element and a trivalent element, while retaining the electrical neutrality by adding aluminium or oxygen deficiencies, or any combination of (a) and (b); x is a number such that 0.ltoreq.x<1; y and v are numbers such that 0.ltoreq.y+v.ltoreq.0.4; z and t are numbers such that 0.ltoreq.z+t<1, provided that when z=t=0, y+v is .noteq.