Abstract: Process for providing a laminate product comprising a substrate and a printed film, the process comprising an embossing step synchronized with a decoration of the printed film and carried out continuously, through the passage of the laminate product between an engraved embossing cylinder, and a pressure counter-cylinder; the registration of the engraved cylinder, for keeping the synchronism between embossing and decoration, comprises suitable displacements of the engraved cylinder and is carried out with a temporary separation of the counter-cylinder from the engraved cylinder, or with a reduction in the embossing pressure existing between the engraved cylinder and the counter-cylinder.

Abstract: A bottom tray is supported by four wheels and is spaced apart from a bottom surface of a top frame member having two side walls and a back wall enclosing a grated work surface. A pair of pressurized tanks containing ingredients for metallizing an object are mounted under the side walls on the bottom tray. In addition, waste liquid tanks are positioned in a middle area of the bottom tray. Three spray guns are each attached by hoses to an air pressure source and a pressurized tank so that an operator can metallize an object by sequentially operating the spray guns.

Abstract: A low-cost, efficient method of preparing hierarchically ordered structures by filling a minimold with a microsphere-containing latex suspension, forming an close-packed array of microspheres within the minimold and filling void space in the array with a self-assembling mixture of hydrolyzed inorganic species and amphiphilic block copolymers. A macroporous and mesoporous material can be produced by subsequent thermal removal of the microspheres and copolymers.

Abstract: Hydraulic fixing agent that is based on Portland cement, a sulphate and aluminum component that is usual in this system, and optionally other additives. This is characterized in that, according to DIN 18156 (Part 2, Sec. 5.2.2.2, 5.2.2.3a) and 5.2.2.4), the hydraulic fixing agent has (1) an adhesive pull strength of at least approximately 0.15 N/mm2 when acted upon by water for 40 hours and (2) an adhesive pull strength of at most approximately 0.10 N/mmyy2 when acted upon by an aqueous sulphate solution and/or an aqueous solution of an aluminum salt, each of which has a pH value of 12.5, for a period of 40 hours.

Abstract: A tape dispenser for applying adhesive tape to a substrate surface. The dispenser includes an exterior application surface with an opening therein. A plurality of rotatable cylindrical rollers are mounted within the housing, wherein the surfaces of the rollers coact with each other and the tape surfaces to retain, guide and feed the tape through the tape dispensing opening to the exterior application surface. At least two of the plurality of rollers are opposed rollers that engage the tape surfaces therebetween. The outer surface of at least one of the plurality of rollers protrudes through the opening enabling frictional contact of the roller surface with the substrate surface. When the dispenser is drawn over the surface, the outer surface of the this roller engages and rolls over the substrate surface. It also coacts with the outer surfaces of the other rollers, causing them to grip the tape and feed it through the opening, enabling the adhesive tape to be applied to the substrate surface.

Abstract: Co-fired multilayer piezoelectric ceramic materials with base metal electrodes based on copper, copper alloy, are found as an effective approach to manufacture low cost multilayer piezoelectrics. The method of the invention is performed at low firing temperature and without the oxidation of base metal or reduction of ceramic components. A variety of ceramic materials may be used and copper is the preferred base metal in the multi-layer piezoelectric devices of the invention. This copper has additional protection against oxidation with a small inorganic coating on the surface. With such protection, the binder and other organics can also be efficiently removed and produce superior performance in the piezoelectric structured devices.

Abstract: A method of making an oxide superconductor article includes converting an oxide superconducting precursor into an oxide superconductor by thermo-mechanical processing using intermediate rolling deformation and heat treatment (including liquid-phase sintering and low temperature baking) and applying an additional heat treatment after the material is fully processed (including optional liquid-phase sintering and low temperature baking) to decompose any secondary phase remaining at the grain boundaries and to promote diffusion of the secondary phase into the oxide grain, where they form 2223 phase. The material has a better superconducting grain connectivity and improved superconducting transport property.

Abstract: A process for forming thin film laminations of thin fluoropolymer films to receiver sheets, more particularly, the production of very thin, transferable fluoropolymer films. A thin fluoropolymer base layer is applied onto a support layer, which may be a thicker film. The support layer/thin base layer is then laminated to a receiver sheet, followed by stripping away the support layer, leaving the base film on the receiver sheet.

Abstract: A method for making a thermal insulating material includes the steps of: providing a chamber, placing hollow geometric shapes in the chamber, closing the chamber, evacuating air from the chamber, feeding a slurry into an adjacent slurry chamber, pressurizing the slurry chamber and forcing the slurry in to the sphere chamber around the spheres against a fibrous material adjacent a side wall of the sphere chamber. The fibrous material allows capillary wicking of the liquid from the slurry around the spheres. Due to this pressure the spheres and slurry are semi dried into a green state. The material in its green state green is subsequently dried and fired to form the insulating material.

Abstract: To furnish stably a sintered nuclear fuel compact of uranium dioxide with a large grain diameter, a fabrication method therefor requires sintering a starting material at two stages in an oxidizing atmosphere and in a reducing atmosphere at relatively low temperatures. The starting material is either a powder mixture of uranium dioxide fresh material powder and triuranium octaoxide in a weight ratio of 75/25 ˜ 55/45 or pulverulent mixed uranium oxides yielding a final O/U ratio equal to that of the powder mixture. The sintering process in the oxidizing atmosphere involves at least one time period of a temperature rise to a higher temperature of 1200 to 1100° C. and at least one time period of a temperature drop to a lower temperature of up to 1080° C. A temperature difference between the higher and lower temperatures is preferred to be 50° C. or more.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a generally uniform liquid layer on a surface of an upper surface microelectronic substrate. The apparatus can include a support that engages less than the entire lower surface of the microelectronic substrate and rotates the microelectronic substrate at a selected rate. A barrier can extend over the upper surface of the microelectronic substrate and can rotate at about the same rate as the substrate to separate a rotating air mass adjacent to the upper surface and within the barrier from a stationary air mass external to the barrier. The rotating air mass can reduce the likelihood for liquid/air interface disturbances that create non-uniformities in the liquid layer. Accordingly, the method and apparatus can increase the range of thicknesses to which the liquid layer can be formed and can reduce the topographical non-uniformities of the liquid layer.

Abstract: A pre-alloyed stabilized zirconia powder suitable for use in thermal barrier applications is formed by alloying zirconia with a stabilizer, such as yttria, and processing the alloyed stabilized zirconia to form a very fine powder. The raw powder is then spray-dried to produce an agglomerated powder having an average particle size suitable for use in spray coating applications. The resulting powder can be used in a thermal-spray application to produce a porous thermal barrier coating having a substantially decreased thermal conductivity when compared to conventional TB coatings, such those produced using plasma-densified powders.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of bulk foams which comprises contacting ceramic foam particles with a hydrophobic material to form impregnated and/or coated ceramic foam particles with hydrophobic properties. The impregnated and/or coated ceramic foam particulate material is mixed with a ceramic binding material with or without an organic binder in an aqueous composition solution to form a castable and pressable mixture. The castable and pressable mixture is cast, and optionally pressed, in a mold to form a wet green body, which is in turn dried to form a dried green body, and is then fired and sintered to form a bulk shape foam article.

Abstract: An improved lost wax method for fabricating dental devices, a prefabricated incisal veneer (1) is selected from among a group of said veneers having predetermined shapes, shades, and sizes. Wax is applied (2 and 3) to the incisal veneer to create a wax buildup onto a model (4) or prefabricated coping (5). Subsequently, a sprue is attached to the applied wax (2 and 3) and the wax buildup is removed from the model (4) for investing and burnout to create a lost wax mold. For a crown with a substructure, the incisal veneer (1) and the coping (5) are both cast in place with press ceramic, press thermoplastic material, or by injecting a curable resin, composite, or epoxy material into the lost wax mold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing continuous supply of transfer tape to an applicator machine. The method includes unwinding the tape from the rolls to erase the roll memory in the tape, advancing the tape along a web path through knife elements to staging areas and past pinch rollers to the applicator. A second tape is placed on the staging plate for splicing to the first tape at the pinch roller. The first tape is cut and the second tape is advanced to the applicator.

Abstract: For weld bonding polymeric components, a bond monitoring device is utilized to sense emissivity from a bonding site to preferably determine the temperature of the material at the surface of the bonding site, in order to provide feedback information to a current generator that controls the thermal energy that is transferred to the bonding site. The bond monitoring device preferably comprises an infrared detector or pyrometer that determines the temperature at the surface of the bonding site by sensing the infrared radiation, which information is used to control current generation. The current generation device preferably comprises a radio-frequency current generator, which RF current is controllably used to create a magnetic field within a magnetic flux concentrator. When used with an mandrel of magnetically permeable material that is positioned close to the magnetic flux concentrator, the mandrel can generate resistive heat based directly on the supply of RF current.

Abstract: A method for producing a silicon nitride filter including heat-treating in nitrogen a green body containing from 40 to 90% of metal silicon particles having an average particle diameter of from 1 to 200 ?m and from 10 to 60% of a pore-forming agent, where the total amount of the metal silicon particles and the pore-forming agent is at least 90%, forms a porous product made substantially of silicon nitride.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for laying a floor covering that includes a flexible material containing a thermoplastic wear layer made from, in particular, plasticized PVC. The basic panels that form the covering are glued to the ground and cold welded in between on the site to be covered. After a panel has been positioned and glued to the surface to be covered, a continuous bead of mastic, which is made on the actual site by mixing a hardener and a polyurethane resin in aqueous phase, is applied laterally along the entire depth of the covering. The next panel is positioned on the ground which is covered with adhesive and the lateral edge thereof is pinned against the edge of the preceding panel comprising the bead of mastic, thereby causing the excess material to come to the surface, where it is removed by simply wiping with water.

Abstract: A method for compounding gel-free injection molding feed stock for injection molding net-shape ceramic parts, including the steps of: mixing inorganic particles with non-gel forming water soluble organic binders having molecular weight between 1000 and 1,000,000 and that are between 0.5 weight % and 10 weight % based upon the inorganic particles, along with plasticizers, water and processing aids in a mixer to form a mixture, wherein the non-gel forming water soluble organic binders are composed of high and low molecular weight organic binders; compounding the mixed inorganic particles and the non-gel forming water soluble organic binders at a high temperature in the range of between 70° and 98° Centigrade, under shear force, to form a homogenous viscous slurry in the range of 5×103 and 7×104 Pa.sec at a shear rate of 10 sec?1; cooling the homogenous viscous slurry to room temperature to form a compounded solid mass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing improved bioactive composite materials based on apatite, mainly for supporting functions in dental and orthopaedic applications, by adapting closure temperature and applying of pressure in closed systems using the production methods, according to reaction tendencies of the materials at their production, and by possibly further counteracting such reaction tendencies and tendencies for decomposition by additions of helping agents.