Abstract: An apparatus for increasing bulk of a foreshortened fibrous web comprises a working surface designed to receive a foreshortened web thereon, a means for adding moisture to at least selected portions of the web thereby relaxing the crepe in the selected portions, and a means for retaining the crepe in the rest of the web. A preferred apparatus comprises a pair of opposite surfaces, at least one of which having expansion conduits therethrough, the web being impressed between the surfaces. A temperature differential is created between the two opposite surfaces, sufficient to drive the moisture added to the selected portions therethrough, thus relaxing the crepe in the selected portions which expand into the expansion conduits, while the crepe is retained in the rest of the web impressed between the two surfaces.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the manufacture of SC-A paper having a high gloss and high smoothness, wherein the paper arriving from the paper machine is supplied on-line to a supercalender (multinip soft calendar), and wherein the paper travels through a plurality of nips for achieving the desired gloss and smoothness properties. The paper web arriving from the paper machine and supplied on-line to a supercalender (multinip soft calendar) is moistened with steam immediately prior to the first nip of the supercalender and is guided through the first nip before the increased moisture of the surface resulting from the application of steam has dropped below a predetermined value in the range of 12% to 25%.

Abstract: A leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof is used as a dispersion medium, which is mixed with powder of a heat-irreversibly coagulating glucan and a dispersion interference-preventing agent including an organic acid. The resultant mixture is stirred to disperse the powder of glucan into the dispersion medium, thereby preparing a slurry having an increased viscosity. This slurry is formed into a sheet, which is then heated and coagulated.

Abstract: A method for producing a ceramic material, subsequently including mixing ceramic material, such as oxidic ceramic material, which as a raw material essentially comprises aluminum oxide, zircon oxide and/or titanium oxide, and glass component; melting at least the glass component in the mixture by sintering, where the glass component infiltrates the ceramic material and absorbs raw material of the ceramic material through a reaction at the surface; and bringing the mixture into a shape, such as powder, which is suitable for further processing, such as additional sintering. Also, a basis for the crown, the crown in its entirety having layers of for instance porcelain applied to the basis, and methods for producing the basis and the crown through subsequent processing steps, to which the basis is preferably subjected on the same underground, for instance based on CAD/CAM techniques.

Abstract: For the manufacture of shaped parts (6) from ceramics, for example for dental-technical purposes, first of all a powdery ceramic raw material is compressed to form a ceramic green compact (4). The inner contour and/or the outer contour of the shaped parts (6) is then prepared by machining the ceramic green compact (4) by means of eroding methods, with the ceramic green compact (4) being embedded into a workpiece receiver (1) before the Machining by means of an embedding mass (3) which neither damages nor reacts chemically with the ceramic green compact (4). Subsequently, the machined ceramic green compact (4) is sintered to form a high-strength ceramic shaped part. A ceramic material which is almost shrinkage-free during sintering is preferably used.

Abstract: A process for the production of a molding containing at least one zeolite, wherein the at least one zeolite contains a titanium-, zirconium-, chromium-, niobium-, iron- or vanadium-containing zeolite: (I) adding a mixture consisting of at least one alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol or butanol, and water to a mixture containing said zeolite or a mixture of two or more thereof, and (II) kneading, molding, drying and calcining the mixture from (I); wherein the molding is useful as a catalyst, particularly in epoxidation reactions.

Abstract: Disclosed are an optical fiber preform manufacturing apparatus and method in which processes for shrinking and closing a deposited tube are conducted using a device suitable for those processes, which device is other than the device used in a deposition process for forming the deposited tube on the inner surface of a preform tube, thereby reducing the processing time while reducing the amount of OH penetrated from the preform tube into a vitreous component of the deposited tube, thereby achieving a reduction in OH loss.

Abstract: A method of forming foamed articles suitable for refractory, thermal insulation and construction application in a form such as bricks, blocks, slabs and discs includes the preparation of homogeneous mixture of at least one oxygen-containing, water-insoluble raw material having a particle size <200 microns and at least one gas forming reagent having a particle size <130 microns. The mixture is humidified and shaped and then heated to a formation temperature sufficient to melt the raw material to develop an oxygen-containing molten liquid phase. This phase reacts at the formation temperature with the gas-forming reagent to induce a foamed structure which is then cooled to a solid state. The raw materials preferably make up 99-99.95 wt % of the mixture, and the gas forming reagent makes up the balance.

Abstract: A method for making a boron carbide containing ceramic involves pyrolyzing a precursor having one or more monosubstituted decaboranyl groups and at least one substituting group containing carbon. The precursor may be molecular, for example comprising two decaboranyl groups linked by a single substituting group, or polymeric, in which case the decaboranyl groups are part of the pendant group of the polymer while a portion of the substituting group makes up the polymer backbone. In either case, the substituting group may be a hydrocarbon, in which case boron carbide may be formed. Alternatively, the substituting group may contain carbon and another ceramic forming element (i.e., other than boron or carbon), such as silicon, nitrogen, or phosphorous, in which case a composite including boron carbide is formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for use in forming an adherent, brilliant white, chemically and mechanically resistant porcelain enamel coating on aluminized steel. The composition includes a self-opacifying glass frit component which includes high levels of titanium dioxide, lithium oxide, sodium oxide, and potassium oxide. The composition is able to produce a brilliant white finish on aluminized steel in one coat without the addition of titanium oxide during milling.

Abstract: A method of making coated glass including producing a continuous ribbon of glass, depositing a coating onto a surface of the ribbon during the production process and polishing the coated surface of the ribbon using at least one rotating polishing head. Preferably one or more of the rotating polishing heads have an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the plane of the ribbon. The invention also provides a method of treating glass including polishing a surface of the glass with at least one polishing head wherein the axis of rotation of the polishing head is substantially parallel to the plane of the glass, glass polished according to the methods of the invention and a flat glass production line including a polishing station including at least one rotating polishing head.

Abstract: A method for utilizing ultra-thin catalytic monoliths, internal molding and high concentrations of reactive catalytic species to exploit the unique high surface area of Aerogels in order to achieve catalytic selectivity of the desired gas phase heterogeneous reaction.

Abstract: A method of reducing humping of a laminated roofing shingle when the shingle is stacked with others of the shingle involves shingles that include a longitudinal central area having an overlay laminated with an underlay. The method involves providing a depression in the shingle that extends through at least a portion of the central area. In another embodiment, the invention is a method of reducing humping of a laminated roofing shingle including an overlay, an underlay, and an adhesive between the overlay and the underlay in an area of the shingle. The method involves providing a depression in the shingle that extends through at least a portion of the adhesive area. In a further embodiment, the invention is a method of reducing humping of a roofing shingle having a sealant in an area of the shingle. The method involves providing a depression in the shingle that extends through at least a portion of the sealant area.

Abstract: Glass raw material is fed to a glass furnace to prepare molten glass. At least one metal compound from one of the following metals: aluminum, titanium, silicon, zinc, magnesium, iron, chromium, cobalt, cerium or calcium is supplied to a foam layer formed on the molten glass to diminish or extinguish the foam layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for cutting tying elements of successive tobacco leaf bundles, wherein the butt ends of the leaves of each bundle are grouped and secured together by a transversely extending tying element disposed in surrounding relation to the grouped together butt ends. The method comprises moving successive bundles along a predetermined path past a cutting station with the grouped butt ends of successive bundles disposed transverse to the path within a predetermined transverse position within the path. A liquid jet configuration is established at the cutting station and moved through a repetitious path having a transverse extent greater than the transverse extent of the tying elements within the transverse position of the butt ends of the bundles. The moving jet configuration is directed onto the butt ends of successive bundles during the movement thereof along the predetermined path through the cutting station to transversely cut the tying elements thereof.

Abstract: A method of polarization-treating a piezoelectric body, which is constructed such that current flows through the piezoelectric body in response to application of a DC voltage to the piezoelectric body, includes the steps of measuring current flowing through the piezoelectric body, and stopping the application of the DC voltage at the time when the measured current value reaches a set level. The polarization degree is controlled based on the current value by utilization of a correlation between the current and the polarization degree during polarization. With this method, a desired polarization degree is obtained, and dispersion of the polarization is reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for a glass manufacturing facility. The apparatus includes a glass production system providing an exhaust stream entrained with particulate material including germanium—containing particulate. The apparatus further includes an exhaust filtration system including a PTFE fabric material. The exhaust filtration system is connected to the production system to receive the exhaust stream an capture the particulate material. A collection system is connected to the exhaust system to collect the captured particulate material from the exhaust system. The particulate material collected contains at least about 2% by weight germanium. The invention further includes incorporating the aforementioned apparatus into the operation of a glass manufacturing facility.

Abstract: A vacuum molding process includes selecting a flexible polymer cover for covering a selected cement container and at least partially filling the container with a cement mixture. The polymer cover is removably attached to the partially filled cement container and a vacuum is applied to the cement mixture in the container. The process may also include connecting a vibrator to the container for simultaneously vibrating the container and the placing of a hollow mold core member having a plurality of apertures therein in the middle of the container for the gas bubbles to escape as a result of the vibration of the cement mixture in a vacuum.

Abstract: Methods of making metal oxide articles, preferably iron oxide articles, and articles thereby produced. The method comprises the steps of slightly pressing powder to a compact, the powder consisting essentially of a first oxide of the metal; and subjecting the compact to a heat treatment that causes the powder to sinter into a unitary body and results in the transformation of at least a portion of the first oxide to a second oxide by oxidation or deoxidation during the heat treatment. In disclosed embodiments, the heat treatment is conducted either in air at atmospheric pressure or at a subatmospheric pressure. The method optionally includes more heating/cooling steps resulting in additional oxidation/deoxidation cycles. Sintered iron oxide articles of the invention have high mechanical strengths and interconnected pore structures, providing for efficient filtering of liquids and gases.

Abstract: A process for washing pulp including a dilution step, an extraction step and a subsequent displacement step. The process further includes the steps of: diluting the pulp; passing the diluted pulp to the extraction step; developing a first filtrate from the extraction step; passing the pulp from the extraction step to the displacement step; developing a second filtrate from the displacement step; segregating the first and second filtrates; providing the second filtrate to the dilution step; providing a determined minimum volume of the first filtrate needed for the dilution step; and eliminating the remaining volume of the first filtrate from further use in the washing of the pulp.