Abstract: A printing station conveys a supply of molten lithium from a heated tank to a nozzle within a protective shroud. A web traverses a chiller also within the shroud. The nozzle dispenses discrete amounts of the molten lithium onto successive portions of the web in contact with the chiller. The chilled lithium solidifies into solid lithium patterns. A sealer also within the shroud prevents exposure of the solid lithium patterns to ambient air. The station can be incorporated into an in-line press for forming a succession of electrochemical cells.

Abstract: A method of preparing super-concentrated liquid rinse cycle fabric softeners is provided wherein the fabric softeners contain more than 35%, by weight, of a fabric softening system based on an amidoamine fabric softener, such as bis(tallow amidoethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl amine and a quaternary diester fabric softener, such as N-methyl, N,N,N-triethanolamine ditallow ester quaternary ammonium salt. A fatty alcohol ethoxylate surfactant and a polyethylene glycol polymer or a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether polymer are integral components of the liquid composition.

Abstract: Glass objects and glazed ceramic objects have a durable thin lustruous coating of a flux-free and frit-free inorganic based luster pigment particles. An application method comprises initially applying the pigment particles to a surface of the glass or ceramic object at a level of from about 0.1 gram to about one gram per square foot and then heating the surface to a temperature and for a time sufficient to fix the luster pigment particles directly to the surface. The resultant lustrous coating is less than about 25 microns in thickness.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for dispensing droplets of liquid or viscous material are disclosed. A valve is opened to dispense a stream of the heated liquid or viscous material through an elongated orifice of a nozzle. The stream of material being dispensed from the elongated orifice is broken into droplets by rapidly closing the valve. Furthermore, a method for varying the height of a droplet of liquid or viscous material is disclosed by which two or more droplets combine to form a droplet of a desired height. A method for applying a plurality of droplets of material onto a substrate so that the droplets flow together to form a uniform film of desired thickness and shape is also disclosed. A second embodiment of the invention relates to dispensing apparatus with a heater assembly removably attached to the dispenser housing.

Abstract: Super-concentrated liquid rinse cycle fabric softeners are provided which contain more than 35%, by weight, of a fabric softening system based on an amidoamine fabric softener, such as bis(tallow amidoethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl amine and a quaternary diester fabric softener, such as N-methyl, N,N,N-triethanolamine ditallow ester quaternary ammonium salt. A fatty alcohol ethoxylate surfactant and a polyethylene glycol polymer or a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether polymer are integral components of the liquid composition. The super-concentrated compositions may be used at low levels or may be further diluted prior to use.

Abstract: A vapor deposition method for forming at least one thin film on a substrate, wherein the time required to control the temperature of a substrate is minimized and the need for additional heating and cooling chambers to change the substrate temperature is obviated. A carry-in/carry-out chamber, heating chamber, and first and second film forming heating chambers are arranged about and connected to a transfer chamber by respective gate valves. The apparatus provides for a continuous film-forming process to be carried out under different operating conditions by controlling at least one of the following parameters: evacuation times for the first and second film forming chambers, the time for transporting the substrate from the first to the second film forming chamber by a carrier mechanism, the pressure in the transfer chamber, the evacuation waiting time before the film forming step, and the material gases introducing and pressure adjusting time before the film forming step.

Abstract: A natural wood-covered plastic part, such as a vehicle part, and a method of manufacturing same. The natural wood-covered plastic part includes a one-piece thermoplastic elastomeric body or structural substrate and a plastic-wood composite of a thermoplastic material compatible with the thermoplastic elastomer of the structural substrate. The plastic-wood composite and the plastic part are placed together at a bonding station. A bottom contact surface of the plastic-wood composite bonds with a front contact surface of the structural substrate between the contact surfaces thereof. The plastic-wood composite and the structural substrate may be bonded together in one of several ways, such as injection molding, compression molding and thermal or chemical bonding.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymeric composition for application onto Reemay and Satin acetate fabric for laser printability with a high level (90% or greater readability of printed characters, washability and enzyme rejection/retardation. The polymeric composition is applied by chemical grafting that involves the use of monomers/prepolymers, catalyst, graft initiator and other ingredients of the composition. The coating thus developed and subsequently applied to Reemay and Satin acetate fabric allows to undergo graft polymerization thereby forming a polymeric film which is chemically bonded to the fabric substrate with strong adhesion. The chemically grafted fabric is highly durable and permanent in terms of distinct legibility of the printed characters on the substrate after 55 launderings or 25 dry cleanings and has excellent level or enzyme rejection/retardation when the coated fabric with laser printed characters are subjected to an enzyme wash process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process in which a composition is coated onto a substrate and crosslinked so as to form a PSA by means of polymerizing free radically polymerizable monomers from covalently attached pendent unsaturation in the polymer component of the composition. The coating can carried out by a wide variety of industrial methods because the process of the invention allows for compositions with a wide degree of possible viscosities.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating artwork which comprises a second image which is located in direct overlying relation to a first image. In particular, the method includes providing a first image such as a print, having a first reflective quality. A substantially transparent coating, having a reflectivity substantially different than the reflectivity of the first image, is selectively disposed over the first image. The method provides artwork having a first image visible through the transparent coating which is used to create the second image. A separate reflected image is created as a result of the differences in reflective characteristics between the first and second images.

Abstract: Improved compositions which clean a surface and are believed to deposit thereupon a layer of cationic surfactant which assists the release of soil subsequently deposited upon the said surface comprising surfactant, wherein said surfactant comprises:a) at least 65% wt on total surfactant of nonionic surfactant,b) less than 1% wt on total surfactant of anionic surfactant, and,c) 0.1-35% wt on total surfactant of a quaternized polydimethylsiloxane, preferably one which comprises a cation of the general formula:?R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 N--Z--?Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --O!.sub.n Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --Z--NR.sub.4 R.sub.5 R.sub.6 !.sup.2+wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently alkyl or hydrogen, Z is --CH.sub.2 --CHOH--CH.sub.2 O--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 -- and n is 1-200.

Abstract: A process for producing a liquid-jet recording head comprising a liquid-discharging orifice, a liquid path communicating to the orifice, and a liquid ejecting energy-generating element for generating an energy to be utilized for ejecting the liquid, which comprises the steps of pouring, into the liquid path, a solution containing a perhydropolysilazane represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## to allow the solution to attach onto the wall of the liquid path, and after attachment of the solution, heating the solution to form a hydrophilic layer comprising baked perhydropolysilazane on the wall of the liquid path.

Abstract: A porous product, typically a metal foam sheet, is produced as a tailored, engineered product. The porous product can have enhanced strength, as well as more desirable electrical and mechanical properties. The product which first exists typically as a flexible, generally polymeric foam sheet in strip form, which strip is produced in the longitudinal direction, is stretched in a direction other than its direction of production. The porous product can have pores which would be anisotropic in form in usual production, which are stretched to at least substantially isotropic form. The product can even be tailored to have pores which are anisotropic in the direction of the stretch. Thus, an engineered product can be produced which, for example, as an open-cell metal foam prepared from a polymeric foam can have conductivity, both thermal and electrical, as well as strength and ductility, tailored for greater uniformity and performance.

Abstract: A backing sheet (101) is provided with a pattern of pathways (131,132,133) of (e.g.) silica or cellulose by a printing process (e.g., screen printing). There may be multiple pathways leading from an eluant application region (117) to a detection zone (116) and thence to a waste reservoir (118). Different pathways may have different fluid traversal times because they differ in length and/or material (e.g., nitrocellulose for slow traversal and fibrous cellulose for rapid traversal by an aqueous liquid). Thus analyte and reagents deposited at depots (112,113) on different pathways are sequentially delivered to the detection zone. Reagents may be applied by printing. The detection zone may have an electrode assembly (105), also applied by printing, for detecting the effects of analyte.

Abstract: The process involves rotating the person on a first rotatable support and scanning the rotating head with respect to both topography and color. The scanning output is digitized and fed to a computer with custom software. On a second rotatable support are forming means driven by the computer and used to fashion a partly finished doll's head based on the topography input. The partly finished head is then transferred to a third rotatable support and as it rotates, ink jets also driven by the computer software, colors the doll's head correspondingly.

Abstract: A method for producing components such as knobs, switches, and other controls having multiple color display graphics is disclosed. The invention is particularly applicable to the production of graphics that are backlit for night time viewing. In one embodiment, a substrate is initially formed from a light-colored translucent polymeric material. A relatively dark-colored coating is provided on a surface of the translucent substrate, followed by removal of a portion of the coating from the substrate by laser etching to produce on a surface of the component a graphic comprising the material of the substrate. A translucent dye is transferred to the surface of the component by a sublimation dying process. The dye is visible on the graphic, but is either not present or not visible on the remaining surface portion of the component.

Abstract: A process of treating wood to reduce the tannin staining of coatings subsequently applied includes the steps of providing a solution of a zirconyl compound in a carrier liquid such as water, applying the solution to a wood surface, and, drying the solution. The pore structure of the wood is modified or sealed so that staining of coating compositions applied subsequently over the surface is reduced. The process is particularly beneficial in cases where the coating composition a clear or a light-colored latex paint, especially white. The preferred zirconyl compound is zirconyl acetate. The treating solution may be modified by addition thereto of a lanthanide compound, especially cerium, to provide UV light protection to a substrate and further by one or more metal cations to impart mildewicidal activity to the composition.

Abstract: A flexible wiring board includes a printed conductive circuit layer formed on an insulating film, a metallic layer formed on the printed conductive circuit layer, and an insulating layer formed on the metallic layer. A method of making a flexible wiring board includes the steps of forming a conductive circuit layer by screen printing a wiring pattern using a conductive paste, baking the printed wiring pattern, and forming a metallic layer on the printed conductive circuit layer by a plating method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gradually applying a slippery agent to resin impregnated cloth for generating a gradient of slippery agent on the cloth whereby the outward most exposed portions of the cloth wound on a pipe have the highest concentration of slippery agent and the concentration of slippery agent decreases with the depth of the cloth wound around the pipe.

Abstract: In one aspect, am anti-corrosion treatment method of reducing internal corrosion of a liquid nitrogen fertilizer holding vessel comprising providing at least one quaternary-amine-comprising compound within the vessel. In another aspect, an anti-corrosion treatment method of reducing corrosion of a liquid nitrogen fertilizer holding vessel comprising: a) providing a substantially insoluble liquid film of a quaternary-amine-comprising compound over a volume of liquid nitrogen fertilizer within a steel vessel; and b) coating internal sidewalls of the steel vessel with the quaternary-amine-comprising compound as the volume of liquid fertilizer increases and decreases within the vessel. In another aspect, an anti-corrosion mixture comprising: a) a liquid nitrogen fertilizer solution; and b) a quaternary-amine-comprising compound within the liquid nitrogen fertilizer solution.