Abstract: A method for oxidizing halogenated organic compounds comprising passing a mixture of the halogenated organic compound and excess oxygen over a catalyst comprising a carbonaceous material under mild reaction conditions. The temperature of the reaction is below 400.degree. C. and the catalyst may be doped with acidic redox-active metal compounds.

Abstract: According to a process for converting chromium dioxide into chromium (III) oxide, a composite comprising chromium dioxide particles dispersed in an organic matrix is provided. In a first heating step, a feed consisting essentially of the composite is heated under conditions sufficient to convert the feed into an admixture comprising chromium oxide and carbon. In a second heating step, the admixture is heated under conditions such that substantially all of the chromium oxide in the admixture is converted into chromium (III) oxide. In preferred embodiments, the composite is a chromium dioxide-based magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Zinc borate compositions having a ZnO:B.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio of 4:1. The hydrated zinc borate 4ZnO.B.sub.2 O.sub.3.H.sub.2 O and anhydrous zinc borate 4ZnO.B.sub.2 O.sub.3 are especially useful as fire-retardants and smoke-suppressant additives for polymeric compositions.

Abstract: Carbon clusters, such as C.sub.60 and C.sub.70 fullerenes are separated by means of a recognition selector having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2 is O, S or NR.sub.12 wherein R.sub.12 is independently hydrogen or P.dbd.O with the proviso that when R.sub.12 is P.dbd.O, then only one such group is present and all R.sub.2 's are additionally bonded to R.sub.12,R.sub.4 is independently O, S or NH,R.sub.3 and R.sub.5 are each independently hydrogen or lower alkyl,n and o are each independently zero, 1, 2 or 3,p, q, r, s and t are each independently zero or 1,Ar is a monocyclic or ortho-fused polycyclic aromatic moiety having up to 10 carbon atoms, either of which may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more lower alkyl, NO.sub.2, N(R.sub.6).sub.3.sup.+, CN, COOR.sub.7, SO.sub.3 H, COR.sub.8 and OR.sub.9 wherein R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are each independently hydrogen or lower alkyl;W is H or CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 ; andm is 1 to 10.

Abstract: A process for the production of high purity, high surface area, submicron size transition metal carbides and borides which comprises mixing transition metal oxide with carbon in an amount sufficient to form the corresponding carbide or boride, heating the reactants at a temperature of higher than 1000.degree. C. under a small pressure of non-reacting gas and then holding the temperature whilst applying simultaneously subatmospheric pressure and agitation until the reaction is complete.

Abstract: A new transition alumina is made by heating substantially pure diaspore in a vacuum to an elevated temperature of about 300-1000.degree. C. The new transition alumina has increased surface area compared with alpha-alumina formed by heating diaspore in air.

Abstract: A method of forming synthetic diamond on a substrate. The method involves providing a substrate surface covered with a fullerene or diamond coating, positioning a fullerene in an ionization source, creating a fullerene vapor, ionizing fullerene molecules, accelerating the fullerene ions to energies above 250 eV to form a fullerene ion beam, impinging the fullerene ion beam on the substrate surface and continuing these steps to obtain a diamond film thickness on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new process for making metal fulleride compositions having the formula A.sub.n (C.sub.x).sub.m, wherein A is a metal cation and C.sub.x is a fullerene anion, preferably C.sub.x is C.sub.60 or C.sub.70, wherein n is a number equal to the absolute value of the valence of the fullerene anion, wherein m is equal to the absolute value of the valence of A, wherein the values of n and m are divided by their greatest common factor, if any, and wherein the metal fulleride composition is neutral in charge. This process comprises reacting a metal with a fullerene in a solvent or mixture of solvents in which the fullerene is at least partly soluble at a temperature from greater than the freezing point to equal to or less than the boiling point of the solvent, for a time sufficient to form the metal fulleride composition.

Abstract: An improved composite material is produced by mixing gypsum and host particles of a stronger substance, such as wood fibers, in a dilute slurry; heating the slurry, under pressure, to convert the gypsum to calcium sulfate alpha hemihydrate; and substantially dewatering the hot slurry before rehydrating the hemihydrate back to gypsum. The resulting material is a homogoneous mass comprising gypsum crystals physically interlocked with the discrete host particles.According to a further aspect of the invention, an improved wallboard, having fire resistance, dimensional stability and excellent strength properties, is produced by compressing the composite mass before hydrating it to a final set.

Abstract: There is disclosed carbon black for a tire tread rubber which has a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area (N.sub.2 SA) of 60 to 160 m.sup.2 /g and a dibutyl phthalate absorption (DBP) of 90 to 150 ml/100 g which belong to the respective regions of hard grades of carbon black, and an intraaggregate void volume Vp (ml/g) which is at most equal to the value calculated according to the formula.

Abstract: A process for the combustion of a hydrocarbon, such as methane, in particular for energy production, in which the hydrocarbon, which will be assumed to be methane, is fed to a first stage in which it is reacted with recycled carbon dioxide produced during a separate, second stage of the combustion. In the first stage, the following reactions takes place:CH.sub.4 +CO.sub.2 .fwdarw.2CO+2H.sub.2 (1)CH.sub.4 +CO.sub.2 .fwdarw.2C+2H.sub.2 O (2)CO.sub.2 +H.sub.2 .fwdarw.CO+H.sub.2 O (3)The carbon produced in the reaction (2) is separated, and the gaseous mixture produced in said first stage is then fed to a second stage for reaction with oxygen, in which the reaction products are steam and carbon dioxide, this carbon dioxide, minus any excess, being totally recycled to said first stage.

Abstract: A process and system for producing fullerenes by electron beam evaporation of a carbon target in a vacuum. A carbon target is evaporated by an electron beam in a vacuum to form a flux of carbon atoms or clusters. The evaporated carbon atoms or clusters are deposited onto collection substrates which are electrically charged and heated or neutral and chilled. The resulting carbon soot is extracted to recover fullerenes. The process produces carbon soot which is rich in C.sub.70 and higher fullerenes.

Abstract: A low-cost and facile method of purifying fullerenes to obtain a preparation enriched in a fullerene of selected molecular weight using activated carbon involves adding a fullerene mixture to the top end of a column comprising activated carbon, passing a solvent in which the selected molecular weight fullerene is soluble through the column, and recovering a fraction enriched in the selected molecular weight fullerene from the bottom end of the column. In addition to activated carbon, the column may further comprise silica gel, diatomaceous earth, or other materials which aid in column packing and eluent flow.

Abstract: A solid cast block of water soluble detergent is dispensed by obtaining a solid detergent article of at least twenty liters cast onto a longitudinally extending structural core and placing the article within the spray chamber of a dispenser such that the article is supported on the structural core. The detergent article is then rotated upon the structural core while dissolving solvent is sprayed upon the rotating article. The resulting detergent solution is dispensed to an end use point.

Abstract: Niobium dioxide is produced by heating particulate niobium nitride in an oxygen atmosphere at a temperature above the melting point of niobium dioxide. The product obtained predominantly contains niobium dioxide.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is described for the production of purified fullerenes using a non-reactive gas to collect and transport impure fullerenes from an evaporation zone to a heated filter zone in which solid impurities may be filtered out of the mixture. If one or more condensed fullerenes are present in the gas stream entering the filter zone, such condensed fullerenes may be vaporized in the filter zone and carried to a condensation zone in which one or more vaporized fullerenes may be recovered. When more than one vaporized fullerene is present in the gas entering either the filter zone or the condensation zone, a temperature gradient may be used to permit separation and recovery of purified portions of different fullerenes.

Abstract: A method of preparing a magnetic coating composition comprises a first process for kneading ferromagnetic grains, a binder and a binder solution Y1 by use of a two-shaft continuous kneading and mixing machine to obtain a kneaded mixture K1 having a solid content within the range of 65 wt % to 95 wt %, a second process for kneading a binder solution Y2 and the kneaded mixture K1 by use of the two-shaft continuous kneading and mixing machine to obtain a primary diluted mixture K2 having a solid content within the range of 50 wt % to 70 wt %, a third process for diluting and dispersing the primary diluted mixture K2 in an organic solvent to obtain a secondary diluted mixture K3 having a solid content within the range of 25 wt % to 50 wt %, and a fourth process for finely dispersing the secondary diluted mixture K3 to obtain a dispersion mixture K4 having a solid content within the range of 25 wt % to 45 wt %.

Abstract: Fullerenes are generated by vaporizing carbon with a laser beam and maintaining the vaporized carbon at conditions selected to promote fullerene growth and formation. This method of fullerene generation may be used to form new compounds including fullerenes surrounding one or more metal atoms, and fullerenes wherein one or more carbon atoms have been substituted with boron or nitrogen.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the separation of vaporous heavy metal compounds from a carrier gas wherein the heavy metal compounds are cooled and desublimed. An apparatus for carrying out this process has a melting furnace with a discharge opening for a gas/ vapor mixture, which leads to a cooling device.Vaporous heavy metal compounds can be separated from a carrier gas on a large industrial scale. In addition, the apparatus for carrying out this process is easy to operate. The gas/vapor mixture is turbulently mixed immediately after the discharge from the furnace in a mixing section with cold air and is thus cooled. During this cooling, the vaporous heavy metal compounds desublime and are filtered as particles in a filter.

Abstract: A process of continuously crystalizing sodium percarbonate by the reaction of sodium carbonate with hydrogen peroxide using first and second reaction vessels includes the steps of: (a) continuously feeding a first feed solution containing sodium carbonate and a second feed solution containing hydrogen peroxide into the first reaction vessel, thereby to form therein a first slurry containing seed crystals of sodium percarbonate; (b) continuously discharging the first slurry from the first reaction vessel into the second reaction vessel while step (a) is performed; (c) continuously feeding at least one of hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate into the second reaction vessel while steps (a) and (b) are performed thereby to form therein a second slurry containing final sodium percarbonate crystals grown from the seed crystals; (d) continuously discharging the second slurry from the second reaction vessel while steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed; (e) continuously separating the second slurry into the final sodi