Abstract: An method of providing a protective coating on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloys, comprising: removing contaminants from the surface; exposing the surface to water at 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. to form a porous boehmite coating on the surface; and exposing the boehmite-coated surface to an aqueous solution comprising a cerium salt and a metal nitrate at a temperature of 70.degree. to 100.degree. C. Oxides and hydroxides of cerium are formed within the pores of the boehmite to provide the protective coating, which provides corrosion resistance and improved paint adhesion.

Abstract: A method for coating surfaces of a powdered material includes forming a Coanda flow of a Coanda spiral flow of a powdered material by flowing the powdered material through a Coanda spiral flow forming passage or a Coanda flow forming passage by introducing a pressurized gas into the flow forming passage through a Coanda slit therearound, supplying the thus formed Coanda flow or Coanda spiral flow of powdered material into a further Coanda spiral flow forming passage, and atomizing a liquid coating material with a liquid gas and then directing the atomized liquid coating material into the Coanda flow or Coanda spiral flow of powdered material through a Coanda slit in the further Coanda spiral flow forming passage.

Abstract: A method of producing fine particles of a material by evaporating the material into an inert gas. The material is evaporated in a evaporation vessel and the fine particles are generated by cooling the evaporated material with the inert gas blown into the evaporated material from the evaporation vessel. The flow of the fine particles is restricted within a path from the evaporation vessel toward a deposit holding body by means of a scatter preventing wall around the path. The fine particles are deposited on the surface of the evaporation vessel and then receovered.

Abstract: A one step process for imparting both decay resistance and fire retardancy to wood and cellulosic materials by impregnating the products with a treatment solution composed of a water soluble mixture of a tertiary and quaternary ammonium preservative compound and an organic phosphate fire retardant compound.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically grit blasting and metal spraying a wall of a cylindrical vessel utilizing a pair of rails with arms slidably disposed thereon, which rotate 180.degree. in unison about the axis of the vessel and then reverse and are moved incrementally along the rails upon completion of each 180.degree. of rotation until the wall of the vessel is grit blasted by a grit blasting nozzle on each arm and then sprayed with multiple thin layers of molten metal by a molten metal sprayer on each arm. The grit blasting nozzle and molten metal sprayer may be interchangeably mounted on the arms or may be both installed and operated separately.

Abstract: A process for rendering an inorganic substrate material hydrophobic includes the step of attaching a coating of hydrophobic silica to the substrate. The hydrophobic silica is preferably mixed initially with the substrate material. At least one bonding agent selected from the group consisting of siloxanes and functionalized silanes, and preferably siloxanes, is then mixed with the hydrophobic silica and substrate material. A dispersion agent can be provided to more evenly distribute the siloxanes and/or functionalized silanes over the hydrophobic silica and substrate material. Heat can be applied after mixing to remove any liquid dispersion agent and to chemically bond the bonding agent to the hydrophobic silica and to the substrate material. Hydrophobic inorganic materials including hydrophobic silica bonded to a substrate by a siloxane or functionalized silane bonding agent.

Abstract: A continuous edible coating or barrier is formed on a substrate by applying to the substrate a water-based prolamine latex which is substantially free of organic solvent. Additives to the latex may be used to modify the properties of the coating or barrier.

Abstract: An ultra-high vacuum chemical vapor deposition reactor which utilizes only a single large diameter, quartz to metal ultra-high vacuum seal or a water cooled viton seal, which is present at a first end of the reactor tube. The other end of the reactor tube has a substantially reduced diameter, and an ultra-high vacuum seal of correspondingly reduced diameter is used at this end. The pumping apparatus and the load station are both located at the first end of the apparatus to provide a single-ended operation.

Abstract: At least a percentage of iron ore pellets and the like for use in a direct reduction process for the production of sponge iron are coated with a thin porous coating of Portland cement to counteract tendency to aggregate. This is accomplished by method and apparatus that mixes water and cement powder at the point of delivery in a manner such that no pumps are subjected to a wet cement slurry. The slurry is mixed and maintained in suspension by air agitation in a bin and then flowed through a bin discharge pipe and sprayed therefrom onto a passing layer of pellets in a controlled manner by regulated air injection into the discharage pipe.

Abstract: A method for reducing the leachability of granular material which consists essentially of an inorganic binder and a filler containing contaminants, in which individual particles of the granular material are coated with a closed coating of a water-insoluble and water-repellent polymer composition. The coating is preferably a bituminous material.

Abstract: Silver-coated copper-based powders are prepared by the steps of dispersing copper powders in a chelating agent solution, adding a silver ion solution to the resulting dispersion to effect a substitution type of deposition reaction and, then, adding a reducing agent to the resulting solution to effect a reduction type of deposition reaction, thereby forming silver coats on the surfaces of the copper powders, wherein the chelating agent solution is prepared in two portions, a first portion thereof being prepared before the addition of the silver ion solution and a second portion thereof being added during the addition of the reducing agent, or in three portions, a first portion thereof being prepared before the addition of the silver ion solution, a second portion thereof being added during the addition of the reducing agent and a third portion thereof being added at the time of the completion of the reaction.

Abstract: A process for the surface treatment of individual particles of a pulverulent material to improve the surface properties thereof. The process includes a plasma-generating apparatus for generating a plasma in a plasmagenerator while supplying an inert gas at a high drift velocity into the generator to form a low temperature plasma flame which is directed into a low pressure zone. Subsequently, the pulverulent material is injected into the high velocity inert gas or into the base of the plasma flame to disintegrate any particle aggregate present in the material. The low temperature plasma acts on the surface of each individual particle to improve the properties thereof. The treated particles can then be recovered from the zone.

Abstract: In a method of operating a fluidized bed, gas under pressure is distributed into the bed through a gas permeable member extending transverse to the bed and a gas permeable wall of a discharge conduit wherein the relative permeability of the gas permeable member and the conduit is selected so as to obtain a desired distribution of gas entering the bed and a desired effect on the fluidization pattern in the bed.

Abstract: A gas distribution system 140 includes a gas distribution chamber 142 and a gas distributor 154. Gas distribution chamber 142 includes an open end 144 and a closed end 146. A workpiece 148 is disposed adjacent closed end 146. Gas distributor 154 includes an outer collar 156 and an inner collar 158. Inner collar 158 has a continuously increasing cross-sectional diameter from a first predetermined point 160 to a second predetermined point 162. Gases are introduced through an inlet tube 150 disposed through an aperture in a platform 152 into the interior of inner collar 158 and toward workpiece 148. A diverter 164 diverts incoming gases from inlet tube 150.

Abstract: An apparatus for thin layer vapor deposition has two horizontally spaced apart vacuum deposition chambers. Rearwardly and inwardly angled horizontal vacuum ducts are connected to the chambers, and a vacuum pumping device is connected to a further horizontal vacuum duct which communicates with the inwardly angled ducts. A computerized central system disposed between the chambers is operatively connected to the ducts and vacuum pumping device to enable either of the chambers to be used for set-up and evacuation while the other chamber is used for heating and deposition.

Abstract: In a process for treating an organic orientation layer on a substrate plate for a liquid crystal cell, the orientation layer for causing the orientation is rubbed in the conventional way in a specified direction. Rubbing is then performed in the opposite direction, but with a weaker rubbing pressure. Rubbing in the opposite direction with weak pressure leads to an increase of some degrees in the pretilt angle, and this is essentially independent of the material used for the orientation layer.

Abstract: Diamond-like thin films having high uniformity and high crystallinity are produced by introducing a hydrocarbon material gas into a chamber, ionizing the gas, and depositing the ionized gas on a substrate. The gas is ionized by thermionic emission from two or more files of hot cathodes, each file having a plurality of filaments arranged at substantially uniform intervals in a linear or zigzag line configuration. Each file of hot cathodes is surrounded separately by an anode at a substantially uniform distance from a respective file of the filaments.

Abstract: A method of providing silver on a calcium carbonate material having fine pores, such as coral sand, oyster shells, and crab shells, including (a) contacting a calcium carbonate material with an aqueous solution of silver nitrate for a time effective for the silver nitrate to react with the calcium carbonate to form silver carbonate on the surface of the calcium carbonate material; (b) dewatering the calcium carbonate material after step (a); and (c) treating the calcium carbonate material after step (b) in an aqueous solution containing from 5 to 15 weight % of a reducing agent selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, a derivative of ascorbic acid, erythrobic acid, and a derivative of erythrobic acid to reduce the silver carbonate on the surface of the calcium carbonate to silver. Preferably contacting is by injection of an upward stream of the aqueous solution of silver nitrate through a layer of the calcium carbonate material.

Abstract: A solution of amphiphilic molecules and water is atomized to form a mist of droplets which are deposited on a substrate surface to completely cover same with a coating of the solution. The amphiphilic molecules in the coating self-assemble on the surface into a continuous thin film that is less than 500 nanometers thick. The water is evaporated from the coating to leave only the film chemically bonded to the surface.

Abstract: A system and method for dispensing a viscous adhesive onto a glass member to be attached to a vehicle body is disclosed. A reciprocating pump supplies adhesive to a dispensing point, with a pulse dampener member disposed between the pump and the dispensing point. A rolling diaphragm defines two chambers within the pulse dampener member, with the adhesive being communicated into a first variable volume chamber. A pressurized gas force is maintained on the opposite side of the diaphragm from the first variable volume chamber. The pulse dampener member includes a T-connection, with the pump supplying fluid into a first leg, the second leg being connected to the variable volume chamber and the third leg connected to the dispensing point. As fluid enters the first leg, the amount of fluid demanded at the dispensing point moves from the first leg directly into the third leg. Any excess fluid supplied into the first leg moves upwardly into the variable volume chamber through the second leg.