Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and computer implemented method for detecting extraordinary demand of a consumable(s) for processing biological samples by laboratory instrument(s) in a plurality of laboratories based on exceptional deviations from usual demand levels of trigger laboratories in the proximity of a target laboratory.

Abstract: A method of producing a high-density abrasive compact material includes the steps of providing an electrically conductive mixture of a bonding powder material and abrasive particles or grit; compressing the electrically conductive mixture; and subjecting the compressed electrically conductive mixture to one or more high current pulses to form the abrasive compact is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the formation of pellets containing an ultra hard core coated with an encapsulating material, the process including the steps of suspending ultra hard core material in a flow of gas; contacting the ultra hard core material with encapsulating to form pellets, introducing the pellets into a rotating vessel and contacting the pellets with encapsulating material to form pellets of greater mass than the pellets introduced into the rotating vessel. The invention also relates to a pellet containing an ultra hard core coated with an encapsulating material whenever produced by a process as hereinbefore described.

Abstract: A method of producing a high-density abrasive compact material includes the steps of providing an electrically conductive mixture of a bonding powder material and abrasive particles or grit; compressing the electrically conductive mixture; and subjecting the compressed electrically conductive mixture to one or more high current pulses to form the abrasive compact is provided.

Abstract: A coated super-hard abrasive comprises a core of super-hard abrasive material, typically diamond or cBN based, an inner layer of a metal carbide, nitride, boride, carbonitride or boronitride chemically bonded to an outer surface of the super-hard abrasive material and an outer layer of a metal, metal alloy or a combination of metals or metal alloys deposited on the inner layer. Examples of metals or metal alloys that can be applied as an outer layer include metals from group IVa, Va or Vla transition metals, including tungsten, titanium, chromium, molybdenum, and zirconium, and metals from the first row transition metals (Ti to Cu), particularly the non magnetic metals or alloys of these that are amenable to magnetron sputtering, and elements from groups IIIb and IVb of the periodic table, such as B, Al, Si.

Abstract: A coated super-hard abrasive comprises a core of super-hard abrasive material, which is typically diamond or cBN based, an inner layer of a metal carbide, nitride or carbonitride chemically bonded to an outer surface of the super-hard abrasive material and an outer layer of tungsten physically deposited on the inner layer. The inner layer is preferably a titanium carbide coating in the case of a diamond abrasive core, or a titanium nitride or boride coating in the case of a cBN abrasive core.

Abstract: A coated super-hard abrasive comprises a core of super-hard abrasive material, which is typically diamond or cBN based, an inner layer of a metal carbide, nitride, boride or carbonitride chemically bonded to an outer surface of the super-hard abrasive material and an outer layer of a metal carbonitride, in particular titanium carbonitride. The outer layer is preferably applied by physical vapour deposition. The inner layer is formed from an element capable of forming (singly or in combination) carbides, nitrides or borides to the surface(s) of the abrasive material when applied using a hot coating process.

Abstract: A method of producing coated ultra-hard abrasive material, in particular coated diamond and CBN material. In a first step, an element capable of forming (singly or in combination) carbides, nitrides or borides to the surface(s) of the abrasive material is is applied using a hot coating process. At least one outer layer of a coating material selected from the group comprising transition metals, carbide, nitride, boride, oxide and carbonitride forming metals, metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal borides, metal oxides and metal carbonitrides, boronitrides and borocarbonitrides is applied over the inner layer by physical vapour deposition or chemical vapour deposition. Typically the inner layer elements come from groups IVa, Va, VIa, IIIb and IVb of the periodic table and include, for example, vanadium, molybdenum, tantalum, indium, zirconium, niobium, tungsten, aluminium, boron and silicon.

Abstract: A laser system 1 comprises six solid state diode laser modules 37.1 to 37.6 whose output beams are directly coupled into beam steering devices 38.1 to 38.6 and thereby routed to laser combining dichroic mirrors 39.1 to 39.6, which combine the individual laser beams into a single, co-aligned beam. The combined laser beam is directed into an optical fibre 41.1 for delivery to a target optical instrument such as a microscope. The output beam from delivery optical fibre 41.1 is coupled to the target instrument via fibre output collimating optics 42.1. The output of each of the diode lasers 37.1 to 37.6 is controlled by direct modulation of the lasers' control (drive) currents.

Abstract: A vinyl ester resin is derived from the reaction of an unsaturated acid with an epoxy terminated polymer made from a dithio or a trithio initiator, and optionally from an epoxy resin. The vinyl ester resin can be blended with a miscible toughener and a diluent to provide a time stable system and subsequently crosslink to provide a composition with improved toughening properties.

Abstract: The invention is a new intelligent means of condensation detection on a condensation surface (3). An imaging system (1) and imaging analysis system will replace the current optical system consisting of a transmitter and a detector. The image system is mounted in the sensor sample cavity (21) such that it can view the condensation surface. The imaging system establishes a base image from the condensation surface that has been heated above the surrounding dew point as to ensure that there is no condensation present on the condensation surface. As the condensation surface begins to cool, the software interrogates the images of it and detects the presence of condensation as a change from the reference image. Data produced by the imaging system would be used in a real time control loop to seek out the dew point and reach steady state conditions.