Abstract: The invention provides chemical-mechanical polishing systems, and methods of polishing a substrate using the polishing systems, comprising (a) an abrasive, (b) a liquid carrier, and (c) a positively charged polyelectrolyte with a molecular weight of about 15,000 or more, wherein the abrasive comprises particles that are electrostatically associated with the positively charged polyelectrolyte.

Abstract: A method of polishing or planarizing a substrate comprising abrading at least a portion of the surface of a substrate comprising a metal, metal oxide, metal composite, or mixture thereof, with a composition comprising a metal oxide abrasive and a liquid carrier, wherein the composition has a pH of about 7 or less and the metal oxide abrasive has a total surface hydroxyl group density no greater than about 3 hydroxyl groups per nm2.

Abstract: The invention provides chemical-mechanical polishing systems, and methods of polishing a substrate using the polishing systems, comprising (a) an abrasive, (b) a liquid carrier, and (c) a positively charged polyelectrolyte with a molecular weight of about 15,000 or more, wherein the abrasive comprises particles that are electrostatically associated with the positively charged polyelectrolyte.

Abstract: A field emitter source and method for making same. An x-ray and a high energy electron source is fabricated from the field emitter. The field emitter source composition comprises carbon black and a mixing medium. An alternative method of field emitter formulation includes providing a quantity of silica with the carbon black and a mixing medium. An x-ray source comprises a substrate and a carbon black field emitter composition provided along a surface of the substrate and an extraction grid to pull electrons from the field emitter film and a metal film biased at high voltage to accelerate the electrons. A conductive film is further provided along an upper support structure of the source, such that when the conductive film is struck by the accelerated electrons, the upper support structure converts the impinging high-energy electrons into x-rays.

Abstract: The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing systems, and methods of polishing a substrate using the polishing systems, comprising (a) an abrasive, (b) a liquid carrier, and (c) a positively charged polyelectrolyte with a molecular weight of about 15,000 or more, wherein the abrasive comprises particles that are electrostatically associated with the positively charged electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of polishing or planarizing a substrate comprising abrading at least a portion of the surface of a substrate comprising a metal, metal oxide, metal composite, or mixture thereof, with a composition comprising a metal oxide abrasive and a liquid carrier, wherein the composition has a pH of about 7 or less and the metal oxide abrasive has a total surface hydroxyl group density no greater than about 3 hydroxyl groups per nm2.

Abstract: A variable ventilation mouthpiece for a smoking article includes first and second sets of vents, the first set serving to admit ambient air into the mouthpiece, and the second set adapted to variably introduce the admitted air into the smokestream for varying the level for dilution of the smokestream in relation to the suction applied by the smoker to the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A smoking article having a valve system for closing off the flow of smoke to the user in response to an increase in temperature or humidity. The valve system includes a plastic body with a hollow valve chamber communicating with a smoke passage. A valve element is located in the chamber and is movable between a first position in which smoke from the smoking article is allowed to pass through the smoke passage and a second position in which the valve element closes the smoke passage thereby preventing smoke from passing therethrough. Expansion means are connected to the valve element and cause the valve to move between the first and second positions in response to the temperature or humidity of the smoke.