Abstract: The present disclosure provides sol-gels, sol-gel films and substrates, such as vehicle components, having a sol-gel film disposed thereon. At least one sol-gel is the reaction product of an organosilane, a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent, the sol-gel having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the sol-gel. At least one vehicle component comprises a sol-gel coating system, comprising a metal substrate and a sol-gel disposed on the metal substrate, and the sol-gel is the reaction product of an organosilane, a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent, the sol-gel having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the sol-gel.

Abstract: Compositions for treating a substrate to provide increased lubricity to portions of the substrate surface that come into contact with the surface of a mating component are provided. The treated substrates provide improved lubricity, while maintaining adhesion between the surface of the substrate and an overlying polymer coating and imparting corrosion resistance to the substrate surface. The compositions include a silanol coupling agent in combination with lubricating particles, and an acid, which are dissolved or dispersed in a mixture of organic solvent and water.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides sol-gel films and substrates, such as vehicle components, having a sol-gel film disposed thereon. At least one sol-gel formulation has about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the sol-gel formulation and comprises an organosilane, a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent. At least one vehicle component comprises a sol-gel coating system comprising a metal substrate and a sol-gel formulation disposed on the metal substrate. The sol-gel formulation has about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the sol-gel formulation and comprises an organosilane, a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming sol-gels, sol-gel films and substrates, such as vehicle components, having a sol-gel film disposed thereon. At least one method of forming a sol-gel includes mixing a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent to form a first mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the first mixture. The method includes mixing an organosilane with the first mixture to form a second mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the second mixture.

Abstract: Compositions for treating a substrate to provide increased lubricity to portions of the substrate surface that come into contact with the surface of a mating component are provided. The treated substrates provide improved lubricity, while maintaining adhesion between the surface of the substrate and an overlying polymer coating and imparting corrosion resistance to the substrate surface. The compositions include a silanol coupling agent in combination with lubricating particles, and an acid, which are dissolved or dispersed in a mixture of organic solvent and water.

Abstract: Compositions for treating a substrate to provide increased lubricity to portions of the substrate surface that come into contact with the surface of a mating component are provided. The treated substrates provide improved lubricity, while maintaining adhesion between the surface of the substrate and an overlying polymer coating and imparting corrosion resistance to the substrate surface. The compositions include a silanol coupling agent in combination with lubricating particles, and an acid, which are dissolved or dispersed in a mixture of organic solvent and water.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming sol-gels, sol-gel films and substrates, such as vehicle components, having a sol-gel film disposed thereon. At least one method of forming a sol-gel includes mixing a metal alkoxide, an acid stabilizer, and an organic solvent to form a first mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the first mixture. The method includes mixing an organosilane with the first mixture to form a second mixture having about 10 wt % or less water content based on the total weight of the second mixture.

Abstract: Compositions for treating a substrate to provide increased lubricity to portions of the substrate surface that come into contact with the surface of a mating component are provided. The treated substrates provide improved lubricity, while maintaining adhesion between the surface of the substrate and an overlying polymer coating and imparting corrosion resistance to the substrate surface. The compositions include a silanol coupling agent in combination with lubricating particles, and an acid, which are dissolved or dispersed in a mixture of organic solvent and water.

Abstract: A method of making a lithium alkylsiliconate composition comprising adding an alkylalkoxysilane to a first mixture comprising lithium hydroxide and water to form a second mixture comprising a lithium alkylsiliconate and an alcohol, wherein i) the mole ratio of lithium hydroxide to alkylalkoxysilane is from 0.9 to less than 1.1 and the water is from 89 to 93 mol %, or ii) the mole ratio of lithium hydroxide to alkylalkoxysilane is from 1.1 to 1.4 and the water is from greater than 93 to 99 mole %.

Abstract: A modified eddy current (MEC) probe includes a probe body having a bore formed therein. A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly includes a circuit board defining a plane, has a plurality of electronic components mounted thereon, and is configured for mounting within the bore of the probe body. A coil board assembly is electrically connected to the PCB assembly, defines a plane, and includes a first coil board layer, a second coil board layer bonded to the first coil board layer, a transmitter coil formed on an outside surface of the first coil board layer, a Faraday shield formed on an outside surface of the second coil board layer, and a sensor coil formed on one of an inside surface of the first coil board layer and the second coil board layer, such that the sensor coil is positioned between the first coil board layer and the second coil board layer. The plane of the coil board assembly is arranged orthogonally to the plane of the circuit board.

Abstract: A method of making a lithium alkylsiliconate composition comprising adding an alkylalkoxysilane to a first mixture comprising lithium hydroxide and water to form a second mixture comprising a lithium alkylsiliconate and an alcohol, wherein i) the mole ratio of lithium hydroxide to alkylalkoxysilane is from 0.9 to less than 1.1 and the water is from 89 to 93 mol %, or ii) the mole ratio of lithium hydroxide to alkylalkoxysilane is from 1.1 to 1.4 and the water is from greater than 93 to 99 mole %.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for treating a gas stream comprising NOx produced from a used or spent acid pickling solution includes a pickling apparatus, a first chamber, and a second chamber. The pickling apparatus includes an inlet adapted for introducing a reducing agent into contact with the acid pickling solution, wherein the reducing agent reacts with free nitric acid in the acid pickling solution to form NOx; and a headspace in which gas comprising NOx collects. The first chamber includes a first inlet communicating with the headspace, a second inlet communicating with a source of ozone, and an interior volume adapted to contact the NOx gas and the ozone. The second chamber may include a third inlet communicating with a source of water vapor, an interior volume adapted to contact the gaseous effluent from the first chamber with the water vapor introduced through the third inlet, and an outlet for collecting solubilized nitric acid from the interior volume of the second chamber.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for treating a gas stream comprising NOx generated from an acid pickling solution includes a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber includes a first inlet communicating with a source of a gas comprising NOx, a second inlet communicating with a source of ozone, and an interior volume adapted to contact the gas comprising NOx introduced through the first inlet with the ozone introduced through the second inlet. The second chamber directly fluidly communicates with the first chamber and receives gaseous effluent comprising nitric acid from the first chamber. The second chamber includes a third inlet communicating with a source of water vapor, an interior volume adapted to contact the gaseous effluent from the first chamber with the water vapor, thereby solubilizing nitric acid in the gaseous effluent with the water vapor to provide a solubilized nitric acid, and an outlet for collecting solubilized nitric acid from the interior volume of the second chamber.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method for recovering nitric acid from acid pickling solution includes introducing a treating material comprising at least one chemical into a pickling solution comprising free nitric acid. The treating material reacts with at least a portion of the free nitric acid in the pickling solution and produces NOx. A gas stream comprising at least a portion of the NOx is contacted with ozone, thereby forming oxidation products including nitrogen sesquioxide and nitrogen pentoxide. At least a portion of the nitrogen sesquioxide and nitrogen pentoxide is contacted with water, thereby forming nitric acid, and at least a portion of the nitric acid is collected.

Abstract: Methods and systems for treating a gas stream comprising NOx are disclosed. In one embodiment of the method, the gas stream comprising NOx is reacted with ozone to form oxidation products including nitrogen sesquioxide and nitrogen pentoxide. At least a portion of the nitrogen sesquioxide and nitrogen pentoxide is reacted with water to form nitric acid, and a solubilized form of the nitric acid is collected and may be reused or otherwise utilized. Systems for conducting the method also are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for a navigation system. A method includes providing a global positioning system fix having a plurality of tracking parameters; providing a theater positioning system fix; monitoring the plurality of tracking parameters for predetermined conditions; and, when the predetermined conditions are met, sending a notifying signal and switching to the theater positioning system fix as a primary fix. An apparatus includes a system controller; a global positioning system receiver coupled to the system controller; a radio frequency locating receiver coupled to the system controller; and an operator interface coupled to the system controller.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for a navigation system. A process includes providing a plurality of transmitters distributed throughout a desired coverage area; locking the plurality of transmitters to a common timing reference; transmitting a signal from each of the plurality of transmitters. An apparatus includes a plurality of transmitters distributed throughout a desired coverage area; wherein each of the plurality of transmitters comprises a packet generator; and wherein the plurality of transmitters are locked to a common timing reference.

Abstract: Methods and systems for treating a gas stream comprising NOx are disclosed. In one embodiment of the method, the gas stream comprising NOx is reacted with ozone to form oxidation products including nitrogen sesquioxide and nitrogen pentoxide. At least a portion of the nitrogen sesquioxide and nitrogen pentoxide is reacted with water to form nitric acid, and a solubilized form of the nitric acid is collected and may be reused or otherwise utilized. Systems for conducting the method also are disclosed.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method for recovering nitric acid from acid pickling solution includes introducing a treating material comprising at least one chemical into a pickling solution comprising free nitric acid. The treating material reacts with at least a portion of the free nitric acid in the pickling solution and produces NOx. A gas stream comprising at least a portion of the NOx is contacted with ozone, thereby forming oxidation products including nitrogen sesquioxide and nitrogen pentoxide. At least a portion of the nitrogen sesquioxide and nitrogen pentoxide is contacted with water, thereby forming nitric acid, and at least a portion of the nitric acid is collected.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for a navigation system. A method includes providing a global positioning system fix having a plurality of tracking parameters; providing a theater positioning system fix; monitoring the plurality of tracking parameters for predetermined conditions; and, when the predetermined conditions are met, sending a notifying signal and switching to the theater positioning system fix as a primary fix. An apparatus includes a system controller; a global positioning system receiver coupled to the system controller; a radio frequency locating receiver coupled to the system controller; and an operator interface coupled to the system controller.