Abstract: The invention relates to the use of branched copolymers as dispersants of mineral binders, wherein the copolymers are formed from (1) at least one olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer (2) at least one olefinically unsaturated macromonomer of the general structure (I) where R1 is an olefinically unsaturated radical which has 2-10 carbon atoms and may optionally be substituted by oxygen and/or nitrogen, preferably vinyl, allyl, methallyl, vinyloxybutyl, isoprenyl, acryloyl and/or methacryloyl, X=O or NH, A is in each case independently C1-C10 alkylene, preferably ethylene, propylene and/or butylene, R2=C1-C16 alkyl, B is in each case independently C1-C10 alkylene, preferably ethylene, propylene and/or butylene, m is in each case independently an integer in the range of 0-350, preferably 2-200, more preferably 5-150, especially 7-30, n is an integer in the range of 0-100, preferably 1-100, more preferably 2-75, most preferably 5-55, p is 0 or 1, preferably 0, o is an integer in the range

Abstract: A plasma compression system comprises a plasma containment vessel, an annular rotating core inside the vessel, and a plurality of compression drivers fixedly mounted to an outer surface of the vessel wall. The annular rotating core contains a liquid medium and is rotatable to circulate the liquid medium and form a liquid liner with a cavity. The rotating core comprises an outer surface spaced from an inner surface of the vessel wall to define an annular gap, and a plurality of implosion drivers each comprising a pusher bore with a pusher piston slideable therein. Each pusher bore extends through the rotating core. The plurality of compression drivers compresses a compression fluid in the annular gap and creates a pressure pulse, such that when the rotating core rotates and the liquid medium fills the pusher bores, the pusher pistons are operable to push the liquid medium inwards to collapse the liquid liner and compress a plasma in the cavity.

Abstract: A process for the reduction of the content of a compound I of general formula (II) where R1 is hydrogen or methyl, each R2, independently from each other, is hydrogen or methyl, R3 is hydrogen or an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon with 1-8 carbon atoms, AO is a C2-C12 oxyalkylene group, x=0 or 1, and n=2-350, from a mixture including or consisting of a compound I of general formula (II) and an alkoxylated alcohol A of general formula (I) where R1, R2, R3, AO, x, and n are as described in general formula (II) above, characterized in that the process includes a treatment of the mixture including or consisting of a compound I and an alkoxylated alcohol A with an acid. Also, the use of the alkoxylated alcohols A for the production of polycarboxylate ethers.

Abstract: A plasma compression driver is connected to a plasma containment vessel containing a liquid medium that forms a liquid liner containing plasma, and comprises a pair of coaxially aligned pistons that are sequentially driven towards the liquid liner. A pusher bore containing a pusher piston is coaxial with and has a smaller diameter than a driver bore containing a driver piston such that an interconnecting annular face surface is defined at the junction of the driver and pusher bores. During the compression operation, a prime mover accelerates the driver piston towards the pusher piston and compresses a compression fluid, which accelerates the pusher piston and pushes the liquid medium in the pusher bore into the vessel, causing the liquid liner to collapse, and compressing the plasma. Outward forces on the vessel wall caused by compression driver recoil and increased vessel pressure is counteracted by an inward force applied by the compression fluid on the annular face surface during the compression operation.

Abstract: The use of branched copolymers of the general structure (I) as additives for increasing the flow rate and for reducing the viscosity of mineral binder compositions.

Abstract: A process for preparing powdered dispersants comprising at least 90% by weight of at least one copolymer CP of the polycarboxylate ether type. The powdered dispersants can be easily dispersed in water. The invention also relates to the use of such powdered dispersants in mineral binder compositions, in particular dry mortars, concrete or gypsum formulations.

Abstract: A plasma compression driver is connected to a plasma containment vessel containing a liquid medium that forms a liquid liner containing plasma, and comprises a pair of coaxially aligned pistons that are sequentially driven towards the liquid liner. A pusher bore containing a pusher piston is coaxial with and has a smaller diameter than a driver bore containing a driver piston such that an interconnecting annular face surface is defined at the junction of the driver and pusher bores. During the compression operation, a prime mover accelerates the driver piston towards the pusher piston and compresses a compression fluid, which accelerates the pusher piston and pushes the liquid medium in the pusher bore into the vessel, causing the liquid liner to collapse, and compressing the plasma. Outward forces on the vessel wall caused by compression driver recoil and increased vessel pressure is counteracted by an inward force applied by the compression fluid on the annular face surface during the compression operation.

Abstract: A chassis for a passenger car includes two main longitudinal chassis beams which are connected to one another via a bumper cross member. A support arrangement extends between the two beams and is supported on a central tunnel. The support arrangement forms a load path in an event of a collision-related force being applied to the passenger car where above and/or below the support arrangement an installation space region is provided for accommodating a component or unit in need of protection. The support arrangement includes a strut which extends in a region of a center of the passenger car between the two beams and which forms a protective device which transmits impact forces forwards to the central tunnel. The strut has a first longitudinal section that is deformable in a targeted energy-absorbing manner and a second longitudinal section which functions as a rigid beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for welding a zinc-coated motor vehicle component (1), in which a welding surface (3) of the zinc-coated motor vehicle component (1) is pretreated and a connecting element is subsequently welded on at the welding surface (3), wherein for the pretreatment the zinc layer (2) is deposited to a prescribed maximum layer thickness (6) in the region of the welding surface (3) by means of a laser device (5).

Abstract: A chassis for a passenger car includes two main longitudinal chassis beams which are connected to one another via a bumper cross member. A support arrangement extends between the two beams and is supported on a central tunnel. The support arrangement forms a load path in an event of a collision-related force being applied to the passenger car where above and/or below the support arrangement an installation space region is provided for accommodating a component or unit in need of protection. The support arrangement includes a strut which extends in a region of a center of the passenger car between the two beams and which forms a protective device which transmits impact forces forwards to the central tunnel. The strut has a first longitudinal section that is deformable in a targeted energy-absorbing manner and a second longitudinal section which functions as a rigid beam.

Abstract: Methods for using a copolymer, especially as a dispersant for solid particles, in particular as a dispersant for mineral binder compositions, where the copolymer is obtained from ionizable monomers m1 and side chain-bearing monomers m2 that are polymerized by nitroxide-mediated solution polymerization to give the copolymer, wherein the polymerization is conducted in the presence of an agent including a carboxyl group-bearing and phosphated alkoxy amine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a copolymer, especially for use as a dispersant for solid particles, in particular for use as dispersant for mineral binder compositions, having a polymer backbone and side chains bonded thereto, comprising at least one ionizable monomer unit M1 and at least one side chain-bearing monomer unit M2, wherein the copolymer has a gradient structure in at least one section A in a direction along the polymer backbone with regard to the ionizable monomer unit M1 and/or with regard to the side chain-bearing monomer unit M2.

Abstract: Examples of systems for imploding liquid liner are described. The imploding system comprises a vessel and a rotating member positioned within the vessel. The rotating member has a plurality of shaped blades that form a plurality of curved passages that have an inboard opening at an inner surface and an outboard end at an outer surface. The rotating member is at least partially filled with liquid medium. A driver is used to rotate the rotating member such that when the rotating member rotates the liquid medium is forced into the passages forming a liquid liner with an interface curved with respect to an axis of rotation and defining a cavity. The system further comprises an implosion driver that changes the rotational speed of the rotating member such that the liquid liner is imploded inwardly collapsing the cavity. The imploding liquid liner can be used in plasma compression systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing a copolymer, especially a dispersant for solid particles, in particular a dispersant for mineral binder compositions, wherein ionizable monomers m1 and side chain-bearing monomers m2 are polymerized by nitroxide-mediated solution polymerization to give a copolymer, wherein the polymerization is conducted in the presence of an agent comprising a carboxyl group-bearing and phosphated alkoxy amine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a copolymer as a dispersant for binder compositions based on calcium sulfate, the copolymer having a polymer backbone and sidechains bound thereto, and at least one ionizable monomeric unit M1 and at least one sidechain-carrying monomeric unit M2, characterized in that the copolymer has, in a direction along the polymer backbone, a non-random distribution of the monomeric units M1 and/or of the monomeric units M2.

Abstract: A block copolymer for use as a dispersant for mineral binder compositions, containing an alkali activating agent. The block copolymer includes at least one first block A and at least one second block B, the first block A containing a monomeric unit M1 and the second block B containing a monomeric unit M2. A proportion of monomeric units M2, if any, in the first block A is less than 25 mol %, in particular less than or equal to 10 mol %, relative to all the monomeric units M1 in the first block A, and a proportion of monomeric units M1, if any, in the second block B is less than 25 mol %, in particular less than or equal to 10 mol %, relative to all the monomeric units M2 in the second block B.

Abstract: An illumination optical unit for EUV projection lithography serves for obliquely illuminating an illumination field, in which an object field of a downstream imaging catoptric optical unit and a reflective object to be imaged can be arranged. A pupil generating device of the illumination optical unit is embodied so that an illumination pupil results, which brings about a dependency of an imaging telecentricity against a structure variable of the object to be imaged. This dependency is such that a dependency of the imaging telecentricity against the structure variable of the object to be imaged on account of interaction of the oblique illumination with structures of the object to be imaged is at least partly compensated for. An optical system for EUV projection lithography also has an imaging catoptric optical unit alongside an illumination optical unit and can additionally have a wavefront manipulation device.

Abstract: Methods of using a comb polymer K for reducing the mixing time of a mineral binder composition with water, where the comb polymer K has a polymer backbone and side chains, and the comb polymer K includes at least one monomeric unit M1, including acid groups, and at least one monomeric unit M2, including side chains, the monomeric units M1 and M2 being arranged in a non-statistical sequence along the polymer backbone.

Abstract: A method for producing improved comb polymers having a block or gradient structure. The comb polymers are highly suitable for dispersing fine powder.

Abstract: Examples of systems for forming cavity and a liquid liner are described. The system comprises a vessel and a rotating member positioned within the vessel and rotatable about an axis of rotation. The rotating member has an inner surface 5 curved with respect to the axis of rotation, an outer and plurality of fluid passages that each has an inboard opening at the inner surface and an outboard opening at the outer surface. The rotating member is filled with a liquid medium and a rotational driver rotates the rotating member such that when rotating the liquid medium at least partially fills the fluid passages forming liquid liner, defining the 10 cavity. The cavity formation system is used in a liquid liner implosion system with an implosion driver that causes the liquid liner to implode inwardly collapsing the cavity. The imploding liquid liner system can be used in plasma compression systems.