Abstract: A heating device having at least one package surrounding a hygroscopic salt and a heater mix having at least a metal reactant. The heating device may include a source of moisture positioned in the package, the source of moisture initially generating an atmosphere having nearly 100% relative humidity inside the package. The hygroscopic salt is spatially separated from the source of moisture within the at least one package and positioned so as to absorb moisture out of the atmosphere to form an electrolyte, and the hygroscopic salt is further positioned so that the electrolyte generated by the hygroscopic salt is in contact with the heater mix. Rather than have an internal source of moisture, the at least one package may be water vapor permeable to allow ambient moisture from the atmosphere to enter the interior of the package to combine with the hygroscopic salt to generate an electrolyte.

Abstract: An article capable of being heated having a material with a plurality of cavities formed therein. The article includes at least one heater which may be embedded in at least one of the plurality of cavities formed in the material. A sheet of porous material may be operatively engaged with the article over the material so that the plurality of cavities are covered and the at least one heater is held therein.

Abstract: A method and device for warming biological samples utilizes a heater and an outer chamber fabricated from a thermal regulating material. The outer chamber includes an outer surface and an inner surface with the heater being in operative contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the outer chamber. A biological sample receiving region defined by the inner surface of the outer chamber is included, the biological receiving region being configured to operatively accept a biological sample and, alternatively including a liquid that has a freezing point near to or below that of the biological sample, and, wherein one or more of the inner surface and the liquid is in close and intimate contact with the biological sample. The thermal regulating material may obtain and maintain a substantially constant predetermined temperature when heat is imparted to the outer chamber by the heater.

Abstract: A thermoformable article having a body constructed using material which is rigid at temperatures below a thermoformable temperature and becomes formable when heated to a temperature above a thermoformable temperature and a heater material in thermal contact with the body when the heater material is activated, wherein the heat generated by the heater material when activated is provided by an enthalpy of solution of the heater material.

Abstract: The hydration of clays and shale in drilling operations may be inhibited by employing an aqueous based drilling fluid comprising a shale hydration inhibition agent having the formula: (Formula I should be inserted here.) wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbons, R1 is an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbons, and R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbons. The shale hydration inhibition agent should be present in the aqueous based drilling fluid in sufficient concentration to reduce the reactivity, such as swelling, of clays and shale when exposed to water-based drilling fluids.

Abstract: A method and device for warming biological samples utilizes a heater and an outer chamber fabricated from a thermal regulating material. The outer chamber includes an outer surface and an inner surface with the heater being in operative contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the outer chamber. A biological sample receiving region defined by the inner surface of the outer chamber is included, the biological receiving region being configured to operatively accept a biological sample and, alternatively including a liquid that has a freezing point near to or below that of the biological sample, and, wherein one or more of the inner surface and the liquid is in close and intimate contact with the biological sample. The thermal regulating material may obtain and maintain a substantially constant predetermined temperature when heat is imparted to the outer chamber by the heater.

Abstract: An article capable of being heated having a material with a plurality of cavities formed therein. The article includes at least one heater which may be embedded in at least one of the plurality of cavities formed in the material. A sheet of porous material may be operatively engaged with the article over the material so that the plurality of cavities are covered and the at least one heater is held therein.

Abstract: The hydration of clays and shale in drilling operations may be inhibited by employing an aqueous based drilling fluid comprising a shale hydration inhibition agent having the formula: (Formula I should be inserted here.) wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbons, R1 is an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbons, and R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbons. The shale hydration inhibition agent should be present in the aqueous based drilling fluid in sufficient concentration to reduce the reactivity, such as swelling, of clays and shale when exposed to water-based drilling fluids.

Abstract: A process for converting epoxy resin to episulfide resin through reactive melt extrusion of a solid epoxy resin with a sulfur donating compound. The resulting resin provides for an application that utilizes the resulting extruded episulfide resin as a low application temperature resin for powder coatings applications.

Abstract: A process for converting epoxy resin to episulfide resin through reactive melt extrusion of a solid epoxy resin with a sulfur donating compound. The resulting resin provides for an application that utilizes the resulting extruded episulfide resin as a low application temperature resin for powder coatings applications.

Abstract: A double ester composition prepared by a three-step process comprising the non-ordered steps of a homopolymerization, a transesterification, and a capping, wherein the ordered steps include a sequence of homopolymerization, capping, and transesterification, or a sequence of transesterification, homopolymerization, and capping. The ester is useful particularly as a biolubricant having a high level of renewable carbons, and may exhibit particularly desirable properties relating to pour point, thermo-oxidative stability, and viscometric behavior due to reduced or eliminated levels of unsaturation in the final double esters.

Abstract: An improved process for making fiber reinforced epoxy plastic structure by a process that includes the steps of : forming a structure of the reinforcing fibers (14) an epoxyresin composition (15) that includes a liquid epoxy resin and an epoxy resin hardener; and heating the structure to cure the epoxy resin composition. The epoxy resin composition including more than one and one half percent of mono hydrolyzed epoxy resin and an epoxy resin hardener so that the viscosity of the epoxy resin composition during the heating step is in a range that results in a degree of impregnation of the void space between the reinforcing fibers by the cured epoxy resin composition that is greater than ninety volume percent of the void space.