Abstract: Provided is a method for making strong load-bearing plastics which includes, forming a mixture of magnetically tagged, electrically tagged, and untagged polymeric rods and flowing the mixture of the three types of rods through a forming tool across which, electric and magnetic fields are applied, to form a plastic article or structure with 3-D orientation of the molecules therein and thus a product of high strength in 3 dimensions.

Abstract: A non-destructive method of detecting subsurface defects in thermal barrier coatings applied to gas turbine engine components is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes positioning a evanescent microwave microscope probe adjacent a turbine component surface coated with a thermal barrier coating, and scanning the thermal barrier coating by moving at least one of the evanescent microwave microscope probe and the component surface in relation to one another in an x-y plane while maintaining a predetermined distance between the probe and the thermal barrier coating constant.

Abstract: Methods are provided for adjusting and controlling the stress between layers of material in a multilayer structure. A first stress is configured in a region of stress on the substrate material. A second material is then deposited over the substrate. A second stress results between the substrate and the second material such that a net stress results where the net stress is a function of said first and second stresses. As such, the first stress can be configured to achieve a predetermined, desired net stress. For example, the first stress can be configured to cancel out the second stress such that the net stress is substantially zero.

Abstract: A non-destructive method of detecting subsurface defects in thermal barrier coatings applied to gas turbine engine components is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes positioning a evanescent microwave microscope probe adjacent a turbine component surface coated with a thermal barrier coating, and scanning the thermal barrier coating by moving at least one of the evanescent microwave microscope probe and the component surface in relation to one another in an x-y plane while maintaining a predetermined distance between the probe and the thermal barrier coating constant.

Abstract: Methods are provided for adjusting and controlling the stress between layers of material in a multilayer structure. A first stress is configured in a region of stress on the substrate material. A second material is then deposited over the substrate. A second stress results between the substrate and the second material such that a net stress results where the net stress is a function of said first and second stresses. As such, the first stress can be configured to achieve a predetermined, desired net stress. For example, the first stress can be configured to cancel out the second stress such that the net stress is substantially zero.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing Raman and Brillouin spectroscopy remotely. A near-infrared laser is used to irradiate a sample of material to be analyzed. Optical fibers transmit incident radiation from a near-infrared radiation source to the sample, and transmit Raman and Brillouin scattered radiation from the sample to the detecting equipment. The incident radiation is carefully determined so as to avoid fluorescence and to limit optic fiber losses. The invention provides useful information with the use of an interferometer.

Abstract: Water in a gas is measured with improved sensitivity to low levels (on the order of 2.000 to 0.005 ppmv), response time and cell longevity, by an electrolytic cell wherein the electrode element comprises a tubular conduit for the gas having a pair of electrode wires helically positioned in parallel on the interior wall of the conduit from end to end, the wires being coated, except for small portions adjacent the inlet and outlet of the conduit, with a water absorbent crystalline coating comprising a mixture of phosphoric acid or a derivative thereof and an alkylene (C.sub.2 -C.sub.4) oxide polymer selected from a polyalkylene glycol of average molecular weight of at least 500 and an ether or ester thereof having an average molecular weight of at least 300.