Abstract: A method of brazing a plurality of copper strands to a buss bar includes: a) cleaning the buss bar and the copper strands; b) positioning a filler shim on the surface of the buss bar; c) placing a copper strand on the filler shim, the filler shim and the strand having substantially equal lengths; d) stacking additional copper strands on the buss bar, with a filler shim between each adjacent pair of strands; and e) heating the filler shims utilizing an induction brazing coil to a temperature sufficient to cause melting of the shims and to thereby form a brazed lap joint between the copper strands and the buss bar.

Abstract: A spar platform is disclosed having a deck, a buoyant tank assembly supporting the deck, and a counterweight. A counterweight spacing structure connects the counterweight to the buoyant tank assembly. The buoyant tank assembly has a first buoyant section connected to the deck and a second buoyant section disposed beneath and axially vertically aligned with the first buoyant section. The second buoyant section has a substatially larger diameter than the first buoyant section and a buoyant section spacing structure connects the first and second buoyant sections in a manner providing a horizontally extending vertical gap therebetween. Another aspect of the invention is a method for reducing VIV in spar platform by providing a substantially open horizontally extending vertical gap in the cylindrical buoyant tank assembly between a first buoyant section and a second buoyant section.

Abstract: Terpolymers of ethylene, vinyl acetate and controlled amounts of isobutylene useful as pour point depressants in distillate oils.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a flexible delamination-resistant structure especially adapted for use in food packaging, such as in the construction of a retortable pouch. The structure comprises at least two adjacent films, at least one of which is aluminum, having interposed therebetween, as an adhesive for said films, a partially hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer obtained from the hydrolysis of from about 60 percent to about 80 percent of the vinyl acetate groups of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing from about 30 percent to about 60 percent by weight of interpolymerized vinyl acetate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rearing aquatic species by employing a tank with a bottom surface having an arcuate shape are disclosed. An oscillating circulatory bottom member is provided to resuspend particulate matter, to aerate water within the tank, and to provide additional water or to drain water from the tank.

Abstract: Pigment is finely dispersed in hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer by subjecting the copolymer to which pigment has previously been added by simple, non-intensive mixing to solution hydrolysis and/or by adding pigment to the solution hydrolysis medium prior to or during hydrolysis of the copolymer therein.

Abstract: An improvement in can covers having a peelable closure member of the pull tab or tear strip type is provided wherein the closure member is fabricated from a partially hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer obtained from the hydrolysis of from about 50 percent to about 80 percent of the vinyl acetate groups of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing from about 40 percent to about 80 percent by weight of interpolymerized vinyl acetate.

Abstract: The Mooney viscosity and green strength of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer gum stock is improved by the addition thereto of a suitable elastomer such as: high viscosity ethylene propylene rubber (EPR); nitrile rubber; polychloroprene; polyacrylate rubber; polyurethane; chlorinated polyethylene; polyester; ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) terpolymer; and other elastomers such as ethylene-methyl acrylate, ethylene butyl acrylate and acrylonitrile types.

Abstract: The Mooney viscosity and green strength of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer gum stock is improved by the addition thereto of a suitable elastomer such as: high viscosity ethylene propylene rubber (EPR); nitrile rubber; polychloroprene; polyacrylate rubber; polyurethane; chlorinated polyethylene; polyester; ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) terpolymer; and other elastomers such as ethylene-methyl acrylate, ethylene butyl acrylate and acrylonitrile types.

Abstract: Polyvinyl chloride resin compounded with a plasticizer composition containing a monomeric ester and a liquid ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer demonstrates significantly reduced levels of extractibles and low plasticizer migration while at the same time retaining good low temperature performance.

Abstract: Alcoholyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate resins and unplasticized, thermoplastic packaging films constituted thereof which are suitable as food wraps, particularly for the packaging of fresh red meat. The alcoholyzed resin is prepared from an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing from about 9 to 45 weight percent combined vinyl acetate and having a melt index of from about 0.1 to 70 g/10 min., the alcoholyzed resin containing from about 5 to 20 weight percent residual vinyl acetate and having a melt index of from about 0.1 to 100 g/10 min. Preferred films prepared from these alcoholyzed resins exhibit oxygen transmission rates in excess of about 350 cc/100 sq.in./24 hr./atm. at 23.degree. C, carbon dioxide transmission rates in excess of about 1000 cc/100 sq.in/24 hr./atm. at 23.degree. C, and moisture vapor transmission rates of from about 10 to 50 g/100 sq.in./24 hr. at 100.degree. F and 90% relative humidity (R.H.), essential characteristics of the thermoplastic films for wrapping cuts of fresh red meat.

Abstract: Tacky ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers having about 35-95% by weight vinyl acetate content are rendered agglomeration-resistant by surface treatment thereof, before, during, or after forming into particles, with a basic liquid medium to hydrolyze not more than about 10% by weight of the vinyl acetate groups originally present in the copolymer, the hydrolysis being mainly confined to the surface of the particles without effecting any significant hydrolysis of the interior of the particles. Previously agglomerated particles of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers containing about 35-60% by weight of vinyl acetate are deagglomerated and rendered agglomeration-resistant by a similar treatment with a basic liquid medium.

Abstract: A dispersion-strengthened ferritic alloy is provided which has high temperature strength and is readily fabricable at ambient temperatures and which is useful as structural elements of liquid metal fast breeder reactors.