Abstract: A system and method for imaging a volume having a detector including a first atomic species with an absorption edge at a first wavelength. The system also includes a source having a second atomic species for emitting an ionizing energy. The second atomic species has a characteristic emission peak that substantially matches the absorption edge of the detector. A filter may be provided for blocking ionizing energy from the source in regions other than a region proximate the characteristic emission peak. Effective imaging with a lower radiation dose may be achieved with the system and method.

Abstract: A brazed X-ray target includes a metallic cap and a graphite back including a nonlinear record groove attached thereto along a stepped surface. An upper corner joint of the stepped surface is distanced from a cap outer edge and a focal track where the maximum heat is generated during use of the target. The graphite back is extended outward toward the cap outer edge to increase a thermal storage of the graphite, and a recess is formed into the cap to maintain a selected moment of inertia of the target and thereby maintain the rotordynamics of a given X-ray tube.

Abstract: A system for sealing a large diameter tube under vacuum including: a tube having a diameter greater than about 20 mm, a disk operatively positioned inside the tube and having a smaller diameter than the tube, a vacuum operatively connected to the tube, heating means, operatively positioned on the outside of the tube, for heating the tube to a temperature sufficient to collapse the tube onto the disk, means for positioning the disk inside the tube proximate the position of the heating means on the outside of the tube and means for cooling the tube proximate the disk sufficiently to formulate a seal between the tube and the disk where the disk collapsed onto the disk is disclosed.

Abstract: Foil used in the manufacture of superconductor material is cleaned using a mechanical abrasive pad that produces longitudinal hills and valleys or elliptical swirls on the surface of both sides of the foil to yield high quality and uniform superconductors.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/stem connection wherein at least about 40,000 x-ray scan-seconds are accomplished prior to tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance comprising a metallic target and a metal stem bonded to provide a composite rotating x-ray tube target is disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum alloy, is placed between the target layer and the stem and then bonded thereto to produce a composite x-ray tube target/stem having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which retains its balance throughout the manufacturing process and during x-ray tube operations is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forging Ni-base superalloys is described which avoids the growth of abnormally large grains in the surface region of a forged article. The method involves forging and/or annealing a Ni-base superalloy in a carburizing environment. Forging and/or annealing in a carburizing environment is done to maintain the carbon concentration in the surface region at a level that is sufficient to prevent the depletion of carbides and carbonitrides. The carburizing environment may also be selected so that it is non-oxidizing with respect to aluminum, in order to prevent the depletion of aluminum and the reduction of the .gamma.' phase in the surface region.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/stem assembly comprising a metallic target and a large bore, thin-walled tubular metal stem which, when connected to a rotor body assembly, provides a rotating x-ray tube anode assembly is disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum alloy, is placed between the target layer and the large bore, thin-walled tubular stem and then bonded thereto to produce a composite x-ray tube target/stem assembly. The target/stem assembly is then connected to a rotor body assembly by fasteners, preferably threaded, applied through a plate connected to the tubular stem and preferably through a thermal washer to produce a rotating anode assembly having high bond strength that provides acceptable balance during x-ray tube operations.

Abstract: Foils used to manufacture superconductor materials can effectively be cleaned by heat treatment prior to anodization and further processing steps. The heat treatment can be in conjunction with other cleaning processes or separate.

Abstract: Methods of making an improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein are available. The anode includes an improved target/stem connection which reduces tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance. Methods of bonding a metallic target and a metal stem to form a composite rotating x-ray tube target are also available. In these procedures an insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum or its alloys , is placed between the target and the niobium-alloy stem and then bonded thereto to produce a composite x-ray tube target/stem having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which retains its balance throughout the manufacturing process and during x-ray tube operations.

Abstract: The solid-liquid diffusion process used to form triniobium tin superconductor is improved by oxidizing the tin coated niobium substrate with an oxide layer on the surface of the tin coat after tin dipping. The oxide layer can be added to the tin coat by passing the tin coated niobium substrate through an oxidizing chamber before the reaction anneal step, by adding oxygen to the reaction anneal furnace with argon or helium, by adding oxygen to the cooling tower immediately after the tin dipping process, or by controlling the exit temperature of the tin coated substrate from the tin dip in room atmosphere conditions.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/stem connection and a coating, operatively positioned between the target and the stem, for enhancing the diffusion therebetween to reduce tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance comprising a metallic target and a metal stem bonded to provide a composite rotating x-ray tube target is disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, titanium alloy, is placed between the target layer, the stem and a coating, operatively positioned between the target and the stem, for enhancing the diffusion therebetween and then bonded thereto to produce a composite x-ray tube target/stem having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which retains its balance throughout the manufacturing process and during x-ray tube operations is also disclosed.

Abstract: A coating apparatus is disclosed having a metal bath, an enclosure extending over the bath, a mandrel extending into the bath, and a gas seal mounted on the enclosure in communication with the atmosphere therein. The gas seal has a frame with a slot extending therethrough, first and second rolls aligned with the first and second ends of the slot, and a door extending between the rolls and over the seal. The door being pivotally mounted on the frame to open inwardly at the first end and outwardly at the second end.

Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining uniform grain growth within .gamma.' precipitation strengthened nickel-base superalloys. The method includes forming a billet having a very fine grain size in order to achieve optimum superplasticity of the superalloy during forging. The article is then heated to a pre-working hold temperature in a manner which prevents coarsening of the microstructure and a loss of superplasticity. The article is then worked, such as by forging, at a temperature below the .gamma.' solvus temperature of the alloy, so as to maintain local strain rates within the article below a critical strain rate for random grain growth, and so as to maintain the strain rate gradient throughout the article below a critical upper limit. After working, the article is subjected to annealing at a temperature which is less than the .gamma.' solvus temperature of the alloy, and for a duration which is sufficient to remove accumulated metallurgical strain in the article.

Abstract: A method for making triniobium tin superconductor with improved critical current density is disclosed where an annealed niobium-base substrate is passed through a tin alloy bath containing tin, copper, and bismuth, to coat the substrate with tin and then annealing the coated substrate to form triniobium tin superconductor. A tin alloy bath containing up to twenty weight percent copper and up to one weight percent bismuth is disclosed.

Abstract: A method is described which increases the critical current of triniobium tin by bonding thermal contraction control layers to the triniobium tin superconducting articles at a process temperature to form a composite, and subsequently cooling the composite to a test temperature.

Abstract: A method of making a high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode includes making target/tubular stem assembly and then assembling it to a rotor body assembly. This particular method reduces tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance and provides an improved rotating x-ray tube anode assembly.

Abstract: Methods of making an improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/tubular stem combination which, when combined with a rotor body assembly, reduces tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance and methods of bonding a metallic target and a metal tubular stem and connecting the combination to a rotor body assembly to provide a rotating x-ray tube target are disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum or its alloys, is placed between the target and the niobium-alloy tubular stem and then bonded thereto to produce the x-ray tube target/tubular stem assembly having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which, when connected, such as by bolting to the rotor body assembly, the resulting anode assembly retains proper balance during x-ray tube operations.

Abstract: An improved molten metal spray forming atomization ring converter adapted for the spray forming of a refined molten metal from a molten metal refining or melting chamber wherein the molten metal is atomized into tiny molten droplets by gas impingement in a stream of molten metal and to the structure by which the molten metal droplets are preferentially directed to and deposited on a target surface. The molten metal spray forming atomization ring converter is adapted to control the flow of liquid metal droplets and to avoid a backflow of such droplets during the gas atomization by providing structure, such as small apertures to the inner diameter of the ring, by providing large holes through the inner diameter and adding a porous metal filter to cover the large holes or by providing a gas supply system independent from the atomization system gas supply, such that a pressure or diffused source of gas is provided at the inner bore.

Abstract: A method for making triniobium tin foil is disclosed where the niobium-based foil with an oxide layer is passed continuously at a set speed into an enclosed chamber. The enclosed chamber has an inert atmosphere which is substantially oxygen free. Upon entering the chamber, the foil passes through a decomposition anneal furnace, a low temperature tin dip, and then a high temperature reaction anneal furnace before exiting the chamber as triniobium tin foil.

Abstract: A regulating gas flow valve is operatively connected to an oscillating molten metal spray forming ring converter through which a molten metal stream passes. The passing metal stream is impacted by gas jets from the converter which breaks up the metal stream into a spray pattern of small molten metal droplets. The valve regulates the flow of gas into the converter as a function of the converter oscillation which also operates the valve.