Abstract: Determining the composition of a mineral sample entails comparing measurements of a sample to mineral definitions and determining a similarity metric. The mineral definition includes a subspace of compositional values defined by end members. The similarity metric is related to a projection of the measured data point onto the subspace or onto an extension of the subspace.

Abstract: Mineral definitions each include a list of elements, each of the elements having a corresponding standard spectrum. To determine the composition of an unknown mineral sample, the acquired spectrum of the sample is sequentially decomposed into the standard spectra of the elements from the element list of each of the mineral definitions, and a similarity metric computed for each mineral definition. The unknown mineral is identified as the mineral having the best similarity metric.

Abstract: An improved mineral analysis system includes mineral definitions that include not only characteristics of the minerals, but also variability in those characteristics. The variabilities allow the calculation of ranges of expected values for different quality of measurements, for example, for different numbers of x-ray counts. Match probabilities can therefore be calculated to more accurately determine the composition of a mineral sample.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a combination of two existing approaches for mineral analysis and makes use of the Similarity Metric Invention, that allows mineral definitions to be described in theoretical compositional terms, meaning that users are not required to find examples of each mineral, or adjust rules. This system allows untrained operators to use it, as opposed to previous systems, which required extensive training and expertise.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for determining the mineral content represented by the entire SEM-EDS dataset, including initially unknown data points. SEM-EDS data points are taken and compared to a set of known data points. Any data point that is not sufficiently similar to the known data point is classified as unknown and clustered with like unknown data points. After all data points are analyzed, any clusters of unknown data points with a sufficient number of data points are further analyzed to determine their characteristics. All clusters of unknown data points with an insufficient number of data points to allow further analysis are considered outliers and discarded.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for determining the composition of an unknown sample. The present invention comprises a method of calibrating an x-ray spectrometer that does not require measuring all possible elements under the operating conditions used to measure the unknown sample to be analyzed. According to a preferred embodiment, the local instrument can be calibrated from an x-ray spectrum of a single elemental standard. The instrument will have a stored library containing high quality spectra for all elements being analyzed. The analysis of the single element is compared to the library spectra for that element to define a transformation that is used to create a calibrated spectra library that includes a calibrated spectrum for each spectrum in the original library. As a result, the spectra generated by the local instrument can be compared to the calibrated library spectra to determine the elements in an unknown mineral.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for determining the mineral content represented by the entire SEM-EDS dataset, including initially unknown data points. SEM-EDS data points are taken and compared to a set of known data points. Any data point that is not sufficiently similar to the known data point is classified as unknown and clustered with like unknown data points. After all data points are analyzed, any clusters of unknown data points with a sufficient number of data points are further analyzed to determine their characteristics. All clusters of unknown data points with an insufficient number of data points to allow further analysis are considered outliers and discarded.

Abstract: A method and system for spectrum data analysis. The method comprises the steps of collecting a spectrum of an unknown material; providing a set of data templates; calculating weighting factors for the element data templates to minimize error in approximating the spectrum; removing one or more of the templates having negative weights in approximating the spectrum; and re-calculating an approximation of the spectrum with said one or more templates removed. Embodiments of the invention are suitable for analyzing noisy spectra having relatively few data points.

Abstract: Multi-arm star polymers are derived from silicon containing dendrimers and have arms containing the moiety where each R′ can be the same or different and is an alkyl group containing 1-6 carbon atoms such as methyl and ethyl or an aryl group such as phenyl; R″ is alkylene radical —(CH2)a— in which a has a value of 2 or 3; and R′″ is the —(CH2)bCH3 group in which b has a value of 1-50. These compositions can be used for dissolving metals and other electrophiles.

Abstract: Higher generation radially layered copolymeric dendrimers having a hydrophilic poly(amidoamine) or a hydrophilic poly(propyleneimine) interior and a hydrophobic organosilicon exterior are prepared by first reacting a hydrophilic dendrimer having --NH.sub.2 surface groups with an organosilicon compound, and then hydrosilating the resulting copolymeric dendrimer with another organosilicon compound in the presence of a noble metal catalyst. In an alternate embodiment, the radially layered copolymeric dendrimers are prepared by reacting a hydrophilic dendrimer having --NH.sub.2 surface groups directly with an organosilicon dendron or organosilicon hyperbranched polymer.

Abstract: The adhesion of cured polyolefin compositions to a variety of substrates is improved using as the adhesion promoter the combination of 1) an organic or organosilicon compound containing at least one epoxy group and 2) at least one compound containing a) at least one silanol or carbinol group or a hydrolyzable silanol group precursor, and b) at least one group that reacts during curing of the polyolefin.

Abstract: The presence in curable polyolefin compositions of a moisture curable organosilicon compound containing at least one alkenyloxy group bonded to the silicon atoms improves the adhesion to a variety of substrates that is developed during the curing reaction of polyolefin compositions cured by a hydrosilation reaction. The organosilicon compound is preferably a reaction product of ingredients comprising 1) a silane or bis-silylalkane containing at least three silicon-bonded moisture-reactive groups per molecule and 2) an organic compound containing at least one carbinol group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing high molecular weight, alternating polysiloxane copolymers, by solid-liquid phase, nonaqueous, interfacial polymerization. The copolymers consist of alternating siloxane repeating units of the (AB).sub.m type, such as diphenylsiloxane units and dimethylsiloxane units, alternately polymerized together to form the copolymer. The solid-liquid phase interfacial polymerization process is fast, proceeds smoothly at room temperature, and is not reversible, i.e., no cyclic siloxane species are generated. The resulting polysiloxanes can be formed into thermoplastic elastomers which are suitable for use as sealants, fillers, and films.

Abstract: The present invention provides adhesion promoters for curable polyolefin compositions wherein said adhesion promoters are selected from a specified group of hydrocarbyloxy-substituted organosilicon compounds and condensation products of these compounds. At least one hydrocarbyloxy group on each silicon atom of the adhesion promoter is derived from a polyhydric alcohol containing at least two hydroxyl groups per molecule and substantially no ethylenic unsaturation.

Abstract: This invention relates to organosilicon compositions useful as adhesion promoters for curable organopolysiloxanes, said organosilicon compositions being formed by reacting (A) a polyhydric alcohol, (B) an organosiloxane containing at least one organofunctional group and one hydroxyl or hydrolyzable group per molecule and (C) a silane containing at least three hydrolyzable groups per molecule.

Abstract: Dialkali metal organosilanolate and dialkali metal organosiloxanolate salts are manufactured from cyclic siloxanes or linear silicone polymers using a heterogeneous interfacial reaction process. A stoichiometric excess of an alkali metal hydroxide such as potassium hydroxide or an alkali metal oxide as a solid or dissolved or dispersed in a compatible solvent, is prepared and used as a first phase. The cyclic siloxane or linear silicone polymer is placed in a second phase either dissolved or dispersed in another solvent which is immiscible with the first phase. The resulting silanolate and siloxanolate salts can be used as monomers for solid-liquid phase and liquid-liquid phase interfacial polymerization or in a polycondensation process for the synthesis of alternating siloxane polymers. They can also be used as ring opening initiators for the base catalyzed polymerization of cyclic siloxanes.

Abstract: Dendrimer-based networks are prepared from copolydendrimer precursors having well defined hydrophilic polyamidoamine (PAMAM) or polypropyleneimine (PPI) interiors, and organosilicon outer layers ending with .tbd.Si--OCH.sub.3 surface groups. These networks have precisely controllable size, shape, and spatial distribution, of nanoscopic hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains. Such constructs are prepared by crosslinking one type of copolydendrimer precursor, or by crosslinking mixtures of different copolydendrimers having different generations of PAMAM or PPI dendrimers in the interior, surrounded by different organosilicon exteriors. Crosslinking can be controlled by adding difunctional, trifunctional, or polyfunctional low molecular weight or oligomeric crosslinking agents; or by exposing a copolydendrimer having hydrolyzable surface groups to atmospheric moisture. Elastomeric dendrimer-based networks have low glass temperatures of -15.degree. C.

Abstract: Radially layered copoly-dendrimers having unusual surface properties and novel applications have been synthesized and characterized. These are the first copolymeric dendrimers composed of a hydrophilic poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) interior with hydrophobic organosilicon surfaces. These dendrimers have been prepared by surface modifications of an ethylene diamine core PAMAM dendrimer with (3-acryloxypropyl)methyldimethoxysilane, (3-acryloxypropyl)bis(vinyldimethylsiloxy)methylsilane, (3-acryloxypropyl)tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, chloromethyltrimethylsilane, and chloromethyldimethylvinylsilane, to varying degrees of surface coverage. The obtained products were characterized by .sup.1 H, .sup.13 C, and .sup.29 Si NMR, and by DSC and TGA. The dendrimers with less completely covered organosilicon surfaces are water soluble, and have considerable surface activity, the best of which lowered the surface tension of water to less than 30 mN/m.