Abstract: A method for producing thick ceramic films of greater than 10 .mu.m on selected substrates is described. Conventional sol gel solutions are loaded with up to about 90% by weight of finely divided ceramic particles and mixed. The resulting slurry or paint can be either spun or dip coated or sprayed or painted onto a planar or other substrate, fired to remove the organic materials and to develop a microcrystalline structure. The fired film may then be heated. Composite films are also contemplated.

Abstract: Efficient, simple, miniature and economical piezoelectric and ultrasonic devices employing optical fibers coated with lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) thin piezoelectric and ferroelectric films are described. The PZT thin films are fabricated chemically by a sol-gel method. Optical fibers can be dipped into the PZT solution, and followed by an annealing and an electric poling process in order to achieve good piezoelectricity in the coated PZT films. This coating process can be devised as an on-line method and thus coating length can be larger than meters. Due to the long coating length, high piezoelectricity, miniature and flexible nature, devices using optical fibers may be used for medical, telecommunication and sensor applications.

Abstract: A method of converting a feed solid polycrystalline of .beta. alumina into a hydronium conductor requires the preselection of an appropriate feed ceramic preferably with a chemical formula;(Na.sub.0.6 K.sub.0.4).sub.2 O (3 w/o MgO).beta./.beta."Al.sub.2 O.sub.3and with a f(.beta.) of 0.37.+-.0.03wherein ##EQU1## The crystallographic lattice is altered by placing the solid feed ceramic in an ionic solution or melt containing two or more ionic species of different ionic radii; the composition of the melt or solution being written: M.sub.1, M.sub.2 (M.sub.3 . . . ) X where M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 (and M.sub.3 etc.) are ions of dissimilar size and as examples sodium, potassium, lithium and hydronium ions. After a time the material is removed, washed and subjected to a field effect exchange whereby the desired hydronium conducting solid ceramic having the following chemical composition is achieved;(H.sub.3 O.sub.a.sup.+ /Na.sub.b.sup.+ /K.sub.c.sup.+).sub.2 O Z.beta./.beta."Al.sub.2 O.sub.3where (a)(b)(c)=0.fwdarw.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for sorting scrap metal pieces dependent on the type of metal therein. The apparatus includes a conveyor and a feeding arrangement to feed the scrap metal pieces on to the conveyor, together with an X-ray fluorescence detector to examine each metal piece and determine the type of metal as a result of the characteristic X-rays emitted. A respective control signal is utilized to move pegs on the conveyor so as to permit the respective metal piece to exit from the conveyor along a respective path and to enter a bin for that particular type of metal. In this way scrap metal pieces of different metal are collected in different bins for subsequent processing.

Abstract: A thermionic emitter for apparatus such as electron microscopes, scanning electron microscopes, and high power vacuum tubes which require a source of electrons formed from lanthanum strontium vanadate which is prepared from the compounds La.sub.(1.sub.-x) Sr.sub.(x) VO.sub.3, where x is the fraction of strontium (Sr) incorporated into LaVO.sub.3. The value of x lies between 0.1 and 0.4.