Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method of making a plastic aggregate, and its use to make concrete products. The aggregate is formed by providing a granulated waste plastic material, introducing the granulated waste plastic material into an extruder having a die, the die having a ratio of die nozzle open area to die land area of about 1:10 to about 1:40, and extruding the granulated waste plastic material through the extruder to generate an extruded plastic aggregate. The method can include the presence of controlled cooling, the addition of additives and treatment of the surface of the aggregate to produce a desired aggregate that can be used to make a concrete product with desired properties, such as compressive strength and weight.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method of making a plastic aggregate, and its use to make concrete products. The aggregate is formed by providing a granulated waste plastic material, introducing the granulated waste plastic material into an extruder having a die, the die having a ratio of die nozzle open area to die land area of about 1:10 to about 1:40, and extruding the granulated waste plastic material through the extruder to generate an extruded plastic aggregate. The method can include the presence of controlled cooling, the addition of additives and treatment of the surface of the aggregate to produce a desired aggregate that can be used to make a concrete product with desired properties, such as compressive strength and weight.

Abstract: A positive electrode composition for an electrochemical cell is provided. One example includes at least one electroactive metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, cobalt, chromium, silver, antimony, cadmium, tin, lead, and zinc. The positive electrode composition can further include at least one alkali metal halide and an electrolyte salt comprising a reaction product of a second alkali metal halide and a metal halide. The electrolyte salt can have a melting point of less than about 300 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making an analogue of .beta."-alumina, the analogue having a layered .beta."-alumina spinel-type structure in which ate least some of the Na ions in the layers of Na ions separated by layers of Al and O ions in said .beta."-alumina spinel-type structure are replaced by substitute metal cations. The substitute metal cations are mono-, d- and/or trivalent. The method comprises dispersing in a boehmite having a well developed and highly ordered crystal structure at least one oxide of the substitute metal cations or a precursor thereof to form a starting mixture, and heating the mixture to a conversion temperature at which it is converted to the analogue.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making .beta."-alumina by heating aluminium oxide in the presence of Na.sub.2 O. A metal oxide dopant in the form of Li.sub.2 O, MgO, ZnO, CoO, NiO, FeO or mixtures thereof, or a precursor of the dopant, is dispersed in a cubic-close packed aluminium oxide or a precursor thereof to form a starting mixture which is calcined by heating to 250.degree.-1100.degree. C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. Na.sub.2 O is then dispersed in the calcined starting mixture to form a final mixture, and the final mixture is heated in an oxygen-containing atmosphere to above 1100.degree. C. to produce .beta."-alumina.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing a surface of a ceramic solid electrolyte conductor of alkali metal ions for wetting by said alkali metal in molten form. The method comprises doping the ceramic surface with an oxide of a transition metal. Transition metals such as Fe, Ni, Cu, Mn, Co, Cr or Mo have suitable oxides for doping beta-alumina for wetting by sodium.

Abstract: A method of making beta"-alumina comprises dispersing in a precursor of aluminum oxide a member of the group comprising sodium oxide and its precursors, and dispersing in the precursor of aluminum oxide a spinel stabilizer which is a member of the group comprising spinel-forming oxides and the precursors thereof, to form a mixture. The mixture is then heated to a temperature at which at least some of the precursor of aluminum oxide is converted to beta"-alumina. The precursor of aluminum oxide is one which, when calcined in air by itself, has a calcination product which, when subjected to X-ray diffraction, displays a predetermined X-ray diffraction trace. The X-ray diffraction trace is one whose peak with the highest intensity in the 2 (theta) range of 44.degree.-48.degree. and whose peak with the highest intensity in the 2 (theta) range of 63.degree.-69.degree. respectively have maximum intensities and integrated intensities which comply with equations (I) and (II):A/S is greater than 0.