Abstract: A carrier for use in a coating process, the carrier being generally elongate and having a plurality of support members which, in use, support articles during the coating process, the support members each having an opening leading to a recess, the recess extending from the opening in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the carrier.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a memory system having a controller and a non-volatile memory storing firmware for start up and for normal operation of the system, the controller comprising, a volatile memory; and a processor; wherein the controller is arranged to operate during initialization or configuration of the system so that the start up firmware stored in the non-volatile memory is loaded into the volatile memory under hardware control by the controller and with the processor halted, the start up firmware in the volatile memory being subsequently executed by the processor.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a memory system having a controller and a non-volatile memory storing firmware for start up and for normal operation of the system, the controller comprising, a volatile memory; and a processor; wherein the controller is arranged to operate during initialization or configuration of the system so that the start up firmware stored in the non-volatile memory is loaded into the volatile memory under hardware control by the controller and with the processor halted, the start up firmware in the volatile memory being subsequently executed by the processor.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed, a method of handling data which is being written to and stored in flash memory, wherein input data, comprising information data and overhead data, undergoes a reversible transformation before being written to flash memory whereupon each bit stored in flash memory, as flash data, is a function of both information data and header data.

Abstract: Semiconductor gas-sensitive materials of the formula Cr2−xTixO3 where 0.05>x≧0.0001, and gas sensors formed therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing surface coating of an article carrying jig so as to enable electrical contact between the jig and the or each article to enable the articles to be coated with surface coating in a treatment chamber wherein the surface coating on the jig is removed by subjecting the jig and article to vibration so that the resulting movement between the articles and the jig abrades the surface coating on the jig hence enabling electrical contact between the jig and the articles.

Abstract: Foamed articles having a closed cell structure formed from a polymer blend comprising at least 50% by weight of a styrenic polymer and up to 50% by weight of an acrylic polymer which has an average molecular weight which is less than 90% of that of the styrenic polymer which are significantly less dense than such articles prepared from the styrenic polymer alone.

Abstract: A foamed article having a closed cell structure formed from: (i) a polymer blend comprising at least 80% by weight of a styrenic polymer and up to 20% by weight of an acrylic polymer; and (ii) gaseous carbon dioxide blowing agent.

Abstract: A process for forming a foamed article having a closed cell structure without the need to use a halogenated blowing agent. In the process, a polymer blend comprising at least 50% by weight of a styrenic polymer and up to 50% by weight of an acrylic polymer which has an average molecular weight which is less than 90% of that of the styrenic polymer and a hydrocarbon blowing agent are supplied to a heated extruder where the blend is formed and the blowing agent incorporated to form a molten mixture from which the foamed article is formed on release from the extruder.

Abstract: A glass composition which is essentially free of lead and cadmium includes 30 to 70 wt % SiO.sub.2, 1 to 25 wt % B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 10 wt % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 5 wt % Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.1 to 30 wt % CoO, 0.1 to 20 wt % ZnO, 1 to 30 wt % total of at least one of Li.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 O or K.sub.2 O, up to 10 wt % ZrO.sub.2 and other optional ingredients. The glass composition can be used as a blue colored on-glaze enamel which relies upon the presence of Co.sup.2+ in a network-forming position in the glass to produce the blue color, with oxygen donors such as ZnO.sub.2, alkaline earth oxides and alkali oxides increasing the amount of cobalt occupying network-forming positions, and ZrO.sub.2 to provide chemical durability.