Abstract: A thermal module for pre-heating liquid flowing into a liquid chromatography column, includes a trough compartment with two ends, one of the two ends having an electrical socket, a first fluidic assembly, a second fluidic assembly, and a clamp assembly. The clamp assembly includes a rail configured to receive the first fluidic assembly. The clamp assembly includes a carriage slidably mounted to the rail and configured to receive the second fluidic assembly. The carriage is operable to establish a first fluid tight seal between the first fluidic assembly and a chromatography column received within the clamp assembly, and to establish a second fluid tight seal between the second fluidic assembly and the chromatography column. The clamp assembly is disposed within the trough compartment, and the first fluidic assembly is plugged into the electrical socket at the one end of the trough compartment.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a rail configured to receive a first fluidic assembly, and a carriage slidably mounted to the rail and configured to receive a second fluidic assembly. The carriage is operable to establish a first fluid tight seal between the first fluidic assembly and a chromatography column received within the claim assembly, and to establish a second fluid tight seal between the second fluidic assembly and the chromatography column.

Abstract: Described are a method and an apparatus for delivering a fluid having a desired mass composition. According to the method, temperatures of the fluids to be mixed are sensed and the densities of the fluids at the sensed temperatures are determined. The volume of each fluid is determined so that a mixture of the fluids at the sensed temperatures has the desired mass composition. The determined volumes of the fluids are combined to create the mixture. In one option, combining the determined volumes includes metering flows of the fluids sequentially into a common fluid channel. Alternatively, combining the determined volumes includes controlling a flow rate of each of the fluids and directing the fluids into a common fluid channel.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a rail configured to receive a first fluidic assembly, and a carriage slidably mounted to the rail and configured to receive a second fluidic assembly. The carriage is operable to establish a first fluid tight seal between the first fluidic assembly and a chromatography column received within the claim assembly, and to establish a second fluid tight seal between the second fluidic assembly and the chromatography column.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a rail configured to receive a first fluidic assembly, and a carriage slidably mounted to the rail and configured to receive a second fluidic assembly. The carriage is operable to establish a first fluid tight seal between the first fluidic assembly and a chromatography column received within the clamp assembly, and to establish a second fluid tight seal between the second fluidic assembly and the chromatography column.

Abstract: To heat a flowing liquid, an apparatus includes a heater block assembly having a heater block made of thermally conductive material. The heater block assembly has a tube inlet, a tube outlet, and a tube path between the tube inlet and tube outlet. Tubing extends through the tube path from the tube inlet to the tube outlet. The tubing is in thermal communication with the heater block. A heater cartridge, in thermal communication with the heater block, is configured to provide heat to the heater block for transfer to liquid flowing through the tubing between the tube inlet and the tube outlet of the heater block assembly. Circuitry is in electrical communication with the heater cartridge to control a temperature of the heater block by controlling operation of the heater cartridge.

Abstract: To heat a flowing liquid, an apparatus includes a heater block assembly having a heater block made of thermally conductive material. The heater block assembly has a tube inlet, a tube outlet, and a tube path between the tube inlet and tube outlet. Tubing extends through the tube path from the tube inlet to the tube outlet. The tubing is in thermal communication with the heater block. A heater cartridge, in thermal communication with the heater block, is configured to provide heat to the heater block for transfer to liquid flowing through the tubing between the tube inlet and the tube outlet of the heater block assembly. Circuitry is in electrical communication with the heater cartridge to control a temperature of the heater block by controlling operation of the heater cartridge.

Abstract: To heat a flowing liquid, an apparatus includes a heater block assembly having a heater block made of thermally conductive material. The heater block assembly has a tube inlet, a tube outlet, and a tube path between the tube inlet and tube outlet. Tubing extends through the tube path from the tube inlet to the tube outlet. The tubing is in thermal communication with the heater block. A heater cartridge, in thermal communication with the heater block, is configured to provide heat to the heater block for transfer to liquid flowing through the tubing between the tube inlet and the tube outlet of the heater block assembly. Circuitry is in electrical communication with the heater cartridge to control a temperature of the heater block by controlling operation of the heater cartridge.

Abstract: A clamp assembly includes a rail configured to receive a first fluidic assembly, and a carriage slidably mounted to the rail and configured to receive a second fluidic assembly. The carriage is operable to establish a first fluid tight seal between the first fluidic assembly and a chromatography column received within the clamp assembly, and to establish a second fluid tight seal between the second fluidic assembly and the chromatography column.

Abstract: A valve includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor and the stator each have seal surfaces for contacting and sliding against one another during operation of the valve. Either or both of the rotor and the stator have a seal-surface coating formed by depositing an at least partially amorphous interlayer on a substrate and depositing a surface layer, including diamond-like carbon, on the interlayer. The surface layer requires no mechanical polishing.

Abstract: Described are a method and an apparatus for delivering a fluid having a desired mass composition. According to the method, temperatures of the fluids to be mixed are sensed and the densities of the fluids at the sensed temperatures are determined. The volume of each fluid is determined so that a mixture of the fluids at the sensed temperatures has the desired mass composition. The determined volumes of the fluids are combined to create the mixture. In one option, combining the determined volumes includes metering flows of the fluids sequentially into a common fluid channel. Alternatively, combining the determined volumes includes controlling a flow rate of each of the fluids and directing the fluids into a common fluid channel.

Abstract: To heat a flowing liquid, an apparatus includes a heater block assembly having a heater block made of thermally conductive material. The heater block assembly has a tube inlet, a tube outlet, and a tube path between the tube inlet and tube outlet. Tubing extends through the tube path from the tube inlet to the tube outlet. The tubing is in thermal communication with the heater block. A heater cartridge, in thermal communication with the heater block, is configured to provide heat to the heater block for transfer to liquid flowing through the tubing between the tube inlet and the tube outlet of the heater block assembly. Circuitry is in electrical communication with the heater cartridge to control a temperature of the heater block by controlling operation of the heater cartridge.

Abstract: The invention provides chromatographic apparatus and components manufactured from a corrosion resistant alloy typically comprising iron, nickel, chromium and molybdenum. The apparatus and components exhibit superior biocompatibility and corrosion resistance, especially to mobile phases containing chlorides. They are especially useful in HPLC and HPLC, and are particularly useful in conjunction with chromatographic separation media comprising particles smaller than 2 ?m diameter.

Abstract: A valve includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor and the stator each have seal surfaces for contacting and sliding against one another during operation of the valve. Either or both of the rotor and the stator have a seal-surface coating formed by depositing an at least partially amorphous interlayer on a substrate and depositing a surface layer, including diamond-like carbon, the interlayer. The surface layer requires no mechanical polishing.

Abstract: In various embodiments a fluid control device suitable for high pressure analytical instruments includes a housing having an interior surface with an end wall. The interior surface defines a chamber. A valve assembly disposed in the chamber controls the flow of fluid through the chamber. An end cap is disposed in the housing opposite the end wall to enclose the chamber. The end wall and end cap each have an opening to pass a fluid to the chamber or to remove a fluid from the chamber. The housing and end cap each has an abutment surface to receive the other abutment surface. At least one of the abutment surfaces has a plastic seal coating. A means of compression, such as a compression housing and compression sleeve, is included to engage the end cap to deform the plastic seal coating between the abutment surfaces and thereby seal the chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention feature devices and methods for holding fluids at high pressures. One embodiment of the present invention features a fluid containing conveying device for receiving and discharging fluids. The device comprises a housing having a chamber for containing a fluid. The housing has a first gasket receiving surface for receiving a gasket. A gasket formed of a deformable material and having a first abutment surface and second abutment surface. The first abutment surface received on the first gasket receiving surface and the second abutment surface for receiving a chamber closing piece. The chamber closing piece having a second gasket receiving surface, the chamber closing piece for closing the chamber. At least one of the first gasket receiving surface of the housing and the second gasket receiving surface of the chamber closing piece having a retaining grove, having at least one edge.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention feature devices and methods for holding fluids at high pressures. One embodiment of the present invention features a device for receiving and discharging fluids. The device comprises a first housing having at least one side wall. The side wall has an interior surface defining at least one chamber and has at least one end cap abutment surface for receiving an end cap. The device has at least one end cap having at least one first housing abutment surface. The first housing abutment surface receives the end cap abutment surface positioning the end cap on the first housing for enclosing the chamber. At least one of the first housing abutment surface and the end cap abutment surface has first seal coating. The first seal coating comprises a deformable plastic adhering to the abutment surface. The device further comprises a fluid path means for receiving and removing fluid from the chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of sodium, calcium and ammonium salts of formic acid as early strength developers and setting accelerators in hydraulic cements, concretes, mortars and plasters. The salts used are acidic salts containing between 1.5 and 5 moles of the formate ion per mole of the cation. These salts have much greater solubility and are more effective than the corresponding calcium salts, particularly under low temperature conditions.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl; R.sub.2 is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; R.sub.3 is hydrogen or alkyl or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 together is polymethylene; and R.sub.4 is 2,6-dihalobenzyl are useful as herbicides.

Abstract: New compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub. 2 each is alkyl; R.sub.3 is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group; and R.sub. 4 is optionally substituted phenyl, are useful as herbicides.