Abstract: The present invention provides a phosphorus solid-phase buffering system that can be spatially localized, i.e., banded on top of, or at specific depths, in media, e.g., soil, by which phosphorus concentrations in the media are reduced or maintained at levels sufficient for optimal plant performance. Also provided are methods for improving the cultivation of plants growing in different media. The present invention provides benefits, such as reduced water and pesticide requirements, reduced phosphorus leaching and runoff, and enhanced root growth. The invention can be used in connection with containerized or field-grown plants, e.g., crops, grasses, trees, and the like. The invention is particularly useful for greenhouse and nursery plants, ornamental propagation, vegetable and bedding transplants, and for turf used for stadium fields, golf courses, lawns and the like, where phosphorus leaching is particularly undesirable.

Abstract: A method of providing a continuous, buffered, low-leaching phosphorus fertilization of field plants in soil has been developed. The method is broadly applicable to field soils, but is particularly well-suited to soil that has inherently low phosphorus (P) retention ability, including sandy soils, peats, and mucks. The invention describes the use of phosphorus (P) fixed to alumina (Al) as a fertilizer and phosphorus buffer in field soils. The Al—P. when incorporated into soil in a concentration between 0.25 and 20% by weight/volume, will release P from the Al using a dynamic solid phase solution phase exchange equilibrium driven by plant uptake of P, thus providing P for plant growth, while also minimizing P leaching from the soil. The Al—P buffer/fertilizer can be applied and incorporated into field soils prior to planting of crops, grass, or other plants requiring P for growth, or may be incorporated into exposed soil between growing plants to buffer against P leaching and runoff.

Abstract: The problem of recycling scrap radial tires is addressed by providing many uses for a laminate made by bonding two or more belt sections of a radial tire, the sidewalls of which have been cut away, the tire then cut open, and de-treaded. The result is a multi-ply structure which is sensibly rigid in all three directions because each belt ply in a belt is reinforced with cords at an angle, the cord angle in one belt ply being opposed to the angle in the other. A slat, bar, or beam, formed with plural belts is essentially rigid in a direction at right angles to its longitudinal axis, because for bending to occur, one belt must be in tension and the other in compression. Neither condition is favored because of the opposed cord angles and belt geometry. Though essentially rigid because of the cord geometry, the amount of rubber in the laminate allows it to be deformable relative to wood or steel having the same thickness.

Abstract: A process for disposing of toxic organic waste fluids comprising contacting a polymeric carrier particle, such as ground tire rubber, with a toxic organic fluid that dissolves in the solid polymeric carrier. The waste fluid dissolved in the polymeric carrier forms a stable product for transportation and incineration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of substantially precluding the accumulation of combustible organic vapors in a storage container by placing comminuted vulcanized rubber as an absorbing medium in contact with the vapors.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting scrap tires and other waste products is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame having a cylindrical anvil roll rotatably mounted therein. A pair of blade rolls are also mounted in the frame for rotation about corresponding axes which are parallel to the rotational axis of the anvil roll, the blade rolls being angularly spaced from one another relative to the axis of the anvil roll and being positioned about the periphery of the anvil roll. The blade rolls are each provided with a plurality of blades of predetermined diameter fixed thereto and rotatable therewith, the blades of one blade roll being at a low angle to the axis of that roll and the blades of the other blade roll being at a high angle to the axis of that roll, so that a tire passing between both blade rolls and the anvil roll will be cut into rhomboidal pieces that are nearly rectangular in shape during a single pass through the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting scrap tires and other waste products is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame having a cylindrical anvil roll rotatably mounted therein. A blade roll is also mounted in the frame for rotation about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the anvil roll, and a plurality of axially spaced roller blades of predetermined diameter are fixed to the blade roll and rotatable therewith. The blade roll is also provided with a pair of axially spaced thrust wheels, with the thrust wheels being positioned outboard of the blades and being equal to or slightly greater in diameter than the predetermined diameter of the blades. Driving means are provided in the apparatus for rotating the anvil roll and the blade roll in opposite directions in such a manner that scrap tires fed to the rolls will be drawn inwardly into the nip formed between the rolls and will be cut between the blades and the anvil.

Abstract: A tire and rim assembly with a plurality of dispensing means adapted to release material into the inflation cavity upon operation of the assembly with the tire in the deflated condition to, for example, minimize damage to the tire cause by operation after deflation. The dispensing means are mounted in a balanced array so that each dispensing means lies at least partially in the well of the drop-center rim, and the dispensing means define a clear arc in the well which is adapted to receive portions of the beads during mounting of the tire to the rim. The clear arc of the well may also receive the beads of the tire during demounting of the tire from the rim assembly. Thus, the tire may be mounted to or demounted from the rim assembly by a method which incorporates the ordinary "buttonhooking" procedure commonly utilized with drop-center rims.

Abstract: A steel-belted radial ply tire construction characterized by improved uniformity and resistance to ply separation, and a method of manufacturing such tires in non-segmented molds, are disclosed. In the finished tire, a cap band having at least one layer of rubberized tire cords of synthetic filamentary textile material is disposed in direct surrounding relation to the radially outermost belt ply of bias-angled steel cords, the cap band having a width equal to or greater than the width of the belt, with the cords in the cap band being disposed parallel to one another and to the median equatorial plane of the tire, i.e., at an essentially 0.degree. bias angle. The cords in the cap band are prestressed, due to their having been stretched about 1 to 5% in the manufacturing operation during the final expansion of the tire into the mold contours under high internal pressure, so as to exert a stability and uniformity-enhancing compressive stress on the underlying belt.