Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a conductive film that generates an electric current via field emission of electrons, which method comprises incorporating an electrically conductive material into a thermoplastic polymer. The invention also provides a conductive film and a method for generating an electric current via field emission of electrons.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polishing a substrate comprising a lanthanide-containing metal oxide material. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a polishing system comprising (a) an abrasive, a polishing pad, or a combination thereof, (b) an acid, and (c) a liquid carrier, (ii) providing a substrate comprising a metal oxide layer, wherein the metal oxide layer comprises at least one lanthanide series element, and (iii) abrading at least a portion of the metal oxide layer with the polishing system to polish the substrate. The lanthanide-containing metal oxide material can be a lanthanide oxide, a doped lanthanide oxide, a lanthanide-doped metal oxide, a lanthanide perovskite, or any other suitable lanthanide-containing mixed metal oxide material, in particular those used as solid electrode and solid electrolyte materials in gas sensor and fuel cell devices.

Abstract: A lift assist apparatus for a wheeled stretcher having an end and a height adjustable undercarriage, the lift assist apparatus including an extendable support apparatus detachably rotatably connectable to the end of the wheeled stretcher.

Abstract: A field emitter source and method for making same. An x-ray and a high energy electron source is fabricated from the field emitter. The field emitter source composition comprises carbon black and a mixing medium. An alternative method of field emitter formulation includes providing a quantity of silica with the carbon black and a mixing medium. An x-ray source comprises a substrate and a carbon black field emitter composition provided along a surface of the substrate and an extraction grid to pull electrons from the field emitter film and a metal film biased at high voltage to accelerate the electrons. A conductive film is further provided along an upper support structure of the source, such that when the conductive film is struck by the accelerated electrons, the upper support structure converts the impinging high-energy electrons into x-rays.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of polishing a substrate comprising a lanthanide-containing metal oxide material. The method comprises the steps of (i) providing a polishing system comprising (a) an abrasive, a polishing pad, or a combination thereof, (b) an acid, and (c) a liquid carrier, (ii) providing a substrate comprising a metal oxide layer, wherein the metal oxide layer comprises at least one lanthanide series element, and (iii) abrading at least a portion of the metal oxide layer with the polishing system to polish the substrate. The lanthanide-containing metal oxide material can be a lanthanide oxide, a doped lanthanide oxide, a lanthanide-doped metal oxide, a lanthanide perovskite, or any other suitable lanthanide-containing mixed metal oxide material, in particular those used as solid electrode and solid electrolyte materials in gas sensor and fuel cell devices.

Abstract: A lift assist apparatus for a wheeled stretcher having an end and a height adjustable undercarriage, the lift assist apparatus including an extendable support apparatus detachably rotatably connectable to the end of the wheeled stretcher.

Abstract: A heat curable bonding composition for providing a coating to a solid substrate comprises water, phosphate ions, borate ions, and aluminum ions. The bonding composition has a pH in the range from about 1.4 to about 2.2, and is substantially free of chromate ions, molybdate ions, and magnesium ions.

Abstract: A heat curable bonding composition of the present invention comprises an aqueous solution containing phosphate ion (PO4−3) and chromium(III) ion (Cr+3, or trivalent chromium) and is substantially free of hexavalent chromium ions. The bonding composition may further contain at least one secondary cationic species. The bonding composition has a pH in the range of about 1 to about 3.5.

Abstract: A bonding composition for a heat curable overlay coating for coating a substrate is provided. The bonding composition comprises phosphate ions, permanganate ions, at least one species of metal cation having a valence greater than +1, and water. The bonding composition has a pH in the range from about 1.5 to about 4.5 and is substantially free of chromate ions and molybdate ions. Preferably, the molar ratio of phosphate ions to permanganate ions in the bonding composition is in the range from about 2:1 to about 580:1 and the nonvolatile content of the bonding composition is in the range from about 10% (wt) to about 35% (wt). Aluminum ions are a preferred species of metal cation in the bonding composition. Overlay coating compositions are also provided containing metallic aluminum particles dispersed in the bonding composition of the invention.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming an electrically conductive polymer of a pyrrole monomer, optionally substituted at the 3- and 4- positions. The process comprises dispersing a polymerization initiator selected from the group consisting of anhydrous halides of iron, cobalt or nickel (Group VIII metal) in an anhydrous liquid reaction medium and, adding essentially pure pyrrole monomer, or a solution of the monomer in the liquid at a temperature in the range from about -20.degree. C. to below about the boiling point of the solution. The pyrrole polymer so formed is a Group VIII metal halide counterion, and a conductor having a conductivity in the range from about 1 to about 150 ohm.sup.-1 cm.sup.-1 ("S/cm" for brevity), or a semiconductor having a conductivity in the range from about 10.sup.-3 to about 1 S/cm, depending upon the particular structure of the monomer, the ratio of the initiator to pyrrole monomer, and the molecular weight of the polymer formed.

Abstract: Novel polysiloxane-silazane preceramic polymer compositions are prepared by the controlled hydrolysis polymerization of a trimer or tetramer of a monomer of the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are independently alkyl groups containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.c, and R.sup.d are independently alkenyl or alkyl groups containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.c, or R.sup.d group is an alkenyl group.Another useful composition is made by reacting the above mentioned monomers with alkoxide or aryloxide compounds of the elements Al, B, Zr, Ti, Si, Hf, and Y in the presence of water to make polysilazoxane polymers modified with said alkoxides or aryloxide compounds. Another useful composition is made by reacting the polysiloxane-silazane polymer with vinyl or allyl substituted compounds of boron or silicon or both.

Abstract: Novel polysiloxane-silazane preceramic polymer compositions are prepared by the controlled hydrolysis polymerization of a trimer or tetramer of a monomer of the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are independently alkyl groups containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.c, and R.sup.d are independently alkenyl or alkyl groups containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.c, or R.sup.d group is an alkenyl group. The polysiloxane-silazane polymers are cured by heat and optionally free radical initiators such as various peroxides. The cured preceramic polymers so formed can be u sed in the pyrolyzed or non-pyrolyzed state as adhesives, coatings, binders, fibers, matrix resins, and the like.

Abstract: The hydrolytic polycondensation of a monomer of ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are independently alkyl groups containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.c, and R.sup.d are independently alkenyl or alkyl groups containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.c, or R.sup.d group is an alkenyl group; can be carried out directly in the presence of a phenolic resin. This in situ polymerization reaction results in the formation of a new family of polysilazoxane-modified phenolic resins. Modified phenolic resins may also be prepared by the controlled hydrolysis of the above monomers in the presence of initiators. The polysilazoxane so formed is blended into a phenolic resin. The organic soluble thermosetting resins exhibit synergistic char yields of 63 to 80 wt. % (1500.degree. C./N.sub.2).

Abstract: A process is provided for forming an electrically conductive polymer of a pyrrole monomer, optionally substituted at the 3- and 4- positions. The process comprises dispersing a polymerization initiator selected from the group consisting of anhydrous halides of iron, cobalt or nickel (Group VIII metal) in an anhydrous liquid reaction medium and, adding essentially pure pyrrole monomer, or a solution of the monomer in the liquid at a temperature in the range from about -20.degree. C. to below about the boiling point of the solution. The pyrrole polymer so formed is a Group VIII metal halide counterion, and a conductor having a conductivity in the range from about 1 to about 150 ohm.sup.-1 cm.sup.-1 ("S/cm" for brevity), or a semiconductor having a conductivity in the range from about 10.sup.-3 to about 1 S/cm, depending upon the particular structure of the monomer, the ratio of the initiator to pyrrole monomer, and the molecular weight of the polymer formed.

Abstract: A conductive composite is formed which consists of a host polymer and polypyrrole ("PP") deposited on and within the host polymer. Instead of using a conductor as a starting substrate, an insulating polymer is at least partially impregnated with sufficient pyrrole (PY) monomer to become conductive after the PY is polymerized. The polymerization is a chemical oxidative polymerization ("dip-polymerization") which, if carried out under anhydrous conditions, transforms the insulating polymer into a semiconductive composite consisting essentially of the host polymer containing a first species of conductive PP and a Group VIII metal halide counterion; thereafter, the semiconductive composite, containing the counterion, is used to electrodeposit on it a second species of conductive PP.

Abstract: A chemical process is provided for forming an electrically conductive polymer blend in which polypyrrole is a minor component. The polypyrrole is formed from a pyrrole monomer, optionally substituted at the 3- and 4-positions. The process comprises forming a solution of a matrix polymer in an anhydrous liquid reaction medium, and, in situ, contacting pyrrole monomer with a polymerization initiator selected from the group consisting of anhydrous halides of iron, cobalt or nickel (Group VIII metal) at a temperature in the range from about -20.degree. C. to below about the boiling point of the solution, so as to form the polypyrrole in situ. The polypyrrole so formed contains a Group VIII metal halide counterion dispersed within the matrix polymer so as to produce a conductive polyblend having a conductivity in the range from about 1 to about 150 ohm.sup.-1 cm.sup.-1 ("S/cm" for brevity), or a semiconductor having a conductivity in the range from about 10.sup.

Abstract: A polymeric flame retardant composition comprises low melting temperature phosphate-sulfate glass compositions in an amount of from about 10 to about 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said polymer. Desirably, the polymer is a halogen-containing polymer. The phosphate-sulfate combination has been found to produce synergistic results.

Abstract: A reaction product of a phosphazene and an amine terminated reactive liquid polymer. The phosphazene and the reactive liquid polymer are combined under agitation to produce a cured, cross-linked, reactive liquid polymer including bonded phosphazene groups providing a desirable elastomeric performance over a broad range of temperatures including temperatures substantially below freezing.

Abstract: A polymeric reaction product between a carboxyl terminated reactive liquid polymer, a phosphazene, and a diamine in the presence of a scavenger for bi-products of the reaction, the scavenger preferably being a tertiary amine. The reaction product exhibits hyodrophilic properties.