Abstract: The present invention relates to melting plate candles which employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a support plate for a solid fuel and to the body of said solid fuel, so as to more rapidly liquefy the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to increase the efficiency of consumption thereof and to more rapidly release volatile materials contained within said fuels. The heat conductive support plate is configured so as to have a capillary pedestal upon the surface thereof, which cooperatively engages a wick holder comprising a preferably consumable wick and heat conductive fins which conduct heat from a flame upon said wick to said support plate, said wick holder further engaging said capillary pedestal in such a locking manner as to resist accidental removal from said pedestal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to melting plate candles which employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a support plate for a solid fuel and to the body of said solid fuel, so as to more rapidly liquefy the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to increase the efficiency of consumption thereof and to more rapidly release volatile materials contained within said fuels. The heat conductive support plate is configured so as to have a capillary pedestal upon the surface thereof, which cooperatively engages a wick holder comprising a preferably consumable wick and heat conductive fins which conduct heat from a flame upon said wick to said support plate, said wick holder further engaging said capillary pedestal in such a locking manner as to resist accidental removal from said pedestal.

Abstract: A method of improving the stability and broadening the range of pH stability of an aqueous solution of from about 0.001% to 5% by weight of a water soluble organosilane containing hydrolyzable groups such as methyltrimethoxysilane, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethyldi(decyl) ammonium chloride by the use of 0.05% to 10% by weight of a water soluble organic quaternary ammonium compound having at least one nitrogen-bonded hydrocarbon group of at least 8 carbon atoms and being free of silicon atoms, such as benzalkonium chloride, along with from about 0.5% to 30% by weight of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic, amphoteric sarcosine anionic, and cationic surfactants other than the water soluble quaternary ammonium compounds. The pH of the solution can be adjusted to from about 1 to about 13.5 with a suitable acid or base.

Abstract: An improved stable self-stripping aqueous coating composition, adapted to simultaneously disperse a previously deposited dried coating composition and replace the dried composition with a fresh coat, includes a solution of an alkali soluble resin of low molecular weight and high acid number and aqueous ammonia in sufficient concentration to provide a pH no less than about 9.0. Surfactants and waxes may also be employed in the coating composition as well as conventional additives, however, metal-fugitive ligand complexes are not needed for the self-stripping properties.