Abstract: A method of treating a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a layer deposited from a trivalent chromium electrolyte, is described. The method includes the steps of providing an anode and the chromium(III) plated substrate as a cathode in an electrolyte comprising (i) a trivalent chromium salt; and (ii) a complexant; and passing an electrical current between the anode and the cathode to passivate the chromium(III) plated substrate. The substrate may be first plated with a plated nickel layer so that the chromium(III) plated layer is deposited over the nickel plated layer.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell and a method of electrochemical oxidation of manganese(II) ions to manganese(III) ions in the electrolytic cell are described. The electrolytic cell comprises (1) an electrolyte solution of manganese(II) ions in a solution of 9 to 15 molar sulfuric acid; (2) a cathode immersed in the electrolyte solution; and (3) an anode immersed in the electrolyte solution and spaced apart from the cathode. Various anode materials are described including vitreous carbon, reticulated vitreous carbon, and woven carbon fibers.

Abstract: A method of adjusting and controlling the color of trivalent chromium deposits is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) measuring the color of a trivalent chromium deposit standard; (b) adding one or more color enhancing additives to a trivalent chromium electrolyte; (c) contacting the substrate with the trivalent chromium electrolyte containing the one or more color enhancing additives to deposit trivalent chromium on the substrate; (d) measuring the color of the color-enhanced trivalent chromium deposit; (e) comparing the color of the color-enhanced chromium deposit to that of the standard; and (f) if necessary, adjusting the amount of the one or more color enhancing additives added to the trivalent chromium electrolyte if the color of the color-enhanced chromium deposit is outside of a desired optical variation from that of the standard color-enhanced chromium deposit. The color of the trivalent chromium deposit may be measured using a spectrophotometer.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell and a method of electrochemical oxidation of manganese (II) ions to manganese(III) ions in the electrolytic cell are described. The electrolytic cell comprises (1) an electrolyte solution of manganese(II) ions in a solution of 9 to 15 molar sulfuric acid; (2) a cathode immersed in the electrolyte solution; and (3) an anode immersed in the electrolyte solution and spaced apart from the cathode. Various anode materials are described including vitreous carbon, reticulated vitreous carbon, and woven carbon fibers.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell and a method of electrochemical oxidation of manganese(II) ions to manganese(III) ions in the electrolytic cell are described. The electrolytic cell comprises (1) an electrolyte solution of manganese(II) ions in a solution of at least one acid; (2) a cathode immersed in the electrolyte solution; and (3) an anode immersed in the electrolyte solution and spaced apart from the cathode. Various anode materials are described including vitreous carbon, reticulated vitreous carbon, woven carbon fibers, lead and lead alloy. Once the electrolyte is oxidized to form a metastable complex of manganese(III) ions, a platable plastic may be contacted with the metastable complex to etch the platable plastic. In addition, a pretreatment step may also be performed on the platable plastic prior to contacting the platable plastic with the metastable complex to condition the plastic surface.

Abstract: A hanger bar assembly includes a first hanger bar member that includes a first rail segment. The first hanger bar member also includes a first channel segment that includes a first channel. The first hanger bar member also includes a first transitional middle segment extending between the first rail segment and the first channel segment. The hanger bar assembly further includes a second hanger bar member that includes a second rail segment. The second rail segment is positioned in the first channel of the first channel segment. The second hanger bar member further includes a second channel segment that includes a second channel. The first rail segment is positioned in the second channel. The second hanger bar member also includes a second transitional middle segment extending between the second rail segment and the second channel segment.

Abstract: A method of treating a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a layer deposited from a trivalent chromium electrolyte, is described. The method includes the steps of providing an anode and the chromium(III) plated substrate as a cathode in an electrolyte comprising (i) a trivalent chromium salt; and (ii) a complexant; and passing an electrical current between the anode and the cathode to passivate the chromium(III) plated substrate. The substrate may be first plated with a plated nickel layer so that the chromium(III) plated layer is deposited over the nickel plated layer.

Abstract: A hanger bar assembly includes a first hanger bar member that includes a first rail segment. The first hanger bar member also includes a first channel segment that includes a first channel. The first hanger bar member also includes a first transitional middle segment extending between the first rail segment and the first channel segment. The hanger bar assembly further includes a second hanger bar member that includes a second rail segment. The second rail segment is positioned in the first channel of the first channel segment. The second hanger bar member further includes a second channel segment that includes a second channel. The first rail segment is positioned in the second channel. The second hanger bar member also includes a second transitional middle segment extending between the second rail segment and the second channel segment.

Abstract: A hanger bar assembly includes a first hanger bar member that includes a first rail segment. The first hanger bar member also includes a first channel segment that includes a first channel. The first hanger bar member also includes a first transitional middle segment extending between the first rail segment and the first channel segment. The hanger bar assembly further includes a second hanger bar member that includes a second rail segment. The second rail segment is positioned in the first channel of the first channel segment. The second hanger bar member further includes a second channel segment that includes a second channel. The first rail segment is positioned in the second channel. The second hanger bar member also includes a second transitional middle segment extending between the second rail segment and the second channel segment.

Abstract: A hanger bar assembly includes a first hanger bar member that includes a first rail segment. The first hanger bar member also includes a first channel segment that includes a first channel. The first hanger bar member also includes a first transitional middle segment extending between the first rail segment and the first channel segment. The hanger bar assembly further includes a second hanger bar member that includes a second rail segment. The second rail segment is positioned in the first channel of the first channel segment. The second hanger bar member further includes a second channel segment that includes a second channel. The first rail segment is positioned in the second channel. The second hanger bar member also includes a second transitional middle segment extending between the second rail segment and the second channel segment.

Abstract: A method of adjusting and controlling the color of trivalent chromium deposits is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) measuring the color of a trivalent chromium deposit standard; (b) adding one or more color enhancing additives to a trivalent chromium electrolyte; (c) contacting the substrate with the trivalent chromium electrolyte containing the one or more color enhancing additives to deposit trivalent chromium on the substrate; (d) measuring the color of the color-enhanced trivalent chromium deposit; (e) comparing the color of the color-enhanced chromium deposit to that of the standard; and (f) if necessary, adjusting the amount of the one or more color enhancing additives added to the trivalent chromium electrolyte if the color of the color-enhanced chromium deposit is outside of a desired optical variation from that of the standard color-enhanced chromium deposit. The color of the trivalent chromium deposit may be measured using a spectrophotometer.

Abstract: The present invention provides nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus comprising means for applying a static magnetic field (H0) to a sample under investigation, a radio frequency circuit arranged to be inductively coupled to the sample by means of an oscillating magnetic field disposed generally perpendicular to the static magnetic field for applying an excitation signal to the sample, and an electric potential sensor (E1, E2) for detecting the excitation of the sample and for generating a detection output. The electric potential sensor comprises an electrode placed generally perpendicular to the axis of the oscillating magnetic field for capacitively coupling the electric potential sensor to the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus comprising means for applying a static magnetic field (H0) to a sample under investigation, a radio frequency circuit arranged to be inductively coupled to the sample by means of an oscillating magnetic field disposed generally perpendicular to the static magnetic field for applying an excitation signal to the sample, and an electric potential sensor (E1, E2) for detecting the excitation of the sample and for generating a detection output. The electric potential sensor comprises an electrode placed generally perpendicular to the axis of the oscillating magnetic field for capacitively coupling the electric potential sensor to the sample.

Abstract: A lighting fixture can dispose a light source in a recess of a ceiling or another surface while providing at least one of three adjustments that facilitates installation or post-installation setup. The first adjustment can support mounting the fixture to surfaces of differing thicknesses while maintaining the light source at a uniform recess depth. The second possible adjustment can facilitate rotating a visible portion of the fixture, typically an aperture or hole through which light transmits from the light source into a room or some other illuminated space. After the lighting fixture is attached to the ceiling, a user can rotate the aperture for alignment with another fixture or another object. The third possible adjustment can provide an illumination pattern that can be tilted to various angles or oriented in various directions according to user preference or to establish a desired lighting effect.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for use with an electronic heat pump including a plurality of narrow channels defined between adjacent walls. The channel heights are between 0 mm and 10 m to ensure thermal resistance is below 0.1° C./W for a 40 mm heat exchange width. The acceptable geometry for the channels is described by one or more variables, including the minimum number of channels and the minimum wall thickness for a given channel width. These variables control the surface area of the boundary of the channels in direct contact with the fluid and the cross-sectional area available for transmission of heat by conduction up the walls of the channels.

Abstract: Non-aqueous liquid cleaning products are formulated by dispersing particulate solids in an organic solvent by using a structurant or deflocculant which causes a viscosity reduction at low shear rates in that solids/solvent system or an equivalent system in which the solids volume fraction is sufficiently high to raise the viscosity of the solvent. The organic solvent may be liquid surfactant and/or other kind. The solids are any usable in liquid cleaning products. The structurant is any acid, salt or base which fulfils the aforementioned test.

Abstract: Grittiness in soap-containing formulations, one source of which is the reworking of previously processed soap, is reduced in an efficient manner by passing the formulation through a cavity transfer mixer.

Abstract: A soap-containing formulation capable of becoming transparent on working is subjected to shear between two mutually displaceable surfaces. A shear zone is formed in the formulation as the latter is entrained in the surfaces.

Abstract: The phases present in a shear sensitive soap-containing formulation are controlled and may be changed by passing the formulation through shear zones formed by mutually displaceable surfaces. The shear zones are formed within the formulation by entraining it in the surfaces during passage between the surfaces.

Abstract: The mush and/or lather properties of soap-containing material including free fatty acids can be improved by subjecting the material to working. The material is passed through the shear zone(s) formed between two mutually displaceable surfaces between which the material passes.