Abstract: A composition which upon heating generates hydrogen or hydrogen isotopes prises an intimate mixture of a hydride component selected from the group consisting of calcium hydride, magnesium hydride, sodium hydride, lithium hydride and mixtures thereof, and a salt component selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts, hydrazinium salts and mixtures thereof, said hydride component being present in at least a stoichiometric amount.

Abstract: Solid compositions which, when heated to initiate the reaction between the omponents of the compositions, generate gases containing a high percentage of hydrogen or hydrogen isotopes. The compositions comprise intricate mixtures of certain metal powders and certain ammonium or hydrazinium salts.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus used therewith for determining the uptake of plutonium and other contaminants by soil microorganisms which, in turn, gives a measure of the plutonium and/or other contaminants available to the biosphere at that particular time. A measured quantity of uncontaminated spores of a selected mold is added to a moistened sample of the soil to be tested. The mixture is allowed to sit a predetermined number of days under specified temperature conditions. An agar layer is then applied to the top of the sample. After three or more days, when spores of the mold growing in the sample have formed, the spores are collected by a miniature vacuum collection apparatus operated under preselected vacuum conditions, which collect only the spores with essentially no contamination by mycelial fragments or culture medium. After collection, the fungal spores are dried and analyzed for the plutonium and/or other contaminants.

Abstract: Solid compositions which are stable at ambient temperatures and which, when eated to initiate the reaction between the components of the compositions generate pure or mixed gaseous hydrocarbons which may be isotopically labeled, or pure or mixed hydrogen isotopes, or combinations of the above.The compositions comprise certain ammonium salts such as N(CH.sub.3).sub.4 Cl or NH.sub.4 Cl, and complex hydrides such as LiAlH.sub.4 or NaAlH.sub.4, or certain hydrazine derivatives such as N.sub.2 (CH.sub.3).sub.6 Cl.sub.2 or N.sub.2 H.sub.6 Cl.sub.2 and complex hydrides such as NaBH.sub.4, wherein all components H and C stand for the various isotopes of these elements.

Abstract: Flammable, relatively fast-burning compositions of fuels and oxidizers, which ignite and burn readily, forming substantially non-gaseous residues. The compositions comprise certain oxygen- or fluorine-rich compounds such as perchlorates, nitrates, oxides and polytetrafluoroethylene, and certain fuels such as metal powders and metal sulfides.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus used therewith for determining the uptake of plutonium and other contaminants by soil microorganisms which, in turn, gives a measure of the plutonium and/or other contaminants available to the biosphere at that particular time. A measured quantity of uncontaminated spores of a selected mold is added to a moistened sample of the soil to be tested. The mixture is allowed to sit a predetermined number of days under specified temperature conditions. An agar layer is then applied to the top of the sample. After three or more days, when spores of the mold growing in the sample have formed, the spores are collected by a miniature vacuum collection apparatus operated under preselected vacuum conditions, which collect only the spores with essentially no contamination by mycelial fragments or culture medium. After collection, the fungal spores are dried and analyzed for the plutonium and/or other contaminants.

Abstract: The hydrogen gas evolution rates and the gas temperatures of certain hydrn gas generating compositions are modified by adding compounds such as LiAlH.sub.4 which thermally decompose in the reaction zone producing hydrogen while lowering the reaction temperature; and acetonates, metal oxides, and the like which, when added in relatively small amounts accelerate the hydrogen gas evolution rate.

Abstract: Thermal lasers use aliphatic polynitro compounds and polynitroamines as oxidizers and tetrazoles, ditetrazolyls, tetrazines, triazines and guanidines as fuel.

Abstract: Solid compositions, stable at ambient temperatures, which generate hydrogen as when heated to initiate the reaction between the components of the composition.The compositions comprise certain ammonium salts such as NH.sub.4 Cl and complex hydrides such as LiAlH.sub.4 and NaAlH.sub.4 or certain hydrazine derivates such as N.sub.2 H.sub.6 Cl.sub.2 and complex hydrides such as NaBH.sub.4.

Abstract: A portable, rocket-deployed signaling system for deploying a pin-point loion marker including a tractor rocket propulsion unit and attached payload container launched from a hand-held tube. The payload comprises an inflatable marker balloon, a gas generator for inflating the balloon and a tether line connecting the balloon to the launcher tube. A coupling pin, secured to the tether line at a predetermined length from the end attached to the launcher tube and removably supported on the payload container, is pulled subsequent to launch to permit the container to separate and deploy the balloon. A percussion igniter then actuates the gas generator to inflate the balloon with the generator separating after inflation.