Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for removal of at least a portion of at least one metallic component of a metallic constituent from a multi-phase composite body. Particularly, by providing at least one of an infiltration enhancer or an infiltration enhancer precursor or an infiltrating atmosphere to be in communication with a permeable mass, which contacts at least a portion of a composite body, said metallic component of the composite body, when made molten, is caused to spontaneously infiltrate the permeable mass. Such spontaneous infiltration occurs without the requirement for the application of any pressure or vacuum. The metallic constituent is essentially leached or removed from the multi-phase body by spontaneous infiltration.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel formed product and method of producing a hard, dry, e.g., agglomerated or formed, product useful as a construction material comprising: a) papermill sludge made up of paper fiber, clay and calcium carbonate, b) ash such as coal ash (typically stack scrubber solids obtained from the burning of coal), and c) water. The amount of water present is selected to render the product plastic so that it can be molded to the desired shape. An oxidizer is provided in a sufficient amount to oxidize unstable compounds and to convert potassium, calcium or magnesium bisulfite to the sulfate form. Following the addition of the oxidizer, the admixture is exposed to electromagnetic energy, preferably ultraviolet light, to help drive the oxidation reaction to completion. In an optional form of the invention, a minor amount of a cation exchange resin is added to the mixture to sequester heavy metals.

Abstract: In the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a self-supporting ceramic or ceramic composite body by the oxidation of a parent metal to form a polycrystalline ceramic material comprising the oxidation reaction product of said parent metal with an oxidant, including a vapor-phase oxidant, and optionally one or more metallic constituents dispersed throughout the polycrystalline ceramic material. The method comprises the steps of providing at least a portion of said parent metal with a barrier means at least partially spaced from said parent metal for establishing at least one surface of the ceramic body, and heating said parent metal to a temperature above its melting point but below the melting point of the oxidation reaction product to form a body of molten metal. At that temperature, the molten metal is reacted with the oxidant, thus forming the oxidation reaction product.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved method and device used in applying gutta percha to a carrier which will later be used in filling and sealing an interior of a tooth after a root canal has been performed on the tooth. The method consists of inserting a gutta percha filled cannula into the barrel cavity of a syringe-type device, heating the cannula in order to increase the plasticity of the gutta percha, inserting a carrier into the cannula at the dispensing end of the syringe-type device and pushing a plunger of the syringe-type device downward in order to push the carrier, which is now coated with the gutta percha previously contained in the cannula, out of the dispensing end of the cannula. The gutta percha coated carrier is then ready for use in the root canal.An alternate embodiment of the syringe-type device employs a modified plunger to accommodate an alternate cannula which is provided with its own dispensing cannula plunger.

Abstract: This invention broadly relates to methods for producing self-supporting silicon carbide and silicon carbide composite bodies. More particularly, this invention relates to silicon carbide and silicon carbide composites, grown by the oxidation reaction of a silicon metal with a gas comprising at least one gas selected from the group consisting of fluorinated hydrocarbon gases, chlorohydrocarbon gases, and chlorofluorocarbon gases.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a novel method of preparing self-supporting bodies, and novel products made thereby. In its more specific aspects, this invention relates to a method for producing self-supporting bodies comprising one or more boron-containing compounds, e.g., a boride or a boride and a carbide, by reactive infiltration of molten parent metal into a preform comprising boron carbide or a boron donor material combined with a carbon donor material and, optionally, one or more inert fillers, to form the body. Specifically, a boron carbide material or combination of a boron donor material and a carbon donor material, and in either case, optionally, one or more inert fillers, are sedimentation cast, slip cast or pressed onto or into a body and into a particular desired shape.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a novel method of manufacturing a composite body, such as a ZrB.sub.2 -ZrC-Zr (optional) composite body, by utilizing a post-treatment process and to the novel products made thereby. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of modifying a composite body comprising one or more boron-containing compounds (e.g., a boride or a boride and a carbide) which has been made by the reactive infiltration of a molten parent metal into a bed or mass containing boron carbide, and optionally one or more inert fillers, to form the body.

Abstract: Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal into a boron carbide material which may contain one or both of a boron donor material and a carbon donor material. The reactive infiltration typically results in a composite comprising a boron-containing compound, a carbon-containing compound and residual metal, if desired. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert fillers admixed with the boron carbide material, boron-containing compound and/or carbon-containing compound. The relative amounts of reactants and process conditions may be altered or controlled to yield a body containing varying volume percents of ceramic, metal, ratios of one ceramic to another and porosity.

Abstract: Material having improved characteristics for filling endodontically prepared root canals is obtained by heat treating gutta percha based material at a temperature in the range of 210.degree. F. to 310.degree. F. for a period of two to twenty-four hours, the time being decreased as the temperature is increased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method of manufacturing a composite body, such as a ZrB.sub.2 --ZrC--Zr composite body, by utilizing a post-treatment technique which may improve the oxidation resistance of the composite body. Moreover, the invention relates to novel products made according to the process. The novel process modifies at least a portion of a composite body by exposing said body to a source of second metal.

Abstract: Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal into a boron donor material and a carbon donor material. The reactive infiltration typically results in a composite comprising a boron-containing compound, a carbon-containing compound and residual metal, if desired. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert fillers admixed with the boron donor material and carbon donor material. The relative amounts of reactants and process conditions may be altered or controlled to yield a body containing a wide ranging varying volume percentage of ceramic, metal, and porosity.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a novel method for removing metal from a formed self-supporting body. A self-supporting body is made by reactively infiltrating a molten parent metal into a bed or mass containing a boron source material and a carbon source material (e.g., boron carbide) and/or a boron source material and a nitrogen source material (e.g., boron nitride) and, optionally, one or more inert fillers. Once the self-supporting body is formed, it is then placed, at least partially, into contact with another material which causes metallic constituent contained in the self-supporting body to be at least partially removed.

Abstract: A method of making a mold for use in the manufacturing of appliances for use in filling endodontically prepared root canals including the steps of drilling spaced apart holes into a flat base member, inserting into each of the holes elongated metal patterns having the desired configuration of a filler covered carrier shaft portion of an endodontic appliance, forming a vessel with the base member as the bottom and the patterns extending upwardly therein, pouring liquid plastic and a catalyst into the vessel and allowing it to solidify to form a mold, and removing the mold from the vessel and from the base, the mold having a cavity therein for each of the patterns, each cavity being useful for forming an appliance for use in filling an endodontically prepared root canal.

Abstract: Self-supporting bodies are produced by reactive infiltration of a parent metal into a boron carbide material which may contain one or both of a boron donor material and a carbon donor material. The reactive infiltration typically results in a composite comprising a boron-containing compound, a carbon-containing compound and residual metal, if desired. The mass to be infiltrated may contain one or more inert filters admixed with the boron carbide material, boron-containing compound and/or carbon-containing compound. The relative amounts of reactants and process conditions may be altered or controlled to yield a body containing varying volume percents of ceramic, metal, ratios of one ceramic to another and porosity.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a novel method of manufacturing a composite body, such as a ZrB.sub.2 -ZrC-Zr (optional) composite body, by utilizing a post-treatment process and to the novel products made thereby. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of modifying a composite body comprising one or more boron-containing compounds (e.g., a boride or a boride and a carbide) which has been made by the reactive infiltration of a molten parent metal into a bed or mass containing boron carbide, and optionally one or more inert fillers, to form the body.

Abstract: Method of installing a post in a tooth having a metal obturator therein including the steps of drilling a borehole in the tooth with a tubular burr having a tubular opening therein of internal diameter at least slightly greater than the diameter of the obturator to thereby provide a borehole of selected internal diameter having the metal obturator remaining essentially therein, the obturator serving to assist in the guiding of the burr and inserting a tubular post into the borehole, the post receiving the metal obturator therein, the post extending partially above the top of the tooth to provide means for attachment of a crown or the like.

Abstract: A method is provided for filling an endodontically prepared root canal in a tooth including the steps of injecting flowable filler material, such as gutta percha, preferably after the filler material has been heated, into the root canal to at least substantially fill the root canal, inserting an obturator shaft into the root canal to displace the flowable filler material to more completely fill the root canal, and severing the obturator shaft into two portions, retaining the shaft portion therein within the root canal and removing the severed portion from the tooth. The root canal having been filled, the tooth can then be repaired in the normal procedure for completion of an endodontic procedure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method of manufacturing a composite body, such as a ZrB.sub.2 -ZrC-Zr composite body, by utilizing a post-treatment technique which may improve the oxidation resistance of the composite body. Moreover, the invention relates to novel products made according to the process. The novel process modifies at least a portion of a composite body by exposing said body to a source of second metal.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a novel method of manufacturing a composite body, such as a ZrB.sub.2 --ZrC--Zr composite body, by utilizing a post-treatment process and to the novel products made thereby. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of modifying a composite body comprising one or more boron-containing compounds (e.g., a boride or a boride and a carbide) which has been made by the reactive infiltration of a molten parent metal into a bed or mass containing boron carbide, and optionally one or more inert fillers, to form the body.

Abstract: An improved obturator body for use in filling an endodontically prepared root canal formed of an elongated slender body of plastic material having a proximal end and a distal end, the body having a short length handle portion at the proximal end and a shaft portion extending from the handle portion to the distal end, the shaft portion being dimensioned to be received in an endodontically prepared root and having a texture surface adapted to receive filler material thereon and a plurality of integral spaced apart length indicators formed on the exterior surface of the shaft portion for indicating the length of the shaft to the distal end. In one preferred arrangement, the body shaft portion has canal filler material, such as gutta-percha, formed thereon.