Abstract: Weaving equipment may include strand positioning equipment that positions warp strands and that inserts weft strands among the warp strands to form fabric. The weaving equipment may include one or more guide arms that pushes warp strands in the weft direction during weaving. Fabrics having warp strands that extend in both the warp direction and the weft direction may be used in forming circuitry in fabrics such as touch sensor circuitry. For example, a touch sensor in a fabric may be formed using first conductive warp strands that form first touch sensor electrodes and second conductive warp strands that form second touch sensor electrodes that overlap with the first touch sensor electrodes. The second conductive warp strands may each have a first portion that extends in the warp direction and a second portion that extends in the weft direction across the first touch sensor electrodes.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for the at least partial dissolution, disruption and/or removal of deposit, such as scale and other deposit, from heat exchanger components. The heat exchanger components can include pressurized water reactor steam generators. In accordance with the invention, elemental metal is added locally to the surface of the deposit and/or anodic or cathodic current is applied locally to the deposit surface to destabilize or weaken the deposit. Subsequently, mechanical stress is applied to the weakened deposit to disrupt and remove the deposit from the surface of the heat exchanger component.

Abstract: A self-decontaminating system for decontaminating a surface on demand is disclosed herein. The system contains an electrochemical cell and at least one portion of the surface forms a functional component of the cell. The system may include an electrocatalytic fabric which is flexible and resistant to tears and breaks, such that the fabric can be rolled up or pleated in order to provide a high surface area structure that can serve as an active filter. The fabric can function as a stand-alone system or a protective coating. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating, decontaminating, and regenerating the self-decontaminating fabric.

Abstract: A system and process for cleaning a hollow interior or a passageway of a metal member including an external container having counter electrode material with a higher potential than the metal member with the counter electrode material being dc coupled to the metal member, and electrolyte passing through the container to contact the counter electrode material and fluidicly coupled into the hollow interior or the passageway of the metal member to clean same.

Abstract: Water having dissolved salts therein causing scaling is treated by flowing through a passage in an elongate tubular member. The tubular member has a first metal inside surface exposed to the water. A second metal surface is positioned therein and the two surfaces have areas of 1:1 up to about 125% with the second metal being different from the first metal. The metal surfaces are electrically insulated from each other so that current flow between the two is through the water.

Abstract: A system and process for chemical milling or stripping a surface portion and/or surface deposit from metal products, such as chemically milling a metal to remove surface defects and/or stripping non-metallic deposits from a metal surface. The metal product is associated with an electrolyte, such as by being immersed in a tank filled with the electrolyte, such as a diluted acid mixture. A counter electrode having a higher potential than the metal of the metal product is also associated with the electrolyte. The counter electrode is dc coupled to the metal product, or to a conductive component in direct contact with the metal product, such that electric current flows from the metal to the counter electrode due to the difference in the natural potentials of the metal and the counter electrode. The surface portion or deposit is thereby stripped or milled from the metal product.

Abstract: A process including: creating a galvanic cell composed of a substrate as an anode, a cathode, and an electrolytic solution, wherein the substrate includes a metal surface having a plurality of metal fibers connected to the metal surface, wherein the cathode is selected to be more noble than the metal surface resulting in the anode being the working electrode, wherein the galvanic cell spontaneously electrochemically treats the metal surface in the absence of power externally supplied to the galvanic cell; and allowing the spontaneous electrochemical treatment of the metal surface to continue for a time sufficient to sever a number of the metal fibers from the metal surface to result in severed metal fiber fragments unconnected with the metal surface.

Abstract: A system and process is provided for stripping metal oxide scale from metal products, such as stripping iron oxide scale from steel sheet and steel mill products. Steel having iron oxide scale compiling a layer of one or more iron oxide phases is associated with an electrolyte, such as by being immersed in a tank filled with the electrolyte, such as a dilute acid mixture. A counter electrode having a higher potential than steel is also associated with the electrolyte. The counter electrode is dc coupled to the steel, or to a conductive component in direct contact with the steel, such that electric current flows from the steel to the counter electrode due to the difference in the natural potentials of steel and the counter electrode. The metal oxide scale is thereby stripped from the steel.

Abstract: A process for removing zinc from galvanized steel. The galvanized steel is immersed in an electrolyte containing at least about 15% by weight of sodium or potassium hydroxide and having a temperature of at least about 75° C. and the zinc is galvanically corroded from the surface of the galvanized steel. The material serving as the cathode is principally a material having a standard electrode potential which is intermediate of the standard electrode potentials of zinc and cadmium in the electrochemical series. The steel scrap is carried through the electrolyte by a conveyor which is electrically isolated from ground and which comprises a cathodic material which has a standard electrode potential which is intermediate of the standard electrode potentials of zinc and cadmium in the electrochemical series.

Abstract: An improved electrochemical dissolution process for electrochemically dissolving a first metal by simultaneously creating hydrogen evolution at a second metal. The second metal is a metal that has a larger current exchange density for hydrogen evolution than the first metal, and both metals are immersed in an aqueous electrolyte system, wherein the first metal and the second metal are galvanically coupled. By taking measures to reduce inhibition of the hydrogen evolution at the second metal, the rate of dissolution of the first metal is enhanced. The measures to reduce the inhibition comprise selecting suitable temperatures and concentrations of the electrolyte, dividing the electrolyte into two fluids coupled by a selectively permeable device and selecting suitable resistance value for a connecting means electrically connecting the first and the second metal. The invention is particularly useful for removing Zn or Sn from Zn- or Sn-containing steel scrap.

Abstract: A process for removing zinc from galvanized steel. The galvanized steel is immersed in an electrolyte containing at least about 15% by weight of sodium or potassium hydroxide and having a temperature of at least about 75.degree. C. and the zinc is galvanically corroded from the surface of the galvanized steel. The material serving as the cathode is principally a material having a standard electrode potential which is intermediate of the standard electrode potentials of zinc and cadmium in the electrochemical series. The steel scrap is carried through the electrolyte by a conveyor which is electrically isolated from ground and which comprises a cathodic material which has a standard electrode potential which is intermediate of the standard electrode potentials of zinc and cadmium in the electrochemical series.

Abstract: A device and method for preventing fouling and/or corrosion of the exposed surfaces of a structure which is in contact with seawater, brackish water, fresh water, or a combination of these. The system includes using a structure having an exposed zinc-containing surface. At the exposed surface water interface a negative capacitive charge or an asymmetric alternating electrostatic is induced and maintained.