Abstract: A reinforced carbon foam material is formed from carbon fibers incorporated within a carbon foam's structure. First, carbon fiber bundles are combined with a liquid resol resin. The carbon fiber bundles separate into individual carbon fiber filaments and disperse throughout the liquid resol resin. Second, the carbon fiber resin mixture is foamed thus fixing the carbon fibers in a permanent spatial arrangement within the phenolic foam. The foam is then carbonized to create a carbon fiber reinforced foam with improved graphitic characteristics as well as increased strength. Optionally, various additives can be introduced simultaneously with the addition of the carbon fiber bundles into the liquid resol, which can improve the graphitic nature of the final carbon foam material and/or increase the foam's resistance to oxidation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabrication of a porous refractory ceramic product made from SiC, by heat treatment and sintering at high temperature, starting from a fraction of fine particles of SiC and from a fraction of larger-sized particles of SiC, said process being characterized in that, in a step preliminary to the heat treatment and to the sintering at high temperature, the finest particles of SiC are agglomerated then, in a second step, the granules thus obtained are added to the SiC powder with particles of larger size. The invention also relates to a porous body made from recrystallized SiC in an essentially ? form, in particular a particulate filter for automobile application, obtained by such a process.

Abstract: A porous refractory product includes a matrix of sintered silicon carbide having a porosity of about 45% to about 65%. The matrix is formed by heating in a noble gas atmosphere a cast preform including a mixture of alpha-silicon carbide and boron carbide each having a particle size of less than about 1 micron. The heating causes the formation of gaseous SiO within the silicon carbide matrix, which, in turn, forms pores having an average size of less than about 1 micron. The porous refractory products herein are suitable for use in a variety of applications including for use in high temperature particulate filtering applications.

Abstract: A porous carbon composition comprises carbon particles having substantially uniform mesopores, wherein the mesopores have a diameter greater than 5 nanometers. A carbon composition may also comprise carbon particles having a predetermined surface configuration, wherein the surface configuration inversely corresponds to the configuration of at least a portion of an imprinting material. A method of synthesizing mesoporous carbon particles comprises the steps of providing particles of at least one carbon precursor, mixing the particles of at least one carbon precursor with a medium containing an imprinting material to form pretreated solid carbon precursor particles, heating the pretreated solid carbon precursor particles to a temperature at least as high as 20° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a molded porous ceramic article containing ?-SiC, which process comprises the following steps: the preparation of a molded article containing silicon and carbon and the subsequent pyrolysis and siliconization of the article containing silicon and carbon to form SiC. The invention further relates to a molded porous ceramic article containing SiC which has been produced from a molded article containing silicon and carbon.

Abstract: A sliding member having a sliding surface comprising a silicon carbide sintered body having a primary phase comprising mainly silicon carbide, and a subphase having a different composition from the primary phase and containing at least boron, silicon and carbon. The ratio of pores having a roundness of 6 ?m or less and a pore diameter of 10 to 60 ?m with respect to all pores having a pore diameter of 10 ?m or more in the sliding surface is 60% or more. This enables retention of good seal properties even in a long-term continuous use. The subphase in the silicon carbide sintered body is preferably granular crystal phases dotted among a plurality of the primary phases. This provides excellent lubricating liquid holding performance as well as excellent thermal conductivity and excellent thermal shock resistance properties.

Abstract: Porous polymers are made by adding biologically active agent and growth substrates (e.g., yeast and sugar, preferably in the presence of water or other suitable fluid) to a polymer forming material, which may be a liquid. The yeast acts on the sugar, forming carbon dioxide gas bubbles. The material is then polymerized so that the gas bubbles create permanent pores within the polymeric material. The polymer can be an epoxy for example. The pores will contain residue of the yeast. Also, porous metals can be made by combining a metal powder with yeast, sugar, and water. The porous metal paste is then sintered. Porous ceramics and semiconductors can be made by combining the yeast and sugar with a ceramic forming liquid such as polysilazane. Polysilazane converts to silica when heated, which helps to bind the ceramic or semiconductor powder particles at a reduced temperature. Biological agents other than yeast (e.g. bacteria, enzymes), and growth substrates other than sugar can also be used.

Abstract: Disclosed are stabilized, high-porosity cordierite honeycomb substrates having little or no microcracking, and a high thermal shock resistance. The porous ceramic honeycomb substrates generally comprise a primary cordierite ceramic phase as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods for making and using the cordierite substrates.

Abstract: Methods of making a porous cordierite ceramic honeycomb article are provided. In example methods, a batch composition includes a quantity of non-crosslinked pore former provided as a superaddition of about 20% or less of a dry weight of a quantity of inorganic components. Batch compositions are also provided that include a quantity of clay and other substantially nonfibrous inorganic components sufficient to yield an article including cordierite. Example batch compositions can include clay having a median particle size of about 7 ?m or less and/or provided in an amount that is 10% or less of the dry weight of the quantity of inorganic components.

Abstract: An absorbable sponge containing a contrasting agent (e.g, radiopaque agent) that can be introduced to a biopsy tract or other puncture wound site is provided. The contrasting agent permits identification of the site by fluoroscopy or other imaging techniques.

Abstract: A porous carbon sheet obtained by binding separate carbon short fibers with a carbonization product of a resin, wherein the pore mode diameter of the sheet is 45 to 90 ?m and the mean fiber diameter of the carbon short fibers is 5 to 20 ?m. The sheet can be produced by thermoforming a precursor fiber sheet comprising carbon short fibers of 15 to 30 g/m2 in basis weight and a thermosetting resin of 30 to 80 g/m2 in basis weight by hot plates having a certain clearance and carbonizing the thermosetting resin contained in thermoformed precursor fiber sheet.

Abstract: A process for producing a regenerable ceramic particulate filter for diesel vehicles is described, wherein a material comprising silicon-containing particles is pyrolyzed in the presence of a polyamide. The resulting particulate filters have a BET surface area of >350 m2/l.

Abstract: Structure for filtering particulate-laden gases, of the honeycomb type, which is characterized in that the material based on silicon carbide constituting its walls has an open porosity of between 30 and 53%, a median pore diameter between 9 and 20 ?m, an average number of open pores on the surface of the walls, the equivalent opening area of which is between 20 and 310 ?m2, is greater than 300 per mm2 of wall and a ratio of the total opening area of said open pores to said surface of the walls between 15 and 30%.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic precursor batch composition comprising inorganic ceramic-forming ingredients, a binder, an aqueous solvent and a chaotropic agent. The presence of the chaotropic agent provides a composition with a lower viscosity and/or a greater batch stiffening temperature allowing for increased extrusion feedrates. Methods for producing a ceramic honeycomb body using the ceramic precursor batch composition of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: A porous ceramic substrate includes a first phase of microcracked cordierite ceramic material and a second phase of non-cordierite metal oxide particles dispersed in the cordierite ceramic, wherein at least a portion of the interface between the first and second phases is wetted by glass and the particles of the second phase have a size in the range of from about 0.1 to about 10 ?m.

Abstract: A porous ceramic substrate is disclosed that is fabricated from biosoluble ceramic fibers. Porosity and permeability of the substrate is provided by intertangled biosoluble fibers, that can be formed into a honeycomb form substrate through an extrusion process. The fibrous structure is formed from mixing biosoluble fibers with additives that include a bonding agent, and a fluid to provide an extrudable mixture. The structure is sintered at a temperature that exceeds the glass formation temperature of the bonding agent, but less than the maximum operational limits of the biosoluble fiber, to form a structure that has sufficient strength and porosity to provide for filtration and/or as a catalytic host.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure having porous cell walls defining large numbers of flow paths, the cell walls having porosity of 55-70%, an average pore diameter of 10-40 ?m, a concave area ratio CR (projected area ratio of portions lower than an average surface determined from cell wall surface roughness by a least square method) of 0.32-0.6, and an average concave depth Hconcave (average depth of portions lower than the average surface) of 0.02-0.1 mm.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials and methods for the manufacture of high porosity ceramic exhaust filters employing relatively low amounts of pore formers, the filters combining efficient diesel particulate filtration with effective support for exhaust emissions control catalysts. Cordierite-forming ceramic batches comprising non-hydrated transition alumina powders of relatively large particle size provide high porosities with well-controlled pore sizes and with low filter thermal expansion coefficients and good mechanical strengths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing porous ceramic, the method including molding a mixture containing a water absorbent polymer particle, a ceramic raw material, and water, the water absorbent polymer particle having a water absorption amount in a range of 5 to 30 ml/g at a pressure of 980 Pa, and heating and baking the resulting molded product. The water absorbent polymer particle is preferably composed of a polymer having a 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid unit or an acrylamide unit as a constituting monomer unit.

Abstract: A porous sintered body of a calcium phosphate-based ceramic having a porosity of 80% or more. The porous sintered body is produced by a method comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a slurry comprising a calcium phosphate-based ceramic powder, a water-soluble high molecular compound and a nonionic surface active agent; (2) stirring the slurry vigorously to froth the slurry; (3) solidifying the frothed slurry into a gel; and (4) drying and sintering the gel.

Abstract: Disclosed are ceramic batch compositions for forming porous ceramic articles. The ceramic forming precursor batch compositions include ceramic forming inorganic batch components and a cyclododecane pore forming agent. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing porous ceramic articles.

Abstract: A method of using sacrificial materials for fabricating internal cavities and channels in laminated dielectric structures, which can be used as dielectric substrates and package mounts for microelectronic and microfluidic devices. A sacrificial mandrel is placed in-between two or more sheets of a deformable dielectric material (e.g., unfired LTCC glass/ceramic dielectric), wherein the sacrificial mandrel is not inserted into a cutout made in any of the sheets. The stack of sheets is laminated together, which deforms the sheet or sheets around the sacrificial mandrel. After lamination, the mandrel is removed, (e.g., during LTCC burnout), thereby creating a hollow internal cavity in the monolithic ceramic structure.

Abstract: A silicon carbide-based porous article comprising silicon carbide particles as an aggregate, metallic silicon and an aggregate derived from siliceous inorganic particles to form pores through volume shrinkage by heat treatment, wherein the porosity is 45 to 70%, and the average pore diameter is 10 to 20 ?m is provided. Also provided is a method for producing a silicon carbide-based porous article, comprising; adding inorganic particles to form pores through volume shrinkage by heat treatment to a raw-material mixture containing silicon carbide particles and metallic silicon, then forming into an intended shape, calcinating and firing the resultant green body, forming pores through volume shrinkage of the inorganic particles by heat treatment, and the shrunk inorganic particles being present as an aggregate in the porous article.

Abstract: A method for producing a ceramic honeycomb structure comprising the steps of mixing and blending at least a ceramic material and a pore-forming material to form a moldable material, extrusion-molding the moldable material, and drying and sintering the resultant molded honeycomb article, the amount of the pore-forming material added being adjusted depending on the packed bulk density of the pore-forming material.

Abstract: A method of preparing a low-density material and precursor for forming a low-density material is provided. An aqueous mixture of inorganic primary component and a blowing agent is formed, the mixture is dried and optionally ground to form an expandable precursor. Such a precursor is then fired with activation of the blowing agent being controlled such that it is activated within a predetermined optimal temperature range. Control of the blowing agent can be accomplished via a variety of means including appropriate distribution throughout the precursor, addition of a control agent into the precursor, or modification of the firing conditions such as oxygen deficient or fuel rich environment, plasma heating etc.

Abstract: A degreasing furnace loading apparatus including a molded body moving mechanism configured to move a plurality of ceramic molded bodies simultaneously, and a transporting table configured to transport a degreasing jig for mounting the ceramic molded bodies thereon to a degreasing furnace. The molded body moving mechanism is configured to simultaneously place the plurality of ceramic molded bodies on the degreasing jig, such that each of the ceramic molded bodies is placed to have predetermined intervals therebetween.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a ceramic porous material which has a high strength, though it has a high porosity, and which is excellent in permeability without dust generation. In a ceramic porous material having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton structure with a large number of substantially spherical adjacent cells communicating with each other via communication holes, the crystal particle size at the rim of each communication hole in the skeleton structure is provided substantially equal to the crystal particle size in the other parts.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a composition including a porous cordierite honeycomb body as defined herein having excellent strength, high thermal shock resistance, and reduced microcrack properties. The disclosure also provides methods of making and using the composition, for example, as a catalyst carrier.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to produce a thin porous layer, with a defined porosity and also, a high strength. Said aim is achieved, whereby such a layer with open porosity is produced from a mixture, comprising a sinterable powder with a predetermined powder particle size distribution. The sintered layer is of a thickness, which corresponds to about triple the average diameter of the powder particles employed, has a pore diameter in the range from 0.01 to 50 ?m and a tensile strength of in a range from about 5 to 500 N/mm2. The invention further relates to a method for the production of said thin porous layer with open porosity.

Abstract: A process for foaming ceramic foams, in which the ceramic foams are produced from a precursor or a mixture of precursors which contain at least one ceramic-forming element and liberates at least one volatile reaction product during an inorganic gelation process. In one embodiment, foaming is based on a precursor containing crystals of the AlCl3(Pri2O) complex. The decomposition of the initial precursor produces polymerizing species dissolved in liquid isopropyl chloride. The solvent and growing AlOxCly(OPri)z species are mixed homogeneously so that the boiling point of the solution is raised above the boiling point of the pure isopropyl chloride. Polymerization takes place in the liquid until a critical polymer size is attained, whereupon a phase separation into polymer rich and solvent rich regions occurs. Since the expelled solvent is suddenly above its boiling point, bubbles start forming instantly.

Abstract: A porous ceramic support for a gas separation membrane formed by sintering a green body containing grains of a refractory ceramic oxide with a high coefficient of thermal expansion and grains of a reactive binder precursor. Upon sintering, the reactive binder precursor reacts with at least one gaseous, liquid or solid reactant to create a reaction bond that binds the refractory ceramic oxide grains. The support configuration can be a tubular, flat plate, hollow fiber, or multiple-passageway monolith structure.

Abstract: According to a producing method including; preparing a foaming slurry by agitating and blending a dispersion medium containing hollow glass or ceramic particles having an average particle diameter of 1 ?m or more, a dispersant and a foaming agent to foam; obtaining a dried body by dropping the foaming slurry in liquid nitrogen, followed by freeze drying in a vacuum; and sintering the dried body to obtain a spherical porous body having open pores interconnected over an entirety, a porous body that is highly communicative, has sufficient mechanical strength and is suitable as a cell culture carrier for microcarrier culture can be provided.

Abstract: A filtering body is obtained for particulate of diesel engines, consisting of a ceramic foam that is produced, starting from a ceramic-material powder-based suspension (slurry), by preparing a perform of polymeric foam material and impregnating the said perform with the ceramic-powder slurry so as to distribute the slurry evenly on the perform, and by then subjecting the body thus obtained to a thermal cycle of sintering in such a way as to pyrolyze the polymeric material and obtain a high-porosity ceramic material. The ceramic-material powder is chosen from among mullite powder, alumina powder, zirconia powder, and mixtures thereof, having very high purity, controlled grain-size, and a high specific surface.

Abstract: A composite construction 1 is obtained by coating the outer periphery of a core material 2 with a shell layer 3. The core material 2 is composed of a first sintered body that is obtained by bonding, with a binder metal, a first hard particle composed of one or more of carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of metals of Groups 4a, 5a and 6a of the Periodic Table, or a first ceramics obtained by bonding, with a sintering additive, a first ceramic particle composed of at least one of oxides, carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides selected from the group consisting of metals of Groups 4a, 5a and 6a of the Periodic Table, Al, Si and Zn. The shell layer 3 is composed of a second hard sintered body or second ceramics having a different composition from the first hard sintered body. The ratio of the residual free carbon amount Cin in the core material 2 to the residual free carbon amount Cout in the shell layer 3, Cin/Cout, is 0.5 to 2.

Abstract: A homogeneous bulky porous ceramic material is provided, the average pore diameter D50 of which is less than 4 ?m and the closed porosity of which is less than 2 ?m, and having a bubble point that matches the pore diameter measured on the material. A hollow fiber based on the material and a module employing such fibers together with a paste constituting a precursor for the material and including a pore-forming agent are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a highly porous ceramic having a high porosity of not less than 60% and a pore density of not less than 108 pores/cm3 fabricated from expandable microspheres and a preceramic polymer, and a method for fabricating highly porous ceramic. The method for fabricating highly porous ceramic from expandable microspheres and a preceramic polymer comprises the steps of: homogeneously mixing a preceramic polymer powder and expandable hollow microspheres, if necessary, a ceramic powder, and molding the mixture to form a molded body; heating the molded body to expand it; curing the expanded molded body; and pyrolyzing the cured molded body. Since the highly porous ceramic has a higher porosity and pore density than conventional porous ceramics, it can be suitably used for various high temperature structure materials, kiln furniture, bulletproof materials, shock-absorbing materials, insulating materials, refractory materials, lightweight structure materials, etc.

Abstract: A thermochemically stable oxidic thermal insulating material presenting phase stability, which can be used advantageously as a thermal insulating layer on parts subjected to high thermal stress, such as turbine blades or such like. The thermal insulating material can be processed by plasma spraying and consists preferably of a magnetoplumbite phase whose preferred composition is MMeAl11O19, where M is La or Nd and where Me is chosen from among zinc, the alkaline earth metals, transition metals, and rare earths, preferably from magnesium, zinc, cobalt, manganese, iron, nickel and chromium.

Abstract: A super-lightweight ceramic foam with a cellular structure effectively reinforced by ceramic short fibers, which has a density of 0.2 g/cm3 or less and a sufficient strength. The ceramic foam is prepared by evenly dispersing ceramic short fibers throughout a nonaqueous solvent through the use of the reactivity of metal alkoxide with the surface of the ceramic short fibers, adding into the nonaqueous solvent an aqueous slurry containing ceramic powder dispersed therein, allowing the evenly dispersed ceramic fibers to move into an aqueous phase separately from a nonaqueous solvent phase so as to obtain an aqueous slurry containing the ceramic fibers evenly dispersed therein, and foaming and firing the aqueous slurry.

Abstract: Ordered, monodisperse macroporous polymers, their corresponding ordered, monodisperse colloids, and methods of preparing them are disclosed. The methods use an ordered, monodisperse colloidal template to define the polymer pore morphology, which in turn acts as a mold for the growth of a new ordered, monodisperse colloid. The macroporous polymer may be prepared with either spherical or ellipsoidal pores from a wide variety of polymeric systems. The new ordered, monodisperse colloid may be grown from a wide variety of materials including ceramics, semiconductors, metals and polymers. These materials are potentially useful in optical, micro-filtering and drug delivery applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a microporous ceramic material and includes the steps of (a) preparing a starting material for firing comprising a nonoxide ceramic precursor containing silicon as an essential component; (b) heating the starting material for firing in an atmosphere containing at least 1 mol % of hydrogen so as to form microporous ceramic product; and (c) cooling the microporous ceramic product.

Abstract: Coal based carbon foams that are produced by the controlled beating of coal particulate in a mold and under a non-oxidizing atmosphere and subsequently graphitized have been found to provide excellent electrode materials for electrochemical cell applications.

Abstract: A method for producing a silicon nitride filter by heat-treating in nitrogen green body of from 35 to 90 mass % of silicon nitride particles having an average particle diameter of from 1 to 30 ?m, from 5 to 60 mass % of a pore-forming agent and from 0.1 to 5 mass % of metal oxide particles, provided that the total amount of the silicon nitride particle , the pore-forming agent and the metal oxide particles is at least 90 mass %, to form a porous product.

Abstract: A ceramics structure body having chemical composition of 42 to 56 wt % of SiO2, 30 to 45 wt % of Al2O3 and 12 to 16 wt % of MgO, crystalline phase mainly composed of cordierite, a porosity of 55 to 65%, an average pore size of 15 to 30 &mgr;m; and the total area of pores exposed on surfaces of partition walls constituting the honeycomb ceramics structure body being 35% or more of the total area of partition wall surfaces. Fifteen to 25 wt % of graphite and 5 to 15 wt % of a synthetic resin are added as a pore forming agent to a cordierite-forming raw material; the resultant is kneaded and molded into a honeycomb shape; and the resultant is dried and fired to produce above-mentioned honeycomb ceramics structure body. According to this honeycomb ceramics structure body, a low pressure loss and a high collection efficiency can be attained.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a sintered piece comprises preparing a molded piece of a composite including calcium phosphate compound such as hydroxyapatite, and baking the molded piece in an oxygen atmosphere to obtain the sintered piece. The oxygen concentration of the oxygen atmosphere is controlled to be not less than 25 vol %, and the relative humidity of the oxygen atmosphere is controlled to be below 30% RH. The baking is performed for 30 minutes to 8 hours at a temperature not less than 1000° C. and below a temperature at which thermal decomposition of the calcium phosphate occurs.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel sintered body is produced from a powder which contains at least one fissile heavy metal oxide. During the further treatment of the powder over the course of the process preceding the sintering operation, a dopant that contains at least 100 ppm of an iron oxide compound is added to the powder. The powder is a UO2-containing powder obtained from a dry-chemical conversion process, and if appropriate, a powder which contains further fissile heavy metal oxide (U3O8, PuO2, inter alia). As a result, the sintered body is provided with high plasticity combined, at the same time, with a large grain size. This advantageously reduces an interaction between the nuclear fuel sintered body and a fuel rod cladding tube during an operation of the reactor.

Abstract: A particulate sealant for forming plugs in selected cells of honeycomb structures and consisting essentially, by weight, of about 70 to 90% ceramic blend, the ceramic blend being raw ceramic materials selected to form a composition consisting essentially of in percent by weight about 12 to 16% MgO, about 33 to 38% Al2O3, and about 49 to 54% SiO2, which will form cordierite (2MgO.2Al2O3.5SiO2) on firing, and about 10 to 30% binder system comprising a thermoplastic polymer capable of forming a gel or a thermosetting resin.

Abstract: Microporous hydrophobic inorganic membrane having an average pore size of less than 2 nm and a hydrophobicity index octane/water of at least 2 can be obtained by a process comprising hydrolyzing a metal alkoxide in the presence of a hydrocarbyl metal alkoxide having at least one non-hydrolyzable group in an organic solvent to produce a metal (hydr)oxide sol, and precipitating metal (hydr)oxide from said sol and drying the precipitate. In this process, at least 50% of the amount of hydrocarbyl metal alkoxide is introduced into the solvent after 20% of the hydrolysis period has lapsed.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes improved compositions comprising an agitating agent, the compositions being particularly useful for powder injection molding. The disclosed method includes protocols for extracting binder materials from a powder injection molding prior to sintering. One embodiment of the disclosure includes compositions comprising a sinterable powder, a binder and a gas-forming agent. When induced to release a gas, the gas-forming agent provides internal agitation, which facilitates solvent-based binder extraction, resulting in a higher yield of extracted binder in reduced time. In one embodiment, the compositions include a carbonate, such as sodium carbonate, as the gas-forming agent. In this embodiment, the gas-forming agent is induced to form a gas during binder extraction by including an acid, such as citric acid, in the extraction solvent.

Abstract: A plate for use in mixing and testing materials in the pharmaceutical industry is formed by a method in which apertures in a set of greensheets are formed by a material removal process, at least some of the apertures being filled with a fugitive material that escapes during sintering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a monolithic, porous, ceramic shaped body and to the shaped bodies produced according to this method. Said shaped body is used predominantly as a support material for porous, inorganic and/or organic membranes for the flow filtration of liquids and gases. The aim of the invention is to provide a method for producing a shaped body consisting substantially of TiO2 with an open porosity >10%, an average pore size of between 1 and 50 &mgr;m and a mechanical stability >20 N/mm2. To achieve this, a first TiO2-powder fraction is pre-sintered at temperatures >1200° C.

Abstract: Truss systems and components thereof for use in connection with supporting rock formations in underground mines, caverns, storage vaults, and so forth. Multiple types of truss brackets of unique design are incorporated in the various systems which also include tensioning tie rods and anchor bolts. The truss bracket components are designed so that a minimum or no force couples are exhibited when the tie rods employed are tightened down in their interconnection between associated truss brackets. Various truss systems accommodate mine entries, two-way, three-way, and four-way passageway configurements, and so forth. Additionally, provision is made for intercoupling trusses together.