Abstract: A layer of conductive plastic material can be made to exhibit relatively high conductivity with a relatively small amount of electrically conducting particles included in it if the layer is extruded in a lamellate form. Particularly, sublayers having thicknesses of the size of the conducting particles or less being the randomly distributed particles in one sublayer into close proximity with those in adjacent sublayers. Consequently, relatively short conducting paths through the layer are provided. The laminate layer is formed by an extrusion die with a plurality of dividers adapted to divide the extrudate into sublayer prior to recombination for the extrusion of the final layer. The laminate layer can be coextruded with electrically insulating layers to fabricate electrical components such as capacitors.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing liquid droplets having a narrow size distribution. Thin liquid streams are forced under pressure through a plurality of orifices in an orifice plate, the largest of which orifices has a diameter not greater than about three times the diameter of the smallest of those orifices. Also the thin liquid streams are vibrated to cause the breakup of each stream into droplets having a narrow size distribution.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing relatively large and dense, relatively dry sulfur particles from molten sulfur comprises a manifold having a number of small, spaced apart, molten sulfur discharge apertures which are sized, according to the rate and pressure head at which the molten sulfur is received, for enabling the sulfur flow from each aperture to be laminar. Included is a vessel for holding a quenching liquid, preferably water. The manifold is mounted above the vessel with the discharge apertures preferably about one quarter inch to about two inches above the quenching liquid surface. Means are included for continuously moving the manifold in a circular path while the moltlen sulfur is discharged from the manifold apertures so that the discharged streams continually contact different regions of the quenching liquid. A conveyor is connected to the vessel for removing particulate sulfur therefrom.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus includes a rotary shell having plural circumferential rows of extrusion orifices and a stationary inner member, forming in cooperation with the shell recesses communicating with the orifices, and metering pump for supplying icing to individual passageways formed in the stationary member, so that precisely metered amounts of icing are extruded through the extrusion orifices, the icing then being cut off by a stationary member which located at a bottom portion of the rotary shell for deposit onto biscuits traveling upon a conveyor belt.

Abstract: Granulation device comprising means for heating a material to be granulated in order to cause its melting and means for supplying the molten material to a container (1) terminated by an orifice (9) for spraying the material in the form of droplets at the entrance of a cooling housing wherein the droplets solidify into granules. Said container comprises on at least one portion of its inner wall raised helical elements imposing a helical blade-type circulation to the molten material, said helical elements (5,6,7) being comprised of grooves provided in a generally cylindrical part (4) which is housed without any clearance into a cylindrical portion of said container (1).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming essentially contaminant free metal powders of varying particle diameter by utilizing a separate gas percolation chamber for admitting a separate clean variable pressure percolating gas into a molten metal passing through a transfer tube, forming a metal froth which is sprayed into a reduced pressure collection chamber. The metal froth then disintegrates providing a finely divided powder which is cooled in the suspension state and collected. By utilizing a separate percolation chamber for independently pressurizing the metal froth, impurities are reduced and froth characteristics and controllably modifiable thereby providing essentially contaminant free metal powder of varying particle diameter. In addition, pressure equalization means are disclosed for overcoming pressure imbalances on start-up.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming essentially contaminant free metal powders of varying particle diameter by utilizing a separate gas percolation chamber for admitting a separate clean variable pressure percolating gas into a molten metal passing through a transfer tube, forming a metal froth which is sprayed into a reduced pressure collection chamber. The metal froth then disintegrates providing a finely divided powder which is cooled in the suspension state and collected. By utilizing a separate percolation chamber for independently pressurizing the metal froth, impurities are reduced and froth characteristics are controllably modifyable thereby providing essentially contaminant free metal powder of varying particle diameter. In addition, pressure equalization means are disclosed for overcoming pressure imbalances on start-up.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously analyzing liquids by creating a supersonic spray which is shaped and sized prior to delivery of the spray to a analysis apparatus. The gas and liquid are mixed in a converging-diverging nozzle where the liquid is sheared into small particles which are of a size and uniformly to form a spray which can be controlled through adjustment of pressures and gas velocity. The spray is shaped by a concentric supplemental flow of gas.

Abstract: A process for the production of solid particles, characterized by the solidification in flight of an electrically charged spray of fluid droplets of narrow particle size distribution, and an apparatus for that process comprising a sprayhead with a channel for the fluid communicating with an outlet; means for subjecting the fluid to an electrical field such that the fluid will move from the sprayhead under the influence of the field to produce a spray of the fluid, the means including means for applying a first potential to the fluid; an electrode mounted spaced from but adjacent to the sprayhead with means to apply a second potential to that electrode; and a spray chamber, so positioned that in use the sprayhead delivers the spray to the chamber interior, and provided with means to apply a third potential to the chamber, and so dimensioned and arranged that in use the majority of the spray droplets solidify before impinging on any surface of or within the chamber.

Abstract: A method for molding 1,4,4a,9a-tetrahydroanthraquinone by cooling and solidifying a melt of 1,4,4a,9a-tetrahydroanthraquinone, which comprises contacting the melt with a cooling surface of a temperature of from about 50.degree. to about 80.degree. C. for solidification, and peeling off the solidified product.

Abstract: Electrostatic spraying apparatus and process for spraying liquids which form a coalescent resistant surface in flight in a particular environment to produce a powder or granular material. The process involves delivering a liquid to a spraying site of an electrostatic spray head; making contact with the liquid via an electrically conducting or semiconducting liquid contacting surface; charging the liquid contacting surface to a high voltage of one polarity relative to a reference surface to intensify the electric field strength at the spraying site sufficiently that the liquid at the spraying site is drawn out preponderantly by electrostatic forces into at least one cone from which a corresponding ligament issues and breaks up into a spray of electrostatically charged droplets; providing the environment in a space sufficient that droplets from the spray head form, in flight, particles having a substantially coalescent resistant surface; and collecting the particles so formed.

Abstract: System and method for producing metal or alloy powder are described comprising an electromagnetic levitating coil having an outlet for supporting a molten source of the metal or alloy and controllably discharging a molten stream thereof, an electromagnetic confining coil disposed at the outlet of the levitating coil and surrounding the molten stream for controlling the diameter of the molten stream, and either an atomization die and associated pressurized fluid source for disintergrating the confined molten stream into molten droplets for subsequent cooling to powder, or a controllable electromagnetic coil surrounding the confined molten stream for generating a downwardly and radially outwardly directed electromagnetic force interacting with the molten stream to form the droplets.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing ultrafine particles by arc energy characterized by disposing an electrode inclinedly as to a base material so as to generate a magnetic blow to arc, disposing a suction opening at the direction of the arc blown, and cooling vapors generated, followed by collection thereof can improve the production efficiency of ultrafine particles with a uniform particle size.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for dotting molding tools with droplets of liquid or suspended lubricant in the production of shaped articles in the pharmaceutical, food, or catalyst fields. Pressurized lubricant solutions or suspensions and pressurized gas are alternately passed through capillaries, in conjunction with alternating single-substance nozzles, in such a way that drops are formed on the nozzle surface, in between the jets of gas, and are then detached form this surface and directed to specific zones of pressing tools. The apparatus comprises fast-acting valves for the brief release of pressurized gases and lubricant liquids or suspensions. The delivery lines of a gas valve and a liquid valve combine upstream of a capillary, and single-substance nozzles are mounted at the end of the capillaries.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous processing of metal between molten and bright hot rolled stages includes the production of uniform liquid metal droplets at the top of a shot tower containing inert gas, forming and maintaining columns of closely spaced but separate metal droplets, retarding the flow of said droplets to a slow, substantially constant, velocity and cooling the droplets principally by radiation to at least partial solidification, collecting the at least partially solidified droplets in a bottomless receptacle in a weakly cohesive column, passing said column into the bite of a pair of mill rolls, rolling the said column into a rolled product, and cooling the rolled product by arc contact with off-set colling/flatening rolls and by radiation and convection cooling in an inert gas.

Abstract: A minute metal powder is obtained by a method which comprises melting a metal, imparting ultrasonic vibration to the resulting melt, introducing an inert or reducing gas into the ultrasonically vibrated melt thereby producing minute bubbles therein, allowing cavitation to occur as soon as the bubbles reach the surface of the melt and consequently convert the melt into minute droplets, exposing or not exposing the minute droplets to oxygen, nitrogen, or propane, and solidifying the minute droplets by cooling. An apparatus for working the method described above comprises a metal melting tank, metal feeding means, gas feeding means, an ultrasonic vibration generator, means for detecting and retaining the surface of melt, and means for converting melt into minute droplets and solidifying the minute droplets by cooling.

Abstract: A system is described for forming accurately spherical and centered fluid-filled shells, especially of high melting temperature material. Material which is to form the shells is placed in a solid form in a container, and the material is rapidly heated to a molten temperature to avoid recrystallization and the possible generation of unwanted microbubbles in the melt. Immediately after the molten shells are formed, they drop through a drop tower whose upper end is heated along a distance of at least one foot to provide time for dissipation of surface waves on the shells while they cool to a highly viscous, or just above melting temperature so that the bubble within the shell will not rise and become off centered. The rest of the tower is cryogenically cooled to cool the shell to a solid state.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly is described for use in a system that forms small gas-filled shells, which avoids the need for holding a miniature inner nozzle precisely concentric with a miniature outer nozzle. The outer nozzle has a diameter which is less than about 0.7 millimeter, which results in fluid passing through the nozzle having a progressively greater velocity at locations progressively further from the walls of the outer nozzle across most of the nozzle. This highly variable velocity profile automatically forces gas to the center of the outer nozzle. The end of the inner nozzle, which emits gas, is spaced upstream from the tip of the outer nozzle, to provide a distance along which to center the gas. This self-centering characteristic permits the inner nozzle to be positioned so its axis is not concentric with the axis of the outer nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for atomization of high temperature melts to from very finely divided powder. The apparatus has a ceramic central melt delivery tube. Melt is introduced at the top and exits at the bottom. At the exit surface a high velocity gas impinges on the melt to atomize the melt into fine particles. The bottom portion of the melt delivery tube has an internal shape to expand the external configuration of the melt stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a polyacetylene film by introducing acetylene gas into a vessel for storing Ziegler-Natta catalyst to polymerize the acetylene gas with the catalyst which comprises a film forming projecting flat section having a film forming flat surface projected from the surface of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst stored in the bottom of the vessel, thereby coating the Ziegler-Natta catalyst on the inner surface of the side wall of the vessel and the film forming flat surface. Thus, the acetylene gas introduced into the vessel is polymerized with the catalyst to produce the polyacetylene film. In this manner, the polyacetylene film having a constant thickness of high quality can be produced with the Ziegler-Natta catalyst of the suitable amount by providing the film forming flat surface even in the bottom of the vessel, thereby improving the production efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method destined for the production of metal powder, wherein inert gas, especially argon is admixed to a metal melt rising in a riser, thereby forming a metal froth which is pressurized likewise by inert gas, especially argon of high pressure in a pulverization chamber, at the same time, forming metal droplets. These are displaced from the pulverization chamber by the gas blown into the same, to enter an expansion chamber in the form of a collecting vessel, the metal droplets being accelerated in the passage from the pulverization chamber to the collecting vessel, at the same time, forming the finest metal powder.

Abstract: A composite fine powder material is made of first particles with average particle diameter less than or equal to about ten microns, each having a composite structure and being made up of a plurality of fine second particles of a ceramic made by reacting together a first metal and a gas, embedded in a matrix of a second metal. This composite fine powder material is made by vaporizing the first metal, mixing the vapor with the gas, expanding the mixture through a first nozzle mechanism for providing adiabatic expansion cooling under reaction between the first metal and the gas to provide the fine second particles of ceramic, producing vapor of the second metal and mixing it in with the fine second particles at the downstream of the first nozzle mechanism, directing the resulting mixture through a second expansion nozzle mechanism to form the first particles of composite structure, and then collecting these first particles.

Abstract: An apparatus produces granules from two-phase mixtures wherein an initial substance is enriched with crystal nuclei in a temperature controlled precrystallizer and the resultant precrystallized melt is fully crystallized on a cooling surface. A droplet former is disposed over the cooling surface and includes inner and outer telescoping tubes. The inner tube communicates downstream with the precrystallizer and has a plurality of outlet orifices for conducting the precrystallized melt outwardly therethrough. The outer and inner tubes are arranged for relative rotation. The outer tube has a plurality of discharge orifices which are intermittently alignable with the outlet apertures in response to relative rotation between the tubes for discharging drops of precrystallized mass onto the cooling surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an aerosol powder from a melt includes an atomization die having an orifice through which the melt passes to create the powder. In a preferred embodiment, the orifice has a dimension less than 5 millimeters, and may include a heater to prevent freeze-off. The die may be included in a high-temperature probe suitable for immersion in the melt, so that accumulated accretions of powder on the walls of the probe may be melted off by heating the probe.

Abstract: A free flowing stream of molten metal is motioned to encounter a higher diameter and faster moving free flowing stream of a cooling liquid, such encounter resulting in the splitting of the molten metal into droplets. The droplets in contact with the cooling liquid and entrained therewith are allowed to solidify by cooling; optionally they may undergo further splitting before complete solidification by impingement upon a target arranged to intercept the course of the cooling stream.

Abstract: An apparatus forms granulates from a flowable viscous mass. The mass is delivered to a tubular body and flows downwardly from a lower slit thereof in the form of drops. An endlessly revolving belt travels across the slit in tight engagement therewith. The belt has orifices therein which intermittently open the slit to admit the passage of the drops. The drops fall onto a conveyor which travels below the belt in the same direction and at the same speed as the belt.

Abstract: Amorphous metals are produced by forming a molten droplet (115) of metal from source (126) and deploying the droplet into a focused acoustical levitating field or by dropping the unit through spheroidizing zone (116) slow quenching zone (118) and fast quenching zone (120) in which the droplet is rapidly cooled by in the standing acoustic wave field produced between half-cylindrical acoustic driver (168) and focal reflector (166) or curved driver (38) and reflector (50). The cooling rate can be further augmented by first cryogenic liquid collar (160) and second cryogenic liquid jacket (170) surrounding the drop tower (112). The sphere (117) is quenched to an amorphous solid which can survive impact in the unit collector (124) or is retrieved by vacuum chuck (20).

Abstract: Large, uniform hollow spherical shells are produced by forming uniform size drops of heat decomposable or vaporizable material, evaporating the drops to form dried particles, coating the dried particles with a layer of shell forming material, and heating the composite particles to melt the outer layer and decompose or vaporize the inner particle to form an expanding inner gas bubble which expands the outer layer. By cycling the temperature and pressure on the hollow shells, spherical shells with uniform walls are produced.

Abstract: A device for producing metallic particles utilizing the Coanda Effect to draw one stream of gas toward another stream of gas flowing over a foil. Molten metal is introduced between the two gas streams, and the resulting interaction breaks up the molten metal flow into particles of appropriate size, shape, composition and the like. Various embodiments can be used for the process of producing cast articles, while other versions can be used for the process of coating and deposition of the particles in liquid, solid or partially solidified form onto a substrate.

Abstract: Pore-free metal powders, consisting of powder particles having a singly curved smooth surface and a mean diameter of between 5 and 35 microns are made by providing a container having an inflow opening; flowing metal melt and gas, at a temperature ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 times the solidification temperature of the melt in .degree.K, into the container through the inflow opening; maintaining the ratio of gas pressure within the container to gas pressure outside the container at the inflow opening at less than 1:5, thereby creating a supersonic flow of gas from outside the container, through the inflow opening, and into the container; and contacting the flowing metal melt with the supersonic flow of gas at a point near the inflow opening and thereby forming the melt into threads which subsequently and spontaneously collapse to form the powder particles.

Abstract: An installation is disclosed for processing a wet slurry of raw materials for cement manufacture having from 28% to 45% of water, the installation comprising a horizontal centrifugal separator connected to an extruder which produces slugs of partially dewatered material which is then pelletized and fed to a rotary Portland cement kiln. The extruded slugs can be admixed with dry powdery material to prevent their sticking together and to introduce powdery dry material in the kiln.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying pellets of particulate material such as carbon black is characterized by a columnar drying vessel containing inclined trays or screens positioned so that the pellets or particulates roll from screen to screen down the column. Preferably, the pellets are subjected to countercurrent flow of drying gases while flowing down the screens. In other aspects, carbon black is pelleted with a nonaqueous liquid pelleting fluid and dried with vapors of the same pelleting fluid.

Abstract: Described is di(7-octenyl) carbonate having the structure: ##STR1## and the use thereof as an intermediate in producing the compound having the structure: ##STR2## useful in perfumery.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing powder from a melt by a mechanism for dividing it up. The device has a vertical shaft and a powder outtake that communicates with the shaft. To achieve the objectives of reducing the overall height of such a device and preventing the powder from sintering, the powder outtake consists of the lower section of the shaft and has essentially the same cross-section as the upper section. Both sections, together, essentially determine the overall height of the device. Both sections are connected with a releasable connecting element and can be separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A horizontally positioned rotating table is provided with a rotation means, a means for feeding molten material to the topside of the table as it is rotated, a means for cooling the molten material, and a means for scraping the cooled material from the table. This table is especially useful in continuously receiving a molten salt containing molten metal, cooling it to a friable solid, and scraping the friable solid from the table for further processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing metallic fine particles by use of at least one arc-discharging section located in a hollow interior cavity of a rotary body. Metallic material is dropped into the rotary body during rotation thereof. The metallic material is melted and driven centrifugally through an outlet where it impinges upon a stationary cooled wall of a surrounding casing. When the melted material strikes the cooled wall, the melted material forms small particles. These small particles are then withdrawn through an outlet in the casing.

Abstract: An arrangement for manufacturing powder from a melt by a mechanism for dividing it up. The device has a vertical shaft and a powder outtake that communicates with the shaft through a funnel-shaped housing component. To achieve the objectives of reducing the overall height of such a device and preventing the powder from sintering, the axis of the housing component is perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, and the shaft tilts in a bearing until the axis of the housing component is horizontal.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a particulate metal or alloy having a diameter of less than 5 microns by the reaction of a molten metal or alloy with activated hydrogen. The apparatus has (1) a metal melting hearth for melting a starting metal or alloy placed thereon and supporting the molten metal or alloy, (2) a discharge electrode positioned above, and opposite to, the metal or alloy placed on the melting hearth, (3) a closed vessel for containing the melting hearth and the discharge electrode, and (4) a gas inlet port in the wall of the closed vessel for introducing hydrogen or a hydrogen-containing gas into the vessel.

Abstract: Installation of the type according to which molten mineral, subjected to spraying with water jets, is sent onto a rotary drum, then dispersed as a shower in a closed insulating enclosure provided at its base with a system for receiving the cooled particles or pellets, includes as such drum a fluid-tight drum which is cooled by internal circulation of water in a closed circuit and provided with blades having a special profile in the shape of a scoop or chistera. Further, the receiving system includes a series of vibrating tables placed in a cascade the last table of which, the farthest from the rotary drum and receiving the contents from the upstream tables, pours all the collected dry pellets onto a hooded belt conveyor which brings the pellets to storage hoppers or silos.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for producing a lightweight structural material (12), by forming gas-filled shells (38) of molten material from a matrix of nozzles (22) that form shells of very uniform size at very uniform rates. The matrix of molten shells coalesce into a multi-cell material of controlled cellular structure. The shells can be of two different sizes (38, 44) that are interspersed, to form a multicell material that has a regular cell pattern but which avoids planes of weakness and localized voids. The gas (50) in the shells can be under a high pressure, and can be a fire extinguishing gas.

Abstract: Prilling apparatus for producing prills of ammonium nitrate or urea in which a diverging shroud extends from each prilling head. Means for supplying ammonia is connected to the shroud. The prills pass through a quiescent zone of ammonia in the shroud and the generation of fumes from the apparatus is suppressed. In addition, the prills are coated with a layer of ammonia and are more readily cooled.

Abstract: A sonic levitation apparatus (A) is disclosed which includes a sonic transducer (14) which generates acoustical energy responsive to the level of an electrical amplifier (16). A duct (B) communicates with an acoustical chamber (18) to deliver an oscillatory motion of air to a plenum section (C) which contains a collimated hole structure (D) having a plurality of parallel orifices (10). The collimated hole structure converts the motion of the air to a pulsed, unidirectional stream providing enough force to levitate a material specimen (S).

Abstract: Oxide refractory materials (for example, alumina-zirconia mixtures) can be cast to have an extremely fine crystal structure by casting them onto a non-reactive, non-melting particulate solid cooling media of a material other than that of the oxide refractory material (for example, steel spheres having a size ranging from about 5 to about 60 mm). By using steel spheres as the cooling media, the spheres can be removed from the solidified material with a magnet. The solidified material, when crushed and graded, has exceptional utility as an extremely tough abrasive grain.

Abstract: Metal in the form of granules is solidified from the molten state by forming a jet of molten metal which is caused to pass through a vibrating orifice in order to divide the jet into individual drops and causing solidification of the drops by cooling so as to form the granules. The drops of the jet are caused to fall from the vibrating orifice under the action of gravity through an inert gas atmosphere which is maintained at a temperature below the solidification temperature of the molten metal. In the case of reactive metals, the jet is formed by withdrawal from a mass of molten metal maintained in contact with a bath which is not miscible with the molten mass and selectively dissolves the derivatives produced in the event of oxidation.

Abstract: A vibrating body is so provided as to surround a jet stream composed of a capsule film material and a capsule filler material extruded from the orifice of two coaxial conduits positioned in a cooling liquid medium. The vibrating body can be controlled in reciprocating vibration in the upward and downward directions whereby it is possible to produce waves in the cooling liquid medium which are most suitable for obtaining the required diameter of capsules and the required speed of manufacture. The jet stream is formed into spherical capsule drops at markedly increased speed of manufacture owing to the control of vibration of the vibrating body and interfacial tension.The method for obtaining seamless capsules can ensure the possibility of manufacture of very small capsules, i.e. miniature capsules by mass production which has never been accomplished satisfactorily by the conventional methods and apparatus in the industry.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting molten glass containing radioactive waste into molded pellets or spheres comprising means for generating a flowing stream of the molten glass and a rotating wheel disposed beneath the flowing stream. The wheel is preferably mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and has a series of mold cavities formed in the circumferential wall of the wheel, into which cavities the stream is directed by gravity. The mold cavities have flared side walls so that when the stream strikes the inclined wall it is deflected toward the center of the cavity through a focal point. The side walls of adjacent mold cavities form a knife edge at the surface of the wheel to preclude the bridging of glass from one cavity to another.

Abstract: A method for encapsulation of a liquid or meltable solid material, comprises the steps of forming a jet of a material to be encapsulated, simultaneously forming a coaxial jet of a capsule-forming material surrounding the jet of the material to be encapsulated, forming a coaxial jet of a heated circulating liquid surrounding the coaxial composite jet of the capsule-forming material and the material to be encapsulated, introducing the resultant coaxial triple jet into a flow of a cooling liquid to form capsules composed of a core of the material to be encapsulated and a capsule or coating film of the capsule-forming material. The heated circulating liquid has a temperature close to or higher than that of the capsule-forming material.

Abstract: A device for producing metallic particles utilizes the Coanda Effect to draw one stream of gas toward another stream of gas flowing over a foil. Molten metal is introduced between the two gas streams, and the resulting interaction breaks up the molten metal flow into particles of appropriate size, shape, composition and the like.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for forming semiconductor tear-drop shaped bodies having minimal grain boundaries. Semiconductor material is melted in a capillary tube at the top of a tower, and forced under gas pressure through a nozzle. Separate semiconductor bodies are formed. They are passed through a free fall path over which a predetermined temperature gradient controls solidification of the bodies. The resultant bodies are tear-drop semiconductor bodies of near uniform size with minimal grain boundaries.