Abstract: An article of manufacture includes a metallic nonfoam region, and a ceramic foam region joined to the metallic region. The ceramic foam region is an open-cell solid ceramic foam made of ceramic cell walls having an intracellular volume therebetween. The ceramic is preferably alumina. The intracellular volume may be empty porosity, or an intracellular metal such as an intracellular nickel-base superalloy.

Abstract: The present invention is a porous structure formed with areas of porous material and areas of reduced porosity or non-porous material. Preferably, the structure is formed in the arrangement of a desired pattern of porous and reduced porosity or non-porous areas. The patterned structure is formed through the collapse of selected portions of the porous structure in the shape of the desired pattern to render these portions of reduced porosity or non-porous while the remaining portions of the structure remain porous. The use of heat and/or pressure is preferred to collapse the selected areas. The collapse may be aided by the use of a softening solvent or solvent/non-solvent mixture. The process can be applied to any polymeric porous structure of any pore size such as ultrafiltration or microfiltration, made by any process such as by track etch, stretching, casting, sintering or extrusion. In addition, it may be used with woven or nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: A non-single crystalline semiconductor material includes coordinatively irregular structures characterized by distorted chemical bonding, reduced dimensionality and novel electronic properties. A process for forming the material permits variation of the size, concentration and spatial distribution of coordinatively irregular structures. The electronic properties of the material can be changed by controlling the characteristics of the coordinatively irregular structures.

Abstract: We have discovered that the formation of particulate inclusions at the surface and the interior of an aluminum alloy article interferes with the performance of the article when a surface of the article is protected by an anodized coating. We have also discovered that the formation of such particulate inclusions can be controlled to a large extent by controlling the concentration of particular impurities present in the alloy used to fabricate the aluminum alloy article.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel a single crystal silicon wafer. In one embodiment, this wafer comprises: (a) two major generally parallel surfaces (i.e., the front and back surfaces); (b) a central plane between and parallel to the front and back surfaces; (c) a front surface layer which comprises the region of the wafer extending a distance of at least about 10 &mgr;m from the front surface toward the central plane; and (d) a bulk layer which comprises the region of the wafer extending from the central plane to the front surface layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coated article having enhanced reversible thermal properties. The coated article comprises a substrate having a surface and a coating covering a portion of the surface and comprising a polymeric material and a temperature regulating material dispersed in the polymeric material. The coating is formed with a plurality of regions of discontinuity that are separated from one another and expose a remaining portion of the surface to provide improved flexibility, softness, air permeability, or water vapor transport properties. The coated article may be used in apparel, footwear, medical products, containers and packagings, building materials, appliances, and other products.

Abstract: The technique of the present invention includes a plurality of micro-porous granulate structures made of polypropylene comprising phase change material. The micro-porous polypropylene granulate structure absorbs and holds about 60% to 75% of a phase change material. The micro-porous polypropylene granulate structures with incorporated phase change material are free flowing, conformable powders or pellets possessing particle sizes between 0.01 millimeter and 1.0 millimeter. The phase change materials incorporated in the micro-porous polypropylene granulate structures are alkyl hydrocarbons, salt hydrates, poly-alcohols, or eutectics with melting and freezing temperatures between −10° C. and 150° C. In order to manufacture the micro-porous polypropylene granulates comprising phase change material the granulate is stirred into the liquefied phase change material.

Abstract: Polymeric materials having a plurality of cells formed therein are described. The polymeric materials include a foamed layer comprising a plurality of uniform microcells, nanocells or combinations thereof in a closed cell network, a transition layer positioned adjacent to the foamed layer, and at least one unfoamed outer layer positioned adjacent to the transition layer. The foamed layer may be present in a volume ranging from about 80 to about 99 percent based on the volume of the polymeric material, the transition layer may present in a volume ranging from about 0 to about 10 percent based on the volume of the polymeric material, and the at least one outer layer may be present in a volume ranging from about 0.01 to about 10 percent based on the volume of the polymeric material. Methods of making such polymeric materials are also described, as are apparatus for providing foamed polymeric materials.

Abstract: Polymeric articles, including membranes, with surfaces having a desired chemical functionality are created by surface segregation of a branched component blended with a compatible, matrix base component, the branched component having the desired chemical functionality. In particular, hydrophilic surfaces are created via surface segregation of a branched hydrophilic copolymer blended into a polymer matrix. The use of branched molecular architecture provides a thermodynamic mechanism for the segregation of the hydrophilic species to the surface and a means for achieving a high surface coverage of the hydrophilic moiety. The branched hydrophilic copolymer can be defined by a random copolymer including two or more methacrylate or acrylate monomers, at least one of which features a short hydrophilic side chain, such as a polyethylene glycol side chain. The branched hydrophilic copolymer is compatible, and well-entangled, with the acrylate polymer matrix.

Abstract: A gas/liquid contact media for use in an evaporative cooler has a fibrous material structure impregnated with a polymer-based continous phase designed to have solubility and interfacial tension properties that promote intimate wetting with in-service water while inhibiting scale deposition, and an overall cationic charge on the polymer to repel positively charged particles or ions in the water in order to further prevent scale build-up on the media.

Abstract: A foam plank laminate of thermoplastic material comprises at least two expanded foam sheets, both partially perforated, and laminated with the perforated surfaces facing each other and the smooth non perforated surfaces as the outer plank surfaces. The foam plank laminate can be obtained by an industrially acceptable production method as the partial perforation of the forming foam sheets accelerates the removal of a majority of the blowing agent from the foam structure, thus drastically reducing the curing time, and at the same time it has impermeability, good mechanical properties, and an attractive appearance.

Abstract: Adhesive tape for a bond which can be redetached by pulling, without residue or damage, having a foam backing coated on one or both sides with a self-adhesive composition, characterized in that

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced lightweight resin molded article with pores has a portion having a porosity lower than that of other general portions. Such a low-porosity portion serves as a rib in the resultant molded articles, to thereby enables to provide a fiber-reinforced lightweight resin molded article having excellent rigidity, bending strength, impact strength, uniformity of strength, resistance to local stress and torsion. The present invention also provides an efficient method for manufacturing the fiber-reinforced lightweight resin molded article.

Abstract: A thin diamond film layer is formed on a substrate with good adherence. A heatsink includes a substrate of a sintered compact including Cu and W, and a thin diamond film layer formed on the surface of the substrate. The Cu content in the substrate is at least 5% by weight. In an X-ray diffraction chart obtained by irradiating the thin diamond film layer with an X-ray, the diffraction peak intensity of the (110) plane of W is at least 100 times the diffraction peak intensity of the (200) plane of Cu.

Abstract: A gas diffusion electrode made of carbon, a process for producing an electrode and a carbonizable composite are provided. Thin, flat, porous gas diffusion electrodes made of carbon, which have a smooth surface and in which the porosity can be regulated at will, are obtained by pyrolysis of a composite of an organic polymer having a spatial globular structure (SGS polymer) and a reinforcing skeleton formed at least in part of organic material.

Abstract: An ink wastage absorber is made from a flexible polyurethane foam having an air-permeability of 1.0 cc/cm2/sec or more, or is made from a flexible polyurethane foam produced by using a foamable raw material containing a polyol, an isocyanate, a catalyst, and a foaming agent, wherein the polyurethane foam is impregnated with a surface active agent. An ink supporter includes an ink permeation member provided at a portion corresponding to a printer head and an ink absorbing member being in contact with the ink permeation member.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing macro-porous synthetic ceramics designed in particular for bone substitution. The invention also concerns macro-porous synthetic ceramics comprising pores of controlled dimensions, distributed in number and in surface in a predetermined manner, the interconnection between the pores thereof being controlled.

Abstract: A molded resin laminate in which the dimensional accuracy and the strength are excellent at a bent portion and a method for producing the same are provided. One, in which an average diameter of small cells existing in a region on a side of a resin cover to be formed into a surface layer is smaller than an average diameter of large cells existing in a region on a side of a base resin component to be formed into a base layer, is used as a foamed resin component to be formed into an intermediate layer of the molded resin laminate. After the base resin component is molded with a molding machine, the base resin component is held on a male mold of a forming machine different from the molding machine described above. A sheet-shaped laminate, which is obtained by joining the foamed resin component and the resin cover, is arranged between the base resin component and a female mold. Subsequently, the forming machine is subjected to mold clamping.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel a single crystal silicon wafer. The wafer comprises: (a) two major generally parallel surfaces (ie., the front and back surfaces); (b) a central plane between and parallel to the front and back surfaces; (c) a front surface layer which comprises the region of the wafer extending a distance of at least about 10 &mgr;m from the front surface toward the central plane; and (d) a bulk layer which comprises the region of the wafer extending from the central plane to the front surface layer.

Abstract: A Si—SiC material of Si concentration-gradient type is obtained by melt-infiltrating Si into a molded material comprising SiC particles. The Si—SiC material has a porosity of 1.0% or less and in the Si—SiC material the Si concentration decreases gradually from the surface layer towards the innermost layer. A SiC fiber-reinforced Si—SiC composite material of Si concentration-gradient type is obtained by melt-infiltrating Si into a molded material comprising a SiC fiber and SiC particles. The composite material has a porosity of 1.0% or less and in the composite material the Si concentration decreases gradually from the surface layer towards the innermost layer. These materials are significantly improved in corrosion resistance in highly oxidative and corrosive environment, strength, and healability of defects of surface layer and innermost layer.

Abstract: A heat absorbing coating having a plurality of micro-capsules each being an encapsulant shell and a heat absorbing material within the shell, and a carrier adherable to a substrate and throughout which the micro-capsules are dispersed. The heat absorbing material is preferably a phase change material and can be non-limitedly chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polywax, and combinations thereof. Shell material can be a metal such as copper, for example, or a polymer. The carrier can be a sprayable polymer mix which provides significant efficacy in uniform application to a substrate. An inventive substrate structure, such as an aircraft structure for example, has thereon the above-defined coating in an amount sufficient to absorb a sufficient amount of heat from the substrate to substantially inhibit thermal erosion in normal operating environments.

Abstract: The invention concerns a composite body consisting of a hard metal, cermet or ceramic substrate body and at least one layer of a mechanically resistant material, a ceramic substance, a diamond-like layer, amorphous carbon and/or hexagonal boron nitride. The invention also concerns a method of producing this composite body, wherein, when the green compact has been dewaxed, with its pores still open and whilst it continues to be heated as from a temperature of between 600° C. and 1100° C., it is acted upon by sublimable solids and/or reaction gases which are necessary for coating purposes. The temperature of the green compact is then further increased and the latter is fully compressed by sintering, before one or more layers of the above-mentioned type is/are applied.

Abstract: The present invention converts the regions of the graphite components in a CZ apparatus that are most prone to erosion to silicon carbide, forming a protective treatment (or “coating”). The coating may cover the entire component or preselected areas of the component. The resulting coating slows erosion of the graphite component and prolongs the lifetime of the component. The method of the invention includes applying a silicon-containing paste to a graphite (or other carbon) component and heating the component so that the silicon combines with carbon from the graphite component to form a protective coating. The paste is preferably a mixture of a silicon-containing powder and a carbon-containing liquid.

Abstract: A method for forming an angled plastic article of varying density whereby a blowing agent is added to a plastic material and the material is injected into a mold cavity of a mold unit. The interior walls of the mold cavity are maintained at a temperature sufficient to prevent the outer skin of the hardening plastic article from producing gas bubbles. The volume of the mold cavity is increased to allow bubbles to produce and uniformly distribute themselves throughout the mold cavity and then a reconversion phase is instituted whereby the desired density of the finished plastic article is achieved without voids or aberrations appearing in the surface of the plastic article. The mold unit is provided with extensible beveled edges which extend and retract as the mold cavity is enlarged and compressed. By this method, a resulting plastic article of varying density is produced having grooves running the length of the article.