Abstract: Porous inorganic silica foam compositions are derived from water soluble silicate precursors and swollen non-ionic polymer templates are described. The compositions are useful as catalyst supports and as catalysts in hydrocarbon cracking and organic reactions, among other applications.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for obtaining a substrate provided with a coating having photocatalytic properties, wherein the coating includes crystallized particles of an oxide of a metal A having photocatalytic properties. The crystallized particles are incorporated into the coating using a mineral binder comprising at least one oxide of a metal B also having photocatalytic properties in the crystallized state. The coating optionally includes at least oxide of a metal M devoid of photocatalytic properties and/or at least one silicon compound of the silicon oxide SiO2 type. The coating is deposited from liquid-phase dispersions containing the crystallized particles of the oxide of metal A and at least one precursor compound for the oxide of metal B of the binder and optionally a precursor compound for the oxide of metal M and for the Si compound, in a relative proportion A/(B+M+Si) by weight of the metals and Si ranging between 60/40 and 40/60.

Abstract: A component (10) having a thermal barrier coating (14) exhibiting an improved resistance to thermal shock. A plurality of stress relieving cracks (22) are formed at the free surface (24) of the thermal barrier coating as a result of the expansion of an inclusion (20) having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the surrounding matrix material (16). The inclusions function as crack initiators during the fabrication process as well as crack arrestors preventing the propagation of the cracks farther into the matrix material. The inclusion material may be selected to have an evaporation temperature that is less than the peak matrix material processing temperature, wherein the inclusion material will evaporate to leave a plurality of voids (30). In one embodiment, a superalloy substrate (12) is coated with a ceramic thermal barrier coating material having a plurality of spherical polymer inclusions disposed below its free surface.

Abstract: This invention intends to provide a friction member which is high in an anti-fading character and low in mate attacking character. For such purpose, in a friction member composed of a fiber containing substrate, a bonding agent and a filling agent, an accumulated blow hole rate of blow holes having hole diameter not less than 3.5 &mgr;m is selected to be not larger than 2 volume %, and an accumulated blow hole rate of blow holes having hole diameter from 0 to 3.5 &mgr;m is selected to be not less than 3 volume %.

Abstract: An anodized micro-pore aluminum tag bearing indicia thereon wherein the micro-pore anodized aluminum has its micro-pores filled with the cured reside of a composition, which contains silicone resin having pendant groups selected from one or more of methyl groups or phenyl groups. The composition in the micro-pores was cured to a degree effective for marking by blackening thereof with a, e.g., CO2, laser beam, in the form of indicia thereon. The surface of the tag preferably is substantially free of said composition. The method for treating the surface of the anodized micro-pore aluminum tag for forming indicia thereon commences by applying the composition to the surface. Excess of the composition from the surface is removed to leave composition resident in said micro-pores. The composition in the micro-pores then is at least partially cured. A laser then can create the indicia by blackening the composition in the micro-pores.

Abstract: An anodized micro-pore aluminum tag bearing indicia thereon wherein the micro-pore anodized aluminum has its micro-pores filled with the cured reside of a composition, which contains silicone resin having pendant groups selected from one or more of methyl groups or phenyl groups. The composition in the micro-pores was cured to a degree effective for marking by blackening thereof with a, e.g., CO2, laser beam, in the form of indicia thereon. The surface of the tag preferably is substantially free of said composition. The method for treating the surface of the anodized micro-pore aluminum tag for forming indicia thereon commences by applying the composition to the surface. Excess of the composition from the surface is removed to leave composition resident in said micro-pores. The composition in the micro-pores then is at least partially cured. A laser then can create the indicia by blackening the composition in the micro-pores.

Abstract: A process provides a ceramic film, such as a mesoporous silica film, on a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. The process includes preparing a film-forming fluid containing a ceramic precursor, a catalyst, a surfactant and a solvent, depositing the film-forming fluid on the substrate, and removing the solvent from the film-forming fluid on the substrate to produce the ceramic film on the substrate. The ceramic film has a dielectric constant below 2.3, a halide content of less than 1 ppm and a metal content of less than 500 ppm, making it useful for current and future microelectronics applications.

Abstract: A biodegradable breathable film is formed by mixing a biodegradable polymer with a particulate filler, forming the mixture into a film, and stretching the film uniaxially or biaxially to cause voids to form around the filler particles. The film may be laminated to a fibrous nonwoven web to form a laminate, and the fibrous nonwoven web may also be formed from a biodegradable polymer. The biodegradable film and laminate are useful in a wide variety of disposable personal care absorbent articles and disposable medical articles.

Abstract: A powder injection molding process involves providing a melt mixture that includes a powder and a binder. The melt mixture is pressurized in an injection molding machine and a gas is injected into the melt mixture. The melt mixture and gas are injected into at least one mold to form a green part and the binder is removed from the green part.

Abstract: A composition containing a function improver and an inorganic porous crystals-hydrophilic macromolecule composite wherein the hydrophilic macromolecule contains inorganic porous crystals in its inner matrix, and a product made therefrom The product, textile, nonwoven fabric, paper and laminate obtained from the composition of the present invention come to have high strength in addition to the gas adsorption capability, volatile organic solvent removing capability, noncombustibility, heat insulating property, and heavy metal and radioactive element removing capability that the inorganic porous crystals-hydrophilic macromolecule composite (A) possesses. It is also possible to improve a touch and the like, so that the composition is useful as a material having additional functions.

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 low to near-zero metal matrix composite material featuring high modulus carbon fibers reinforcing a lightweight metal or semimetal. The fibers have a negative coefficient of thermal expansion in the axial direction. Laminates featuring parallel arrays of fibers may be cross-plied to produce quasi-isotropic properties in the composite body. The CTE of the composite body depends not only upon the relative CTE's of the fibers and matrix, and their relative amounts (e.g., loadings), but also upon the relative elastic moduli of the fibers and matrix. By intentionally introducing porosity into the matrix, the elastic modulus of the matrix is reduced, and thus the CTE of the composite body is influenced more by the CTE contribution of the fibers. In effect, the composite CTE is shifted toward that of the fibers, which shifting represents a reduction in composite CTE. Hydrogen outgassing upon solidification of the metallic matrix is one technique for producing such porosity.

Abstract: A method of making anisotropic carbon foam material includes de-ashing and hydrogenating bituminous coal, separating asphaltenes from oils contained in the coke precursor, coking the material to create a carbon foam. In one embodiment of the invention, the carbon foam is subsequently graphitized. The pores within the foam material are preferably generally of equal size. The pore size and carbon foam material density may be controlled by (a) altering the percentage volatiles contained within the asphaltenes to be coked, (b) mixing the asphaltenes with different coking precursors which are isotropic in nature, or (c) modifying the pressure under which coking is effected. In another embodiment of the invention, solvent separation is employed on raw bituminous coal and an isotropic carbon foam is provided. A related carbon foam product is disclosed. The carbon foam materials of the present invention are characterized by having high compressive strength as compared with prior known carbon foam materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of adhering adherends, including (i) providing at least two adherends at least one of which is made of a flexible material, and (ii) joining the adherends together to form a structure using a heat-resistant adhesive composition containing mainly 1) a polycarbodiimide resin and an epoxy resin, or 2) a polycarbodiimide resin, an epoxy resin and a curing agent for the polycarbodiimide resin, or 3) a polycarbodiimide resin, an epoxy resin and a curing agent for the epoxy resin. The heat-resistant adhesive composition can be applied under mild conditions, and the resultant structure has excellent heat resistance and chemical resistance, and has superior adhesion strength particularly at high temperatures.

Abstract: An amorphous carbon film, preferably disposed on and substantially filling the pores in a porous anodized aluminum outer surface, wherein the amorphous carbon film comprises as an integral component an effective amount of a lubricity-increasing agent, preferably sulfur.

Abstract: The invention concerns a coated sheet which includes an aerogel layer, a method of manufacturing the coated sheet and its use.

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: Disclosed herein is an anti-fogging coating formed on the surface of an optical substrate, wherein the anti-fogging coating comprises a water-absorbing film and a porous film in the order near to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of derivatizing semiconductor surfaces, particularly porous silicon surfaces with silicon-carbon units. The derivatization occurs through the direct addition of an organometallic reagent in the absence of an external energy source such as heat and photo- or electrochemical energies. The method of the invention allows the formation of unique intermediates including silicon hydride units bonded to metal ions. Because of these unique intermediates, it is possible to form previously inaccessible silicon-carbon units, for example where the carbon atom is an unsaturated carbon atom. Such inaccessible silicon-carbon units also include silicon-polymer covalent bond formation, in particular where the polymer is a conducting polymer. Thus, the present invention also provides a novel semiconductor surface/polymer junction having improved interfacial interactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coloured porous material comprising in its pores an effectively colouring amount of an organic pigment which is obtainable by fragmenting a meltable or solvent-soluble pigment precursor, and to a process for its preparation. The present invention also relates to the use of the instant coloured porous material powders as pigments for high molecular weight organic materials.

Abstract: A filter media system, which is capable of operating in the microfiltration regime, offers: low cost, durability, high temperature and chemical resistance, no particulation, mechanical strength, separation efficiency, and biocompatibility. A filter media system is comprised of a carbon or ceramic composite substrate which contains a carbon or ceramic matrix reinforced with carbon or ceramic fibers. The composite has an array of carbon or ceramic fiber whiskers grown onto its surface or in its bulk. A process is provided for manufacturing the filter media system wherein a carbon fiber is disposed in a matrix deposited by a CVI or LPI process, at temperatures of about 900 to about 1200° C. to achieve a weight gain of about 10 to 200% (the ceramic matrix is deposited by a CVI process from an aqueous slurry or by use of a preceramic polymer). This composite is treated with an aqueous solution of metal catalyst salt and is then heated in hydrogen at elevated temperatures to reduce the metal salt to metal.

Abstract: A ceramic composite includes (a) 30 to 60% by volume of C-fibers; (b) 10 to 55% by volume of a matrix made of SiC and C, wherein the weight ratio SiC:C is in the range of between 20:1 and 2:1; (c) 5 to 40% by volume porosity that may be open or closed. A base material is formed from a)+b)+c).

Abstract: A cutting insert which comprises a rake face and a flank face wherein there is a cutting edge at the juncture of the rake face and the flank face. The cutting insert has a coating and a substrate wherein the coating is adherently bonded to the substrate. The substrate is a tungsten carbide-based cemented carbide wherein there is a zone of non-stratified cobalt enrichment beginning near and extending inwardly from a peripheral surface of the substrate. The bulk substrate has a porosity of greater than C00 and less than or equal to C04.

Abstract: An active composite, consisting of a compressed support and of at least one agent that is active with respect to a gas, the compressed support comprising recompressed expanded graphite having a relative density of between 0.02 and 1.5, is formed from a series of sheets superposed on top of one another. According to the invention, the active agent is dispersed between the sheets in the form of granules.

Abstract: A photocatalytic functional material having an excellent photocatalytic activity even by a low temperature heat treatment and having a high mechanical strength of the surface. The photocatalytic functional material of the present invention comprises a surface layer (a photocatalytic functional layer) containing a photocatalyst, an electron trapping metal and a photodegradation-resistant matrix. Though the major proportion of the photocatalyst (TiO2 particles, and the like) in the photocatalytic functional layer are covered with the photodegradation-resistant matrix (a thermosetting resin, and the like), the electron-trapping metal effectively traps the electrons generated by the photocatalytic reaction, retains positive holes and generates active oxygen species, so that the photocatalytic function such as deodorant and antimicrobial activities can be fully exhibited.

Abstract: A method of making an anisotropic or isotropic carbon foam include introducing at least one reinforcing additive which may be carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, chopped graphite fibers, crushed green coke, crushed calcined coke or combinations thereof during the process of manufacturing the carbon foam to enhance selected strength properties of the resultant foam. A resultant product is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink jet recording material produced by preparing a material (i) for transfer use, which has on a support having a high surface smoothness an ink receiving layer comprising a porous inorganic composition and a resin component; preparing another material (ii) to undergo transfer, which has at least one ink receiving layer coated on at least one side of a substrate; bonding the ink receiving layer of the material (i) to the ink receiving layer of the material (ii) in tight contact to form a united ink receiving layer; and then peeling the support of the material (i) off the united ink receiving layer to reproduce the surface shape of the support at the surface of the united ink receiving layer; wherein the united ink receiving layer has a total thickness of at least 20 &mgr;m and a gloss of at least 60% when measured at the incident angle of 60° according to JIS Z8741: and a method of producing the aforesaid ink jet recording material.