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Nickel alloy for repairs

A nickel base repair alloy comprises a blend of about 40 to 60 wt % of a first nickel based braze alloy containing boron, about 15 to 35 wt % of a first nickel based filler material, and the remainder consisting of a blend of a second nickel based filler material and a low melting eutectic braze nickel based alloy.




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Bond coating powder comprising MCrAlY (M=Ni,Fe,Co), method of making, and a method of applying as bond coating

Provided is bond coating powder and method of making. The method includes providing a powder including a plurality of parent particles. The method includes providing a plurality of dispersoids. The method includes mechanically alloying the powder and the plurality of dispersoids at ambient temperature. The mechanical alloying operable to provide a selective occupation of the plurality of dispersoids in a grain boundary area of the plurality of parent particles providing the bond coating powder. The plurality of dispersoids occupy about 18 percent to about 30 percent of the grain boundary area of the bond coating powder.




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Hierarchical composite material

The present invention discloses a hierarchical composite material comprising a ferrous alloy reinforced with titanium carbides according to a defined geometry, in which said reinforced portion comprises an alternating macro-microstructure of millimetric areas concentrated with micrometric globular particles of titanium carbide separated by millimetric areas essentially free of micrometric globular particles of titanium carbide, said areas concentrated with micrometric globular particles of titanium carbide forming a microstructure in which the micrometric interstices between said globular particles are also filled by said ferrous alloy.




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Fine grained cemented carbide with refined structure

The present invention relates to a fine grained WC-Co cemented carbide. By adding an extremely small amount of Ti, V, Zr, Ta or Nb alone or in combinations, a grain refined cemented carbide structure with less abnormal WC-grains has been obtained.




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Electrically conductive compositions comprising non-eutectic solder alloys

Transient liquid phase sintering compositions comprising one or more high melting point metals and one or more low melting temperature alloys are known in the art as useful compositions for creating electrically and/or thermally conductive pathways in electronic applications. The present invention provides transient liquid phase sintering compositions that employ non-eutectic low melting temperature alloys for improved sintering and metal matrix properties.




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Platinum-coated non-noble metal-noble metal core-shell electrocatalysts

Core-shell particles encapsulated by a thin film of a catalytically active metal are described. The particles are preferably nanoparticles comprising a non-noble core with a noble metal shell which preferably do not include Pt. The non-noble metal-noble metal core-shell nanoparticles are encapsulated by a catalytically active metal which is preferably Pt. The core-shell nanoparticles are preferably formed by prolonged elevated-temperature annealing of nanoparticle alloys in an inert environment. This causes the noble metal component to surface segregate and form an atomically thin shell. The Pt overlayer is formed by a process involving the underpotential deposition of a monolayer of a non-noble metal followed by immersion in a solution comprising a Pt salt. A thin Pt layer forms via the galvanic displacement of non-noble surface atoms by more noble Pt atoms in the salt. The overall process is a robust and cost-efficient method for forming Pt-coated non-noble metal-noble metal core-shell nanoparticles.




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Process for producing pig iron or liquid primary steel products

A process for producing pig iron or liquid primary steel products is provided. Charge materials containing iron ore and, if appropriate, additions are reduced in at least one reduction unit by means of a reducing gas, and at least parts thereof are smelted in a smelting unit, with coal being added and with formation of the reducing gas. Reducing gas from the smelting unit and/or top gas from the reduction unit are/is subjected to cleaning. The process water obtained during the wet cleaning is degassed and in the process volatile organic compounds are removed from the process water.




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Powder metallurgical material, production method and application thereof

This invention relates to power metallurgical material, production method and application thereof. A metallurgy powder material with pressure-proof & good compactness, satisfactory to the component content requirements for 316 stainless steel, wherein, 5˜9% (by weight) of Fe3P (or Fe3PO4). The powder metallurgical material has properties of pressure resistance and corrosion resistance, and excellent compactness.




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Methods for producing silver nanoparticles

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for making silver nanoparticles, and includes steps of reacting a silver salt with a phosphene amino acid to make silver nanoparticles. Exemplary phosphene amino acids include trimers, with a particular example being a trimeric amino acid conjugate containing one phosphene group. In an exemplary method of the invention, the silver nanoparticles may be produced in timer periods of less than about 30 minutes, and at temperatures of less than about 40° C. Other methods of the invention are directed to methods for stabilizing silver nanoparticles.




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Pump for delivering flux to molten metal through a shaft sleeve

A pump for pumping molten metal and delivering flux includes a refractory base that can be submerged in molten metal including an impeller chamber, an inlet and an outlet. A refractory shaft sleeve has upper and lower end portions and is fastened to the base at the lower end portion. A motor is disposed near the upper end portion of the shaft sleeve. A refractory shaft extends in the shaft sleeve and is connected to the motor near the upper end portion of the shaft sleeve. A refractory impeller is connected to the shaft and is rotatable in the impeller chamber. A flux feeding device feeds flux into the shaft sleeve. Also featured is a method for delivering flux in the shaft sleeve of the pump and a method for cleaning flux accretions in the shaft sleeve.




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Articles containing copper nanoparticles and methods for production and use thereof

Articles containing a matrix material and plurality of copper nanoparticles in the matrix material that have been at least partially fused together are described. The copper nanoparticles are less than about 20 nm in size. Copper nanoparticles of this size become fused together at temperatures and pressures that are much lower than that of bulk copper. In general, the fusion temperatures decrease with increasing applied pressure and lowering of the size of the copper nanoparticles. The size of the copper nanoparticles can be varied by adjusting reaction conditions including, for example, surfactant systems, addition rates, and temperatures. Copper nanoparticles that have been at least partially fused together can form a thermally conductive percolation pathway in the matrix material.




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Method, arrangement and pelletising plant

A method for the oxidation and sintering of pellets includes the introduction of a first medium into a compartment through an inlet connected to the compartment and the heating of the medium in the inlet through the use of a combustion arrangement. The use of the combustion arrangement includes the ignition of the fuel, the combustion of the fuel, and the transfer of combustion heat to the first medium that is present at the combustion arrangement. In a region in the inlet outside the direct passage of the first medium, the ignition of the fuel, the combustion of the fuel and the transfer of combustion heat to the first medium take place. By the introduction of a second medium into the region in the direct vicinity of the combustion arrangement, the combustion of the fuel and the transfer of combustion heat also to the second medium take place.




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Method of generating hydrogen from the reaction of stabilized aluminum nanoparticles with water and method of forming stabilized aluminum nanoparticles

A method of generating hydrogen gas from the reaction of stabilized aluminum nanoparticles with water is provided. The stabilized aluminum nanoparticles are synthesized from decomposition of an alane precursor in the presence of a catalyst and an organic passivation agent, and exhibit stability in air and solvents but are reactive with water. The reaction of the aluminum nanoparticles with water produces a hydrogen yield of at least 85%.




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Process for recycling of steel industry iron bearing by-products, pellet obtained in that process and use thereof

The present invention relates to a process for the recycling of steel industry iron bearing by-products into a shape suitable for feeding into a direct reduction furnace, comprising the steps of mixing and grinding 50 to 99 wt % of ore and pellet fines and 1 to 50 wt % of slurry, mill scale and/or bag house dust, pelletizing the mixture and indurating the pellets so obtained by heating for 5-60 minutes at a temperature in the range of 1100-1350° C.; and a pellet produced from Iron bearing waste material and having compression strength of at least 2.8 kN and/or a drop number of at least 3.




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Method for leaching of copper and molybdenum

A method for leaching copper and molybdenum from an ore, residue and/or concentrate containing such, in which more than 1% w/w of the total molybdenum is present as a sulfide and in which more than 1% w/w of the total copper is present as an oxide, the method comprising the steps of: exposing the ore, residue and/or concentrate to an aqueous solution of chlorine (I)-based oxidizing species of a pH of at least 3.0; oxidizing the molybdenum by the chlorine-based oxidizing species thereby providing a treated ore, residue and/or concentrate and a reduced aqueous solution of chlorine-based oxidizing species; leaching the treated ore, residue and/or concentrate by exposing the treated ore, residue and/or concentrate to an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution to form a pregnant leach solution containing both copper and molybdenum; and passing the pregnant leach solution containing both copper and molybdenum to a means for metal recovery.




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Highly aromatic compounds and polymers as precursors to carbon nanotube and metal nanoparticle compositions in shaped solids

A method of making metal nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes is disclosed. A mixture of a transition metal compound and an aromatic polymer, a precursor of an aromatic polymer, or an aromatic monomer is heated to form a metal nanoparticle composition, optionally containing carbon nanotubes.




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Mixed alloy solder paste

A solder paste comprises an amount of a first solder alloy powder between about 60 wt % to about 92 wt %; an amount of a second solder alloy powder greater than 0 wt % and less than about 12 wt %; and a flux; wherein the first solder alloy powder comprises a first solder alloy that has a solidus temperature above about 260° C.; and wherein the second solder alloy powder comprises a second solder alloy that has a solidus temperature that is less than about 250° C.




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Nanowire preparation methods, compositions, and articles

Methods of preparing nanowires having small diameters and large lengths are disclosed. Such nanowires are useful in electronics applications.




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Composition for the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles in an ionic liquid and associated method

The invention relates to a composition for synthesizing bimetallic nanoparticles, wherein the composition contains a first organometallic precursor and a second organometallic precursor having different decomposition rates and contained within an ionic liquid solution. The invention also relates to a method for synthesizing bimetallic nanoparticles, in which the composition is transformed under a hydrogen gas pressure between 0.1 and 10 MPa at a temperature between 0 and 150° C. until a suspension of bimetallic nanoparticles is obtained. The resulting nanoparticles are useful in diverse fields including the fields of catalysis and microelectronics.




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Nanowire preparation methods, compositions, and articles

Nanomaterial preparation methods, compositions, and articles are disclosed and claimed. Such methods can provide nanomaterials with improved morphologies relative to previous methods. Such materials are useful in electronic applications.




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Nanowire preparation methods, compositions, and articles

Nanomaterial preparation methods, compositions, and articles are disclosed and claimed. Such methods can provide nanomaterials with improved morphologies relative to previous methods. Such materials are useful in electronic applications.




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Process for recovering valuable metals from precious metal smelting slag

The present invention provides a process for recovering valuable metals from precious metal smelting slag, comprising: smelting the precious metal smelting slag and a flux in a top-blown rotary furnace to produce a lead-bismuth alloy, wherein the precious metal smelting slag comprises Au, Ag, Bi and Pb; electrolyzing the lead-bismuth alloy at a current density ranging from 60 to 110 A/m2 to obtain lead cathode and lead anode slime; refining the lead anode slime to produce bismuth and silver-zinc crust, and extracting gold and silver separately from the silver-zinc crust. Through utilizing a top-blown rotary furnace as the smelting apparatus and adjusting the ratio of the flux, the present invention enriches the valuable metals gold, silver, bismuth, lead or the like to lead-bismuth alloy, ensures lower contents of gold, silver, bismuth and lead in the reducing slag and thereby increases the comprehensive recovery rates of gold, silver, bismuth and lead from the precious metal smelting slag.




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Metal-bonded graphite foam composites

A metal-bonded graphite foam composite includes a ductile metal continuous phase and a dispersed phase that includes graphite foam particles.




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Sliding part and method of manufacturing the same

There is provided a sliding part in which a surface coverage ratio of copper in the sliding part increases. A bearing which is the sliding part is formed by filling the raw powder into the filling portion of the forming mold, compacting the raw powder to form a powder compact, which is sintered. A copper-based raw powder is composed of a copper-based flat raw powder whose diameter is smaller than that of an iron-based raw powder and an aspect ratio larger than that of the iron-based raw powder, and a copper-based small-sized raw powder whose diameter is smaller than that of the copper-based flat raw powder. The copper is allowed to segregate at the surface of the sliding part. The surface of the bearing is covered with the copper-based small-sized raw powder and the copper-based flat raw powder, thereby the surface coverage ratio of copper can be increased.




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Iron-based sintered alloy, iron-based sintered-alloy member and production process for them

An iron-based sintered alloy of the present invention is an iron-based sintered alloy, which is completed by sintering a powder compact made by press forming a raw material powder composed of Fe mainly, and is such that: when the entirety is taken as 100% by mass, carbon is 0.1-1.0% by mass; Mn is 0.01-1.5% by mass; the sum of the Mn and Si is 0.02-3.5% by mass; and the major balance is Fe. It was found out that, by means of an adequate amount of Mn and Si, iron-based sintered alloys are strengthened and additionally a good dimensional stability is demonstrated. As a result, it is possible to suppress or obsolete the employment of Cu or Ni, which has been believed to be essential virtually, the recyclability of iron-based sintered alloys can be enhanced, and further their cost reduction can be intended.




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Method of making molybdenum-containing targets comprising three metal elements

The invention relates to sputter targets and methods for depositing a layer from a sputter target. The method preferably includes the steps of: placing a sputter target in a vacuum chamber; placing a substrate having a substrate surface in the vacuum chamber; reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber to about 100 Torr or less; removing atoms from the surface of the sputter target while the sputter target is in the vacuum chamber (e.g., using a magnetic field and/or an electric field). The deposited layer preferably is a molybdenum containing alloy including about 50 atomic percent or more molybdenum, 0.5 to 45 atomic percent of a second metal element selected from the group consisting of niobium and vanadium; and 0.5 to 45 atomic percent of a third metal element selected from the group consisting of tantalum, chromium, vanadium, niobium, and titanium.




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Additive for treating resulphurized steel

A cored wire for introducing additive into a bath of liquid steel, of the type comprising a metal sheath surrounding said additive, characterized in that said additive predominantly comprises calcium silicate. A process for manufacturing a resulfurized steel, characterized in that it comprises a step of introducing, into the bath of liquid steel, such a cored wire.




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Method, arrangement, and pelletising plant

A method during the oxidation and sintering of pellets includes the introduction of a first medium into the compartment through an inlet connected to the compartment and the heating of the first medium in the inlet through the use of a combustion arrangement. The use of the combustion arrangement includes the ignition of the fuel, combustion of the fuel, and the transfer of the combustion heat to the first medium that is present at the combustion arrangement. A second medium is introduced to the inlet through an intake in the direct vicinity of the combustion arrangement, where the ignition of the fuel and the combustion of the fuel take place for the transfer of combustion heat also to the second medium. The heated first medium and the heated second medium are mixed before or during their introduction into the compartment.




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Methods of producing nanoparticle reinforced metal matrix nanocomposites from master nanocomposites

Methods of forming metal matrix nanocomposites are provided. The methods include the steps of introducing a master metal matrix nanocomposite into a molten metal at a temperature above the melting temperature of the master metal matrix nanocomposite, allowing at least a portion of the master metal matrix nanocomposite to mix with the molten metal and, then, solidifying the molten metal to provide a second metal matrix nanocomposite.




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Hydrometalurgical process and apparatus for recovering metals from waste material

The invention is directed to a process and apparatus for recovering metals from bottom ash from incineration plants, such as municipal waste incineration plants. The process includes directing a feed containing ash into an oxidizing unit, wherein at least part of the metals is oxidized in the presence of one or more acids and at least one oxygen donor, thus producing a stream comprising metal ions. From this stream the metals of interest are selected and converted into metallic form.




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Method for separating positive-pole active substance and method for recovering valuable metals from lithium ion battery

The present invention aims at improving a recovery rate of a positive-pole active substance and preventing a recovery loss of valuable metals when a positive-pole active substance is separated from a lithium ion battery. In the present invention, a material resulting from battery dismantling obtained by dismantling a lithium ion battery is stirred using a surfactant solution, whereby a positive-pole active substance is separated from a positive-electrode substrate. Also, it is preferable that an alkaline solution is added to a positive-electrode material of a material resulting from battery dismantling, thereby dissolving a positive-electrode substrate to which a positive-pole active substance adheres to obtain a slurry containing the positive-pole active substance, and a surfactant solution is added to the slurry to disperse the positive-pole active substance in the slurry, whereby the positive-pole active substance is separated from the alkaline solution.




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Liquid level sensor

A quartz glass liquid level sensor includes a support frame, a light masking plate, a quartz glass tube, and a sensor module. The light masking plate is movably mounted on the support frame. The quartz glass tube is movably mounted to the support frame. One end of the quartz glass tube is securely fixed to the light masking plate. The sensor module is mounted on the support frame, for sensing a position of the light masking plate relative to the support frame.




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Method and device for breaking up ore

The invention relates to methods and devices for breaking up ore. The methods and devices are characterized in particular in that ore mineral or ore minerals can be subsequently easily extracted. For this purpose coherent NIR radiation, non-coherent NIR radiation, at least one electric alternating field having a frequency greater than 300 GHz, at least one magnetic alternating field having a frequency greater than 300 GHz, at least one electromagnetic alternating field having a frequency greater than 300 GHz, or a combination thereof are respectively applied to the ore at least once by means of a device for generating the radiation, the at least one alternating field, or the radiation and the at least one alternating field, wherein ore mineral, ore minerals, absorbent components, or ore minerals and absorbent components of the ore absorb(s) energy from the radiation, the alternating field, or the radiation and the alternating field and said energy is not or is only slightly absorbed by the lode matter. Thus, advantageously, cracks are formed in the ore or the ore splits by means of the resulting stresses.




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Process for production of sintered copper alloy sliding material and sintered copper alloy sliding material

Seizure resistance and wear resistance of Cu—Bi—In copper-alloy sliding material are enhanced by forming a soft phase of as pure as possible Bi. Mixed powder of Cu—In cuprous alloy powder and Cu—Bi containing Cu-based alloy powder is used. A sintering condition is set such that Bi moves outside particles of said Cu—Bi containing Cu-based powder and forms a Bi grain-boundary phase free of In, and In diffuses from said Cu—In containing Cu-based powder to said Cu—Bi containing Cu-based powder.




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Process for producing refractory metal alloy powders

A process for producing refractory metal alloy powders includes the steps of blending at least one powder with at least one solvent and at least one binder to form a slurry; forming a plurality of agglomerates from the slurry; screening the plurality of agglomerates; sintering the plurality of agglomerates; and melting said plurality of agglomerates to form a plurality of homogenous, densified powder particles.




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System and method for fabrication of 3-D parts

The method for forming a 3-D metal object by 3-D printing or injection molding comprising providing as a feed material metal particles formed by establishing multiple metal components in a primary billet of a ductile material, working the primary billet through a series of reduction steps to form the components into elongated elements, leaching the ductile material from the elongated elements and reducing the length to short uniform lengths.




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System and method for reducing iron oxide to metallic iron using coke oven gas and oxygen steelmaking furnace gas

Novel systems and methods are described for reducing iron oxide to metallic iron in an integrated steel mill or the like that has a coke oven and/or an oxygen steelmaking furnace. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel systems and methods for reducing iron oxide to metallic iron using coke oven gas (COG) or COG and basic oxygen furnace gas (BOFG).




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Oxidation method

The present invention relates to a novel process for producing metal composites by internal oxidation.




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Gallium-68 purification

A method is described for obtaining purified 68Ga. The method comprises eluting 68Ga from a sorbent in and/or on which are sorbed 68Ga and 68Ge, so as to generate a crude 68Ga solution. The sorbent should have a higher affinity for 68Ge than for 68Ga. The crude 68Ga solution is then applied to a medium cation exchange resin, and the resin is eluted with an aqueous alcohol so as to retain the 68Ga on the resin and remove unwanted species from the resin. The resin is then eluted with an eluent, which may be an acidic solution, an alkaline solution or a solution of a species capable of complexing 68Ga ions, so as to obtain an eluate comprising purified 68Ga ions.




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Method for making metal-based nano-composite material

A method for making a metal-based nano-composite material is disclosed. In the method, a semi-solid state metal-based material is provided. The semi-solid state metal-based material is stirred and nano-sized reinforcements are added into the semi-solid state metal-based material to obtain a semi-solid state mixture. The semi-solid state mixture is heated to a temperature above a liquidus temperature of the metal-based material, to achieve a liquid-metal-nano-sized reinforcement mixture. The liquid-metal-nano-sized reinforcement mixture is ultrasonically processed at a temperature above the liquidus temperature by conducting ultrasonic vibrations to the liquid-metal-nano-sized reinforcement mixture along different directions at the same time.




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Process for producing reduced iron pellets, and process for producing pig iron

In a method for producing a reduced iron pellet, when a powder formed article including iron oxide and carbon is heated and reduced in a rotary hearth furnace, a formed article produced using a raw material, in which an average diameter of the iron oxide is 50 microns or less and a ratio of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in a reduction zone is from 0.3 to 1, is reduced at a temperature of 1400° C. or less, thereby producing a reduced iron pellet in which a metallization ratio of iron is 50 to 85% and a ratio of residual carbon is 2% or less.




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Methods of manufacturing high aspect ratio silver nanowires

A process for manufacturing high aspect ratio silver nanowires is provided, wherein the recovered silver nanowires exhibit an average diameter of 25 to 80 nm and an average length of 10 to 100 μm; and, wherein the total glycol concentration is




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Nanowire preparation methods, compositions, and articles

Nanomaterial preparation methods, compositions, and articles are disclosed and claimed. Such methods can provide nanomaterials with improved morphologies and reduced nitric oxide co-production relative to previous methods. Such materials are useful in electronic applications.




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Method and apparatus for high temperature production of metals

Carbothermic reduction of magnesium oxide at approximately 2200 degrees Kelvin yields a high temperature mixture of magnesium vapors and carbon monoxide gas. Previous processes have sought to cool or alter the mixture to cause the yield of pure magnesium, which is then used in subsequent processes for its reducing properties. The present invention takes advantage of the stability and inertness of carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures enabling the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture from the carbothermic process to be used directly for the production of other metals at high temperatures. Chromium oxide, manganese oxide, zinc oxide and sulfide, and several other metal compounds can be reduced by the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture at temperatures high enough to prevent the gas mixture from back-reacting to magnesium oxide and carbon.




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Recycling of solids in oxidative pressure leaching of metals using halide ions

The invention provides a recycling step in an oxidative pressure leaching process for recovery of metals using halide ions, in which a portion of the leached solids are recycled back to the feed to the autoclave, to allow two or more passes through the high temperature leaching step.




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Systems and methods for localization of tire pressure monitoring system wheel modules

Embodiments relate to unidirectional TPMS utilizing information from a corresponding vehicle system in order to correlate with vehicle speed information to be used in a tire localization methodology. In an embodiment, the vehicle system is an anti-lock brake system (ABS), and the vehicle speed can be used in a localization scheme that reconstructs a +/−1 g ripple with waveform, amplitude, frequency and phase parameters. Because the waveform is known to be sinusoidal (due to the wheel rotation), the amplitude is known to be 2 g peak-to-peak (due to the gravitational +/−1 g), the frequency depends on vehicle speed (which can be estimated from centrifugal force measurements), and an algorithm is discussed herein for determining the phase by correlation, the +/−1 g ripple can be reconstructed and the wheels localized therefrom.




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Tire inflating station and method for inflating tires

In a tire inflating station for inflating a tubeless tire arranged on a rim with a pressurized gas, arranged on a stand are a conveyor for receiving and conveying a wheel consisting of a wheel rim and a tire mounted on the wheel rim, and an inflation device above the conveyor and having an inflation opening which can be connected to a gas supply. The lower side of the inflation device has a carrier plate that is mounted to move backwards and forwards along an axis between at least two positions in a straight-line mechanism. There are inflation rings attached in tandem in a gas-tight manner to the lower side of a carrier plate. Inside the inflation rings, the carrier plate has a respective continuous opening. In each of the different working positions of the carrier plate, another of the continuous openings is connected to the inflation opening of the inflation device, which inflation opening is arranged on the upper side of the carrier plate.




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Tire changing machine with force detection and control methods

Tire changing machines having force feedback and position control systems are described that may be used to control operation of one or more components of the machine during a tire change procedure. Information may be provided to a machine operator concerning detected operating conditions during the procedure. Excessive or abnormal forces or component positions can be detected and corrective action may be taken at any point in the tire change procedure. Successful component position profiles may be saved for future recall and execution by the machine.




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Tire run-flat removal and installation machine

The tire run-flat ring removal and installation machine includes three basic embodiments, each having a tire support table (14) and actuators for removing and/or reinstalling the run-flat ring (R) in the tire (T). The actuators may be hydraulically, pneumatically, or electromechanically powered, and save the technician considerable time and effort in the process.




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Heated cutting blade, cutting head, and blade mounting structure

The present invention provides a method and apparatus of reducing current requirements by increasing resistance of the blade structure by reducing the cross sectional area of at least one section of the blade so that the electrical current requirements for heating of the blade to cutting temperature are reduced wherein the power supply and substantially entire unit may be mounted within a hand held unit. Methods of shaping blades to perform various heat distributions for specialty blades for custom cutting are disclosed. Further, an improved blade mounting structure is provided which includes structure for maintaining the legs of the blade parallel to the direction of cut and provides for easy insertion of new blades by maintaining a slotted blade cradle stable and in alignment with the blades and a clamp member away from the blade when the clamp mounting structure is loosened.