176 results about "Gaseous atmosphere" patented technology

A semiconductor processing apparatus is disclosed, comprising a process chamber configured to contain a heated, gaseous atmosphere, the apparatus further comprising a number of mechanical parts, at least one of which parts is provided at least partly with a heat reflective, amorphous SiO2 powder coating. Also disclosed is a method for treating a component of a semiconductor processing apparatus, comprising at least partly providing a surface of the component with an amorphous SiO2 powder coating, and optionally sealing a surface of the applied coating.

A method for the synthesis of compounds of the formula C-LixM1-yM'y(XO4)n, where C represents carbon cross-linked with the compound LixM1-yM'y(XO4)n, in which x, y and n are numbers such as 0<=x<=2, 0<=y<=0.6, and 1<=n<=1.5, M is a transition metal or a mixture of transition metals from the first period of the periodic table, M' is an element with fixed valency selected among Mg<2+>, Ca<2+>, Al<3+>, Zn<2+> or a combination of these same elements and X is chosen among S, P and Si, by bringing into equilibrium, in the required proportions, the mixture of precursors, with a gaseous atmosphere, the synthesis taking place by reaction and bringing into equilibrium, in the required proportions, the mixture of the precursors, the procedure comprising at least one pyrolysis step of the carbon source compound in such a way as to obtain a compound in which the electronic conductivity measured on a sample of powder compressed at a pressure of 3750 Kg.cm<-2 >is greater than 10<-8 >S.cm<-1>. The materials obtained have excellent electrical conductivity, as well a very improved chemical activity.

Graphite nanoplatelets of expanded graphite and composites and products produced therefrom are described. The graphite is expanded by microwaves or radiofrequency waves in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere. Various devices are described for expanding the intercalated graphite by means of microwaves or other radiofrequency waves to produce the expanded graphite. These devices can be used in a continuous process.

Method of synthesis for a material made of particles having a core and a coating and / or being connected to each other by carbon cross-linking, the core of these particles containing at least one compound of formula LixM1-yM'y(XO4)n, in which x,y and n are numbers such as 0<=x<=2, 0<=y<=0.6 and 1<=n<=1.5, M is a transition metal, M' is an element with fixed valency, and the synthesis is carried out by reaction and bringing into equilibrium the mixture of precursors, with a reducing gaseous atmosphere, in such a way as to bring the transition metal or metals to the desired valency level, the synthesis being carried out in the presence of a source of carbon called carbon conductor, which is subjected to pyrolysis. The materials obtained have excellent electrical conductivity as well as very improved chemical activity.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to an electrode (e.g., front electrode) for use in a photovoltaic device or the like. In certain example embodiments, a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) based front electrode for use in a photovoltaic device may be made by sputtering a ceramic target in a gaseous atmosphere tailored to optimize the electro-optical properties of the resulting TCO coating. For example, using a particular type of atmosphere in the sputtering process can permit the resulting TCO coating (e.g., of or including zinc oxide, zinc aluminum oxide, and / or ITO) to more readily withstand subsequent high temperature processing which may be used during manufacture of the photovoltaic device. Moreover, processing energy resulting from the high temperature(s) may also optionally be used to improve crystallinity characteristics of the TCO.

Graphite nanoplatelets of expanded graphite and polymer composites produced therefrom are described. The graphite is expanded from an intercalated graphite by microwaves or radiofrequency waves in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere. The composites have barrier and / or conductive properties due to the expanded graphite.

The invention provides certain embodiments that involve sputtering techniques for applying a mixed oxide film comprising silica and titania. In these embodiments, the techniques involve sputtering at least two targets in a common chamber (e.g., in a shared gaseous atmosphere). A first of these targets includes silicon, while a second of the targets includes titanium. Further, the invention provides embodiments involving a substrate bearing a hydrophilic coating, which can be deposited by sputtering or any other suitable thin film deposition technique. The invention also provides techniques and apparatuses useful for depositing a wide variety of coating types. For example, the invention provides thin film deposition technologies in which sputtering apparatuses or other thin film deposition apparatuses are employed.

The invention provides certain embodiments that involve sputtering techniques for applying a mixed oxide film comprising silica and titania. In these embodiments, the techniques involve sputtering at least two targets in a common chamber (e.g., in a shared gaseous atmosphere). A first of these targets includes silicon, while a second of the targets includes titanium. Further, the invention provides embodiments involving a substrate bearing a hydrophilic coating, which can be deposited by sputtering or any other suitable thin film deposition technique. The invention also provides techniques and apparatuses useful for depositing a wide variety of coating types. For example, the invention provides thin film deposition technologies in which sputtering apparatuses or other thin film deposition apparatuses are employed.

Methods of improving the adhesion of low resistivity tungsten / tungsten nitride layers are provided. Low resistivity tungsten / tungsten nitride layers with good adhesion are formed by treating a tungsten or tungsten nitride layer before depositing low resistivity tungsten. Treatments include a plasma treatment and a temperature treatment. According to various embodiments, the treatment methods involve different gaseous atmospheres and plasma conditions.

Methods and systems for controlling bubble size and bubble decay rate of glass foams formed during submerged combustion melting. Flowing a molten mass of foamed glass comprising molten glass and bubbles entrained therein into an apparatus downstream of a submerged combustion melter. The downstream apparatus has a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof. The foamed glass has glass foam of glass foam bubbles on its top surface, and the downstream apparatus defines a space for a gaseous atmosphere above and in contact with the glass foam. The downstream apparatus includes heating components to heat or maintain temperature of the foamed glass. Adjusting composition of the atmosphere above the glass foam, and / or contacting the foam with a liquid or solid composition controls bubble size of the glass foam bubbles, and / or foam decay rate.

Methods of improving the adhesion of low resistivity tungsten / tungsten nitride layers are provided. Low resistivity tungsten / tungsten nitride layers with good adhesion are formed by treating a tungsten or tungsten nitride layer before depositing low resistivity tungsten. Treatments include a plasma treatment and a temperature treatment. According to various embodiments, the treatment methods involve different gaseous atmospheres and plasma conditions.

A method and apparatus for ensuring against explosion of the gaseous atmosphere of a closed chamber, such as the QDCD room of an internal turret of an offshore production and offloading buoy wherein the closed chamber has production risers and conduit connectors that represent a potential source of flammable gas. The method comprises mixing and diluting the oxidant content of the air by introducing within the closed chamber a sufficient quantity of inert gas to render the mixture of the air and any flammable gas non-combustible regardless of the flammable gas content of the mixture. The method includes removal of the non-combustible mixture of air and any flammable gas from the closed chamber by purging thereof to the natural atmosphere, while introducing inert gas, thereby leaving a substantially inert atmosphere within the closed chamber. The turret system provides for control of the gaseous atmosphere within the closed chamber at all modes of turret operation, including the idle, on-line and ventilation modes and also provides for gas pressure control to accommodate normal operating conditions and conditions of gas leakage into the chamber.

A capacitor assembly for use in high voltage and high temperature environments is provided. More particularly, the capacitor assembly includes a solid electrolytic capacitor element containing an anode body, a dielectric overlying the anode, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric. To help facilitate the use of the capacitor assembly in high voltage applications, it is generally desired that the solid electrolyte is formed from a dispersion of preformed conductive polymer particles. In this manner, the electrolyte may remain generally free of high energy radicals (e.g., Fe2+ or Fe3+ ions) that can lead to dielectric degradation, particularly at relatively high voltages (e.g., above about 60 volts). Furthermore, to help protect the stability of the solid electrolyte at high temperatures, the capacitor element is enclosed and hermetically sealed within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas. It is believed that the housing and inert gas atmosphere are capable of limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the conductive polymer of the capacitor. In this manner, the solid electrolyte is less likely to undergo a reaction in high temperature environments, thus increasing the thermal stability of the capacitor assembly. In addition to functioning well in both high voltage and high temperature environments, the capacitor assembly of the present invention may also exhibit a high volumetric efficiency.

Methods and apparatus are presented which allow efficient environmental testing of components such as printed circuit boards, integrated circuits, sub-systems and other components. In one method of the invention, a component can be placed into a chamber having an internal space filled with a gaseous atmosphere. The component is indirectly cooled by smartly positioning one or more cooling coils near the component to be tested, and the cooling coils are fed with a cryogenic fluid from a source of cryogenic fluid. The warm cryogenic fluid is recycled by one of two means: a thermosiphon conduit loop, and a storage and compression facility for reusing the warm cryogenic fluid. The internal space is preferably filled with a dry gas.

A system for measuring properties of a medium includes an electromagnetic generator for forming a CW carrier, a digital encoder for forming a digital message, and a modulator for modulating the CW carrier with the digital message to form a digitally modulated CW carrier. The medium provides a channel for propagating the digitally modulated CW carrier. The system further includes a receiver configured to receive the propagated, digitally modulated CW carrier, and a processor for measuring at least one property of the medium. The medium may be disposed within a gaseous atmosphere, a body of water, or a cell of a laboratory.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a titanium alloy having superelastic properties and / or shape memory for biomedical use, which comprises the steps of: preparing an ingot by melting the various metals that form the desired alloy in a vacuum; optionally homogenising the ingot in a vacuum by high-temperature annealing (higher than 900 DEG C); first quenching; mechanical shaping (rolling, drawing, machining or the like); heat treatment for redissolution in beta phase beyond the beta transus temperature (until a second temperature and then maintaining same for a certain time); and second quenching; characterised in that said heat treatment phase is carried out in a gaseous atmosphere and also constitutes a surface treatment suitable for forming on the surface a layer of nitride, carbonitride, oxide, oxynitride or the like.

A lithium titanate has the following formula:Li4Ti5O12−x wherein x is greater than 0. The lithium titanate is formed by providing a mixture of titanium dioxide and a lithium-based component. The mixture is sintered in a gaseous atmosphere comprising a reducing agent to form the lithium titanate having the above formula. A lithium-based cell includes an electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode, with at least one of the anode and the cathode comprising the lithium titanate having the above formula. The lithium titanate is deficient of oxygen, which increases electronic conductivity of the lithium titanate by at least three orders over electronic conductivity of a stoichiometric lithium titanate, while avoiding loss of reversible electric power-generating capacity that typically occurs when doping is used to replace titanium in the lithium titanate with atoms that provide higher electronic conductivity.

Methods and systems for controlling bubble size and bubble decay rate of glass foams formed during submerged combustion melting. Flowing a molten mass of foamed glass comprising molten glass and bubbles entrained therein into an apparatus downstream of a submerged combustion melter. The downstream apparatus has a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof. The foamed glass has glass foam of glass foam bubbles on its top surface, and the downstream apparatus defines a space for a gaseous atmosphere above and in contact with the glass foam. The downstream apparatus includes heating components to heat or maintain temperature of the foamed glass. Adjusting composition of the atmosphere above the glass foam, and / or contacting the foam with a liquid or solid composition controls bubble size of the glass foam bubbles, and / or foam decay rate.

A system and method for synthesizing nanopowder which provides for precursor material ablation from two opposing electrodes that are substantially axially aligned and spaced apart within a gaseous atmosphere, where a plasma is created by a high power pulsed electrical discharge between the electrodes, such pulse being of short duration to inertially confine the plasma, thereby creating a high temperature and high density plasma having high quench and / or reaction rates with the gaseous atmosphere for improved nanopowder synthesis.

A capacitor assembly that is capable of performing under extreme conditions, such as at high temperatures and / or high voltages, is provided. The ability to perform at high temperature is achieved in part by enclosing and hermetically sealing the capacitor element within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas, thereby limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the solid electrolyte of the capacitor element. Furthermore, the present inventors have also discovered that the ability to perform at high voltages can be achieved through a unique and controlled combination of features relating to the formation of the anode, dielectric, and solid electrolyte. For example, the solid electrolyte is formed from a combination of a conductive polymer and a hydroxy-functional nonionic polymer.

A capacitor assembly for use in high voltage and high temperature environments is provided. More particularly, the capacitor assembly includes a solid electrolytic capacitor element containing an anode body, a dielectric overlying the anode, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric. To help facilitate the use of the capacitor assembly in high voltage applications, it is generally desired that the solid electrolyte is formed from a dispersion of preformed conductive polymer particles. In this manner, the electrolyte may remain generally free of high energy radicals (e.g., Fe2+or Fe3+ions) that can lead to dielectric degradation, particularly at relatively high voltages (e.g., above about 60 volts). Furthermore, to help protect the stability of the solid electrolyte at high temperatures, the capacitor element is enclosed and hermetically sealed within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas.

The present invention provides a resist coating and developing apparatus, a resist coating and developing method, a resist-film processing apparatus, and a resist-film processing method, capable of reducing a line width roughness by planarizing a resist pattern. The resist coating and developing apparatus comprises: a resist-film forming part configured to coat a resist onto a substrate to form a resist film thereon; a resist developing part configured to develop the exposed resist film to obtain a patterned resist film; and a solvent-gas supply part configured to expose the resist film, which has been developed and patterned by the resist developing part, to a first solvent of a gaseous atmosphere having a solubility to the resist film. A solvent supply part supplies, to the resist film which has been exposed to the first solvent, a second solvent in a liquid state having a solubility to the resist film.

The invention relates generally to hierarchical inorganic materials and a method for making and using same. The materials of the invention have a controlled hardness, porosity, and surface area ideally suited for use as, e.g., durable catalyst supports for reactions conducted in severe and / or hydrothermal environments. The materials of the invention are prepared by infusing hierarchical templates of suitably shaped sized cellulosic or lignocellulosic particles (e.g., from wood, bamboo, and the like) with soluble transition-metal and / or ceramic precursors. Infused templates are heated in a gaseous atmosphere until volatile chemical components are removed. After drying, the infused templates are heated under flowing argon, helium, or air atmosphere for several hours to remove volatiles and convert all or part of the transition-metal and / or ceramic precursors to respective carbide, oxycarbide, or other chemical forms.

A non-aqueous electrolyte cell equipped with an anode made of a carbonaceous material capable of intercalating and deintercalating light metal ions and imparted with high capacity characteristics and favorable cyclic properties, wherein the carbonaceous material is obtained by irradiating, in a gaseous atmosphere, an electron beam accelerated in high vacuum. The anode made of a carbonaceous material is subjected to electron beam irradiation at a dose ranging from 300 kGy to 1000 kGy.

A capacitor assembly for use in high voltage and high temperature environments is provided. More particularly, the capacitor assembly includes a capacitor element containing an anodically oxidized porous, sintered body that is coated with a manganese oxide solid electrolyte. To help facilitate the use of the capacitor assembly in high voltage (e.g., above about 35 volts) and high temperature (e.g., above about 175° C.) applications, the capacitor element is enclosed and hermetically sealed within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas.

Described is a capacitor assembly that is thermally and mechanically stable under extreme conditions. Thermal stability is provided by enclosing and hermetically sealing the capacitor element within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas, thereby limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the solid electrolyte of the capacitor. To provide good mechanical stability, the assembly contains at least one external termination (e.g., anode and / or cathode termination) extending beyond an outer periphery of a surface of the housing. The degree to which the external termination extends beyond the outer periphery relative to the dimension of the housing is selectively controlled to increase the surface area available for soldering to a circuit board.

A capacitor assembly that is thermally and mechanically stable in high temperature environments is provided. Thermal stability is provided by enclosing and hermetically sealing the capacitor element within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas, thereby limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the solid electrolyte of the capacitor. To provide the assembly with good mechanical stability, a polymeric restraint is also employed that is positioned adjacent to and in contact with one or more surfaces of the capacitor element. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the strength and rigidity of the polymeric restraint can help the capacitor element better withstand vibrational forces incurred during use without resulting in delamination. In this manner, the capacitor assembly is able to better function in high temperature environments.

A capacitor assembly that is thermally and mechanically stable in high temperature environments is provided. Thermal stability is provided by enclosing and hermetically sealing the capacitor element within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas, thereby limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the solid electrolyte of the capacitor. To provide the assembly with good mechanical stability, a polymeric restraint is also employed that is positioned adjacent to and in contact with one or more surfaces of the capacitor element. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the strength and rigidity of the polymeric restraint can help the capacitor element better withstand vibrational forces incurred during use without resulting in delamination. In this manner, the capacitor assembly is able to better function in high temperature environments.

A capacitor assembly for use in high voltage and high temperature environments is provided. More particularly, the capacitor assembly includes a capacitor element containing an anodically oxidized porous, sintered body that is coated with a manganese oxide solid electrolyte. To help facilitate the use of the capacitor assembly in high voltage (e.g., above about 35 volts) and high temperature (e.g., above about 175° C.) applications, the capacitor element is enclosed and hermetically sealed within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas.