By applying two or more electrical fields (DC, AC, pulsed) of different characteristics to an electrode array on e.g. the wall of a treatment cell, particles suspended in liquid in the cell may be manipulated as desired on a microscopic scale, in particular by exploiting the dielectrophoretic properties of the particles. The particles may be solid, semi-solid or liquid, and may be of simple materials or may be biological particles such as whole cells or fragments thereof.

A case for the packaging of a product in the form of a solid or semi-solid block includes: a bottom portion defining a receptacle for the solid block, structure or element penetrating into the solid block so as to immobilize the solid block inside the receptacle, a cap removably placed on one surface of the product so as to retain the block in the receptacle, and a lid removably fitted onto the bottom portion so as selectively to open/close the case. This case furthermore includes structure for ...

The present invention provides a sugar coating composition comprising erythritol, a water-soluble cellulose, and an aqueous medium; and a solid preparation comprising a center core of a medicine or a food, etc. coated with the sugar coating composition. The sugar coating composition provides solid preparations with a smooth texture and satisfactory taste and which has a low viscosity even at room temperature and is therefore easy to handle.

Solid-state composition having a flexural strength of at least 0.5 N/mm.sup.2, which composition comprises from solid particles and a hydrocarbonaceous binder containing (i) from 15 to 95% by weight, based on total binder, of asphaltenes, which asphaltenes contain at least 60% aromatic carbon, and (ii) from 5 to 85% by weight, based on total binder, of further hydrocarbons, with the proviso that the solid particles are not solely carbon particles; process for preparing such composition, use of s...

A polymer solid electrolyte comprises a crosslinked polyester in which a salt is dissolved, and which has a crosslinked structure of the formula: ##STR1## where R stands for an inert group other than a hydrogen atom. It is suitable as an electrolyte and a separator for a battery, especially a lithium battery which can be recharged. Batteries including such electrolyte are also disclosed.

Solid electrolytes including a lithium halide and a controlled amount of water provide materials having adequate ionic conductivity and low electronic conductivity so as to be useful in solid state electrochemical devices such as electric cells, timers, capacitors, coulometers and rechargeable batteries. In a preferred embodiment, the solid electrolyte further includes a third component such as a high surface area oxide, silica, alumina or mixtures thereof being preferred.

Electrochemical device comprises a negative compartment and a positive compartment. The negative compartment contains a negative medium formed at least in part of a liquid metal, and the negative and positive compartments are separated by a solid separator which is capable of being traversed by ions of the metal and is a conductor of said ions. The device is characterized by the fact that the negative compartment contains a solid electrolyte which is a conductor of these ions, this electrolyte s...

A solid solution and a process for producing a solid solution, the solid solution including at least the compounds: silicon carbide and aluminum oxycarbide, and also aluminum nitride. The new material including all three compounds is referred to by the acronym, SiCAlON, which is a coined term consisting of the chemical abbreviations for the elements present in the solid solution. The solid solution is obtained by heating an intimate mixture of reactants above about 1550.degree. C. The silicon ca...

Apparatus for transferring heat between solid particles includes a rotatable cylindrical drum which includes plates mounted on the interior surface of the drum wall to extend inwardly thereof. Also included is an elongate vibratory screen disposed within the drum but supported independently of the drum. The screen includes a plurality of apertures of generally uniform size and is inclined with respect to the horizontal. A plurality of vanes are located underneath the screen to guide material fal...

A process for preparing organic smectite applied for thickener, protective colloid, dispersant and binder. The present invention features the process for preparing the organic smectite by mixing smectite incluidng 0 to 20% by weight of interlayer water in the interlayer spaces of said smectite with organic cation-supplying substance selected from at least one of aliphatic alkylamine salts, aromatic amine salts and basic organic compound having pyridine nucleus, and/or basic organic molecule in a...