Laser scanning systems and methods are disclosed herein that can provide quick and efficient measurement of extruded ceramic logs, particularly related to log shape, during manufacture. Two two-dimensional laser scans from respective laser scanners are performed and the resulting laser scan data is combined to form a three-dimensional surface shape measurement of the ceramic log. The systems and methods disclosed herein enable a non-contact measurement of the extruded ceramic log, which reduces the risk of physically damaging the log. The measurement results can be used to adjust the extrusion process of the extruder that forms the extruded ceramic logs.

An extrudate transport apparatus comprises a free floating roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly controls a rotational pitch of a cylindrical green ceramic extrudate as the green ceramic extrudate moves longitudinally from a first location to a second location within the extrudate transport apparatus. The free floating roller assembly has a predetermined effective weight and comprises a contact roller having a deformable outer surface for frictionally contacting an outer surface of the green ceramic extrudate in motion adjacent thereto, while maintaining a constant contact force upon said green ceramic extrudate.

An extrudate transport apparatus comprises a free floating roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly controls a rotational pitch of a cylindrical green ceramic extrudate as the green ceramic extrudate moves longitudinally from a first location to a second location within the extrudate transport apparatus. The free floating roller assembly has a predetermined effective weight and comprises a contact roller having a deformable outer surface for frictionally contacting an outer surface of the green ceramic extrudate in motion adjacent thereto, while maintaining a constant contact force upon said green ceramic extrudate.

A chassis defines a system housing that houses a processing system and a display system. A chassis wall provided on the chassis includes a first carbon fiber layer that provides an outer surface of the chassis that is located opposite the chassis wall from the housing and a ceramic layer that is bonded to the first carbon fiber layer and located opposite the first carbon fiber layer from the outer surface. The ceramic layer provides additional stiffness to the chassis wall to resist deflection of the chassis wall into at least one of the display system and the processing system in response to a force. The chassis wall may include a second carbon fiber layer that is bonded to the ceramic layer and located opposite the ceramic layer from the first carbon fiber layer to provide an inner surface of the chassis wall.

Methods of forming a mirror by bonding a faceplate to a core structure using adhesive formulations that include fused silica particles having diameters that range between 1 to 60 micrometers with an average diameter of the silica particles being between 8 to 10 micrometers. The adhesive formulation further includes an activator including 25 to 50 weight % sodium silicate, 25 to 50 weight % sodium hydroxide and a liquid. The fused silica particles constitute 70 to 80 weight % of the adhesive formulation and the activator constitute 20 to 30 weight % of the adhesive formulation.

A method for manufacturing a part made of composite material, includes the arrangement of a fibrous preform in a mould including an impregnation chamber, the impregnation chamber being closed by a membrane separating the impregnation chamber from a compaction chamber, the injection of an impregnation fluid into the impregnation chamber, and the injection of a compression fluid into the compaction chamber so as to apply a pressure on the membrane, the aspiration of the compression fluid present in the compaction chamber, the surface of the membrane present on the side of the compaction chamber including a plurality of grooves.

Nanoporous composite separators are disclosed for use in batteries and capacitors comprising a nanoporous inorganic material and an organic polymer material. The inorganic material may comprise Al.sub.2O.sub.3, AlO(OH) or boehmite, AlN, BN, SiN, ZnO, ZrO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, or combinations thereof. The nanoporous composite separator may have a porosity of between 35-50%. The average pore size of the nanoporous composite separator may be between 10-90 nm. The separator may be formed by coating a substrate with a dispersion including the inorganic material, organic material, and a solvent. Once dried, the coating may be removed from the substrate, thus forming the nanoporous composite separator. A nanoporous composite separator may provide increased thermal conductivity and dimensional stability at temperatures above 200 C. compared to polyolefin separators.