A powder boronizing composition comprising: a. 0.5 to 4.5 wt % of a boron source selected from B.sub.4C, amorphous boron, calcium hexaboride, borax or mixtures thereof; b. 45.5 to 88.5 wt % of a diluent selected from SiC, alumina or mixtures thereof; c. 1.0 to 20.0 wt % of an activator selected from KBF.sub.4, ammonia chloride, cryolite or mixtures thereof; and d. 10.0 to 30.0 wt % of a sintering reduction agent selected from carbon black, graphite or mixtures thereof.

A preparation method and application of a Na.sub.3Ba.sub.2(B.sub.3O.sub.6).sub.2F birefringent crystal, the crystal having a chemical formula of Na.sub.3Ba.sub.2(B.sub.3O.sub.6).sub.2F, and belonging to a hexagonal crystal system, the space group being P6.sub.3/m, and the lattice parameters comprising a=7.3490(6) , c=12.6340(2) , V=590.93(12) .sup.3, Z=2; the crystal is used for an infrared/deep ultraviolet waveband, and is an uniaxial negative crystal, n.sub.e<n.sub.o, the transmission range being 175-3,350 nm, the birefringence of 0.090 (3,350 nm)-0.240 (175 nm), and the crystal being grown by employing a melting method or a flux method; the crystal prepared via the method has a short growth cycle, high crystal quality and large crystal size, is easy to grow, cut, polish and store, is stable in the air, and difficult to deliquesce, and can be used for preparation of various polarization beam polarization beam splitter prism and infrared/deep ultraviolet waveband optical communication elements.

The present invention is directed to a process for producing a molded polymeric article including: providing a polymerizable composition of a reaction mixture of at least the following components: a mold release agent of ionic fluoride and/or ionic fluoride precursor, and a polymeric organic material selected from thermosetting organic polymeric materials and thermoplastic organic materials; allowing the reaction mixture to undergo exothermic reaction; providing a mold having a first part and a second part spaced one from the other thereby forming a cavity there between; introducing the reaction mixture into the mold cavity wherein the reaction mixture is at a temperature of up to 130 C.; holding the mold at a temperature and for a time sufficient to cure the reaction mixture thereby forming a molded polymeric article within the mold; and removing the molded polymeric article from the mold.

Molded articles also are provided.

A powder boronizing composition comprising: a. 0.5 to 4.5 wt % of a boron source selected from B.sub.4C, amorphous boron, calcium hexaboride, borax or mixtures thereof; b. 45.5 to 88.5 wt % of a diluent selected from SiC, alumina or mixtures thereof; c. 1.0 to 20.0 wt % of an activator selected from KBF.sub.4, ammonia chloride, cryolite or mixtures thereof; and d. 10.0 to 30.0 wt % of a sintering reduction agent selected from carbon black, graphite or mixtures thereof.

A process comprising: placing a boronizing powder composition in the interior of a metal pipe comprising a first end, a second end, an inside surface and an outside surface; heating the pipe in a vessel having an interior, to a temperature from 1400 F. to 1900 F., thereby forming spent boronizing reaction gases and a borided layer on the inside surface, wherein the vessel interior has an atmosphere that surrounds the outside surface of the metal pipe; and flowing the spent boronizing reaction gases into the atmosphere surrounding the outside surface of the pipe, thereby forming an oxygen-depleted atmosphere.

The present invention is directed to an organic polymerizable composition for producing a molded polymeric article. The composition includes a mold release agent of ionic fluoride and/or ionic fluoride precursor present in an amount sufficient to effect at least partial demolding of the polymeric article from a mold. Molded articles also are provided.