General Electric Company

Willard T Grubb

Yung S Liu

Peter D Johnson

Lawrence H King

A laser, such as an excimer laser, is employed to ablate electroless plating activator material from polymer and other substrates. The treated substrates are then immersed in electroless plating baths for plating of conductive material over remaining activator material. The method is particularly effective for depositing conductive patterns on non-flat substrates and on substrates needing plated-through connections. High resolution patterns are created on any compatible polymer substrate with any compatible electroless plating activator material.

Method for photopatterning metallization via UV-laser ablation of the

Polyimides, polycarbonates, polyetherimides and other highly stable organic polymers are photoetched through the use of deep ultraviolet light produced by a broad area, non-coherent, continuous light source. This method is effective in an oxygen-free environment, but provides slightly higher etch rates in an air ambient as a result of the oxygen in the air ambient. The apparatus in which this photoetching occurs may employ a single light source or a plurality of side-by-side lamps and may include ports which allow continuous transport of samples therethrough.

Apparatus and method for photoetching of polyimides, polycarbonates and

A high voltage fuse comprises one or more fusible strips or wires (fusible elements) electrically connected between nonfusible external electrical connection means with at least one portion of the fusible element ('a rapid melting portion') being designed to melt open when the current exceeds a given value for a given period of time. The fuse further comprises exothermic material, disposed on electrically-conductive wire, which is placed adjacent to portions of the fusible element. Electric circuit connection means connect the electrically-conductive wire to electrically opposite sides of the rapid melting portion. The electrical circuit connection means provides for either parallel or series connection of the wire surrounded by the exothermic material. In operation, during the passage of a sufficiently high current, an arc develops in the immediate vicinity of the rapid melting portions and the voltage drop occurring across this arc supplies power to the electrically-conductive wire which ignites the exothermic material so as to either blast or melt away specific remaining portions of the fuse. As a result, a plurality of series connected arcs are formed so that the sum of the voltages across the arcs increases to a level sufficient to bring the current through the fuse to a zero value in a short time.

High voltage, high current fuse with combustion assisted operation

A nuclear fuel element consisting of a zirconium or zirconium alloy container and nuclear fuel pellets is provided for use in the core of a nuclear reactor. The zirconium or zirconium alloy container has an inner coating of copper in proximity to the nuclear fuel, and is separated from the zirconium or zirconium alloy by an intermediate zirconium oxide diffusion barrier layer. The copper layer and the intermediate zirconium oxide diffusion barrier of the composite cladding reduce perforations or failure in the zirconium or zirconium alloy cladding substrate caused by stress corrosion cracking or metal embrittlement. Good bonding of the copper to the oxide zirconium and zirconium alloy prevents scaling of copper from the composite cladding during the loading of the fuel element with fuel pellets.

Nuclear fuel element having a composite coating

Rupture of boiling water reactor nuclear fuel cladding resulting from embrittlement by fission product cadmium is prevented by adding the stoichiometrically equivalent amount of V.sub.2 O.sub.4 or V.sub.2 O.sub.5 to the fuel.

Nuclear fuel assembly and process

Rupture of boiling water reactor nuclear fuel cladding resulting from embrittlement caused by fission product cadmium is prevented by adding the stoichiometrically equivalent amount of CuFe.sub.2 O.sub.4 or CuTiO.sub.3 to the fuel.

Rupture of boiling water reactor nuclear fuel cladding resulting from embrittlement caused by fission product cadmium is prevented by adding the stoichiometrically equivalent amount of gold, silver or palladium to the fuel.

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Schenectady, NY, United States of America

Willard T Grubb