DEVELOPMENTS AT NIST Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a number of new devices and methods involving a variety of technologies. In certain cases, other parties have participated in the development of these technologies. NIST may enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with interested parties to perform further research on the invention for purposes of commercialization. NIST may grant CRADA Partners an option to negotiate for exclusive licenses to any jointly owned inventions which arise from the CRADA as well as an option to negotiate for exclusive royalty-bearing licenses for NIST employee inventions which arise from the CRADA. Anyone interested in the further development of any of these technologies or in applying for a license to commercialize these technologies should send a written request for further information, referencing the NIST Docket Number and Title, to: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Industrial Partnerships Program, Building 820, Room 213, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899; telecopy: 301-869-2751. This is not an announcement of a contract action or a grant. NIST DOCKET NUMBER 96-022PA, Title: A Chemically Assisted Diamond Machining Process Using Alcohols, Description: The invention describes the use of certain alcohols (oleyl, for example) and oxygenates as coolants in diamond machining of ceramic or metal. The coolant protects the diamond grit from rapid oxidation, thus improving increasing the machining rate while significantly reducing the need for dressing. Tests to date have shown that the grinding fluids are effective with cemented tungsten carbide, silicaon nitride, sialon, and alumina. NIST DOCKET NUMBER 96-029. Title: Cryogenic Current Comparator Based on Liquid Nitrogen Temperature Superconductors, Description: Electric currents maintained in a precise integer ratio by a cryogenic current comparator (CCC) can be used to measure the ratio of two standard resistors or determine the value of one current by measuring a second of larger or smaller value. This CCC operates at 77K in a liquid nitrogen bath and uses the magnetic shielding of high-temperature superconductor (HTS) materials. It measures a wide range of resistance and current ratios with an uncertainty of approximately 1 part in 100 million. Nonexclusive, royalty-free licenses are available for this technology. NIST DOCKET NUMBER 96-033. Title: Superconducting Transition-Edge Sensor. Description: This NIST invention provides particle detection, particularly x-ray detection, using an aluminum/normal-metal bilayer superconducting transition-edge sensor as a thermometer in a microcalorimeter. Fabrication is easier, applications are more diverse, and results are more reliable than with previous methods. WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm. E-MAIL: NIST Contracts Office, Contract@nist.gov.

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