Patents by Inventor Andrew Kustas

Andrew Kustas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230272184
    Abstract: Polytetrafluoroethylene filled with FeCo microparticles provides an ultralow wear, magnetic, multifunctional tribological material. For example, PTFE filled with an 5 wt. % of equiatomic, prealloyed FeCo powder resulted in steady state wear rates of 2.7×10?7 mm3/Nm, approaching that of PTFE-filled alumina. Comparable wear rates were not recovered for PTFE filled with just iron or cobalt microparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Tomas Farley Babuska, Andrew Kustas, Tomas Grejtak
  • Patent number: 11725889
    Abstract: Several innovative technologies, including pressure-drop minimization, advanced refractory high entropy alloys, and advanced manufacturing can provide a compact heat exchanger that extends the state-of-the-art heat-exchanger operating range. The compact heat exchanger can reduce pressure drop losses by 100 to 500%, while retaining most of the heat transfer. The compact heat exchanger can be fabricated from refractory high entropy alloys that have favorable corrosion, thermal fatigue, and creep properties at high temperatures and pressures. Therefore, the compact heat exchanger using high entropy alloys can operate at >800° C. and 80 bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Kustas, Salvador B. Rodriguez, Shaun R. Whetten, Darryn Fleming, Nicolas Argibay, Deidre Hirschfeld, Logan Madacey Rapp
  • Patent number: 11434551
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to novel high entropy alloys, including refractory high entropy alloys, and methods of selecting high entropy alloys and refractory high entropy alloys with select nuclear application predetermined properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Salvador B. Rodriguez, Andrew Kustas, David Ames
  • Publication number: 20220048138
    Abstract: The present invention provides an additive manufacturing (AM) processing and design approach using removable “heat sink” artifacts to tailor the mechanical properties of traditionally low strength and low ductility alloys. As an example, the design approach was demonstrated with the Fe-50 at. % Co alloy, as a model material of interest for electromagnetic applications. AM-processed components exhibited unprecedented performance, with a 300% increase in strength and an order-of-magnitude improvement in ductility relative to conventional wrought material. The method enables the design and processing of high-performance, next-generation components and alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Kustas, Donald F. Susan, Tomas Farley Babuska, Kyle Johnson, Brandon Krick, Trevor Verdonik
  • Publication number: 20210229217
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of enhancing the surface properties of soft alloys by using a high energy beam. In particular embodiments, the methods can also allow for beam-based welding of such soft alloys to another metal component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rodelas, Donald F. Susan, Andrew Kustas