Patents by Inventor Daniel Brunelle

Daniel Brunelle 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: 20070238856
    Abstract: Reactive monomers containing the trifluorovinyloxy group may be copolymerized to form polymers useful as membranes, especially polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells. The monomers have the formula ((CF2CFO(R1)p)nArX2 wherein Ar is a trivalent, tetravalent or pentavalent, substituted or unsubstituted, aromatic or heteroaromatic, monocyclic or polycyclic group having from 5 to 50 carbon atoms; X is OH, SH, NR2aR2b, F or Br; p is 0 or 1; n is 1, 2 or 3; R1 is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl and R2a and R2b are independently H, C1-C8 alkyl or C1-C8 perfluoroalkyl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: David Moore, Hongyi Zhou, Christoph Erben, Marianne Harmon, Joyce Hung, Hongwei Liu, Daniel Steiger, Daniel Brunelle
  • Publication number: 20070219344
    Abstract: High heat polyethersulfone compositions are provided which possess unexpectedly high glass transition temperatures. The polyethersulfone compositions comprise structural units derived from phthalimide bisphenols such as 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-N-phenylphthalimide, and structural units derived from at least one biphenyl-bissulfone such as 4,4?-bis((4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl)-1,1?-biphenyl. The novel polyethersulfone compositions may further comprise structural units derived from one or more biphenols such as 4,4?-biphenol, bisphenols such as BPA, or other electrophilic sulfone monomers, such as bis(4-chlorophenyl)sulfone. In one embodiment, the polyethersulfone composition of the present invention comprises structural groups derived exclusively from 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-N-phenylphthalimide, and 4,4?-bis((4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl)-1,1?-biphenyl and exhibits a single glass transition of greater than 300° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Steiger, Farid Khouri, Daniel Brunelle, Amy Koren
  • Publication number: 20070155946
    Abstract: The above deficiencies in the art are alleviated by, in an embodiment, a method of preparing a carboxylic acid end-capped oligomer comprising melt reacting a dicarboxylic acid, a dihydroxy compound, a hydroxy end-capped soft block compound, a diaryl carbonate, and a catalyst, wherein the molar ratio of dihydroxy end-capped soft block compound to dihydroxy compound is 1:4 to 1:40, the molar ratio of dicarboxylic acid to the combined molar amounts of dihydroxy compound and hydroxy end-capped soft block compound is 1.01:1 to 2:1, and the molar ratio of diaryl carbonate to the combined molar amounts of dihydroxy compound and hydroxy end-capped soft block compound is 1.5:1 to 3:1. A carboxylic acid end-capped oligomer prepared by the above method is also disclosed. A thermosetting composition comprising the carboxylic acid end-capped oligomer, and an article comprising the thermosetting composition, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Corrado Berti, Enrico Binassi, Daniel Brunelle, Martino Colonna, Maurizio Fiorini, Tommaso Zuccheri
  • Publication number: 20070142613
    Abstract: Sulfonated block copolymers that may be used as membranes for fuel cells include sulfonated polyaryletherketone blocks and lightly sulfonated polyethersulfone blocks. The sulfonated polyaryletherketone blocks include structural units of formula and the lightly sulfonated polyethersulfone blocks include structural units of formula wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently C1-C10 alkyl, C3-C12 cycloalkyl, C6-C14 aryl, allyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, halo, or cyano; Z, Z1 and Z2 are independently a direct bond or O, S, (CH2)r, (CF2)r, C(CH3)2, C(CF3)2, or a combination thereof; M is H, a metal cation, a non-metallic inorganic cation, an organic cation or a mixture thereof; a and e are independently 0 or an integer from 1 to 3; b, c, d, and f are independently 0 or an integer from 1 to 4; m, n and p are independently 0 or 1; and r is an integer from 1 to 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Joyce Hung, Hongyi Zhou, David Moore, Marianne Harmon, Daniel Brunelle, Hongwei Liu
  • Publication number: 20070142614
    Abstract: Sulfonated block copolymer suitable for use as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells comprise sulfonated polyaryletherketone blocks and polyethersulfone blocks. The sulfonated polyaryletherketone blocks comprise structural units of formula the polyethersulfone blocks comprising structural units of formula wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently C1-C10 alkyl, C3-C12 cycloalkyl, C6-C14 aryl, allyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, halo, or cyano; Z and Z1 are independently a direct bond or O, S, (CH2)r, (CF2)r, C(CH3)2, C(CF3)2, or a combination thereof; M is H, a metal cation, a non-metallic inorganic cation, an organic cation or a mixture thereof a is 0 or an integer from 1 to 3; b, c and d are independently 0 or an integer from 1 to 4; m and n are independently 0 or 1; and r is an integer from 1 to 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Joyce Hung, Hongyi Zhou, Marianne Harmon, Daniel Brunelle, Hongwei Liu, David Moore, Daniel Steiger
  • Publication number: 20070117962
    Abstract: High heat polyethersulfone compositions are provided which possess unexpectedly high glass transition temperatures. The polyethersulfone compositions comprise structural units derived from fluorenone bisphenols such as 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, and structural units derived from at least one biphenyl-bissulfone such as 4,4?-bis((4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl)-1,1?-biphenyl. The novel polyethersulfone compositions may further comprise structural units derived from one or more biphenols such as 4,4?-biphenol, bisphenols such as BPA, or other electrophilic sulfone monomers, such as bis(4-chlorophenyl)sulfone. In one embodiment, the polyethersulfone composition of the present invention comprises structural groups derived exclusively from 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene and 4,4?-bis((4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl)-1,1?-biphenyl and exhibits a single glass transition of greater than 300° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Steiger, Farid Khouri, Daniel Brunelle, Amy Koren
  • Publication number: 20070112169
    Abstract: Processes for controlled sulfonation of a polyaryletherketone comprise reacting a monomer of formula VIII with a monomer of formula IX to form a polyaryletherketone; and sulfonating the polyaryletherketone to form a sulfonated polyaryletherketone comprising structural units of formula IV wherein R1 is halogen, C1-C10 alkyl, C3-C12 cycloalkyl, or C3-C15 aryl; a is an integer from 0 to 4; Y is F, Cl, Br or a mixture thereof; m is 0 or 1; and Q is H, a metal cation, a non-metallic inorganic cation, an organic cation or a mixture thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Daniel Brunelle, Hongyi Zhou, Hongwei Liu, Marianne Harmon, David Moore, Joyce Hung
  • Publication number: 20070112170
    Abstract: Sulfonated polyimides that include structural units derived from a monomer of formula I are useful as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Daniel Brunelle, Hongyi Zhou, Hongwei Liu, Marianne Harmon, David Moore, Joyce Hung
  • Publication number: 20070112223
    Abstract: A method for carrying out a chemical reaction between at least two reactants occupying separate phases within a multiphase reaction mixture has been discovered in which at least one phosphazenium salt is employed as a phase transfer catalyst. The remarkable utility of phosphazenium salts as phase transfer catalysts is illustrated by the preparation of aromatic ethers. The phosphazenium salt phase transfer catalysts are shown to be especially useful in the preparation of aromatic polyethers such as polyether sulfones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Daniel Brunelle
  • Publication number: 20070100131
    Abstract: Sulfonated polyethersulfones and polymer compositions comprising sulfonated polyethersulfones and at least one inorganic heteropolyacid are useful as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Joyce Hung, Hongyi Zhou, Daniel Brunelle, Marianne Harmon, Daniel Steiger, Hongwei Liu, David Moore
  • Publication number: 20070075013
    Abstract: A membrane is provided, which may include a microporous base membrane; and a cross-linkable coating disposed on a surface of the membrane. The coating may include polyvinyl nucleophilic polymer and a urethane or a blocked isocyanate. The coating may be cross-linked. Also provided is a method of making the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hieu Duong, Hongyi Zhou, Rainer Koeniger, Daniel Brunelle, Daniel Olson, Karmin Olson
  • Publication number: 20070049724
    Abstract: Polyethersulfones having Tg greater than about 225° C. and a notched Izod value greater than about 1 ft-lb/in, as measured by ASTM D256, comprise from about 5 mol % to less than about 40 mol % structural units of formula 1; and from greater than about 60 mol % to about 95 mol % structural units of formula 2 wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C12 aromatic radical; n, m, q are independently at each occurrence integers from 0 to 4; and Q is a C3-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C20 aromatic radical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel Brunelle, Daniel Steiger
  • Publication number: 20070043203
    Abstract: Copolyetherimides compositions having high glass transition temperatures and outstanding ductility are presented. The copolyetherimides having Mw of at least 40,000 comprising isomeric bis(phthalimide) structural units within a relatively narrow range of isomer proportions exhibited Tgs of at least 240° C. and outstanding Notched Izod values. The copolyetherimides comprise oxydianiline residues and structural units of the formulas (I) and (II) (III).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qing Ye, David Hall, William Richards, Daniel Brunelle, Havva Acar
  • Publication number: 20070027290
    Abstract: The present invention provides carboxy-terminated oligomeric polyester compositions useful in the preparation of “weatherable” polymeric materials, for example weatherable copolyestercarbonates. In one aspect the present invention provides an oligomeric polyester composition comprising structural units derived from at least one diacid, at least one diaryl carbonate and at least one diol. The structural units derived from the diacid are present in a molar excess of from about 10% to about 40% based on a ratio of moles of diacid-derived structural units to moles of diol-derived structural units present in the oligomeric polyester composition. The oligomeric polyester composition is further characterized by the presence of at least some phenoxy end groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Daniel Brunelle, Martino Colonna, Corrado Berti, Maurizio Fiorini, Enrico Binassi
  • Publication number: 20060205958
    Abstract: This invention is related to a method for making diether dianhydrides by the reaction of halophthalic anhydride and a metal salt of an aromatic dihydroxy compound in the presence of a solvent and a phase transfer catalyst. Typical phase transfer catalyst include guanidium salts, aminopyridinium salts, or phosphazenium salts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Daniel Brunelle, James Cella, Qing Ye, Kwok Chan
  • Publication number: 20060173158
    Abstract: Polyether polymers, such as polyetherimides, are prepared by the reaction of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon alkali metal salt, such as bisphenol A disodium salt, with a bis(N-(chlorophthalimido))aromatic compound, such as 1,3- and/or 1,4-bis(N-(4-chlorophthalimido))benzene, in a solvent such as o-dichlorobenzene and in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst such as a hexaalkylguanidinium chloride. Several embodiments may be employed to improve the method. They comprise employing substantially dry reagents, employing a high solids level in solvent, beginning with an excess of bis(N-(chlorophthalimido))-aromatic compound and incrementally adding alkali metal salt, employing alkali metal salt of small particle size, and using reagents of high purity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Brunelle, Havva Acar, Farid Khouri, Thomas Guggenheim, David Woodruff, Norman Johnson
  • Publication number: 20060167216
    Abstract: A polyethersulfone composition is disclosed which comprises structural units derived from bisphenol-A and 4,4?-biphenol, the structural units derived from 4,4?-biphenol being present in an amount corresponding to greater than 65 mole percent based on total moles of structural units derived from diphenolic monomers, wherein the polyethersulfone has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 54,000 grams per mole as measured by gel permeation chromatography. The polyethersulfone compositions of the invention display outstanding impact strength as measured using ASTM D256. Surprisingly, the polyethersulfone compositions of the invention show enhanced impact strength relative to known polyethersulfones such as RADEL R, a commercially available polyethersulfone engineering thermoplastic comprised of structural units derived from a dihalodiarylsulfone and 4,4?-biphenol and having a Notched Izod impact strength of about 700 Joules per meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Johnson, Daniel Steiger, Daniel Brunelle, Sean Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20060116487
    Abstract: The present invention provides carboxy-terminated oligomeric polyester compositions useful in the preparation of “weatherable” polymeric materials, for example weatherable copolyestercarbonates. In one aspect the present invention provides an oligomeric polyester composition comprising structural units derived from at least one diacid, at least one diaryl carbonate and at least one diol. The structural units derived from the diacid are present in a molar excess of from about 10% to about 40% based on a ratio of moles of diacid-derived structural units to moles of diol-derived structural units present in the oligomeric polyester composition. The oligomeric polyester composition is further characterized by the presence of atleast some phenoxy end groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Daniel Brunelle, Martino Colonna, Corrado Berti, Maurizio Fiorini, Enrico Binassi
  • Publication number: 20060116464
    Abstract: Nanocomposite compositions comprising organoclays and telechelic polyesters that contain sulfonate end groups were prepared that resulted in improved physical and mechanical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Daniel Brunelle, Martino Colonna, Corrado Berti, Maurizio Fiorini
  • Publication number: 20060069236
    Abstract: A polyethersulfone composition is disclosed which comprises structural units derived from a monomer mixture comprising fluorenylidene bisphenol-A and at least 50 mole percent of 4,4?-biphenol based on total moles of diphenolic monomers, wherein the polyethersulfone has a minimum glass transition temperature of 235° C. and a notched Izod impact value of 1 ft-lb/in. as measured by ASTM D256.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Daniel Brunelle, Daniel Steiger