Patents by Inventor Mary Ann B. Meador
Mary Ann B. Meador 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).
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Publication number: 20140272358Abstract: Porous cross-linked polyimide-urea networks are provided. The networks comprise a subunit comprising two anhydride end-capped polyamic acid oligomers in direct connection via a urea linkage. The oligomers (a) each comprise a repeating unit of a dianhydride and a diamine and a terminal anhydride group and (b) are formulated with 2 to 15 of the repeating units. The subunit was formed by reaction of the diamine and a diisocyanate to form a diamine-urea linkage-diamine group, followed by reaction of the diamine-urea linkage-diamine group with the dianhydride and the diamine to form the subunit. The subunit has been cross-linked via a cross-linking agent, comprising three or more amine groups, at a balanced stoichiometry of the amine groups to the terminal anhydride groups. The subunit has been chemically imidized to yield the porous cross-linked polyimide-urea network. Also provided are wet gels, aerogels, and thin films comprising the networks, and methods of making the networks.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: OHIO AEROSPACE INSTITUTEInventors: Mary Ann B. Meador, Baochau N. Nguyen
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Patent number: 8394492Abstract: This invention comprises reinforced aerogel monoliths such as silica aerogels having a polymer coating on its outer geometric surface boundary, and to the method of preparing said aerogel monoliths. The polymer coatings on the aerogel monoliths are derived from polymer precursors selected from the group consisting of isocyanates as a precursor, precursors of epoxies, and precursors of polyimides. The coated aerogel monoliths can be modified further by encapsulating the aerogel with the polymer precursor reinforced with fibers such as carbon or glass fibers to obtain mechanically reinforced composite encapsulated aerogel monoliths.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2004Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Nicholas Leventis, James C. Johnston, Maria A. Kuczmarski, Mary Ann B. Meador
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Patent number: 8314201Abstract: Ceramic oxide aerogels incorporating periodically dispersed flexible linkages are provided. The flexible linkages impart greater flexibility than the native aerogels without those linkages, and have been shown to reduce or eliminate the need for supercritical CO2-mediated drying of the corresponding wet gels. The gels may also be polymer cross-linked via organic polymer chains that are attached to and extend from surface-bound functional groups provided or present over the internal surfaces of a mesoporous ceramic oxide particle network via appropriate chemical reactions.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2007Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Administration of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ohio Aerosapce InstituteInventors: Mary Ann B. Meador, Baochau N. Nguyen
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Patent number: 8258251Abstract: Ceramic oxide aerogels having improved flexibility are disclosed. Preferred embodiments exhibit high modulus and other strength properties despite their improved flexibility. The gels may be polymer cross-linked via organic polymer chains to further improve strength properties, without substantially detracting from the improved flexibility. Methods of making such aerogels are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2010Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignees: The United States of America, as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ohio Aerospace InstituteInventors: Mary Ann B. Meador, Baochau N. Nguyen, Haiquan Guo
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Patent number: 8227363Abstract: Structurally stable and mechanically strong ceramic oxide aerogels are provided. The aerogels are cross-linked via organic polymer chains that are attached to and extend from surface-bound functional groups provided or present over the internal surfaces of a mesoporous ceramic oxide particle network via appropriate chemical reactions. The functional groups can be hydroxyl groups, which are native to ceramic oxides, or they can be non-hydroxyl functional groups that can be decorated over the internal surfaces of the ceramic oxide network. Methods of preparing such mechanically strong ceramic oxide aerogels also are provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2010Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignees: Ohio Aerospace Institute, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Mary Ann B. Meador, James C. Johnston, Eve F. Fabrizio, Ulvi F. Ilhan
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Patent number: 8067478Abstract: Process for preparing polymer-reinforced silica aerogels which comprises a one-pot reaction of at least one alkoxy silane in the presence of effective amounts of a polymer precursor to obtain a silica reaction product, the reaction product is gelled and subsequently subjected to conditions that promotes polymerization of the precursor and then supercritically dried to obtain the polymer-reinforced monolithic silica aerogels.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2006Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Mary Ann B. Meador, Lynn A. Capadona
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Publication number: 20100292428Abstract: Ceramic oxide aerogels having improved flexibility are disclosed. Preferred embodiments exhibit high modulus and other strength properties despite their improved flexibility. The gels may be polymer cross-linked via organic polymer chains to further improve strength properties, without substantially detracting from the improved flexibility. Methods of making such aerogels are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2010Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicants: OHIO AEROSPACE INSTITUTE, U.S. Government, represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministratiInventors: Mary Ann B. Meador, Baochau N. Nguyen, Haiquan Guo
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Publication number: 20100179288Abstract: Structurally stable and mechanically strong ceramic oxide aerogels are provided. The aerogels are cross-linked via organic polymer chains that are attached to and extend from surface-bound functional groups provided or present over the internal surfaces of a mesoporous ceramic oxide particle network via appropriate chemical reactions. The functional groups can be hydroxyl groups, which are native to ceramic oxides, or they can be non-hydroxyl functional groups that can be decorated over the internal surfaces of the ceramic oxide network. Methods of preparing such mechanically strong ceramic oxide aerogels also are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicants: Ohio Aerospace Institute, U.S. Government, represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space AdministrationInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Mary Ann B. Meador, James C. Johnston, Eve F. Fabrizio, Ulvi F. Ilhan
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Publication number: 20100144962Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of aerogel composites and utilizes shape-memory polyurethane cross-linkers as a method of improving the compressive and flexural load bearing capabilities of the aerogel composites. The shape memory polyurethane crosslinkers provide flexible connectors between the silica particle in the aerogel structure and can accept large compressive and flexural loads without breakage of the aerogel networks. In addition the shape memory properties of polyurethane cross-linkers offers additional advantages such as ease of storage in deformed state of the composites. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to shape memory polymer formulations that can be used specifically to obtain higher compressive and/or flexural strengths and smart material characteristics of crosslinked aerogel composites.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2007Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRONInventors: Sadhan C. Jana, Mary Ann B. Meador, Jason Patrick Randall
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Patent number: 7732496Abstract: Structurally stable and mechanically strong ceramic oxide aerogels are provided. The aerogels are cross-linked via organic polymer chains that are attached to and extend from surface-bound functional groups provided or present over the internal surfaces of a mesoporous ceramic oxide particle network via appropriate chemical reactions. The functional groups can be hydroxyl groups, which are native to ceramic oxides, or they can be non-hydroxyl functional groups that can be decorated over the internal surfaces of the ceramic oxide network. Methods of preparing such mechanically strong ceramic oxide aerogels also are provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2005Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignees: Ohio Aerospace Institute, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Nicholas Leventis, Mary Ann B. Meador, James C. Johnston, Eve F. Fabrizio, Ulvi F. Ilhan
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Patent number: 6979721Abstract: This invention relates to polyimides having improved thermal-oxidative stability, to the process of preparing said polyimides, and the use of polyimide prepolymers in the preparation of prepregs and composites. The polyimides are particularly useful in the preparation of fiber-reinforced, high-temperature composites for use in various engine parts including inlets, fan ducts, exit flaps and other parts of high speed aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Mary Ann B. Meador, Aryeh A. Frimer
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Patent number: 6881820Abstract: This invention is a series of rod-coil block polyimide copolymers that are easy to fabricate into mechanically resilient films with acceptable ionic or protonic conductivity at a variety of temperatures. The copolymers consist of short-rigid polyimide rod segments alternating with polyether coil segments. The rods and coil segments can be linear, branched or mixtures of linear and branched segments. The highly incompatible rods and coil segments phase separate, providing nanoscale channels for ion conduction. The polyimide segments provide dimensional and mechanical stability and can be functionalized in a number of ways to provide specialized functions for a given application. These rod-coil black polyimide copolymers are particularly useful in the preparation of ion conductive membranes for use in the manufacture of fuel cells and lithium based polymer batteries.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2002Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Mary Ann B. Meador, James D. Kinder
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Patent number: 6855433Abstract: This invention is a series of mechanically resilient polymeric films, comprising rod-coil block polyimide copolymers, which are doped with a lithium compound providing lithium ion conductivity, that are easy to fabricate into mechanically resilient films with acceptable ionic or protonic conductivity at a variety of temperatures. The copolymers consists of short-rigid polyimide rod segments alternating with polyether coil segments. The rods and coil segments can be linear, branched or mixtures of linear and branched segments. The highly incompatible rods and coil segments phase separate, providing nanoscale channels for ion conduction. The polyimide segments provide dimensional and mechanical stability and can be functionalized in a number of ways to provide specialized functions for a given application. These rod-coil black polyimide copolymers are particularly useful in the preparation of ion conductive membranes for use in the manufacture of fuel cells and lithium based polymer batteries.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2004Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Mary Ann B. Meador, James D. Kinder
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Patent number: 6303744Abstract: Polyimides and the process for preparing polyimides having improved thermal-oxidative stability derived from the polymerization of effective amounts of one or more of the polyamines such as the aromatic diamines, one or more of the tetracarboxylic dianhydrides and a novel dicarboxylic endcap having a formula selected from the group consisting of: wherein R1 is either a radical where R is either hydrogen or an alkyl radical of 1 to 4 carbons, R2 is either OH, NH2, F, or Cl radical, R3 is either H, OH, NH2, F, Cl or an alkylene radical, R4 is either an alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, F, or Cl radical, and R5 is either H, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, F, or Cl radical. The polyimides are useful particularly in the preparation of prepregs and PMR composites.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2000Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Mary Ann B. Meador, Aryeh A. Frimer
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Patent number: 6274699Abstract: Polyimides and the process for preparing polyimides having improved thermal-oxidative stability derived from the polymerization of effective amounts of one or more of the polyamines such as the aromatic diamines, one or more of the tetracarboxylic dianhydrides and a novel dicarboxylic endcap having a formula selected from the group consisting of: wherein R1 is either a radical where R is either hydrogen or an alkyl radical of 1 to 4 carbons, R2 is either OH, NH2, F, or Cl radical, R3 is either H, OH, NH2, F, Cl or an alkylene radical, R4 is either an alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, F, or Cl radical, and R5 is either H, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, F, or Cl radical. The polyimides are useful particularly in the preparation of prepregs and PMR composites.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2000Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: Mary Ann B. Meador