Patents Assigned to Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.
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Patent number: 6099965Abstract: This invention relates to rigid porous carbon structures and to methods of making same. The rigid porous structures have a high surface area which are substantially free of micropores. Methods for improving the rigidity of the carbon structures include causing the nanofibers to form bonds or become glued with other nanofibers at the fiber intersections. The bonding can be induced by chemical modification of the surface of the nanofibers to promote bonding, by adding "gluing" agents and/or by pyrolyzing the nanofibers to cause fusion or bonding at the interconnect points.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1997Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: Howard Tennent, David Moy, Chun-Ming Niu
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Patent number: 6031711Abstract: Graphitic nanofibers, which include tubular fullerenes (commonly called "buckytubes"), nanotubes and fibrils, which are functionalized by chemical substitution, are used as electrodes in electrochemical capacitors. The graphitic nanofiber based electrode increases the performance of the electrochemical capacitors. Preferred nanofibers have a surface area greater than about 200 m.sup.2 /gm and are substantially free of micropores.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1997Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: Howard Tennent, David Moy, Chun-Ming Niu
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Patent number: 5985112Abstract: The general area of this invention relates to porous materials made from nanofiber packed beds. More particularly, the invention relates to altering the porosity or packing structure of a nanofiber packed bed structure by blending nanofibers with scaffold particulates having larger dimensions. For example, adding large diameter fibers to a nanotube packed bed to serve as a scaffolding to hold the smaller nanofibers apart and prevent the nanofiber bed structure from collapsing. This increases the average pore size of the mass by changing the pore size distribution and alters the packing structure of the packed bed. The increase in average pore size is caused by the creation of larger channels which improves the flow of liquids or gasses through these materials.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1998Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventor: Alan B. Fischer
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Patent number: 5968650Abstract: The invention relates to an interpenetrating network of carbon fibrils and a polymer, which comprises a rigidized, three-dimensional macroscopic assemblage of a multiplicity of randomly oriented carbon fibrils and an innerpenetrating mass of an organic polymer. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such innerpenetrating networks.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1997Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: Howard G. Tennent, Chun Ming Niu, Robert Hoch, Alan B. Fischer
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Patent number: 5965470Abstract: A method of oxidizing the surface of carbon microfibers that includes contacting the microfibers with an oxidizing agent that includes sulfuric acid and potassium chlorate under reaction conditions sufficient to oxidize the surface. The invention also features a method of decreasing the length of carbon microfibers that includes contacting the microfibers with an oxidizing agent under reaction conditions sufficient to decrease the length.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1995Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: Robert C. Bening, Thomas J. McCarthy
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Patent number: 5908585Abstract: A transparent electrically conductive film having a surface resistivity of 10.sup.2 -10.sup.10 .OMEGA./.sup..quadrature., an overall light transmittance of at least 70%, and a haze value of at most 20% comprises an organic or inorganic transparent matrix having dispersed therein 0.01%-1 wt % of hollow carbon microfibers and 1%-40 wt % of an electrically conductive metal oxide powder (such as antimony-doped tin oxide) with an average primary particle diameter of 0.5 .mu.m or smaller. The matrix can be an organic polymer which is thermoplastic, thermosetting, or curable by ultraviolet radiation, or a metal oxide sol which can form an inorganic glass film, a hydrolyzable or heat decomposable organic metal compound, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1998Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventor: Daisuke Shibuta
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Patent number: 5879836Abstract: A lithium battery characterized in that the anode (1) is formed from a carbon fibril material comprised of an aggregate of fibrils or non-aggregated mass of fibrils having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 100 microns in which fine, filiform carbon fibrils of 3.5 to 75 nm an in diameter are intertwinned with each other, and fibrils being intercalated with lithium. The cathode (3) also contains carbon fibrils.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1996Date of Patent: March 9, 1999Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International Inc.Inventors: Hiroharu Ikeda, Robert Hoch, Robert Hausslein
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Patent number: 5877110Abstract: Products containing carbon fibrils having a morphology of vermicular tubes that are free of a continuous thermal carbon overcoat and have graphitic layers, wherein the length of the projection of the graphitic layers on the fibril axis extends along the axis for a distance of at least two fibril diameters. The fibrils are used to form composites, adsorbents and mats.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1995Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: Carl Snyder, W. Harry Mandeville, Howard G. Tennent, Larry K. Truesdale, James J. Barber
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Patent number: 5853877Abstract: This invention relates to a method for disentangling hollow carbon microfibers and to the dispersion of hollow carbon microfibers, preferably having an outer diameter of 3.5 to 70 nm and an aspect ratio of at least 5, to form transparent electrically conductive films. Hollow carbon microfibers, treated with strong acids such as sulfuric acid or oleum and an oxidizing agent such as nitric acid, are disentangled and dispersed homogeneously in a polar solvent. The slurry in which the microfibers are suspended can be coated on a substrate. The coating film is dried and a transparent electrically conductive film is formed. A carbon microfiber aggregation film with excellent transparency is obtained having a total transmittance of at least 80 percent and a haze value of at most 0.1%.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1996Date of Patent: December 29, 1998Assignees: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc., Mitsubishi Materials Corp. TokyoInventor: Daisuke Shibuta
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Patent number: 5800706Abstract: The general area of this invention relates to porous materials made from nanofiber packed beds. More particularly, the invention relates to altering the porosity or packing structure of a nanofiber packed bed structure by blending nanofibers with scaffold particulates having larger dimensions. For example, adding large diameter fibers to a nanotube packed bed to serve as a scaffolding to hold the smaller nanofibers apart and prevent the nanofiber bed structure from collapsing. This increases the average pore size of the mass by changing the pore size distribution and alters the packing structure of the packed bed. The increase in average pore size is caused by the creation of larger channels which improves the flow of liquids or gasses through these materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventor: Alan B. Fischer
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Patent number: 5726116Abstract: A fibril aggregate that includes a multiplicity of carbon fibrils whose longitudinal axes have substantially the same relative orientation, each of the fibrils characterized as having graphitic layers that are substantially parallel to its longitudinal axis and being free of a continuous thermal carbon overcoat, and a method of preparing such aggregates.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1995Date of Patent: March 10, 1998Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: David Moy, Asif Chishti
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Patent number: 5707916Abstract: A volume of carbon fibrils that includes a multiplicity of fibrils having a morphology consisting of vermicular tubes that are free of a continuous thermal carbon overcoat and have graphite layers that are substantially parallel to the fibril axis and a process for preparing such fibrils.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1991Date of Patent: January 13, 1998Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: Carl Snyder, W. Harry Mandeville, Howard G. Tennent, Larry K. Truesdale, James J. Barber
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Patent number: 5650370Abstract: This invention relates to a method of supporting a catalyst which involves attaching a catalyst to either a furry fiber, a furry plate or a discrete carbon fibril. The furry fiber or furry plate include a carbon fiber or plate and a plurality of carbon fibrils adhering to the outer surface of the carbon fiber or plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1995Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: Howard G. Tennent, James J. Barber, Robert Hoch
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Patent number: 5591382Abstract: A polymeric composition having improved toughness and conductivity comprising carbon fibrils, at least a portion of which are in the form of aggregates, wherein, as measured on an area basis, substantially all of the aggregates are less than about 35 .mu.m in diameter. A polymeric composition having improved toughness and conductivity is prepared by combining carbon fibrils, at least a portion of which are in the form of aggregates, with a polymeric material, mixing the combination to distribute the fibrils in the polymeric material and applying shear to the combination to break down the aggregates until substantially all of the aggregates are less than about 35 .mu.m in diameter.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1993Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Nahass, Stephen O. Friend, Robert W. Hausslein
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Patent number: 5589152Abstract: This invention concerns a discrete carbon fibril characterized by a substantially constant diameter between about 3.5 and about 70 nanometers, length greater than about 5 times the diameter and less than about 100 times the diameter, an outer region of multiple essentially continuous layers of ordered carbon atoms and a distinct inner core region. The invention further concerns a plurality of such fibrils.The fibrils of this invention may be produced by contacting for an appropriate period of time and at a suitable pressure a suitable metal-containing particle with a suitable gaseous, carbon-containing compound, at a temperature between about 850.degree. C. and 1200.degree. C., or by treating discrete carbon fibrils, characterized by a length greater than about 100 times the diameter. Carbon fibrils may also be continuously produced by continuously contacting for an appropriate period of time at suitable conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1995Date of Patent: December 31, 1996Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: Howard G. Tennent, James J. Barber, Robert Hoch
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Patent number: 5500200Abstract: This invention relates to fibrils. It more particularly refers to carbon/graphite fibrils and to an improved process for producing such. Carbon fibrils as used herein means graphitic fibrils having high surface area, high Young's modulus of elasticity and high tensile strength which are grown catalytically from available sources of carbon.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: March 19, 1996Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: W. Harry Mandeville, Larry K. Truesdale, Howard Tennent
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Patent number: 5445327Abstract: A compounding process for preparing a composite that includes introducing one or more fillers and a matrix material into a stirred ball mill and subjecting the fillers and the matrix material to a combination of shear and impact forces under reaction conditions including reaction time sufficient to reduce the size of agglomerates formed by the fillers to a value below a pre-determined value to disperse the fillers throughout the matrix material.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1992Date of Patent: August 29, 1995Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventor: Robert D. Creehan
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Patent number: 5304326Abstract: A crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by mixing 100 weight parts of at least one type of thermoplastic elastomer, 0-200 weight parts of a rubber-like polymer, and 1-50 weight parts of ultra fine carbon fibrils whose diameter is 3.5-70 nm and whose aspect ratio is greater than 5 against 100 weight parts of the combined mixture of the aforementioned elastomer and rubber like polymer.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1992Date of Patent: April 19, 1994Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: Kohei Goto, Motokazu Takeuchi, Takumi Miyachi
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Patent number: 5124075Abstract: An electro-conductive sheet having a thickness between 10 and 200 microns that includes carbon fibrils having diameters within the range 0.0036 to 0.5 microns and length to diameter ratios of at least 5 in an electrically insulating polymer material.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1990Date of Patent: June 23, 1992Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventors: Naoshi Yasuda, Masaki Nagata
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Patent number: 4663230Abstract: This invention concerns an essentially cylindrical discrete carbon fibril characterized by a substantially constant diameter between about 3.5 and about 70 nanometers, e.g. between about 7 and 25 nanometers, length greater than about 10.sup.2 times the diameter, an outer region of multiple essentially continuous layers of ordered carbon atoms and a distinct inner core region, each of the layers and core disposed substantially concentrically about the cylindrical axis of the fibril. Preferably the entire fibril is substantially free of thermal carbon overcoat. The invention further concerns a plurality of such fibrils.The fibril or plurality of fibrils of this invention may be produced by contacting for an appropriate period of time and at suitable pressure a suitable metal-containing particle with a suitable gaseous, carbon-containing compound, at a temperature between about 850.degree. C. and 1200.degree. C.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1984Date of Patent: May 5, 1987Assignee: Hyperion Catalysis International, Inc.Inventor: Howard G. Tennent