Patents Assigned to Microtek Laboratories, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11920048
    Abstract: Non-flammable structures are disclosed that have a substrate and a layer applied to the substrate that includes a phase change material that is flammable. The layer includes a binder having mixed therein about 50% to about 90% by weight of a microencapsulated phase change material and about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of an inorganic flame retardant. The inorganic flame retardant has a volume that increases upon exposure to heat or a flame. The binder is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a styrene acrylic copolymer, a styrene butadiene copolymer, acrylic and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories INC.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Riazzi
  • Patent number: 11613685
    Abstract: Solid gel beads formed from a gel product of a 5 carbon to 60 carbon alkane phase change material, 5 carbon to 60 carbon alkene phase change material, or a combination thereof and a styrene-based polymer are homogeneous, has an uneven exterior surface, and a major axis length in a range of 1000 ?m to 100 mm. Methods for making the solid gel bead include providing water having a preselected temperature based on a linear relationship to the melting point of a phase change material composition, mixing the phase change material composition with the styrene-based polymer at or below the preselected temperature with stirring to form a pulp, and mixing the pulp into the water with turbulent mixing while maintaining the temperature of the mixture at the preselected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Madison B. Hammerberg, Jessica P. Davis
  • Publication number: 20210395554
    Abstract: Non-flammable structures are disclosed that have a substrate and a layer applied to the substrate that includes a phase change material that is flammable. The layer includes a binder having mixed therein about 50% to about 90% by weight of a microencapsulated phase change material and about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of an inorganic flame retardant. The inorganic flame retardant has a volume that increases upon exposure to heat or a flame. The binder is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a styrene acrylic copolymer, a styrene butadiene copolymer, acrylic and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Microtek Laboratories INC.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Riazzi
  • Publication number: 20210269582
    Abstract: Radiation curable phase change solutions (PCM) and said solutions as a thermoset thermal energy gels (a radiation cured polymeric network) has a hydrophobic PCM, a polybutadiene urethane acrylate oligomer soluble in the hydrophobic PCM and present as 7% wt/wt to 25% wt/wt of the gel, a photoinitiator soluble in the hydrophobic PCM and present as 0.01% wt/wt to 0.5% wt/wt of the gel, a mono-functional or di-functional crosslinker soluble in the hydrophobic PCM and present as 0% wt/wt to 10% wt/wt of the gel, and a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer as a secondary resin as 0% to 20% wt/wt of the gel and optionally a tertiary resin as 0% to 5% wt/wt of the gel, wherein the tertiary resin is a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer that is different than the secondary resin. The solution or gel is sealed in a container, e.g., a sachet, to form a cold pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: MICROTEK LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Richard M. FORMATO
  • Patent number: 10907054
    Abstract: Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a pre-formed capsule having a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories, INC.
    Inventors: Carl M. Lentz, Kayla L. M. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20200146378
    Abstract: Microcapsules or macrocapsules have a core composition that includes a phase change material (PCM) encapsulated within a polymer wall with an outer shell having a siloxane tethered to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The siloxane may form a crystalline or a sol-gel outer shell. Methods of making such capsules and textile fabrics and clothing incorporating such capsules include treating pre-formed capsules with a surfactant solution followed by treating with a compound containing a siloxane functional group. The surfactant connects or tethers the siloxane to the exterior surface of the polymer wall and the siloxane forms an outer shell of the capsules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: MICROTEK LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kayla L. M. Ryan, Carl M. Lentz
  • Publication number: 20200071586
    Abstract: Solid gel beads formed from a gel product of a 5 carbon to 60 carbon alkane phase change material, 5 carbon to 60 carbon alkene phase change material, or a combination thereof and a styrene-based polymer are homogeneous, has an uneven exterior surface, and a major axis length in a range of 1000 ?m to 100 mm. Methods for making the solid gel bead include providing water having a preselected temperature based on a linear relationship to the melting point of a phase change material composition, mixing the phase change material composition with the styrene-based polymer at or below the preselected temperature with stirring to form a pulp, and mixing the pulp into the water with turbulent mixing while maintaining the temperature of the mixture at the preselected temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: MICROTEK LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Madison B. HAMMERBERG, Jessica P. DAVIS
  • Patent number: 10561182
    Abstract: Microcapsules or macrocapsules have a core composition that includes a phase changing material (PCM) encapsulated within a polymer wall with an outer shell having a siloxane tethered to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The siloxane may form a crystalline or a sol-gel outer shell. Methods of making such capsules and textile fabrics and clothing incorporating such capsules include treating pre-formed capsules with a surfactant solution followed by treating with a compound containing a siloxane functional group. The surfactant connects or tethers the siloxane to the exterior surface of the polymer wall and the siloxane forms an outer shell of the capsules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories, INC.
    Inventors: Kayla L. M. Ryan, Carl M. Lentz
  • Patent number: 10487252
    Abstract: Thermal cooling gel and cold packs enclosing such thermal cooling gel have an aqueous gel of 1% to 10% wt/wt of cellulose, 0.5 g/L to 2 g/L of an ice nucleating protein, and a biocide. The enthalpy of the thermal cooling gel is in a range of 250 J/g to 330 J/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories, INC.
    Inventors: Madison B Schweke, Jessica P Davis, Carl M Lentz
  • Patent number: 10335758
    Abstract: Rupturable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a core composition, which includes a carboxylic acid, encapsulated within a phenolic resin-containing polymer wall that ruptures upon exposure to alkaline conditions over a period of time, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a mineral containing a metal that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the carboxylic acid and the mineral containing the metal chemically react with one another to form a reaction product that seals a rupture in the capsule and/or seals a feature of a surface upon which the capsules are disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories, INC.
    Inventors: Kayla L. M. Ryan, Carl M. Lentz
  • Patent number: 10316199
    Abstract: Microcapsules are disclosed that have a core composition encapsulated within a polymer wall, and an inorganic shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The inorganic shell has a cation attracted to the surfactant and an anion or anion equivalent chemically bonded to the cation to form the shell or has the metal portion of a metal-containing compound attracted to the surfactant to form the shell. The shell may comprise a Ca, Mg, or Ag metal compound. The shell may be a graphene oxide-metal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Carl M Lentz, Kayla L. M. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20190161626
    Abstract: Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a pre-formed capsule having a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Microtek Laboratories, INC.
    Inventors: Carl M. Lentz, Kayla L.M. Ryan
  • Patent number: 10287470
    Abstract: A microcapsule or microcapsule having a polymer wall comprising a melamine formaldehyde reacted with a crosslinking agent to form a unit cell according to a general formula (II) and/or the polymer wall has a FT-IR Spectrum as shown in FIG. 4. The crosslinking agent is a mixture of a reaction product of a cyclic urea (U) and a multifunctional aldehyde (A), and at least one crosslinker selected from the following group: a reaction products of (i) an aminotriazine and at least one aldehyde selected from the group consisting of aliphatic monoaldehydes and multifunctional aliphatic aldehydes, (ii) urea and/or cyclic ureas and formaldehyde, or (iii) phenols and aliphatic monoaldehydes, or from alkoxycarbonylaminotriazines, or multifunctional isocyanates, epoxides, aziridines, and carbodiimides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories, INC.
    Inventors: Carl M. Lentz, David R. Virgallito, Jerry K. Lawson
  • Publication number: 20190078006
    Abstract: Methods for producing a dimensionally stable phase change material (PCM), and dimensionally stable PCMs are disclosed. The methods include providing a porous base material, mixing a phase change material having a polar functional group with a substance that increases the polar attraction of the phase change material for the porous base material to form a mixture thereof; and, thereafter, mixing the mixture with the porous base material until a selected saturation of phase change material in the porous base material is reached. The methods may include filtering the porous base material after the selected saturation is reached to form a cake of dimensionally stable PCM and, thereafter, reducing the size of the dimensionally stable PCM to an average mean particle size of about 10 to about 50 ?m, or more preferably 20 to 30 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: MICROTEK LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Carl M. Lentz, Teresa T. Virgallito, Jerry K. Lawson
  • Patent number: 10221323
    Abstract: Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories, INC.
    Inventors: Carl M Lentz, Kayla L. M. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20190054441
    Abstract: Rupturable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a core composition, which includes a carboxylic acid, encapsulated within a phenolic resin-containing polymer wall that ruptures upon exposure to alkaline conditions over a period of time, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a mineral containing a metal that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the carboxylic acid and the mineral containing the metal chemically react with one another to form a reaction product that seals a rupture in the capsule and/or seals a feature of a surface upon which the capsules are disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Microtek Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayla L. M. Ryan, Carl M. Lentz
  • Patent number: 10125297
    Abstract: Methods for producing a dimensionally stable phase change material (PCM), and dimensionally stable PCMs are disclosed. The methods include providing a porous base material, mixing a phase change material having a polar functional group with a substance that increases the polar attraction of the phase change material for the porous base material to form a mixture thereof; and, thereafter, mixing the mixture with the porous base material until a selected saturation of phase change material in the porous base material is reached. The methods may include filtering the porous base material after the selected saturation is reached to form a cake of dimensionally stable PCM and, thereafter, reducing the size of the dimensionally stable PCM to an average mean particle size of about 10 to about 50 ?m, or more preferably 20 to 30 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories, INC.
    Inventors: Carl M. Lentz, Teresa T. Virgallito, Jerry K. Lawson
  • Publication number: 20180242665
    Abstract: Microcapsules or macrocapsules have a core composition that includes a phase changing material (PCM) encapsulated within a polymer wall with an outer shell having a siloxane tethered to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The siloxane may form a crystalline or a sol-gel outer shell. Methods of making such capsules and textile fabrics and clothing incorporating such capsules include treating pre-formed capsules with a surfactant solution followed by treating with a compound containing a siloxane functional group. The surfactant connects or tethers the siloxane to the exterior surface of the polymer wall and the siloxane forms an outer shell of the capsules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: MICROTEK LABORATORIES, INC
    Inventors: Kayla L. M. Ryan, Carl M. Lentz
  • Patent number: 10005059
    Abstract: Methods for producing microcapsules begin by preparing an emulsion of a surfactant, core material, and water, followed by the addition of a crosslinking agent and a melamine formaldehyde prepolymer, which is subsequently polymerized. The crosslinking agent is added before the melamine formaldehyde prepolymer, with a first addition or a second addition of a melamine formaldehyde prepolymer, or is divided for addition with both a first addition and a second addition of melamine formaldehyde prepolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories, INC
    Inventors: Carl M. Lentz, David R. Virgallito, Jerry K. Lawson
  • Patent number: 7938897
    Abstract: The present invention relates to microencapsulated compositions of isothiazolone derivatives and other water insoluble biocides or antifouling agents. In particular, the present invention relates to microencapsulated 4,5 dichloro 2 n-octyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone (DCOIT), useful in marine antifouling coatings and paints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Microtek Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Lee Hart, David Russell Virgallito, Dale Ellis Work