Patents Examined by Mark Kaucher
  • Patent number: 9988532
    Abstract: A flame-retardant thermoplastic elastomer compound includes polyphenylene ether, a hydrogenated styrene block copolymer, at least one solid non-halogenated phosphorus containing flame retardant, a nucleated olefinic polymer, two different specific UV stabilizers, and pigment. The compound has a before-aging tensile elongation of >200% and an after-aging tensile elongation residual of at least 75% according to UL 62. The compound is useful for making an insulation layer, a jacketing layer, or both for protected electrical lines such as alternating current wire and cable products, accessory cables, and a variety of injection molded electrical or electronic parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: PolyOne Corporation
    Inventor: Chang Hoon Song
  • Patent number: 9982353
    Abstract: Water electrolyzers employs base metal catalysts and an anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprising a polymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and possibly vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of —Cl, —OH, and a reaction product between an —OH or —Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu
  • Patent number: 9976022
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polytetrafluoroethylene aqueous dispersion containing high-molecular-weight, significantly small polytetrafluoroethylene particles and having excellent dispersion stability. The present invention relates to an aqueous dispersion containing polytetrafluoroethylene particles containing a tetrafluoroethylene unit alone or a tetrafluoroethylene unit and a modifying monomer unit based on a modifying monomer copolymerizable with the tetrafluoroethylene. The polytetrafluoroethylene particles have a volume average particle size of not smaller than 0.1 nm but smaller than 20 nm, a melt flow rate of not lower than 0 g/10 min but lower than 80 g/10 min determined at 380° C. and 5 kg load, a melting point of 324° C. to 360° C., and an initial pyrolysis temperature of not lower than 400° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nanba, Dai Fukami, Takuya Yamabe, Taketo Kato, Makoto Ono, Takahiro Taira, Hirotoshi Yoshida, Taku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9971243
    Abstract: A polymer includes a structural unit represented by Chemical Formula 1 and an organic layer composition including the same. wherein in Chemical Formula 1, A is a carbon cyclic group including at least one hetero atom, B is one of groups in Group 1, where Ar1 to Ar4, R11 to R14, L and m are as defined in the specification and * is a linking point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Shin Park, Tae-Ho Kim, Yoo-Jeong Choi, Sun-Hae Kang, Hyo-Young Kwon, Sang-Kyun Kim, Young-Min Kim, Youn-Hee Nam, Hyun-Ji Song, Byeri Yoon, Dong-Geun Lee, Seulgi Jeong
  • Patent number: 9966575
    Abstract: A film-forming composition according to the present invention includes: a fluororesin having a repeating unit of the formula (1) and a repeating unit of the general formula (2); and a fluorine-containing solvent. In the general formula (2), R1 represents a C1-C15 straight, C3-C15 branched or C3-C15 cyclic hydrocarbon group in which at least one hydrogen atom may be replaced by a fluorine atom or chlorine atom and which may have a hydroxy group. This film-forming composition is suitably usable for the manufacturing of an organic semiconductor element as the composition can form a fluororesin film on an organic semiconductor film; and the formed film has resistance to an etching solvent during the fine pattern processing of the organic semiconductor film by photolithography etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Central Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Haruhiko Komoriya, Yoshiharu Terui, Fumito Kobayashi, Yukari Hara, Ikunari Hara
  • Patent number: 9963531
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, aqueous emulsion polymerization processes of synthesizing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene/vinylidene fluoride copolymers having 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene as the major monomer unit are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Changqing Lu, Andrew J. Poss, Rajiv R. Singh, David Nalewajek, Cheryl Cantlon
  • Patent number: 9962691
    Abstract: Disclosed are composite materials and methods of making them. The composite materials comprise a support member and a cross-linked gel, wherein the cross-linked gel is a polymer synthesized by thiol-ene or thiol-yne polymerization and cross-linking. The cross-linked gel may be functionalized by a thiol-ene or thiol-yne grafting reaction, either simultaneously with the polymerization or as the second step in a two-step procedure. The composite materials are useful as chromatographic separation media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Natrix Separations Inc.
    Inventors: Amro Ragheb, Gary Skarja
  • Patent number: 9958364
    Abstract: An article that can be used for biomaterial capture comprises (a) a porous substrate; and (b) borne on the porous substrate, a polymer comprising interpolymerized units of at least one monomer consisting of (1) at least one monovalent ethylenically unsaturated group, (2) at least one monovalent ligand functional group selected from acidic groups, basic groups other than guanidino, and salts thereof, and (3) a multivalent spacer group that is directly bonded to the monovalent groups so as to link at least one ethylenically unsaturated group and at least one ligand functional group by a chain of at least six catenated atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jerald K. Rasmussen, Catherine A. Bothof, George W. Griesgraber, Semra Colak Atan, James I. Hembre, Robert T. Fitzsimons, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9957624
    Abstract: Electrochemical devices comprising electrocatalyst mixtures include at least one Catalytically Active Element and, as a separate constituent, one Helper Catalyst. The electrocatalysts can be used to increase the rate, modify the selectivity or lower the overpotential of chemical reactions. These electrocatalysts are useful for a variety of chemical reactions including, in particular, the electrochemical conversion of CO2. Chemical processes employing these catalysts produce CO, HCO?, H2CO, (HCOO)?, HCOOH, CH3OH, CH4, C2H4, CH3CH2OH, CH3COO?, CH3COOH, C2H6, (COOH)2, or (COO?)2. Devices using the electrocatalysts include, for example, a CO2 sensor and a CO2 electrolyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Brian Rosen
  • Patent number: 9951170
    Abstract: A sulfonated polyphosphazene copolymer proton exchange membrane material, and a method for preparing such membrane includes a macromolecule initiator as bromo polyphosphazene is subjected to atom transfer radical polymerization with styrene, yielding a graft copolymer, which is hydrazinolyzed with hydrazine hydrate resulting in a copolymer including a hydroxyl group. The copolymer is reacted with 1,4-butane sultone to yield a sulfonated copolymer finally. The polymer is cross-linked with 2,6-di(hydroxymethyl)-4-methyl phenol (BHMP) as a cross linking agent in the presence of methyl sulfonic acid, yielding cross-linked proton exchange membrane. Such cross-linked graft copolymer membrane has high proton conductivity, low methanol hindrance, and low cost, and has ideal effect when applied in fuel cells as proton exchange membrane material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Hulin Xu
  • Patent number: 9951166
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fluorine-containing and silicon-containing polymer of the general formula (A) or (B) (wherein each symbol is as defined in the description) which is useful for forming a surface treatment layer having water-repellency, oil-repellency and antifouling property and excellent surface slip property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Dai Fukami, Tomohiro Yoshida, Tomomi Irita, Takabumi Nagai
  • Patent number: 9943841
    Abstract: A method to manufacture an ion exchange membrane involves treatment of the membrane in a strong base to strengthen the membrane, decrease the membrane solubility, and create linkages that can be detected by analysis using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Syed Dawar Sajjad, Mark J. Pellerite
  • Patent number: 9945040
    Abstract: A catalyst layer for an electrochemical device comprises a catalytically active element and an ion conducting polymer. The ion conducting polymer comprises positively charged cyclic amine groups. The ion conducting polymer comprises at least one of an imidazolium, a pyridinium, a pyrazolium, a pyrrolidinium, a pyrrolium, a pyrimidium, a piperidinium, an indolium, a triazinium, and polymers thereof. The catalytically active element comprises at least one of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Sn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Al, Si, In, Tl, Pb, Bi, Sb, Te, U, Sm, Tb, La, Ce and Nd. In an electrolyzer comprising the present catalyst layer, the feed to the electrolyzer comprises at least one of CO2 and H2O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Dioxide Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard I. Masel, Zengcai Liu, Robert Kutz, Syed Dawar Sajjad
  • Patent number: 9938456
    Abstract: This deals with a luminescent salt comprising a metal cluster anion and an organic cation, wherein the metal cluster anion comprises a metal cluster with at least two metal atoms, and ligands, the metal atoms being chosen from the group consisting of molybdenum, rhenium, tungsten, thallium, niobium, and mixtures thereof, wherein the organic cation comprises a cationic head substituted by at least one substituent including a polymerizable functional group. It also deals with a polymeric material comprising a polymer matrix which has polymerized with this luminescent salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: Universite de Rennes 1, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Yann Molard, Maria De Los Angeles Amela-cortes, Stephane Cordier
  • Patent number: 9926392
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic block copolymer comprising at least one PA block and at least one PB block. The PA block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer A, and the PB block represents a polymer block comprising one or more units of monomer B. Monomer A is a vinyl, acrylic, diolefin, nitrile, dinitrile, acrylonitrile monomer, a monomer with reactive functionality, or a crosslinking monomer. Monomer B is a radically polymerizable triglyceride or mixtures thereof, typically in the form of a plant or animal oil. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a thermoplastic block copolymer or novel thermoplastic statistical copolymers by polymerizing a radically polymerizable monomer with a radically polymerizable triglyceride or mixtures thereof via reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (RAFT), in the presence of an free radical initiator and a chain transfer agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric W. Cochran, Ronald Christopher Williams, Nacu Hernandez, Andrew Cascione
  • Patent number: 9925534
    Abstract: An ion exchange polymer composition is provided, which includes a primary crosslinker and a secondary crosslinker. The primary crosslinker includes a crosslinked ionic monomer including a quaternary ammonium group. A method for making the ion exchange polymer composition and materials prepared from the ion exchange polymer composition are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Russell James MacDonald, Chakravarthy S Gudipati, Kai Zhang
  • Patent number: 9929410
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to conducting polymer composites for use in electrochemical applications and electrolysis applications, and methods of making the same. A composite material is provided that includes a conducting polymer; and a silsesquioxane compound. The composite material is used to prepare ion conducting membranes and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventor: Anima B. Bose
  • Patent number: 9919304
    Abstract: Sulfonyl-containing polymeric materials and methods of making these materials are provided. More specifically, the sulfonyl-containing polymeric materials are prepared by treating a precursor polymeric material with a sulfonyl-containing compound. The precursor polymeric material is formed from a polymerizable composition that contains a free-radically polymerizable spirobisindane monomer. The sulfonyl-containing polymeric material is porous. The size of the pores can be in the microporous region, mesoporous region, or both depending on the particular monomers and reaction conditions used to form the precursor polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael S. Wendland
  • Patent number: 9919305
    Abstract: Sulfonyl-containing polymeric materials are prepared by treating a precursor polymeric material with a sulfonyl-containing compound. The precursor polymeric materials are formed from a polymerizable composition that contains a crosslinker that is a free-radically polymerizable spirobisindane monomer. The sulfonyl-containing polymeric material can be used as an ion exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael S. Wendland
  • Patent number: 9908961
    Abstract: Provided are (1) a vinyl alcohol graft copolymer grafting polymerizable unsaturated monomers as a graft chain onto a side-chain mercapto group-containing vinyl alcohol polymer backbone, the graft chain being attached to the polymer backbone at a mercapto group, and the backbone including: a vinyl alcohol unit and a unit represented by the following formula (I): wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a carboxyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a carboxyl group, or a carboxymethyl group; and X is a divalent C1-22 group which contains a carbon atom and a hydrogen atom and may contain a nitrogen atom and/or an oxygen atom; and (2) an ion-exchange membrane having controlled swelling in water and excellent flex resistance, the membrane including a vinyl alcohol graft copolymer as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuma Kaneshima, Yusuke Amano, Keisuke Morikawa