Patents by Inventor Andrew E. Brink

Andrew E. Brink 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).

  • Thermoplastic polyurethane additives for improved polymer matrix composites and methods of making and using therefor
    Patent number: 6395823
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite made by the process of melt mixing (a) a polymer having at least one isocyanate reactive group, wherein the polymer is from 30 to 90% by weight of the composite; (b) a thermoplastic polyurethane at from 0.1 to less than 10% by weight of the composite; and (c) a reinforcing fiber at from 9.9 to 60% by weight of the composite, wherein the sum of the weight percentages of components (a)-(c) is equal to 100%, wherein the polymer (a) is not a polyamide. The invention further relates to a composite prepared by the process of melt mixing (a) a polymer having at least one isocyanate reactive group, wherein the polymer is from 25 to 90% by weight of the composite; (b) a thermoplastic polyurethane at from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the composite; (c) a reinforcing fiber at from 9.8 to 60% by weight of the composite, and (d) an epoxy compound at from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the composite, wherein the sum of the weight percentages of components (a)-(d) is equal to 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Andrew E. Brink, Jeffrey T. Owens
  • Process for preparing high strength fiber reinforced composites
    Patent number: 6048922
    Abstract: A process for preparing a high strength fiber reinforced polymer composite comprising:A) compounding a polymer with a fiber reinforcing agent thereby forming a compounded polymer composite;B) solid state polymerizing the compounded polymer composite to produce the high strength fiber reinforced polymer composite; andC) combining an additive into the high strength fiber reinforced polymer composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Andrew E. Brink, Jeffrey T. Owens, Alan J. Oshinski, Thomas J. Pecorini
  • Thermoplastic polyurethane additives for improved polymer matrix composites and methods of making and using therefor
    Patent number: 6043313
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite made by the process of melt mixing (a) a polymer having at least one isocyanate reactive group, wherein the polymer is from 30 to 90% by weight of the composite; (b) a thermoplastic polyurethane at from 0.1 to less than 10% by weight of the composite; and (c) a reinforcing fiber at from 9.9 to 60% by weight of the composite, wherein the sum of the weight percentages of components (a)-(c) is equal to 100%, wherein the polymer (a) is not a polyamide. The invention further relates to a composite prepared by the process of melt mixing (a) a polymer having at least one isocyanate reactive group, wherein the polymer is from 25 to 90% by weight of the composite; (b) a thermoplastic polyurethane at from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the composite; (c) a reinforcing fiber at from 9.8 to 60% by weight of the composite, and (d) an epoxy compound at from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the composite, wherein the sum of the weight percentages of components (a)-(d) is equal to 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Andrew E. Brink, Jeffrey T. Owens
  • Polyalkylene ethers as plasticizers and flow aids in poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate) resins
    Patent number: 5624987
    Abstract: This invention relates to a polyester composition comprising a blend of:(A) 99.5 to 75 weight % of a copolyester having an inherent viscosity of 0.1 to 1.2 dL/g and having a melting point in excess of 250.degree. C., comprising:(a) one or more dicarboxylic acids, and(b) a glycol component comprising at least 80 mole % 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol; and(B) 0.5 to 25 weight % of one or more polyalkylene ethers,wherein the weight percentages of all components in said blend total 100 weight %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventors: Andrew E. Brink, Sam R. Turner, Gerald T. Keep
  • Polyalkyloxazoline/polylactone copolymers, processes for making, and uses
    Patent number: 5183861
    Abstract: Block copolymers of polyoxazoline and polylactone moieties can be used as polymeric compatibilizers for polyamides and polyolefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Judy S. Riffle, Gurudus D. Sinai-Zingde, Andrew E. Brink
  • Non-volatile plasticizers and flow aids for polyesters
    Patent number: H1987
    Abstract: The use of a specified molecular weight range of poly(alkylene ether)s, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG), and poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), and end-capped poly(alkylene ether)s, as plasticizers for polyesters such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(propylene terephthalate) (PPT), poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN), and poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate) (PCT), that are non-volatile during drying processes as well as during melt processing. Such poly(alkylene ether)s and end-capped poly(alkylene ether)s decrease the melt viscosity of the polymer matrix and depress the glass transition temperature, and thereby improve the processability of polyesters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Andrew E. Brink, Bruce C. Bell, Gerald T. Keep