Patents by Inventor Bernard H. Kear

Bernard H. Kear 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).

  • Publication number: 20240018315
    Abstract: A method for forming a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing carbon fibers or nanotubes into a molten polymer phase comprising one or more molten polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase breaks the carbon fibers successively with each event, producing reactive edges on the broken carbon fibers that react with and cross-link the one or more polymers. The composite shows improvements in mechanical properties, such as stiffness, strength and impact energy absorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Bernard H. Kear, Nofel Z. Whieb
  • Patent number: 11760640
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a nano-graphitic sponge (NGS) and methods for preparing the nano-graphitic sponge. The disclosed nano-graphitic sponge possesses many excellent properties, including large surface areas and pore volumes, low-mass densities, good electrical conductivities and mechanical properties. These excellent properties make the nano-graphitic sponge an ideal material for many applications, such as electrodes for batteries and supercapacitors, fuel cells and solar cells, catalysts and catalyst supports, and sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Bernard H. Kear, Nofel Z. Whieb, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Arya S. Tewatia
  • Patent number: 11702518
    Abstract: A method for forming a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing carbon fibers or nanotubes into a molten polymer phase comprising one or more molten polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase breaks the carbon fibers successively with each event, producing reactive edges on the broken carbon fibers that react with and cross-link the one or more polymers. The composite shows improvements in mechanical properties, such as stiffness, strength and impact energy absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Bernard H. Kear, Nofel Z. Whieb
  • Publication number: 20230077902
    Abstract: Described herein is a submerged-plasma process for the production of amorphous and nanocrystalline nanostructured materials, depending on processing conditions, from precursors that can be in the liquid or injected into the plasma or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen D. Tse, Chuiyuan Meng, Thomas Nosker, Bernard H. Kear, Mustafa M. Mozael
  • Publication number: 20230039392
    Abstract: A packaging material comprising a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite (G-PMC) is disclosed. The packaging material has improved barrier resistance to gas and liquid permeants. Also disclosed is a method of improving barrier resistance of a polymer to a permeant, the method comprising forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite within the polymer. The packaging material may be used for packaging food, drug, perfume, etc. and to make various containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Thomas J. Nosker, Bernard H. Kear, Charles T. Chang
  • Patent number: 11479653
    Abstract: A packaging material comprising a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite (G-PMC) is disclosed. The packaging material has improved barrier resistance to gas and liquid permeants. Also disclosed is a method of improving barrier resistance of a polymer to a permeant, the method comprising forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite within the polymer. The packaging material may be used for packaging food, drug, perfume, etc. and to make various containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Thomas J. Nosker, Bernard H. Kear, Charles T. Chang
  • Patent number: 11479652
    Abstract: A method for forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite is disclosed. The method includes distributing graphite microparticles into a molten thermoplastic polymer phase; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase exfoliates the graphite successively with each event until at least 50% of the graphite is exfoliated to form a distribution in the molten polymer phase of single- and multi-layer graphene nanoparticles less than 50 nanometers thick along the c-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Justin W. Hendrix, Bernard H. Kear, Gordon Chiu, Stephen Tse
  • Publication number: 20220250913
    Abstract: Methods for the production of carbon-based and other nanostructures are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen D. Tse, Hua Hong, Bernard H. Kear
  • Patent number: 11235977
    Abstract: Methods for the production of carbon-based and other nanostructures are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Stephen D. Tse, Hua Hong, Bernard H. Kear
  • Patent number: 11225558
    Abstract: A graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite comprising an essentially uniform distribution in a thermoplastic polymer of about 10% to about 50% of total composite weight of particles selected from graphite microparticles, single-layer graphene nanoparticles, multi-layer graphene nanoparticles, and combinations thereof, where at least 50 wt % of the particles consist of single- and/or multi-layer graphene nanoparticles less than 50 nanometers thick along a c-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Bernard H. Kear, Justin W. Hendrix, Gordon Chiu
  • Publication number: 20210403326
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a nano-graphitic sponge (NGS) and methods for preparing the nano-graphitic sponge. The disclosed nano-graphitic sponge possesses many excellent properties, including large surface areas and pore volumes, low-mass densities, good electrical conductivities and mechanical properties. These excellent properties make the nano-graphitic sponge an ideal material for many applications, such as electrodes for batteries and supercapacitors, fuel cells and solar cells, catalysts and catalyst supports, and sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Bernard H. Kear, Nofel Z. Whieb, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Arya S. Tewatia
  • Publication number: 20210371606
    Abstract: A method for forming a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing carbon fibers or nanotubes into a molten polymer phase comprising one or more molten polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase breaks the carbon fibers successively with each event, producing reactive edges on the broken carbon fibers that react with and cross-link the one or more polymers. The composite shows improvements in mechanical properties, such as stiffness, strength and impact energy absorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Bernard H. Kear, Nofel Z. Whieb
  • Publication number: 20210363321
    Abstract: A method for forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite is disclosed. The method includes distributing graphite microparticles into a molten thermoplastic polymer phase; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase exfoliates the graphite successively with each event until at least 50% of the graphite is exfoliated to form a distribution in the molten polymer phase of single- and multi-layer graphene nanoparticles less than 50 nanometers thick along the c-axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Justin W. Hendrix, Bernard H. Kear, Gordon Chiu, Stephen Tse
  • Patent number: 11174366
    Abstract: A method for forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing graphite microparticles into a molten thermoplastic polymer phase comprising one or more molten thermoplastic polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase exfoliates the graphene successively with each event, until tearing of exfoliated multilayer graphene sheets occurs and produces reactive edges on the multilayer sheets that react with and cross-link the one or more thermoplastic polymers; where the one or more thermoplastic polymers are selected from thermoplastic polymers subject to UV degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Bernard H. Kear, Justin Hendrix, Gordon Chiu
  • Publication number: 20200362137
    Abstract: A packaging material comprising a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite (G-PMC) is disclosed. The packaging material has improved barrier resistance to gas and liquid permeants. Also disclosed is a method of improving barrier resistance of a polymer to a permeant, the method comprising forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite within the polymer. The packaging material may be used for packaging food, drug, perfume, etc. and to make various containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Bernard H. Kear, Charles T. Chang
  • Publication number: 20200048425
    Abstract: A method for forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite is disclosed. The method includes distributing graphite microparticles into a molten thermoplastic polymer phase; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase exfoliates the graphite successively with each event until at least 50% of the graphite is exfoliated to form a distribution in the molten polymer phase of single- and multi-layer graphene nanoparticles less than 50 nanometers thick along the c-axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Justin W. Hendrix, Bernard H. Kear, Gordon Chiu, Stephen Tse
  • Publication number: 20200017645
    Abstract: A graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite comprising an essentially uniform distribution in a thermoplastic polymer of about 10% to about 50% of total composite weight of particles selected from graphite microparticles, single-layer graphene nanoparticles, multi-layer graphene nanoparticles, and combinations thereof, where at least 50 wt % of the particles consist of single- and/or multi-layer graphene nanoparticles less than 50 nanometers thick along a c-axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Bernard H. Kear, Justin W. Hendrix, Gordon Chiu
  • Publication number: 20190233611
    Abstract: A method for forming a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite by distributing graphite microparticles into a molten thermoplastic polymer phase comprising one or more molten thermoplastic polymers; and applying a succession of shear strain events to the molten polymer phase so that the molten polymer phase exfoliates the graphene successively with each event, until tearing of exfoliated multilayer graphene sheets occurs and produces reactive edges on the multilayer sheets that react with and cross-link the one or more thermoplastic polymers; where the one or more thermoplastic polymers are selected from thermoplastic polymers subject to UV degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch-Branzoi, Bernard H. Kear, Justin Hendrix, Gordon Chiu
  • Publication number: 20190194021
    Abstract: Methods for the production of carbon-based and other nanostructures are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen D. Tse, Hua Hong, Bernard H. Kear
  • Patent number: 10099928
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of use thereof for the production of carbon-based and other nanostructures, as well as fuels and reformed products, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Stephen D. Tse, Nasir K. Memon, Bernard H. Kear