Patents by Inventor Bernard Kear
Bernard 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).
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Patent number: 11098175Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEYInventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer Lynch, Justin Hendrix, Bernard Kear, Gordon Chiu, Stephen Tse
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Patent number: 11059945Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 21, 2017Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEYInventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch, Bernard Kear, Nofel Whieb
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Publication number: 20200148841Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2017Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyInventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch, Bernard Kear, Nofel Whieb
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Patent number: 10329391Abstract: 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 microp articles, single-layer graphene nanoparticles, multilayer 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: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEYInventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch, Bernard Kear, Justin Hendrix, Gordon Chiu
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Patent number: 10253154Abstract: 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 arid 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: GrantFiled: April 18, 2014Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEYInventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer Lynch, Bernard Kear, Justin Hendrix, Gordon Chiu
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Publication number: 20190062521Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer Lynch, Justin Hendrix, Bernard Kear, Gordon Chiu, Stephen Tse
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Patent number: 9896565Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEYInventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer Lynch, Justin Hendrix, Bernard Kear, Gordon Chiu, Stephen Tse
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Publication number: 20170218141Abstract: 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 microp articles, single-layer graphene nanoparticles, multilayer 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: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2015Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer K. Lynch, Bernard Kear, Justin Hendrix, Gordon Chiu
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Publication number: 20160083552Abstract: 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 arid 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: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyInventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer Lynch, Bernard Kear, Justin Hendrix, Gordon Chiu
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Publication number: 20150267030Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 24, 2015Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyInventors: Thomas Nosker, Jennifer Lynch, Justin Hendrix, Bernard Kear, Gordon Chiu, Stephen Tse
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Publication number: 20070049484Abstract: A nanocomposite ceramic composition and method for making the same, the composition comprising a uniform dispersion of nanosize ceramic particles composed of at least one ceramic phase, interspersed and bound throughout a tough zirconia matrix phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2006Publication date: March 1, 2007Inventors: Bernard Kear, William Mayo, W. Cannon
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Publication number: 20070044513Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing metastable nanostructured materials employing a ceramic shroud surrounding a plasma flame having a steady state reaction zone into which an aerosol or liquid jet of solution precursor or powder material is fed, causing the material to be pyrolyzed, melted, or vaporized, followed by quenching to form a metastable nanosized powder that has an amorphous (short-range ordered), or metastable microsized powder that has a crystalline (long-range ordered) structure, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2006Publication date: March 1, 2007Inventors: Bernard Kear, Vijay Shukla, Rajendra Sadangi
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Publication number: 20060043644Abstract: A composite ceramic including a first phase of ceramic material and a second phase of ceramic material, the first and second phases forming three dimensional interconnected networks of each phase and having a nano-scaled grain size. The composite ceramic is produced in a method which utilizes rapid solidification at cooling rates of at least ˜104° K./sec to produce a metastable material formed by a solid solution of a two immiscible ceramic material phases, and which also utilizes relatively high pressure/low temperature consolidation to complete densification of the metastable material, while simultaneously generating a composite structure with nano-scale grain dimensions through a controlled phase transformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2005Publication date: March 2, 2006Inventors: Zwi Kalman, Bernard Kear, William Mayo, Ganesh Skandan
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Publication number: 20050244693Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell has anode, cathode and electrolyte layers each formed essentially of a multi-oxide ceramic material and having a far-from-equilibrium, metastable structure selected from the group consisting of nanocrystalline, nanocomposite and amorphous. The electrolyte layer has a matrix of the ceramic material, and is impervious and serves as a fast oxygen ion conductor. The electrolyte layer has a matrix of the ceramic material and a dopant dispersed therein in an amount substantially greater than its equilibrium solubility in the ceramic matrix. The anode layer includes a continuous surface area metallic phase in which electron conduction is provided by the metallic phase and the multi-oxide ceramic matrix provides ionic conduction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2004Publication date: November 3, 2005Inventors: Peter Strutt, Bernard Kear
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Publication number: 20050186104Abstract: A composite material composed of a matrix phase bonded by a carbon binder phase derived from sintered carbon nanoparticles such as, for example, fullerenes. The present invention further relates to a method of making such composite materials which includes the steps of dispersing a sufficient amount of carbon nanoparticles into a matrix phase, and compressing the carbon nanoparticles-containing matrix phase at a sufficient pressure and temperature over a sufficient time to facilitate the conversion of the carbon nanoparticles into a nanostructured carbon binder phase, thereby yielding the composite material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2004Publication date: August 25, 2005Inventors: Bernard Kear, Oleg Voronov
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Publication number: 20050152824Abstract: A new class of nanostructured RE-doped SiO2-base materials that display superior fluorescence properties is provided. In particular, high gain combined with a broad and flat spectral band width is observed in material composed of a high fraction of a nano-dispersed metastable silicate phase in a glassy SiO2 matrix, produced by partial devitrification (crystallization) of several glassy Al2O3/Er2O3- and Y2O3/Er2O3-doped SiO2 compositions. Also, a highly deconvoluted spectral emission, with several prominent peaks, is observed in completely devitrified material, consisting of a uniform nano-dispersion of an equilibrium silicate phase in a crystobalite SiO2 matrix. Such enhanced fluorescence properties were observed in heat treated nanopowders prepared by vapor-phase, solgel, rapid solidification, and spray-pyrolysis methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2005Publication date: July 14, 2005Inventors: Bernard Kear, Christopher Haines, George Sigel, Lisa Klein, Varadh Ranganathan
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Patent number: 5919428Abstract: Nanograined tungsten carbide particles are formed by a controlled, simultaneous reduction carburization reaction wherein the kinetics of the carburization and reduction reactions are controlled to permit simultaneous reduction and carburization. The kinetics are controlled by reacting a reduction carburization gas mixture, preferably hydrogen and carbon monoxide by slowly increasing the reaction temperature by controlling the rate of temperature increase. Preferably, the reaction temperature will be increased less than 25.degree. C. per minute, preferably about 1-2 degrees per minute, which prevents the formation of stable, undesirable species such as W.sub.2 C, which in turn interferes with the reaction efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1996Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Nanodyne IncorporatedInventors: Lin Gao, Bernard Kear, Purnesh Seegopaul
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Patent number: 5776264Abstract: Amorphous tungsten, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, iron and alloys thereof can be formed by reducing metal-containing compositions to form the elemental metal wherein the particle size of the elemental metal is less than about 80 microns. This is oxidized in an oxygen-starved environment containing less than 3% oxygen and an inert gas to slowly oxidize the elemental metal. By oxidizing the metal under these conditions, the normal exotherm occurring during oxidation is avoided. The slow oxidation of the metal continues forming an amorphous metal oxide. The amorphous metal oxide can then be reacted in a reducing environment such as hydrogen to form the amorphous elemental metal. This amorphous elemental metal can then be reacted with a carburizing gas to form the carbide or ammonia gas to form the nitride or hexamethylsilane to form the silicide. This permits gas/solid reactions. The amorphous metal can also be used in a variety of different applications.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1996Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Assignee: Rutgers UniversityInventors: Larry E. McCandlish, Bernard Kear, Nicos C. Angastiniotis