Patents by Inventor John A. Cuculo
John A. Cuculo 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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Publication number: 20160010244Abstract: A melt-spun highly oriented and crystalline thermoplastic filament or fiber having a tenacity of at least about 10 g/d, an elongation less than about 15%, and a modulus of at least about 130 g/d. A method of making highly oriented and crystalline thermoplastic filaments has been developed that comprises extruding a thermoplastic polymer to form at least one molten filament. The at least one molten filament is introduced into a horizontal liquid isothermal bath. The bath is maintained at a temperature between the glass transition temperature and the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer. The bath increases the tension along the molten filament to form at least one partially oriented and low crystalline filament. The partially oriented filament is drawn to form the highly oriented and crystalline filament.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: John A. Cuculo, Richard Kotek, Peng Chen, Mehdi Afshari, Ferdinand Lundberg
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Patent number: 9080258Abstract: A melt-spun highly oriented and crystalline thermoplastic filament or fiber having a tenacity of at least about 10 g/d, an elongation less than about 15-%, and a modulus of at least about 130 g/d. A method of making highly oriented and crystalline thermoplastic filaments has been developed that comprises extruding a thermoplastic polymer to form at least one molten filament. The at least one molten filament is introduced into a horizontal liquid isothermal bath. The bath is maintained at a temperature between the glass transition temperature and the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer. The bath increases the tension along the molten filament to form at least one partially oriented and low crystalline filament. The partially oriented filament is drawn to form the highly oriented and crystalline filament.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2010Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Richard Kotek, Peng Chen, Mehdi Afshari, Ferdinand Lundberg
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Publication number: 20130040521Abstract: A melt-spun highly oriented and crystalline thermoplastic filament or fiber having a tenacity of at least about 10 g/d, an elongation less than about 15-%, and a modulus of at least about 130 g/d. A method of making highly oriented and crystalline thermoplastic filaments has been developed that comprises extruding a thermoplastic polymer to form at least one molten filament. The at least one molten filament is introduced into a horizontal liquid isothermal bath. The bath is maintained at a temperature between the glass transition temperature and the melting temperature of the thermoplastic polymer. The bath increases the tension along the molten filament to form at least one partially oriented and low crystalline filament. The partially oriented filament is drawn to form the highly oriented and crystalline filament.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2010Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicant: NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITYInventors: John A. Cuculo, Richard Kotek, Peng Chen, Mehdi Afshari, Ferdinand Lundberg
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Patent number: 6827773Abstract: Cellulose solvents, cellulose compositions, and methods of making and using the same. For example, a cellulose composition including cellulose dissolved in the following solvent: an amine-based composition, provided however, the amine-based composition is not ammonia; and a salt selected from the group including a thiocyanate salt, a halide salt, and a nitrate salt. Representative amine-based compositions include hydrazine, hydrazine hydrate, and ethylenediamine.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Kazuyuki Hattori
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Publication number: 20030136304Abstract: Cellulose solvents, cellulose compositions, and methods of making and using the same. For example, a cellulose composition including cellulose dissolved in the following solvent: an amine-based composition, provided however, the amine-based composition is not ammonia; and a salt selected from the group including a thiocyanate salt, a halide salt, and a nitrate salt. Representative amine-based compositions include hydrazine, hydrazine hydrate, and ethylenediamine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2002Publication date: July 24, 2003Applicant: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Kazuyuki Hattori
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Patent number: 5733653Abstract: Ultra-oriented, crystalline synthetic filaments with a combination of high tenacity, high dimensional stability, high modulus, and a high fraction of taut-tie molecular phase are produced by extruding a fiber-forming synthetic polymer melt into a liquid isothermal bath, withdrawing the filaments from the bath and then post-treating them at a very low draw ratio. The bath is preferably maintained at a temperature of at least 30.degree. C. above the glass transition temperature of the polymer to enhance the orientation and promote the formation of stable extended chains. Polymer filaments so produced are characterized in that they have ultra-high birefringence, high tenacity and modulus, a high dimensional stability, and a high fraction of taut-tie molecular phase.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1996Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Paul A. Tucker, Ferdinand Lundberg, Jiunn-Yow Chen, Gang Wu, Gao-Yuan Chen
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Patent number: 5405696Abstract: Ultra-oriented, crystalline synthetic filaments with high tenacity are produced by extrusion of a fiber-forming synthetic polymer melt into a liquid isothermal bath maintained at a temperature of at least 30.degree. C. above the glass transition temperature of the polymer, withdrawing the filaments from the bath and then winding up the filaments. Polymer filaments so produced are characterized in that the ratio of the crystalline orientation factor (f.sub.c) to the amorphous orientation factor (f.sub.a) is 1.2 or less, and are further characterized in that the percent crystallinity is less than 40. The filaments also have a fine crystal size. The crystal size is less than 40 .ANG. in the 100 and 105 planes and less than 30 .ANG. in the 010 plane.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1993Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Paul A. Tucker, Gao-Yuan Chen, Ferdinand Lundberg
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Patent number: 5268133Abstract: Ultra-oriented, crystalline synthetic filaments with high tenacity are produced by extrusion of a fiber-forming synthetic polymer melt into a liquid isothermal bath maintained at a temperature of at least 30.degree. C. above the glass transition temperature of the polymer, withdrawing the filaments from the bath and then winding up the filaments. Polyethylene terephthalate filaments so produced at 3000-5000 m/min exhibit a crystalline structure and possess birefringence of 0.20-0.22, tenacity of 7-9 g/d, break elongation of 14-30% and boil-off shrinkage of 5-10%.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1992Date of Patent: December 7, 1993Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Paul A. Tucker, Gao-Yuan Chen, Ferdinand Lundberg
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Patent number: 5171504Abstract: The invention provides improved thermoplastic high strength, highly oriented fibers and a process for producing the fibers by melt spinning a thermoplastic polymer to form a threadline, preferably passing the threadline through a thermal conditioning zone and then quenching the threadline. The quenched threadline is passed through a hydraulic drag bath maintained at a temperature of greater than the glass transition temperature of the polymer which substantially increases the threadline stress and results in drawing of the threadline. The threadline is withdrawn from the drag bath at a withdrawal rate of at least 3,000 meters per minute.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1991Date of Patent: December 15, 1992Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Paul A. Tucker, Chon-Yie Lin, Ferdinand Lundberg
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Patent number: 5149480Abstract: Ultra-oriented, crystalline synthetic filaments with high tenacity are produced by extrusion of a fiber-forming synthetic polymer melt into a liquid isothermal bath maintained at a temperature of at least 30.degree. C. above the glass transition temperature of the polymer, withdrawing the filaments from the bath and then winding up the filaments. Polyethylene terephthalate filaments so produced at 3000-5000 m/min exhibit a crystalline structure and possess birefringence of 0.20-0.22, tenacity of 7-9 g/d, break elongation of 14%-30% and boil-off shrinkage of 5%-10%.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1990Date of Patent: September 22, 1992Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Paul A. Tucker, Gao-Yuan Chen, Ferdinand Lundberg
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Patent number: 4909976Abstract: The high speed melt spinning of synthetic polymer fibers is provided with on-line zone heating and cooling by which the strand emerging from the spinneret is initially cooled to an optimum temperature above the glass transition point of the polymer, the maintained near that temperature for a period of time to promote development of desirable fiber properties such as crystallization and crystal orientation, and then finally cooled below the solidification point for take up.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1988Date of Patent: March 20, 1990Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Paul A. Tucker, Gao-Yuan Chen, Chon-yie Lin, Jeffrey Denton, Ferdinand Lundberg
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Patent number: 4840673Abstract: Lyotropic mesophase (liquid crystalline) solutions of cellulose are formed in an ammonia/ammonium thiocyanate solvent. The nature of the solution can be controlled to selectively produce lyotropic cellulose mesophases having either nematic or cholesteric character. High strength, high modulus fibers are produced from a lyotropic mesophase solution of cellulose essentially in the nematic phase. The films are prepared from mesophase solutions of cellulose that are mainly in the cholesteric phase.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1988Date of Patent: June 20, 1989Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Michael H. Theil, Kap S. Yang, Yue S. Chen
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Patent number: 4750939Abstract: Lyotropic mesophase (liquid crystalline) solutions of cellulose are formed in an ammonia/ammonium thiocyanate solvent. The nature of the solution can be controlled to selectively produce lyotropic cellulose mesophases having either nematic or cholesteric character. High strength, high modulus fibers are produced from a lyotropic mesophase solution of cellulose essentially in the nematic phase. The films are prepared from mesophase solutions of cellulose that are mainly in the cholesteric phase.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1986Date of Patent: June 14, 1988Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Michael H. Theil, Kap S. Yang, Yue S. Chen
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Patent number: 4367191Abstract: A method of forming a cellulose fiber which comprises dissolving cellulose in a solvent comprising ammonia and a salt and subsequently forming a fiber.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1981Date of Patent: January 4, 1983Assignee: Research CorporationInventors: John A. Cuculo, Samuel M. Hudson
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Patent number: RE35972Abstract: Ultra-oriented, crystalline synthetic filaments with high tenacity are produced by extrusion of a fiber-forming synthetic polymer melt into a liquid isothermal bath maintained at a temperature of at least 30.degree. C. above the glass transition temperature of the polymer, withdrawing the filaments from the bath and then winding up the filaments. Polymer filaments so produced are characterized in that the ratio of the crystalline orientation factor (f.sub.c) to the amorphous orientation factor (f.sub.a) is 1.2 or less, and are further characterized in that the percent crystallinity is less than 40. The filaments also have a fine crystal size. The crystal size is less than 40 .ANG. in the 100 and 105 planes and less than 30 .ANG. in the 010 plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1996Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: John A. Cuculo, Paul A. Tucker, Gao-Yuan Chen, Ferdinand Lundberg