Patents by Inventor Joseph J. Rafalko

Joseph J. Rafalko 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).

  • Oxyformylated substituted polybenzimidazole article
    Patent number: 4877849
    Abstract: This invention discloses a process for the preparation of substituted polybenzimidazole polymers by reacting an unsubstituted polybenzimidazole polymer with a pyrocarbonate to produce an oxyformulated polybenzimidazole polymer. The oxyformulated polybenzimidazole polymer can be heated to convert it to an N-substituted polybenzimidazole polymer. Membranes, fibers and other products produced from the products of these reactions are highly resistant to chemical reactions with broad utility as fibers or membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Hoechst Celanese Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph J. Rafalko
  • Modified polybenzimidazole polymer membranes
    Patent number: 4734466
    Abstract: The invention provides a substituted polybenzimidazole product produced by employing a cyclic carbonate to attach hydroxyalkyl substituents at the reactive imidazole hydrogen sites on the polybenzimidazole polymer. The substituted polybenzimidazole polymer membranes produced by this process exhibit improved hydrophilicity and chemical stability over prior art polybenzimidazole membranes. Substituted polybenzimidazole polymer ultrafilters produced by this process filter a broad range of molecular weight compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Hoechst Celanese Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Kindler, Esther A. Bower, Joseph J. Rafalko, Michael J. Sansone
  • Process for modifying polybenzimidazole polymers with ethylene carbonates
    Patent number: 4599388
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for modifying a polybenzimidazole polymer which involves employing ethylene carbonate as a hydroxyethylating agent to introduce 2-hydroxyethyl substituents at active imidazole hydrogen sites in the polymer. The polymer product exhibits improved hydrophilicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Celanese Corporation
    Inventors: Esther A. Bower, Joseph J. Rafalko