Patents by Inventor Katherine A. Shaffer

Katherine A. Shaffer 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).

  • Heterogeneous polymerizations in carbon dioxide
    Patent number: 5780553
    Abstract: A method for the polymerization of a monomer is disclosed. The method includes (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising a monomer, a stabilizer precursor, and a polymerization initiator in a polymerization medium comprising carbon dioxide; and then (b) polymerizing the monomer and the stabilizer precursor in the polymerization medium to form a heterogeneous reaction mixture comprising a polymer in the polymerization medium. The stabilizer precursor is covalently bound the polymer to provide an intrinsic surfactant in the polymer, which stabilizes the polymer in the heterogeneous reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy J. Romack, Dorian A. Canelas, Katherine A. Shaffer