Patents by Inventor Katherine M. Smyth

Katherine M. Smyth 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).

  • HIERARCHICAL THERMOPLASTIC SURFACE TEXTURES FORMED BY PHASE TRANSFORMATION AND METHODS OF MAKING
    Publication number: 20120142795
    Abstract: Method for treating thermoplastic to make a surface thereof superhydrophobic. The method includes exposing the thermoplastic to a specific solvent for a selected time period. It is preferred that the treatment time be in the range of one minute to approximately five hours and more preferably in the range of one minute to 15 minutes. Thermoplastics and solvents having a similar solubility parameter interact with one another to form hydrophobic hierarchical surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kripa K. Varanasi, Adam T. Paxson, Katherine M. Smyth, Yuehua Cui