Patents by Inventor Lawrence W. Hrubesh
Lawrence W. Hrubesh 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: 8075716Abstract: Sol-gel chemistry is used for the preparation of energetic materials (explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics) with improved homogeneity, and/or which can be cast to near-net shape, and/or made into precision molding powders. The sol-gel method is a synthetic chemical process where reactive monomers are mixed into a solution, polymerization occurs leading to a highly cross-linked three dimensional solid network resulting in a gel. The energetic materials can be incorporated during the formation of the solution or during the gel stage of the process. The composition, pore, and primary particle sizes, gel time, surface areas, and density may be tailored and controlled by the solution chemistry. The gel is then dried using supercritical extraction to produce a highly porous low density aerogel or by controlled slow evaporation to produce a xerogel. Applying stress during the extraction phase can result in high density materials.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2000Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Randall L. Simpson, Ronald S. Lee, Thomas M. Tillotson, Lawrence W. Hrubesh, Rosalind W. Swansiger, Glenn A. Fox
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Patent number: 7811711Abstract: A method for forming a reinforced rigid anode monolith and fuel and product of such method.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2008Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Lawrennce Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: John F. Cooper, Thomas M. Tillotson, Lawrence W. Hrubesh
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Publication number: 20090017339Abstract: A method for forming a reinforced rigid anode monolith and fuel and product of such method.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: John F. Cooper, Thomas M. Tillotson, Lawrence W. Hrubesh
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Patent number: 7410718Abstract: Disclosed herein are aerogel and xerogel composite materials suitable for use as anodes in fuel cells and batteries. Precursors to the aerogel and xerogel compounds are infused with inorganic polymeric materials or carbon particles and then gelled. The gels are then pyrolyzed to form composites with internal structural support.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2004Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: John F. Cooper, Thomas M. Tillotson, Lawrence W. Hrubesh
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Patent number: 7211605Abstract: An aerogel material with surfaces containing fluorine atoms which exhibits exceptional hydrophobicity, or the ability to repel liquid water. Hydrophobic aerogels are efficient absorbers of solvents from water. Solvents miscible with water are separated from it because the solvents are more volatile than water and they enter the porous aerogel as a vapor across the liquid water/solid interface. Solvents that are immisicble with water are separated from it by selectively wetting the aerogel. The hydrophobic property is achieved by formulating the aerogel using fluorine containing molecules either directly by addition in the sol-gel process, or by treating a standard dried aerogel using the vapor of fluorine containing molecules.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2004Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Paul R. Coronado, John F. Poco, Lawrence W. Hrubesh
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Patent number: 6986818Abstract: A synthetic route for producing nanostructure metal-oxide-based materials using sol-gel processing. This procedure employs the use of stable and inexpensive hydrated-metal inorganic salts and environmentally friendly solvents such as water and ethanol. The synthesis involves the dissolution of the metal salt in a solvent followed by the addition of a proton scavenger, which induces gel formation in a timely manner. Both critical point (supercritical extraction) and atmospheric (low temperature evaporation) drying may be employed to produce monolithic aerogels and xerogels, respectively. Using this method synthesis of metal-oxide nanostructured materials have been carried out using inorganic salts, such as of Fe3+, Cr3+, Al3+, Ga3+, In3+, Hf4+, Sn4+, Zr4+, Nb5+, W6+, Pr3+, Er3+, Nd3+, Ce3+, U3+ and Y3+.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Thomas M. Tillotson, Randall L. Simpson, Lawrence W. Hrubesh, Alexander Gash
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Patent number: 6986819Abstract: A method of preparing energetic metal-oxide-based energetic materials using sol-gel chemistry has been invented. The wet chemical sol-gel processing provides an improvement in both safety and performance. Essentially, a metal-oxide oxidizer skeletal structure is prepared from hydrolyzable metals (metal salts or metal alkoxides) with fuel added to the sol prior to gelation or synthesized within the porosity metal-oxide gel matrix. With metal salt precursors a proton scavenger is used to destabilize the sol and induce gelation. With metal alkoxide precursors standard well-known sol-gel hydrolysis and condensation reactions are used. Drying is done by standard sol-gel practices, either by a slow evaporation of the liquid residing within the pores to produce a high density solid nanocomposite, or by supercritical extraction to produce a lower density, high porous nanocomposite.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2003Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Thomas M. Tillotson, Randall L. Simpson, Lawrence W. Hrubesh
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Patent number: 6893518Abstract: Sol-gel chemistry is used for the preparation of energetic materials (explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics) with improved homogeneity, and/or which can be cast to near-net shape, and/or made into precision molding powders. The sol-gel method is a synthetic chemical process where reactive monomers are mixed into a solution, polymerization occurs leading to a highly cross-linked three dimensional solid network resulting in a gel. The energetic materials can be incorporated during the formation of the solution or during the gel stage of the process. The composition, pore, and primary particle sizes, gel time, surface areas, and density may be tailored and controlled by the solution chemistry. The gel is then dried using supercritical extraction to produce a highly porous low density aerogel or by controlled slow evaporation to produce a xerogel. Applying stress during the extraction phase can result in high density materials.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2003Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Randall L. Simpson, Ronald S. Lee, Thomas M. Tillotson, Lawrence W. Hrubesh, Rosalind W. Swansiger, Glenn A. Fox
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Publication number: 20040173536Abstract: A device that absorbs and separates oil from oil-water mixtures. The device is formed by combining an absorbent material with a support. The absorbent material is a hydrophobic sol-gel material processed to be an aerogel, with the support being a material of any type that can give the absorbent a place to reside. The absorbent or aerogel material may be coated onto or otherwise secured to the support material. When an oil-water mixture contacts the aerogel material, preferably in granulated or powdered form, the aerogel material will preferentially absorb and retain the oil phase, rejecting the water phase of the mixture. The end result is two separated streams, an oil only stream, and a water only stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2004Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Paul R. Coronado, Lawrence W. Hrubesh, John G. Reynolds
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Publication number: 20040171700Abstract: An aerogel material with surfaces containing fluorine atoms which exhibits exceptional hydrophobicity, or the ability to repel liquid water. Hydrophobic aerogels are efficient absorbers of solvents from water. Solvents miscible with water are separated from it because the solvents are more volatile than water and they enter the porous aerogel as a vapor across the liquid water/solid interface. Solvents that are immisicble with water are separated from it by selectively wetting the aerogel. The hydrophobic property is achieved by formulating the aerogel using fluorine containing molecules either directly by addition in the sol-gel process, or by treating a standard dried aerogel using the vapor of fluorine containing molecules.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2004Publication date: September 2, 2004Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Paul R. Coronado, John F. Poco, Lawrence W. Hrubesh
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Publication number: 20040142168Abstract: Fibers, and fabrics produced from the fibers, are made water repellent, fire-retardant and/or thermally insulating by filling void spaces in the fibers and/or fabrics with a powdered material. When the powder is sufficiently finely divided, it clings tenaciously to the fabric's fibers and to itself, resisting the tendency to be removed from the fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Inventors: Lawrence W. Hrubesh, John F. Poco, Paul R. Coronado
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Patent number: 6723378Abstract: Fibers, and fabrics produced from the fibers, are made water repellent, fire-retardant and/or thermally insulating by filling void spaces in the fibers and/or fabrics with a powdered material. When the powder is sufficiently finely divided, it clings tenaciously to the fabric's fibers and to itself, resisting the tendency to be removed from the fabric.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Lawrence W. Hrubesh, John F. Poco, Paul R. Coronado
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Publication number: 20040060626Abstract: A method of preparing energetic metal-oxide-based energetic materials using sol-gel chemistry has been invented. The wet chemical sol-gel processing provides an improvement in both safety and performance. Essentially, a metal-oxide oxidizer skeletal structure is prepared from hydrolyzable metals (metal salts or metal alkoxides) with fuel added to the sol prior to gelation or synthesized within the porosity metal-oxide gel matrix. With metal salt precursors a proton scavenger is used to destabilize the sol and induce gelation. With metal alkoxide precursors standard well-known sol-gel hydrolysis and condensation reactions are used. Drying is done by standard sol-gel practices, either by a slow evaporation of the liquid residing within the pores to produce a high density solid nanocomposite, or by supercritical extraction to produce a lower density, high porous nanocomposite.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Thomas M. Tillotson, Randall L. Simpson, Lawrence W. Hrubesh
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Patent number: 6709600Abstract: A method for removing organic liquids from aqueous solutions and mixtures. The method employs any porous material preferably in granular form and having small pores and a large specific surface area, that is hydrophobic so that liquid water does not readily wet its surface. In this method, organics, especially organic solvents that mix with and are more volatile than water, are separated from aqueous solution by preferentially evaporating across the liquid/solid boundary formed at the surfaces of the hydrophobic porous materials. Also, organic solvents that are immiscible with water, preferentially wet the surfaces of the hydrophobic material and are drawn within the porous materials by capillary action.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2001Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Lawrence W. Hrubesh, Paul R. Coronado, Jerome P. Dow
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Patent number: 6666935Abstract: Sol-gel chemistry is used for the preparation of energetic materials (explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics) with improved homogeneity, and/or which can be cast to near-net shape, and/or made into precision molding powders. The sol-gel method is a synthetic chemical process where reactive monomers are mixed into a solution, polymerization occurs leading to a highly cross-linked three dimensional solid network resulting in a gel. The energetic materials can be incorporated during the formation of the solution or during the gel stage of the process. The composition, pore, and primary particle sizes, gel time, surface areas, and density may be tailored and controlled by the solution chemistry. The gel is then dried using supercritical extraction to produce a highly porous low density aerogel or by controlled slow evaporation to produce a xerogel. Applying stress during the extraction phase can result in high density materials.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1997Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Randall L. Simpson, Ronald S. Lee, Thomas M. Tillotson, Lawrence W. Hrubesh, Rosalind W. Swansiger, Glenn A. Fox
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Patent number: 6620458Abstract: A two-step method for producing monolithic alumina aerogels having porosities of greater than 80 percent. Very strong, very low density alumina aerogel monoliths are prepared using the two-step sol-gel process. The method of preparing pure alumina aerogel modifies the prior known sol method by combining the use of substoichiometric water for hydrolysis, the use of acetic acid to control hydrolysis/condensation, and high temperature supercritical drying, all of which contribute to the formation of a polycrystalline aerogel microstructure. This structure provides exceptional mechanical properties of the alumina aerogel, as well as enhanced thermal resistance and high temperature stability.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: John F. Poco, Lawrence W. Hrubesh
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Publication number: 20030134916Abstract: A lightweight, high strength carbon aerogel composite and method of producing such a composite. An organic gel precursor is infiltrated into a pre-formed organic polymer foam or fiber-mat where it gels. The gel composite is then dried by any method that limits the shrinkage of the composite material. The dried gel is then heated in a furnace to pyrolyze the composite, reducing it to a glassy carbon form. The structure of the final carbon product consists of a matrix of porous carbon aerogel, reinforced by solid carbon struts, or fibers all in intimate contact, so that the strength of the composite is maximized.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventor: Lawrence W. Hrubesh
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Publication number: 20030082379Abstract: Fibers, and fabrics produced from the fibers, are made water repellent, fire-retardant and/or thermally insulating by filling void spaces in the fibers and/or fabrics with a powdered material. When the powder is sufficiently finely divided, it clings tenaciously to the fabric's fibers and to itself, resisting the tendency to be removed from the fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Lawrence W. Hrubesh, John F. Poco, Paul R. Coronado
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Publication number: 20030060520Abstract: A method for removing organic liquids from aqueous solutions and mixtures. The method employs any porous material preferably in granular form and having small pores and a large specific surface area, that is hydrophobic so that liquid water does not readily wet its surface. In this method, organics, especially organic solvents that mix with and are more volatile than water, are separated from aqueous solution by preferentially evaporating across the liquid/solid boundary formed at the surfaces of the hydrophobic porous materials. Also, organic solvents that are immiscible with water, preferentially wet the surfaces of the hydrophobic material and are drawn within the porous materials by capillary action.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2001Publication date: March 27, 2003Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Lawrence W. Hrubesh, Paul R. Coronado, Jerome P. Dow
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Publication number: 20030060519Abstract: A two-step method for producing monolithic alumina aerogels having porosities of greater than 80 percent. Very strong, very low density alumina aerogel monoliths are prepared using the two-step sol-gel process. The method of preparing pure alumina aerogel modifies the prior known sol method by combining the use of substoichiometric water for hydrolysis, the use of acetic acid to control hydrolysis/condensatioin, and high temperature supercritical drying, all of which contribute to the formation of a polycrystalline aerogel microstructure. This structure provides exceptional mechanical properties of the alumina aerogel, as well as enhanced thermal resistance and high temperature stability.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2001Publication date: March 27, 2003Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: John F. Poco, Lawrence W. Hrubesh