Patents by Inventor Ludwig J. Gauckler

Ludwig J. Gauckler 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).

  • Patent number: 8975301
    Abstract: Described is a method to prepare wet foams exhibiting long-term stability wherein colloidal particles are used to stabilize the gas-liquid interface, said particles being initially inherently partially lyophobic particles or partially lyophobized particles having mean particle sizes from 1 nm to 20 ?m. In one aspect, the partially lyophobized particles are prepared in-situ by treating initially hydrophilic particles with amphiphilic molecules of specific solubility in the liquid phase of the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: ETH Zurich
    Inventors: Ludwig J. Gauckler, Andre R. Studart, Elena Tervoort, Urs T. Gonzenbach, Ilke Akartuna
  • Publication number: 20090325780
    Abstract: Described is a method to prepare wet foams exhibiting long-term stability wherein colloidal particles are used to stabilize the gas-liquid interface, said particles being initially inherently partially lyophobic particles or partially lyophobized particles having mean particle sizes from 1 nm to 20 ?m. In one aspect, the partially lyophobized particles are prepared in-situ by treating initially hydrophilic particles with amphiphilic molecules of specific solubility in the liquid phase of the suspension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Ludwig J. Gauckler, André Studart, Elena Tervoort, Urs T. Gonzenbach, Iike Akartuna
  • Publication number: 20090291224
    Abstract: A sheet-like substrate (34) is coated with at least one thin film (36?) composed of at least one porous ceramic layer (S?1, S?2, S?3, . . . ). A solution or a suspension of an organic and/or inorganic metal composite as starting material (14) is admixed with a mixed-in, insoluble pore former (18) and the mixture (22) is sprayed on as layer (S?1, S?2, S?3, . . . ) of a thin film (36). The pore former (18) is at least partly thermally decomposed and/or burnt out to form an at least partly open-pored structure. The process is particularly suitable for producing miniaturized devices such as fuel cells and gas sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich
    Inventors: Daniel Beckel, Ludwig J. Gauckler
  • Publication number: 20090029195
    Abstract: A thin film consisting of at least two layers of a ceramic material, a ceramic and metallic material, or in the case of several layers a metallic material. All layers of the thin film have a maximum average particle size of approximately 500 nm and at least two layers consist of different material. In at least one of said layers, an essentially stable average particle size remains after a relaxation time, even in an increased temperature range. The mechanical stability is preferably reinforced by a supporting, essentially flat substrate. In the composite element, the thickness of the substrate is at least five times and in particular between ten and a hundred times the thickness of the thin film. The composite element can be successfully used in a miniaturised electrochemical device, in particular in a solid oxide fuel cell SOFC, a sensor or as a gas separation membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich
    Inventors: Ludwig J. Gauckler, Daniel Beckel, Ulrich Muecke, Patrik Muller, Jennifer Rupp
  • Publication number: 20090011315
    Abstract: A composite element comprising a thin film that consists of at least two layers of an oxide-ceramic and metallic material, or a metallic material and an essentially flat substrate that supports the thin film. Said substrate is composed of a ceramicizable glass, a glass ceramic, a hybrid form or an intermediate product. To produce the substrate, selected regions are dissolved out of the photostructurable glass substrate. The composite element can be successfully used in a miniaturised electrochemical device, in particular in a solid oxide fuel cell SOFC, a sensor or as a gas separation membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: EIDGENOSSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZURICH
    Inventors: Ludwig J. Gauckler, Daniel Beckel, Ulrich Muecke, Patrik Muller, Jennifer Rupp
  • Patent number: 6558613
    Abstract: The well known slip casting process for the production of ceramic green parts, in which hardening is achieved by water removal with porous molds, is characterized by disadvantages in terms of strength, shrinkage during drying and problems with cracking during drying. The present invention avoids these disadvantages and produces ceramic green parts by changing the surface potential of powder particles in the slip instead of by removing water. Further more the coagulation strength is increased by adding polymers or extremely fine divided colloidal particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: CeramTec AG Innovative Ceramic Engineering
    Inventors: Ludwig J. Gauckler, Thomas Graule
  • Patent number: 6136241
    Abstract: The well known slip casting process for the production of ceramic green parts, in which hardening is achieved by water removal with porous molds, is characterized by disadvantages in terms of strength, shrinkage during drying and problems with cracking during drying. The present invention avoids these disadvantages and produces ceramic green parts by changing the surface potential of powder particles in the slip instead of by removing water. Further more the coagulation strength is increased by adding polymers or extremely fine divided colloidal particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Ceramtec AG Innovative Ceramic Engineering
    Inventors: Ludwig J. Gauckler, Thomas Graule
  • Patent number: 6126732
    Abstract: A shaped, high-strength dental ceramic prothesis is made by pressing a molding composition comprising about 1-50 wt % glass particles and about 50-99 wt % ceramic particles to form a ceramic frame, veneering the frame and firing the coated frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Dentsply DeTrey GmbH
    Inventors: Carmen Hofmann, Ludwig J. Gauckler, Gerhard Bayer, Martin E. Hofmann, Atef Malash, Peter Scharer, Heinz Luthy, Klaus Krumbholz, Wigbert Hauner, Hansjorg Janssen, Ralf Janda
  • Patent number: 5948335
    Abstract: The well known slip casting process for the production of ceramic green parts, in which hardening is achieved by water removal with porous molds, is characterized by disadvantages in terms of strength, shrinkage during drying and problems with cracking during drying. The present invention avoids these disadvantages and produces ceramic green parts by changing the surface potential of powder particles in the slip instead of by removing water. Further more the coagulation strength is increased by adding polymers or extremely fine divided colloidal particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventors: Ludwig J. Gauckler, Thomas Graule
  • Patent number: 5916498
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a non-metallic dental prosthesis including a ceramic frame and an esthetic ceramic veneer including the steps of: preparing the ceramic frame by press molding a composition comprising from 1 to 50 parts by weight glass particles and from 50 to 99 parts by weight ceramic particles at a molding temperature from 800 to 1300.degree. C.; applying a slurry comprising a dental ceramic veneering composition to the thus prepared ceramic frame; and firing the ceramic frame having the slurry applied thereto at a temperature lower than the molding temperature to produce said dental prosthesis. The dental ceramic veneering composition may have a melting point at least 50.degree. C. less than the molding temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: DENTSPLY DeTrey GmbH
    Inventors: Carmen Hofmann, Ludwig J. Gauckler, Gerhard Bayer, Martin E. Hofmann, Atef Malash, Peter Scharer, Heinz Luthy, Klaus Krumbholz, Wigbert Hauner, Hansjorg Janssen, Ralf Janda
  • Patent number: 5849068
    Abstract: A shaped, high-strength dental ceramic prosthesis is made by pressing a molding composition including from about 1 to 50 percent by weight glass particles and from about 99 to about 50 percent by weight inorganic oxide particles at a pressure of from about 10 to about 40 MPa and a temperature of from about 1000.degree. to about 1200.degree. C. Dental prostheses prepared in accordance with the invention include crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Dentsply G.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Carmen Hofmann, geb. Roth, Ludwig J. Gauckler, Gerhard Bayer, Martin E. Hofmann, Atef Malash, Peter Scharer, Heinz Luthy, Klaus Krumbholz, Wigbert Hauner, Hansjorg Janssen, Ralf Janda
  • Patent number: 5788891
    Abstract: The well known slip casting process for the production of ceramic green parts, in which hardening is achieved by water removal with porous molds, is characterized by disadvantages in terms of strength, shrinkage during drying and problems with cracking during drying. The present invention avoids these disadvantages and produces ceramic green parts by changing the surface potential of powder particles in the slip instead of by removing water. Further more the coagulation strength is increased by adding polymers or extremely fine divided colloidal particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventors: Ludwig J. Gauckler, Thomas Graule
  • Patent number: 5667548
    Abstract: The invention concerns the field of slip casting for producing green compacts. The disadvantage of state-of-the art slip casting is among others the need for removing the water through porous molds, the resulting shrinkage and the tendency of the green compact to form shrinkage cracks. These disadvantages are eliminated by internally coagulating by compression the double layer of solid slip particles, so that the green compact may be solidified without the need for removing the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignees: Thomas Graule, Ludwig J. Gauckler
    Inventors: Thomas Graule, Ludwig J. Gauckler, Felix Baader