Patents by Inventor Luz M. Calle

Luz M. Calle 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: 10767058
    Abstract: Corrosion inhibitor materials are provided that release active corrosion inhibitor compounds when they are most needed—in response to changes in conditions, including acid or basic pH, that cause corrosion or occur at the early stages of corrosion. The materials comprise particles that can be dispersed in paints and coatings for metals. The particles in some cases include ionic water-soluble anti-corrosion agents complexed to oppositely charged surfactants and entrapped in silica oxide or metal oxide gels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Xuejun Zhang, Wenyan Li, Luz M. Calle
  • Patent number: 9233394
    Abstract: Hydrophobic-core microcapsules and methods of their formation are provided. A hydrophobic-core microcapsule may include a shell that encapsulates a hydrophobic substance with a core substance, such as dye, corrosion indicator, corrosion inhibitor, and/or healing agent, dissolved or dispersed therein. The hydrophobic-core microcapsules may be formed from an emulsion having hydrophobic-phase droplets, e.g., containing the core substance and shell-forming compound, dispersed in a hydrophilic phase. The shells of the microcapsules may be capable of being broken down in response to being contacted by an alkali, e.g., produced during corrosion, contacting the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Luz M. Calle, Wenyan Li, Jerry W. Buhrow, Scott T. Jolley
  • Patent number: 9227221
    Abstract: Hydrophilic-core microcapsules and methods of their formation are provided. A hydrophilic-core microcapsule may include a shell that encapsulates water with the core substance dissolved or dispersed therein. The hydrophilic-core microcapsules may be formed from an emulsion having hydrophilic-phase droplets dispersed in a hydrophobic phase, with shell-forming compound contained in the hydrophilic phase or the hydrophobic phase and the core substance contained in the hydrophilic phase. The shells of the microcapsules may be capable of being broken down in response to being contacted by an alkali, e.g., produced during corrosion, contacting the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Luz M. Calle, Wenyan Li, Jerry W. Buhrow, Scott T. Jolley
  • Patent number: 9108178
    Abstract: Elongated microcapsules, such as elongated hydrophobic-core and hydrophilic-core microcapsules, may be formed by pulse stirring an emulsion or shearing an emulsion between two surfaces moving at different velocities. The elongated microcapsules may be dispersed in a coating formulation, such as paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Luz M. Calle, Wenyan N. Li, Jerry W. Buhrow, Stephen A. Perusich, Scott T. Jolley, Tracy L. Gibson, Martha K. Williams
  • Patent number: 8859288
    Abstract: Methods to produce pH-sensitive microparticles that have an active agent dispersed in a polymer matrix have certain advantages over microcapsules with an active agent encapsulated in an interior compartment/core inside of a polymer wall. The current invention relates to pH-sensitive microparticles that have a corrosion-detecting or corrosion-inhibiting active agent or active agents dispersed within a polymer matrix of the microparticles. The pH-sensitive microparticles can be used in various coating compositions on metal objects for corrosion detecting and/or inhibiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Wenyan Li, Jerry W. Buhrow, Scott T. Jolley, Luz M. Calle
  • Publication number: 20130017612
    Abstract: Methods to produce pH-sensitive microparticles that have an active agent dispersed in a polymer matrix have certain advantages over microcapsules with an active agent encapsulated in an interior compartment/core inside of a polymer wall. The current invention relates to pH-sensitive microparticles that have a corrosion-detecting or corrosion-inhibiting active agent or active agents dispersed within a polymer matrix of the microparticles. The pH-sensitive microparticles can be used in various coating compositions on metal objects for corrosion detecting and/or inhibiting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Spac
    Inventors: Wenyan LI, Jerry W. BUHROW, Scott T. JOLLEY, Luz M. CALLE
  • Publication number: 20120207921
    Abstract: Elongated microcapsules, such as elongated hydrophobic-core and hydrophilic-core microcapsules, may be formed by pulse stirring an emulsion or shearing an emulsion between two surfaces moving at different velocities. The elongated microcapsules may be dispersed in a coating formulation, such as paint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicants: Space Administration
    Inventors: Luz M. Calle, Wenyan N. Li, Jerry W. Buhrow, Stephen A. Perusich, Scott T. Jolley, Tracy L. Gibson, Martha K. Williams
  • Publication number: 20100320421
    Abstract: Hydrophilic-core microcapsules and methods of their formation are provided. A hydrophilic-core microcapsule may include a shell that encapsulates water with the core substance dissolved or dispersed therein. The hydrophilic-core microcapsules may be formed from an emulsion having hydrophilic-phase droplets dispersed in a hydrophobic phase, with shell-forming compound contained in the hydrophilic phase or the hydrophobic phase and the core substance contained in the hydrophilic phase. The shells of the microcapsules may be capable of being broken down in response to being contacted by an alkali, e.g., produced during corrosion, contacting the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: U.S.A. as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Spac Adr
    Inventors: Luz M. CALLE, Wenyan LI, Jerry W. BUHROW, Scott T. JOLLEY
  • Publication number: 20100305234
    Abstract: Hydrophobic-core microcapsules and methods of their formation are provided. A hydrophobic-core microcapsule may include a shell that encapsulates a hydrophobic substance with a core substance, such as dye, corrosion indicator, corrosion inhibitor, and/or healing agent, dissolved or dispersed therein. The hydrophobic-core microcapsules may be formed from an emulsion having hydrophobic-phase droplets, e.g., containing the core substance and shell-forming compound, dispersed in a hydrophilic phase. The shells of the microcapsules may be capable of being broken down in response to being contacted by an alkali, e.g., produced during corrosion, contacting the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: Space Administration
    Inventors: Luz M. Calle, Wenyan Li, Jerry W. Buhrow, Scott T. Jolley
  • Publication number: 20100242788
    Abstract: Coatings and methods are provided. An embodiment of the coating includes microcapsules that contain at least one of a corrosion inhibitor, a film-forming compound, and an indicator. The microcapsules are dispersed in a coating vehicle. A shell of each microcapsule breaks down in the presence of an alkaline condition, resulting from corrosion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicants: Space Administration
    Inventors: Luz M. Calle, Wenyan Li
  • Patent number: 7790225
    Abstract: Coatings and methods are provided. An embodiment of the coating includes microcapsules that contain at least one of a corrosion inhibitor, a film-forming compound, and an indicator. The microcapsules are dispersed in a coating vehicle. A shell of each microcapsule breaks down in the presence of an alkaline condition, resulting from corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Luz M. Calle, Wenyan Li