Patents by Inventor Martin Thuo

Martin Thuo 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: 11938535
    Abstract: Textured particles and methods of making the same. A textured particle includes an inner core and a spherical solid outer shell including an outer surface. The inner core is inside the outer shell. The outer surface includes a first tier texture including a first metal, wherein the first metal is greater than 50 atomic % of a total atomic content of all metals in the first tier texture; a second tier texture including the second metal, wherein the second metal is greater than 50 atomic % of a total atomic content of all metals in the second tier texture; and a third tier texture including the third metal, wherein the third metal is greater than 50 atomic % of a total atomic content of all metals in the third tier texture. The first metal, second metal, and third metals are different metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Boyce S. Chang, Andrew Martin, Winnie M. Kiarie
  • Publication number: 20240058861
    Abstract: A particle comprises an amorphous solid metallic core enclosed within a metal-oxide shell. The amorphous solid metallic core includes one or more metals and is below a glass transition temperature of the one or more metals. The particle further comprises one or more regions having a crystalline or semi-crystalline structure disposed within the amorphous solid metallic core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis
  • Publication number: 20230383388
    Abstract: Undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles, whose core is stable against solidification at ambient conditions, i.e. under near ambient temperature and pressure conditions, are used to join or repair metallic non-particulate components. The undercooled-shell particles in the form of nano-size or micro-size particles comprise an undercooled stable liquid metallic core encapsulated inside an outer shell, which can comprise an oxide or other stabilizer shell typically formed in-situ on the undercooled liquid metallic core. The shell is ruptured to release the liquid phase core material to join or repair a component(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis
  • Publication number: 20230286046
    Abstract: A system and method are presented for producing metallic core-shell particles. The system includes the housing having a hollow interior configured to receive and hold a molten metal input, a carrier fluid, and one or more reagents. The system also includes a shearing assembly positioned within the hollow interior of the housing. The shearing assembly is configured to, when the molten metal input, carrier fluid, and one or more reagents are held within hollow interior and sealed within housing, shear the molten metal input into particles of an effective size so that a shell created on a surface of the particles via reaction with the one or more reagents prevents a core of the particles from solidifying when the particles are cooled to a temperature below a freezing temperature of the molten metal input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis, Chris Frankiewicz
  • Publication number: 20230287200
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a dry-type lubricant for use in a dry product hopper to help improve dry product flow and to improve anti-jamming properties of the dry product. The example lubricant can comprise a hydrophilic fiber, such as cellulose, having a width to length aspect ratio that provides a thin fiber. A plurality of hydrophobic particles are deposited on the surface of the fiber, resulting in a fiber surface exhibiting amphiphobic properties. Further, the fiber can operably absorb water, and then releases the absorbed water to the surface of the fiber under mechanical stress, such as when mixed with a product in a hopper. This can result in the water being disposed on the surface of the fiber, to provide lubrication to a product in a hopper to improve flow and anti-jamming characteristics of the product in the hopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Paul Ramon Gregory, Boyce S. Chang, Chuanshen Du
  • Patent number: 11752666
    Abstract: Coated irregular surfaces, replicas made therefrom, and methods of making the same. A particle-coated substrate includes a coating including undercooled liquid metallic particles. The particles include a solid shell comprising a metal oxide, and a liquid metallic core that is below the melting point of the liquid metallic core. The particle-coated substrate also includes a substrate including an irregular surface, wherein the coating is on the irregular surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Thomas Ward, III, Andrew Martin, Julia Jinling Chang, Chuanshen Du
  • Publication number: 20230278145
    Abstract: A system and method are presented for producing solder paste having undercooled metallic core-shell particles. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a reconstitution assembly, a dispenser assembly, and a mixer, among other components. The reconstitution assembly is configured to place the cores of the solid core metallic core-shell particles into an undercooled liquid state to form a plurality of undercooled metallic core-shell particles. The dispenser assembly is configured to dispense one or more of a set of available flux components. The mixer assembly is configured to mix the one or more of the set of flux components dispensed by the dispenser assembly with the plurality of undercooled metallic core-shell particles formed by the reconstitution assembly to form a solder paste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis, Darin Heisterkamp
  • Publication number: 20230241717
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to forming particles using undercooled metal particles in response to focused low power laser light. Particle growth can be initiated by utilizing the metastable and liquid nature of the particles, allowing for surface instability promoted by the laser light to induce liquid flow to translate to a neighboring particle. This event can cascade radially leading to accumulation of the liquid metal at the epicenter. The grown solidified particle size can be varied by using different power, exposure time, or working distance. Once the liquid has accumulated into a single region, it eventually solidifies either through homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation to give a solid particle of larger size than the original. Such a method can be used to print patterns on a surface in four dimensions, where the fourth dimension (4D) is attained through gradient in size of the particles made. Additional systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Peter C. Collins, Andrew Martin
  • Publication number: 20230226606
    Abstract: Methods of forming microwires or nanowires, microwires or nanowires formed using the method, and electronic devices and semiconductor components including the wires. A method of forming a microwire or nanowire includes disposing a plurality of metal particles in a portion of a channel that is a nanochannel or a microchannel. The method includes etching the metal particles with an activation agent to form a flux that penetrates an additional portion of the channel. The flux includes an etching product of the activation agent and the metal particles. The method includes allowing the activation agent to at least partially evaporate to form a wire that is a microwire or a nanowire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Julia Jinling Chang, Chuanshen Du, Thomas Ward, III
  • Patent number: 11685977
    Abstract: Undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles, whose core is stable against solidification at ambient conditions, i.e. under near ambient temperature and pressure conditions, are used to join or repair metallic non-particulate components. The undercooled-shell particles in the form of nano-size or micro-size particles comprise an undercooled stable liquid metallic core encapsulated inside an outer shell, which can comprise an oxide or other stabilizer shell typically formed in-situ on the undercooled liquid metallic core. The shell is ruptured to release the liquid phase core material to join or repair a component(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis
  • Publication number: 20230182236
    Abstract: A material includes a plurality of supercooled micro-capsules each including a metallic core in a liquid state at a temperature below a solidification temperature of the metallic core and further includes a metallic shell surrounding each respective metallic core. A plurality of alloyed metallic particles and flux are mixed with the plurality of supercooled micro-capsules to form a solder paste. Upon heating the solder paste, the plurality of alloyed particles melt. As the metallic shells destabilize, the liquid metallic cores interdiffuse with the melted alloyed particles forming a new alloy that has a higher melting temperature than the melting temperature of the alloyed metallic particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: SAFI-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis, Dana Drochner
  • Patent number: 11673190
    Abstract: A system and method are presented for producing metallic core-shell particles. The system includes the housing having a hollow interior configured to receive and hold a molten metal input, a carrier fluid, and one or more reagents. The system also includes a shearing assembly positioned within the hollow interior of the housing. The shearing assembly is configured to, when the molten metal input, carrier fluid, and one or more reagents are held withing hollow interior and sealed within housing, shear the molten metal input into particles of an effective size so that a shell created on a surface of the particles via reaction with the one or more reagents prevents a core of the particles from solidifying when the particles are cooled to a temperature below a freezing temperature of the molten metal input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SAFI-TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis, Chris Frankiewicz
  • Patent number: 11633807
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to forming particles using undercooled metal particles in response to focused low power laser light. Particle growth can be initiated by utilizing the metastable and liquid nature of the particles, allowing for surface instability promoted by the laser light to induce liquid flow to translate to a neighboring particle. This event can cascade radially leading to accumulation of the liquid metal at the epicenter. The grown solidified particle size can be varied by using different power, exposure time, or working distance. Once the liquid has accumulated into a single region, it eventually solidifies either through homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation to give a solid particle of larger size than the original. Such a method can be used to print patterns on a surface in four dimensions, where the fourth dimension (4D) is attained through gradient in size of the particles made. Additional systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Peter C. Collins, Andrew Martin
  • Patent number: 11633702
    Abstract: A system and method are presented for producing solder paste having undercooled metallic core-shell particles. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a reconstitution assembly, a dispenser assembly, and a mixer, among other components. The reconstitution assembly is configured to place the cores of the solid core metallic core-shell particles into an undercooled liquid state to form a plurality of undercooled metallic core-shell particles. The dispenser assembly is configured to dispense one or more of a set of available flux components. The mixer assembly is configured to mix the one or more of the set of flux components dispensed by the dispenser assembly with the plurality of undercooled metallic core-shell particles formed by the reconstitution assembly to form a solder paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SAFI-TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis, Darin Heisterkamp
  • Patent number: 11613630
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a dry-type lubricant for use in a dry product hopper to help improve dry product flow and to improve anti jamming properties of the dry product. The example lubricant can comprise a hydrophilic fiber, such as cellulose, having a width to length aspect ratio that provides a thin fiber. A plurality of hydrophobic particles are deposited on the surface of the fiber, resulting in a fiber surface exhibiting amphiphobic properties. Further, the fiber can operably absorb water, and then releases the absorbed water to the surface of the fiber under mechanical stress, such as when mixed with a product in a hopper. This can result in the water being disposed on the surface of the fiber, to provide lubrication to a product in a hopper to improve flow and anti jamming characteristics of the product in the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Paul Ramon Gregory, Boyce S. Chang, Chuanshen Du
  • Patent number: 11584978
    Abstract: Undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles, whose core is stable against solidification at ambient conditions, i.e. under near ambient temperature and pressure conditions, are used to join or repair metallic non-particulate components. The undercooled-shell particles in the form of nano-size or micro-size particles comprise an undercooled stable liquid metallic core encapsulated inside an outer shell, which can comprise an oxide or other stabilizer shell typically formed in-situ on the undercooled liquid metallic core. The shell is ruptured to release the liquid phase core material to join or repair a component(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis
  • Publication number: 20230012401
    Abstract: A system and method are presented for producing solder paste having undercooled metallic core-shell particles. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a reconstitution assembly, a dispenser assembly, and a mixer, among other components. The reconstitution assembly is configured to place the cores of the solid core metallic core-shell particles into an undercooled liquid state to form a plurality of undercooled metallic core-shell particles. The dispenser assembly is configured to dispense one or more of a set of available flux components. The mixer assembly is configured to mix the one or more of the set of flux components dispensed by the dispenser assembly with the plurality of undercooled metallic core-shell particles formed by the reconstitution assembly to form a solder paste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis, Darin Heisterkamp
  • Publication number: 20220411894
    Abstract: A method of separating one or more elements from an alloy includes subjecting a metal alloy to a stimulus to form an enriched material including the one or more elements and to form a depleted material. The enriched material is enriched in the one or more elements compared to the alloy and the depleted material is depleted in the one or more elements compared to the alloy. The method also includes removing the enriched material and the depleted material from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Thomas Ward, III, Andrew Martin
  • Publication number: 20220220592
    Abstract: Undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles, whose core is stable against solidification at ambient conditions, i.e. under near ambient temperature and pressure conditions, are used to join or repair metallic non-particulate components. The undercooled-shell particles in the form of nano-size or micro-size particles comprise an undercooled stable liquid metallic core encapsulated inside an outer shell, which can comprise an oxide or other stabilizer shell typically formed in-situ on the undercooled liquid metallic core. The shell is ruptured to release the liquid phase core material to join or repair a component(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis
  • Publication number: 20220212250
    Abstract: A system and method are presented for producing metallic core-shell particles. The system includes the housing having a hollow interior configured to receive and hold a molten metal input, a carrier fluid, and one or more reagents. The system also includes a shearing assembly positioned within the hollow interior of the housing. The shearing assembly is configured to, when the molten metal input, carrier fluid, and one or more reagents are held withing hollow interior and sealed within housing, shear the molten metal input into particles of an effective size so that a shell created on a surface of the particles via reaction with the one or more reagents prevents a core of the particles from solidifying when the particles are cooled to a temperature below a freezing temperature of the molten metal input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Ian Tevis, Chris Frankiewicz