Patents by Inventor Michael A. Kmetz
Michael A. Kmetz 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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Publication number: 20180141870Abstract: A ceramic composite article includes ceramic reinforcement fibers each having an outer surface and a continuous zinc oxide coating disposed on the ceramic reinforcement fibers and in contact with the outer surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Kirk C. Newton
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Patent number: 9890088Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating a preceramic polymer for making a ceramic material including a metal boride. The method includes providing a starting preceramic polymer that includes a silicon-containing backbone chain and first and second reactive side groups extending off of the silicon-containing backbone chain, reacting a boron-containing material with the first reactive side group to bond a boron moiety to the silicon-containing backbone chain, and reacting a metal-containing material with the second reactive side group to bond a metal moiety to the silicon-containing backbone chain such that the preceramic polymer includes the boron moiety and the metal moiety extending as side groups off of the silicon-containing backbone chain. Also disclosed is a preceramic polymer composition and a metal-boride-containing ceramic article fabricated from the preceramic polymer.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Douglas M. Berczik, Michael A. Kmetz, Steve Lawrence Suib, Justin Reutenauer, Timothy Coons
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Patent number: 9533918Abstract: A method for a fabricating a ceramic material includes providing a mixture of a reactive metallic filler material with a preceramic polysilazane material. The preceramic polysilazane material is then polymerized to form a green body. The green body is then thermally treated in an environment that is substantially free of oxygen to convert the polymerized preceramic polysilazane material into a ceramic material that includes at least one nitride phase that is a reaction product of the reactive metallic filler material and a preceramic polysilazane material.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Timothy P. Coons, Justin W. Reutenauer
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Patent number: 9481917Abstract: A method for desulfurizing a metal alloy comprises heating the metal alloy to a molten state. A gaseous desulfurizing compound is bubbled through the molten alloy to form a solid sulfur-containing waste phase and a molten reduced-sulfur alloy phase. The solid waste phase and the molten reduced-sulfur alloy phase are separated. The gaseous desulfurizing compound includes a constituent element selected from the group: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and rare earth metals.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Mario P. Bochiechio, John Joseph Marcin, Kirk C. Newton, Michael A. Kmetz
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Patent number: 9446989Abstract: A method of fabricating a carbon fiber-reinforced article includes providing carbon fibers that have surfaces that include an initial interfacial bonding strength capacity with respect to bonding with boron nitride. The surfaces are then modified to reduce the initial interfacial bonding strength capacity. A layer of boron nitride is then deposited on the modified surfaces and the carbon fibers are then embedded in a ceramic matrix. A carbon fiber-reinforced article includes the carbon fibers, the layer of boron nitride on the surfaces of the carbon fibers, and the ceramic matrix. The article exhibits non-brittle fracture.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Sam Frueh
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Publication number: 20160236987Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating a preceramic polymer for making a ceramic material including a metal boride. The method includes providing a starting preceramic polymer that includes a silicon-containing backbone chain and first and second reactive side groups extending off of the silicon-containing backbone chain, reacting a boron-containing material with the first reactive side group to bond a boron moiety to the silicon-containing backbone chain, and reacting a metal-containing material with the second reactive side group to bond a metal moiety to the silicon-containing backbone chain such that the preceramic polymer includes the boron moiety and the metal moiety extending as side groups off of the silicon-containing backbone chain. Also disclosed is a preceramic polymer composition and a metal-boride-containing ceramic article fabricated from the preceramic polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2014Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Douglas M. Berczik, Michael A. Kmetz, Steve Lawrence Suib, Justin Reutenauer, Timothy Coons
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Publication number: 20160229758Abstract: A method to form a ceramic interface coating on ceramic matrix composite (CMC) precursor tape by a continuous process includes passing a ceramic fiber woven cloth tape or unidirectional tape of a first ceramic with a first and second surface through at least one reaction zone of a continuous vacuum chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) reactor heated to a reaction temperature. The method further includes directing a flow of CVD or CVI reactant gas of a second ceramic at the first surface of the tape in a direction perpendicular to the tape such that the reactant gas passes through the tape in a forced flow process depositing the second ceramic on the fibers of the first ceramic thereby coating the fibers of the first ceramic tape with the second ceramic to interface coating form a coated fiber CMC precursor tape product.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2015Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Kirk C. Newton
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Publication number: 20150310971Abstract: An article includes at least one fiber that has a fiber core. An interface layer extends around the fiber core. The interface layer includes a ceramic matrix and ferromagnetic regions dispersed through the ceramic matrix.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Inventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Gavin Charles Richards, Steven Lawrence Suib, Rebecca Eve Gottlieb
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Publication number: 20150141235Abstract: A method of fabricating a carbon fiber-reinforced article includes providing carbon fibers that have surfaces that include an initial interfacial bonding strength capacity with respect to bonding with boron nitride. The surfaces are then modified to reduce the initial interfacial bonding strength capacity. A layer of boron nitride is then deposited on the modified surfaces and the carbon fibers are then embedded in a ceramic matrix. A carbon fiber-reinforced article includes the carbon fibers, the layer of boron nitride on the surfaces of the carbon fibers, and the ceramic matrix. The article exhibits non-brittle fracture.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2012Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Sam Frueh
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Patent number: 8986845Abstract: A ceramic composite article includes ceramic carbide fibers and a ceramic matrix in which the ceramic carbide fibers are embedded. The ceramic matrix includes a laminar structure with at least one layer of a first ceramic material and at least one layer of a second, different ceramic material.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2011Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Kirk C. Newton, Douglas M. Berczik, Timothy Coons
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Publication number: 20140178244Abstract: A method for desulfurizing a metal alloy comprises heating the metal alloy to a molten state. A gaseous desulfurizing compound is bubbled through the molten alloy to form a solid sulfur-containing waste phase and a molten reduced-sulfur alloy phase. The solid waste phase and the molten reduced-sulfur alloy phase are separated. The gaseous desulfurizing compound includes a constituent element selected from the group: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and rare earth metals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Mario P. Bochiechio, John Joseph Marcin, Kirk C. Newton, Michael A. Kmetz
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Patent number: 8524317Abstract: A composite article includes a substrate and a multilayer coating on the substrate. The multilayer coating includes an inner layer near the substrate, and outermost layer on the inner layer, and an intermediate layer between the inner layer and the outermost layer. The inner layer and outermost layer are boron-containing materials, and the intermediate layer is a silicon-containing ceramic material.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Brian K. Flandermeyer, Michael A. Kmetz
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Publication number: 20130082426Abstract: A method for a fabricating a ceramic material includes providing a mixture of a reactive metallic filler material with a preceramic polysilazane material. The preceramic polysilazane material is then polymerized to form a green body. The green body is then thermally treated in an environment that is substantially free of oxygen to convert the polymerized preceramic polysilazane material into a ceramic material that includes at least one nitride phase that is a reaction product of the reactive metallic filler material and a preceramic polysilazane material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: April 4, 2013Inventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Timothy P. Coons, Justin W. Reutenauer
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Publication number: 20130022826Abstract: A ceramic composite article includes ceramic carbide fibers and a ceramic matrix in which the ceramic carbide fibers are embedded. The ceramic matrix includes a laminar structure with at least one layer of a first ceramic material and at least one layer of a second, different ceramic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Inventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Kirk C. Newton, Douglas M. Berczik, Timothy Coons
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Publication number: 20120251805Abstract: A composite article includes a substrate and a multilayer coating on the substrate. The multilayer coating includes an inner layer near the substrate, and outermost layer on the inner layer, and an intermediate layer between the inner layer and the outermost layer. The inner layer and outermost layer are boron-containing materials, and the intermediate layer is a silicon-containing ceramic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: Brian K. Flandermeyer, Michael A. Kmetz
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Patent number: 8182905Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for forming low density ceramic felt material cores which are sandwiched between ceramic matrix composites to form a ceramic matrix laminate possessing a high strength-to-density ratio while maintaining a stiffness required for mechanical applications. The core and face plates are coupled together using a chemical vapor process.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Michael A. Kmetz
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Publication number: 20120082832Abstract: A composite article includes a substrate and a multilayer coating on the substrate. The multilayer coating includes an inner layer near the substrate, and outermost layer on the inner layer, and an intermediate layer between the inner layer and the outermost layer. The inner layer and outermost layer are boron-containing materials, and the intermediate layer is a silicon-containing ceramic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2010Publication date: April 5, 2012Inventors: Brian K. Flandermeyer, Michael A. Kmetz
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Publication number: 20110177318Abstract: A ceramic composite article includes ceramic reinforcement fibers each having an outer surface and a continuous zinc oxide coating disposed on the ceramic reinforcement fibers and in contact with the outer surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2010Publication date: July 21, 2011Inventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Kirk C. Newton
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Publication number: 20110071014Abstract: A method of forming a highly densified chemical matrix composite CMC from a preform of a matrix of a non-oxide ceramic and continuous ceramic fibers. An interface coating is added, followed by partially densifying the preform with a resin to increase the density of the preform using a polymer infiltration pyrolysis PIP) process one or more times. A chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process is used to bring the CMC to a final desired density.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Michael A. Kmetz, Kirk C. Newton
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Publication number: 20110071013Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite is formed from a non-oxide ceramic and continuous ceramic fibers. The matrix includes a hafnium donor in the matrix in an amount sufficient to harden the composite at elevated temperatures to prevent ablation of the composite. The matrix also includes a boron donor in the matrix in an amount sufficient to lower the glass transition temperature of the composite to flow over cracks formed in the composite. The method to form the matrix is selected from polymer infiltration pyrolysis, chemical vapor infiltration, and sequential polymer infiltration pyrolysis and chemical vapor infiltration.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2009Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Kirk C. Newton, Michael A. Kmetz