Patents by Inventor Michael Spahr

Michael Spahr 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).

  • Publication number: 20250128948
    Abstract: A method for producing carbon coated particles or aggregates of carbon coated particles includes providing a number of particles to be coated, producing an intermediate molten pitch product, directly dispersing the intermediate pitch product on the particles, and subsequently carbonizing the particles. A method of manufacturing a battery electrode based on the method for producing the carbon-coated particles or the aggregates of carbon coated particles is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicants: Rain Carbon BV, Rain Carbon Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Spahr, Christopher Kuhnt, Joris Claes
  • Publication number: 20250106958
    Abstract: A carbon precursor material characterized by a flashpoint above 290° C. and a softening point between 110 and 300° C. Mettler is provided that includes petroleum-derived pitch product derived from a petroleum-based raw material having a concentration of less than 40% by weight of asphaltenes as measured by SARA analysis. The use of such carbon precursor material in in the production of graphite electrodes for electric arc furnaces used in steel/ferro-alloy/silicon production or in carbon electrodes for aluminum production and/or manufacture of graphite particles for the manufacturing of battery electrodes. A process for producing a coating and/or binding and/or impregnation carbon precursor material is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicants: Rain Carbon BV, Rain Carbon Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Spahr, Christopher Kuhnt, Joris Claes, Bram Denoo
  • Publication number: 20250100884
    Abstract: A carbon precursor material is provided that includes a distillation residue from a distillate fraction of coal tar and/or petroleum-based raw material, or of coal tar-based and/or petroleum-based pitch. The distillation residue has a softening point between 7° and 120° C. Mettler. The carbon precursor material functions as a binder and/or impregnation material in the manufacturing of graphite electrodes for electric arc furnaces and carbon anodes for aluminum production, or as coating material for carbon-coated particles for the manufacturing of battery electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicants: Rain Carbon BV, Rain Carbon Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Spahr, Christopher Kuhnt, Joris Claes, Bram Denoo
  • Publication number: 20250051647
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to coating material for coating primary particles, said coating material comprising a petroleum-derived pitch product, characterized in that said pitch product has a melt viscosity index log10 (visc)*100/SPM between 1.2 and 3.0 at 220° C. and between 1.0 and 2.5 at 240° C., wherein visc=melt viscosity (mPa·s) and SPM=Mettler softening point ° C. The present invention is directed as well to the use of said coating material to coat the primary particles of electrode materials in the manufacturing of battery electrodes, more specifically Li-Ion batteries. Further, the present invention is directed to a battery electrode comprising a coating made of said coating material, as well as directed to a battery comprising an electrode having a coating made of said coating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Applicants: Rain Carbon BVBA, Rain Carbon Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Spahr, Christopher Kuhnt, Joris Claes, Bram Denoo, Jens Stiegert
  • Patent number: 12134561
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surface-functionalized carbonaceous particles, optionally in agglomerated form, methods for making such surface-functionalized carbonaceous particles and their use, for example as conductive additives in battery electrodes. The surface-functionalized carbonaceous particles are for example obtainable by milling a non-graphitic carbon material, followed by subsequent functionalization through controlled oxidation. The surface-functionalized carbonaceous particles can be used as additive in battery electrodes. The disclosure also pertains to dispersions of such carbonaceous materials in a liquid medium and their use as, among others, conductive coatings. Polymer compounds filled with the surface-functionalized carbonaceous particles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: IMERTECH SAS
    Inventors: Dario Cericola, Michael Spahr
  • Patent number: 12087936
    Abstract: A silicon-carbon particulate composite suitable for use as active material in a negative electrode of a Li-ion battery, a precursor composition comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite, a negative electrode comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite and/or precursor composition, a Li-ion battery comprising the negative electrodes, a method of manufacturing the silicon-carbon particulate composite, precursor composition, negative electrode and Li-ion battery, the use of the silicon-carbon particulate composite in a negative electrode of a Li-ion battery to inhibit or prevent silicon pulverization during cycling, for example, during 1st cycle Li intercalation or de-intercalation and/or to maintain electrochemical capacity after 100 cycles, and a device, energy storage cell, or energy storage and conversion system comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite and/or precursor composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: IMERYS GRAPHITE & CARBON SWITZERLAND, SA
    Inventors: Pirmin Ulmann, Sergio Pacheco Benito, Simone Zürcher, Patrick Lanz, Michael Spahr
  • Publication number: 20240182789
    Abstract: A pitch product having a petroleum-derived distillation residue and a coal tar-derived distillation residue, said pitch product characterized by a concentration of at least 84% asphaltenes (SARA). Further, the present invention is directed to a pitch binder including said pitch product useable in manufacturing of graphite electrodes for electric arc furnaces, and carbon anodes and Soederberg paste for aluminum production. The present invention is further directed also to a graphite electrode having said pitch binder, as well as to a carbon anode comprising said pitch binder. The present invention also provides a process for producing a pitch product including a petroleum-derived distillation residue and a coal tar-derived distillation residue, said process including a petroleum vacuum distillation process step for obtaining said petroleum-derived distillation residue, and a process for manufacturing a graphite electrode or a carbon anode including said process for producing a pitch product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicants: RAIN CARBON BVBA, RAIN CARBON GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Joris CLAES, Christopher KUHNT, Vincent VAN DE VYVERE, Bram DENOO, Michael SPAHR
  • Patent number: 11814296
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel particulate composite materials comprising a graphitic core particle associated with SiOx nanoparticles (0.2?X?1.8), and coated by a layer of non-graphitic carbon, e.g., pyrolytic carbon deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Also included are processes for making such particles as well as uses and downstream products for the novel composite material, in particular as an active material in negative electrodes in Li-ion batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Imerys Graphite & Carbon Switzerland Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Spahr, Michal Gulas, Tatsuo Umeno, Hiroyuki Taki, Pascual Perez
  • Publication number: 20220384811
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising at least one carbonaceous particulate material comprised of synthetic graphite particles having a BET specific surface area (SSA) of equal to or less than 4 m2/g, and further comprising between about 5 and about 75% (w/w) of at least one carbonaceous particulate material comprised of natural graphite particles coated with non-graphitic carbon and having a BET SSA of equal to or less than 8 m2/g. Such compositions are particularly useful as active material for negative electrodes in, e.g., lithium-ion batteries and the like in view of their overall favorable electrochemical properties, particularly for automotive and energy storage applications. The present disclosure also relates to the use of said non-graphitic carbon-coated natural graphite particles for preparing compositions that are suitable for being used as an active material in a negative electrode of, e.g., a lithium ion battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Michael SPAHR, Hiroyuki TAKI, Hiroyuki MORIOKA, Xu WANG, Tsutomu YAHIRO
  • Patent number: 11362324
    Abstract: A precursor composition of a negative electrode of a Li-ion battery, a negative electrode comprising or formed from the precursor composition, a Li-ion battery comprising the negative electrode, a device comprising the negative electrode, methods of making the precursor composition, negative electrode and Li-ion battery, and uses of the precursor composition or components thereof for increasing discharge capacity and/or reducing discharge capacity loss and/or improving cycling stability of a Li-ion battery comprising the negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Imerys Graphite & Carbon Switzerland Ltd.
    Inventors: Pirmin Ulmann, Sergio Pacheco Benito, Simone Zürcher, Marlene Rodlert-Bacilieri, Patrick Lanz, Michael Spahr
  • Publication number: 20220090644
    Abstract: The present invention relates to friction materials comprising graphite having a c/2 of 0.3358 nm or less and a spring-back of 40% or more, such as 41% or more. The invention further relates to methods of making and uses of such friction materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Raffaele GILARDI, Michal GULAS, Michael SPAHR
  • Publication number: 20210265620
    Abstract: A silicon-carbon particulate composite suitable for use as active material in a negative electrode of a Li-ion battery, a precursor composition comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite, a negative electrode comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite and/or precursor composition, a Li-ion battery comprising the negative electrodes, a method of manufacturing the silicon-carbon particulate composite, precursor composition, negative electrode and Li-ion battery, the use of the silicon-carbon particulate composite in a negative electrode of a Li-ion battery to inhibit or prevent silicon pulverization during cycling, for example, during 1st cycle Li intercalation or de-intercalation and/or to maintain electrochemical capacity after 100 cycles, and a device, energy storage cell, or energy storage and conversion system comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite and/or precursor composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Pirmin ULMANN, Sergio PACHECO BENITO, Simone ZÜRCHER, Patrick LANZ, Michael SPAHR
  • Patent number: 11081690
    Abstract: A silicon-carbon particulate composite suitable for use as active material in a negative electrode of a Li-ion battery, a precursor composition comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite, a negative electrode comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite and/or precursor composition, a Li-ion battery comprising the negative electrodes, a method of manufacturing the silicon-carbon particulate composite, precursor composition, negative electrode and Li-ion battery, the use of the silicon-carbon particulate composite in a negative electrode of a Li-ion battery to inhibit or prevent silicon pulverization during cycling, for example, during 1st cycle Li intercalation or de-intercalation and/or to maintain electrochemical capacity after 100 cycles, and a device, energy storage cell, or energy storage and conversion system comprising the silicon-carbon particulate composite and/or precursor composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: IMERYS GRAPHITE & CARBON SWITZERLAND LTD.
    Inventors: Pirmin Ulmann, Sergio Pacheco Benito, Simone Zürcher, Patrick Lanz, Michael Spahr
  • Publication number: 20210171353
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising at least two different carbonaceous components, at least one being a surface-modified carbonaceous particulate material typically having a relatively high spring-back, and at least one other component being a carbonaceous particulate material (such as graphite) generally having a lower spring-back and/or a higher BET specific surface area than the surface-modified carbonaceous material component. Such compositions are particularly useful for making negative electrodes for lithium-ion batteries and the like in view of their beneficial electrochemical properties, particularly in automotive and energy storage applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Michal GULAS, Michael SPAHR, Patrick LANZ, Pirmin ULMANN, Hiroyuki MORIOKA, Hiroyuki TAKI, Milka NISHIKAWA, Kanako TAKIZAWA, Hiromasa WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20210147237
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surface-functionalized carbonaceous particles, optionally in agglomerated form, methods for making such surface-functionalized carbonaceous particles and their use, for example as conductive additives in battery electrodes. The surface-functionalized carbonaceous particles are for example obtainable by milling a non-graphitic carbon material, followed by subsequent functionalization through controlled oxidation. The surface-functionalized carbonaceous particles can be used as additive in battery electrodes. The disclosure also pertains to dispersions of such carbonaceous materials in a liquid medium and their use as, among others, conductive coatings. Polymer compounds filled with the surface-functionalized carbonaceous particles are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Dario CERICOLA, Michael SPAHR
  • Publication number: 20200227747
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel process for preparing isotropic carbonaceous composite particles with favorable crystallographic, morphological & mechanical properties, wherein relatively fine carbonaceous primary particles are coated with a carbonaceous binder precursor material, agglomerated and finally heat-treated at temperatures between about 1850 and 3500° C. to convert the binder precursor material to non-graphitic or graphitic carbon, thereby resulting in stable highly isotropic carbonaceous composite materials wherein the primary particles of the aggregate are held together by the carbonized/graphitized binder. The present disclosure also relates to the isotropic carbonaceous composite particles obtainable by the process described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Michael SPAHR, Pirmin ULMANN, Simone ZÜRCHER, Sergio PACHECO BENITO, Hiroyuki TAKI
  • Patent number: 10707487
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel surface-modified carbonaceous particulate material having a hydrophilic non-graphitic carbon coating. The material can for example be produced by CVD-coating of a carbonaceous particulate material such as graphite followed by an oxidation treatment under defined conditions. The resulting material exhibits a more hydrophilic surface compared to an unmodified CVD-coated carbon material, which is desirable in many applications, such as when used as an active material in the negative electrode of lithium ion batteries or in a polymer composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Imerys Graphite & Carbon Switzerland Ltd.
    Inventors: Michal Gulas, Pirmin Ulmann, Simone Zürcher, Michael Spahr
  • Publication number: 20200148545
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel particulate composite materials comprising a graphitic core particle associated with SiOX nanoparticles (0.2?X?1.8), and coated by a layer of non-graphitic carbon, e.g., pyrolytic carbon deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Also included are processes for making such particles as well as uses and downstream products for the novel composite material, in particular as an active material in negative electrodes in Li-ion batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Michael SPAHR, Michal GULAS, Tatsuo UMENO, Hiroyuki TAKI, Pascual PEREZ
  • Patent number: 10637058
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel process for preparing isotropic carbonaceous composite particles with favorable crystallographic, morphological & mechanical properties, wherein relatively fine carbonaceous primary particles are coated with a carbonaceous binder precursor material, agglomerated and finally heat-treated at temperatures of between about 1850 and 3500° C. to convert the binder precursor material to non-graphitic or graphitic carbon, thereby resulting in stable highly isotropic carbonaceous composite materials wherein the primary particles of the aggregate are held together by the carbonized/graphitized binder. The present disclosure also relates to the isotropic carbonaceous composite particles obtainable by the process described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ImerTech SAS
    Inventors: Michael Spahr, Pirmin Ulmann, Simone Zürcher, Sergio Pacheco Benito, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Publication number: 20190330067
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to wet-milled and dried carbonaceous sheared nano-leaves generally characterized by a BET SSA of less than about 40 m2/g and a bulk density from about 0.005 to about 0.04 g/cm3, and compositions comprising such carbonaceous sheared nano-leaves. The present disclosure further relates to methods for preparing them, and their use as a conductive additive in composites such as polymer blends, ceramics, and mineral materials, or as solid lubricant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Sergio PACHECO BENITO, Raffaeie GILARDI, Flavio MORNAGHINI, Simone ZÜRCHER, Michael SPAHR