Patents by Inventor Saeid Nikafshar

Saeid Nikafshar 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: 20240301125
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to epoxidized lignin prepolymers, related methods of making the prepolymers, cured epoxy resins formed from the prepolymers, articles including a coating of the cured epoxy resins, and related curing methods and compositions. The epoxidized lignin prepolymer has an epoxide functionality in a range of 2 to 8 and a high solubility in various common organic solvents. The high solubility permits incorporation of the epoxidized lignin prepolymer into an epoxy system which cures after addition of curing agents at high enough concentrations to allow replacement of conventional epoxide prepolymers at levels up to 100% replacement. Using other biobased materials in addition to lignin, for example biobased epichlorohydrin to epoxidize the lignin and a biobased hardener to cure the prepolymer, can provide a corresponding cured epoxy resin that is formed from completely biobased materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Mojgan Nejad, Saeid Nikafshar
  • Patent number: 12084596
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to encapsulated UV (ultraviolet) stabilizer/absorber nanoparticles, which nanoparticles limit or prevent the migration of UV stabilizers/absorbers to the surface of a coating in service and/or which otherwise preserve the UV-resistance properties of the UV stabilizer for a longer period once incorporated into a UV-protective coating. The nanoparticles each include a clay or other nanotube encapsulating body such as a halloysite nanotube (HNT) and a UV stabilizing material within the interior cylindrical volume of the nanotube encapsulating body. The UV stabilizing/absorbing material can include one or more of lignin, a biomass extractive, a phenolic biomass material, and an organic UV stabilizer. The encapsulated UV stabilizer nanoparticles can be incorporated into a polymer composite as a heterogeneous phase distributed throughout a continuous polymer matrix. The polymer composite can be applied as a coating or film to an underlying substrate to form a corresponding coated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mojgan Nejad, Saeid Nikafshar
  • Publication number: 20240182648
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods for forming oxyalkylated lignin polyols as well as related polyols and polymers. In the various methods, an initial reaction mixture including a cyclic alkyl carbonate and a wet lignin is heated in the absence of an oxyalkylation catalyst to remove at least a portion of the water from the reaction mixture. An oxyalkylation catalyst is added to the resulting dehydrated reaction mixture, which is then heated to perform an oxyalkylation reaction between the cyclic alkyl carbonate with the lignin, thereby forming an oxyalkylated lignin polyol reaction product. The oxyalkylated lignin polyol can be subsequently reacted with a polyisocyanate or a polyacid compound to form a corresponding polyurethane or polyester polymer, respectively. The disclosure further relates to the oxyalkylated lignin polyols and corresponding polymers formed therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Mojgan Nejad, Saeid Nikafshar
  • Publication number: 20220195211
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to encapsulated UV (ultraviolet) stabilizer/absorber nanoparticles, which nanoparticles limit or prevent the migration of UV stabilizers/absorbers to the surface of a coating in service and/or which otherwise preserve the UV-resistance properties of the UV stabilizer for a longer period once incorporated into a UV-protective coating. The nanoparticles each include a clay or other nanotube encapsulating body such as a halloysite nanotube (HNT) and a UV stabilizing material within the interior cylindrical volume of the nanotube encapsulating body. The UV stabilizing/absorbing material can include one or more of lignin, a biomass extractive, a phenolic biomass material, and an organic UV stabilizer. The encapsulated UV stabilizer nanoparticles can be incorporated into a polymer composite as a heterogeneous phase distributed throughout a continuous polymer matrix. The polymer composite can be applied as a coating or film to an underlying substrate to form a corresponding coated article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Mojgan Nejad, Saeid Nikafshar