Patents by Inventor Steven Thomas Rice

Steven Thomas Rice 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: 8591741
    Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a thin film composite membrane comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes include contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine to form a thin film composite membrane on a surface of a porous base membrane; at least one of the organic solution and the aqueous solution further including multi-walled carbon nanotubes having an outside diameter of less than about 30 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Gary William Yeager, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Steven Thomas Rice
  • Patent number: 8580341
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous base membrane and a polyamide coating disposed on said porous base membrane, said polyamide coating comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound and a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety. In addition the present invention provides a method of preparing a composite membrane comprising contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine, said contacting being carried out on a surface of a porous base membrane, said organic solution further comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound, said aqueous solution comprising a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Su Lu, Hua Li, Steven Thomas Rice, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Bing Zhang, Chen Wang, Lawrence Charles Costa, Steven John Harrold, David Allen Olson, Wenqing Peng
  • Patent number: 8574664
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming an electrolyte membrane comprising forming a mixture; the mixture comprising a polyhydroxy compound, an aromatic polyhalide compound and an alkali metal hydroxide; disposing the mixture on a porous substrate; reacting the mixture to form a crosslinked proton conductor; and sulfonating the proton conductor. Disclosed herein too is an article comprising a porous substrate; and a sulfonated crosslinked proton conductor disposed within pores of the porous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Gary William Yeager
  • Publication number: 20130146530
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention includes a membrane. The membrane includes a porous support and a polymeric layer disposed on the porous support. The membrane further includes a plurality of substantially hydrophobic mesoporous nanoparticles disposed within the polymeric layer. A water treatment system and a method of making a membrane are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Steven Thomas Rice, Gary William Yeager, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Elizabeth Marie Dees
  • Publication number: 20120292249
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous base membrane and a polyamide coating disposed on said porous base membrane, said polyamide coating comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound and a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety. In addition the present invention provides a method of preparing a composite membrane comprising contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine, said contacting being carried out on a surface of a porous base membrane, said organic solution further comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound, said aqueous solution comprising a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Su Lu, Hua Li, Steven Thomas Rice, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Bing Zhang, Chen Wang, Lawrence Charles Costa, Steven John Harrold, David Allen Olson, Wenqing Peng
  • Patent number: 8197955
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming an electrolyte membrane comprising forming a mixture; the mixture comprising a polyhydroxy compound, an aromatic polyhalide compound and an alkali metal hydroxide; disposing the mixture on a porous substrate; reacting the mixture to form a proton conductor; and crosslinking the proton conductor to form a cross-linked proton-conducting network. Disclosed herein too is an article comprising a porous substrate; and a crosslinked proton conductor disposed on the porous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Gary William Yeager
  • Publication number: 20120080381
    Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a thin film composite membrane comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes include contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide and carbon nanotubes with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine to form a thin film composite membrane on a surface of a porous base membrane, wherein the organic solution additionally comprises a saturated cyclic C5-C20 hydrocarbon solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Gary William Yeager, Steven Thomas Rice
  • Publication number: 20120080380
    Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a thin film composite membrane comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes include contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine to form a thin film composite membrane on a surface of a porous base membrane; at least one of the organic solution and the aqueous solution further including multi-walled carbon nanotubes having an outside diameter of less than about 30 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Gary William Yeager, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Steven Thomas Rice
  • Patent number: 7855241
    Abstract: The invention includes embodiments that relate to a method of improving the abrasion resistance of a plastic article. The method comprises: (a) providing a composition comprising at least one e-beam active nanoparticle compound and at least one thermoplastic polymeric material; (b) forming an article from the composition of step (a); and (c) exposing the article formed in step (b) to an electron beam source. The invention also includes embodiments that relate to an article comprising an abrasion resistant surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Hieu Minh Duong
  • Publication number: 20100297429
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composite membrane comprising a porous base membrane and a polyamide coating disposed on said porous base membrane, said polyamide coating comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound and a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety. In addition the present invention provides a method of preparing a composite membrane comprising contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine, said contacting being carried out on a surface of a porous base membrane, said organic solution further comprising a C3-C8 cyclic carbonyl compound, said aqueous solution comprising a C1-C8 amide compound, said amide compound comprising at least one N—H moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Su Lu, Hua Li, Steven Thomas Rice, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Bing Zhang, Chen Wang, Lawrence Charles Costa, Steven John Harrold, David Allen Olson, Wenqing Peng
  • Publication number: 20100055534
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming an electrolyte membrane comprising forming a mixture; the mixture comprising a polyhydroxy compound, an aromatic polyhalide compound and an alkali metal hydroxide; disposing the mixture on a porous substrate; reacting the mixture to form a crosslinked proton conductor; and sulfonating the proton conductor. Disclosed herein too is an article comprising a porous substrate; and a sulfonated crosslinked proton conductor disposed within pores of the porous substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Gary William Yeager
  • Publication number: 20100055535
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming an electrolyte membrane comprising forming a mixture; the mixture comprising a polyhydroxy compound, an aromatic polyhalide compound and an alkali metal hydroxide; disposing the mixture on a porous substrate; reacting the mixture to form a proton conductor; and crosslinking the proton conductor to form a cross-linked proton-conducting network. Disclosed herein too is an article comprising a porous substrate; and a crosslinked proton conductor disposed on the porous substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Gary William Yeager
  • Patent number: 7576140
    Abstract: The invention includes embodiments that relate to a method of improving the abrasion resistance of a plastic article. The method comprises: (a) providing a composition comprising at least one siloxane compound and at least one thermoplastic polymeric material; (b) forming an article from the composition of step (a); and (c) exposing the article formed in step (b) to an energy source selected from an electron beam source, a gamma radiation source, and a combination thereof. The invention also includes embodiments that relate to an article comprising an abrasion resistant surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: SABIC Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Hieu Minh Duong
  • Patent number: 7524562
    Abstract: The invention includes embodiments that relate to a method of improving the abrasion resistance of a plastic article. The method comprises: (a) providing a composition comprising at least one e-beam active thermoplastic polymeric material; (b) forming an article from the composition of step (a); and (c) exposing the article formed in step (b) to an electron beam source. The invention also includes embodiments that relate to an article comprising an abrasion resistant surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V.
    Inventors: Ryo Tamaki, Steven Thomas Rice, Hieu Minh Duong, Xian-Zhi Zhou, Gary Charles Davis, Elliott West Shanklin
  • Patent number: 6689474
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising (a) a thermally stable polymer comprising resorcinol arylate polyester chain members substantially free of anhydride linkages linking at least two mers of the polymer chain, and (b) at least one auxiliary stabilizer additive selected from the group consisting of 2,2′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one) and 1,3-bis[(2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacryloyl)oxy]-2,2-bis[[(2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacryloyl)oxy]methyl]propane. Both multilayer and unitary articles comprising the composition are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Edward Pickett, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Steven Thomas Rice, Xiangyang Li, Paul Dean Sybert
  • Publication number: 20030180542
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising (a) a thermally stable polymer comprising resorcinol arylate polyester chain members substantially free of anhydride linkages linking at least two mers of the polymer chain, and (b) at least one auxiliary stabilizer additive selected from the group consisting of 2,2′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one) and 1,3-bis[(2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacryloyl)oxy]-2,2-bis[[(2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacryloyl)oxy]methyl]propane. Both multilayer and unitary articles comprising the composition are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: James Edward Pickett, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Steven Thomas Rice, Xiangyang Li, Paul Dean Sybert
  • Patent number: 6610409
    Abstract: Multilayer articles are disclosed which comprise: a substrate layer comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, thermoset polymer, cellulosic material, glass, or metal, and at least one coating layer thereon, said coating layer comprising at least one stabilizer additive and a thermally stable polymer comprising resorcinol arylate polyester chain members substantially free of anhydride linkages linking at least two mers of the polymer chain, prepared by an interfacial method comprising the steps of: (a) combining at least one resorcinol moiety and at least one catalyst in a mixture of water and at least one organic solvent substantially immiscible with water; and (b) adding to the mixture from (a) at least one dicarboxylic acid dichloride while maintaining the pH between 3 and 8.5 through the presence of an acid acceptor, wherein the total molar amount of acid chloride groups is stoichiometrically deficient relative to the total molar amount of phenolic groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Edward Pickett, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Steven Thomas Rice, Xiangyang Li
  • Patent number: 6607814
    Abstract: Substantially solvent-free multilayer articles characterized by excellent color retention and gloss retention, solvent resistance and recyclability comprise a substrate layer comprising a first material selected from the group consisting of a metal, ceramic, glass, a cellulosic material, a thermoset resin, and a thermoplastic resin, and a resinous coating layer which comprises at least one auxiliary color stabilizer additive and an arylate polymer comprising ester structural units derived from a resorcinol or alkylresorcinol isophthalate-terephthalate. An intermediate layer may also be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Edward Pickett, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Steven Thomas Rice, Xiangyang Li
  • Publication number: 20030072945
    Abstract: Multilayer articles are disclosed which comprise: a substrate layer comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, thermoset polymer, cellulosic material, glass, or metal, and at least one coating layer thereon, said coating layer comprising at least one stabilizer additive and a thermally stable polymer comprising resorcinol arylate polyester chain members substantially free of anhydride linkages linking at least two mers of the polymer chain, prepared by an interfacial method comprising the steps of: (a) combining at least one resorcinol moiety and at least one catalyst in a mixture of water and at least one organic solvent substantially immiscible with water; and (b) adding to the mixture from (a) at least one dicarboxylic acid dichloride while maintaining the pH between 3 and 8.5 through the presence of an acid acceptor, wherein the total molar amount of acid chloride groups is stoichiometrically deficient relative to the total molar amount of phenolic groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Edward Pickett, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Steven Thomas Rice, Xiangyang Li
  • Publication number: 20010055671
    Abstract: Substantially solvent-free multilayer articles characterized by excellent color retention and gloss retention, solvent resistance and recyclability comprise a substrate layer comprising a first material selected from the group consisting of a metal, ceramic, glass, a celluosic material, a thermoset resin, and a thermoplastic resin, and a resinous coating layer which comprises at least one auxiliary color stabilizer additive and an arylate polymer comprising ester structural units derived from a resorcinol or alkylresorcinol isophthalate-terephthalate. An intermediate layer may also be present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Edward Pickett, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Steven Thomas Rice, Xiangyang Li