Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Hardek

Thomas W. Hardek 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).

  • Method of producing hybrid metal/ceramic composites
    Patent number: 6699810
    Abstract: A method of making a ceramic composite wherein a polymeric ceramic precursor or fiber reinforcement infiltrated with a polymeric ceramic precursor is associated with at least one metallic element to form a preceramic composite and the said composite is pyrolyzed by high frequency microwave radiation, preferably in the form of a beam, until the polymeric ceramic precursor is converted into a ceramic having the at least one metallic element integrally formed as part of said ceramic. The products obtained by such method comprising ceramic metal composites formed by pyrolyzing a preceramic composite to high frequency microwave radiation until the polymeric ceramic precursor is converted into a ceramic having at least one metallic element integrally formed as a part of said component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Thor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart T. Schwab, Thomas W. Hardek, Joel D. Katz
  • Method of producing hybrid metal/ceramic composites and resultant products
    Publication number: 20030209838
    Abstract: A method of making a ceramic composite wherein a polymeric ceramic precursor or fiber reinforcement infiltrated with a polymeric ceramic precursor is associated with at least one metallic element to form a preceramic composite and the said composite is pyrolyzed by high frequency microwave radiation, preferably in the form of a beam, until the polymeric ceramic precursor is converted into a ceramic having the at least one metallic element integrally formed as part of said ceramic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Stuart T. Schwab, Thomas W. Hardek, Joel D. Katz