Patents by Inventor Timothy Romack
Timothy Romack 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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Patent number: 6224774Abstract: The separation of a contaminant from a substrate that carries the contaminant is disclosed. The process comprises contacting the substrate to a carbon dioxide fluid containing an amphiphilic species so that the contaminant associates with the amphiphilic species and becomes entrained in the carbon dioxide fluid. The substrate is then separated from the carbon dioxide fluid, and then the contaminant is separated from the carbon dioxide fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1999Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack, Douglas E. Betts, James B. McClain
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Patent number: 5981673Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making fluorinated polymers and copolymers having stable end groups. The process includes (1) contacting a fluoromonomer, an initiator capable of producing stable end groups on the polymer chain, and a polymerization medium comprising carbon dioxide, and (2) polymerizing the fluoromonomer. The polymerization medium preferably comprises liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. Advantageously, the process may also include the step of separating the fluoropolymer from the polymerization medium. The present invention also provides polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the processes of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack
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Patent number: 5944996Abstract: The separation of a contaminant from a substrate that carries the contaminant is disclosed. The process comprises contacting the substrate to a carbon dioxide fluid containing an amphiphilic species so that the contaminant associates with the amphiphilic species and becomes entrained in the carbon dioxide fluid. The substrate is then separated from the carbon dioxide fluid, and then the contaminant is separated from the carbon dioxide fluid.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1997Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack, Douglas E. Betts, James B. McClain
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Patent number: 5939502Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making fluorinated polymers and copolymers having stable end groups. The process includes (1) contacting a fluoromonomer, an initiator capable of producing stable end groups on the polymer chain, and a polymerization medium comprising carbon dioxide, and (2) polymerizing the fluoromonomer. The polymerization medium preferably comprises liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. Advantageously, the process may also include the step of separating the fluoropolymer from the polymerization medium. The present invention also provides polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the processes of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack
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Patent number: 5939501Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making fluorinated polymers and copolymers having stable end groups. The process includes (1) contacting a fluoromonomer, an initiator capable of producing stable end groups on the polymer chain, and a polymerization medium comprising carbon dioxide, and (2) polymerizing the fluoromonomer. The polymerization medium preferably comprises liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. Advantageously, the process may also include the step of separating the fluoropolymer from the polymerization medium.The present invention also provides polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the processes of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1996Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack
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Patent number: 5824726Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-phase polymerization process for making a water insoluble polymer. The process includes (1) providing a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and an aqueous phase, and containing a monomer and a polymerization initiator, and (2) polymerizing the monomer in the reaction mixture. The monomer may be a hydrocarbon or a fluorinated monomer. The polymerization initiator may be soluble in the aqueous phase, soluble in carbon dioxide, or insoluble in both the aqueous phase and carbon dioxide, such that the initiator forms a separate phase. The present invention also provides multi-phase polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the process of making water insoluble polymers.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: University of North Carolina--Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack
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Patent number: 5783082Abstract: The separation of a contaminant from a substrate that carries the contaminant is disclosed. The process comprises contacting the substrate to a carbon dioxide fluid containing an amphiphilic species so that the contaminant associates with the amphiphilic species and becomes entrained in the carbon dioxide fluid. The substrate is then separated from the carbon dioxide fluid, and then the contaminant is separated from the carbon dioxide fluid.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1995Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: University of North CarolinaInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack, Douglas E. Betts, James B. McClain
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Patent number: 5674957Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making fluorinated polymers and copolymers having stable end groups. The process includes (1) contacting a fluoromonomer, an initiator capable of producing stable end groups on the polymer chain, and a polymerization medium comprising carbon dioxide, and (2) polymerizing the fluoromonomer. The polymerization medium preferably comprises liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. Advantageously, the process may also include the step of separating the fluoropolymer from the polymerization medium.The present invention also provides polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the processes of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1995Date of Patent: October 7, 1997Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack
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Patent number: 5672667Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-phase polymerization process for making a water insoluble polymer. The process includes (1) providing a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and an aqueous phase, and containing a monomer and a polymerization initiator, and (2) polymerizing the monomer in the reaction mixture. The monomer may be a hydrocarbon or a fluorinated monomer. The polymerization initiator may be soluble in the aqueous phase, soluble in carbon dioxide, or insoluble in both the aqueous phase and carbon dioxide, such that the initiator forms a separate phase.The present invention also provides multi-phase polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the process of making water insoluble polymers.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1996Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack
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Patent number: 5618894Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making fluorinated polymers and copolymers having stable end groups. The process includes (1) contacting a fluoromonomer, an initiator capable of producing stable end groups on the polymer chain, and a polymerization medium comprising carbon dioxide, and (2) polymerizing the fluoromonomer. The polymerization medium preferably comprises liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. Advantageously, the process may also include the step of separating the fluoropolymer from the polymerization medium.The present invention also provides polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the processes of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: April 8, 1997Assignee: The University of North CarolinaInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack
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Patent number: 5530077Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-phase polymerization process for making a water insoluble polymer. The process includes (1) providing a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and an aqueous phase, and containing a monomer and a polymerization initiator, and (2) polymerizing the monomer in the reaction mixture. The monomer may be a hydrocarbon or a fluorinated monomer. The polymerization initiator may be soluble in the aqueous phase, soluble in carbon dioxide, or insoluble in both the aqueous phase and carbon dioxide, such that the initiator forms a separate phase.The present invention also provides multi-phase polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the process of making water insoluble polymers.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1995Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack
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Patent number: 5527865Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-phase polymerization process for making a water insoluble polymer. The process includes (1) providing a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and an aqueous phase, and containing a monomer and a polymerization initiator, and (2) polymerizing the monomer in the reaction mixture. The monomer may be a hydrocarbon or a fluorinated monomer. The polymerization initiator may be soluble in the aqueous phase, soluble in carbon dioxide, or insoluble in both the aqueous phase and carbon dioxide, such that the initiator forms a separate phase.The present invention also provides multi-phase polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the process of making water insoluble polymers.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1995Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack
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Patent number: 5514759Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-phase polymerization process for making a water insoluble polymer. The process includes (1) providing a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and an aqueous phase, and containing a monomer and a polymerization initiator, and (2) polymerizing the monomer in the reaction mixture. The monomer may be a hydrocarbon or a fluorinated monomer. The polymerization initiator may be soluble in the aqueous phase, soluble in carbon dioxide, or insoluble in both the aqueous phase and carbon dioxide, such that the initiator forms a separate phase.The present invention also provides multi-phase polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the process of making water insoluble polymers.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1995Date of Patent: May 7, 1996Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Timothy Romack