Patents by Inventor Vincenzo Arcella
Vincenzo Arcella 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: 8372237Abstract: A continuous process for applying subgaskets to surfaces of CCM subassemblies, comprising: a) preparation of a roll (A), wherein on each of two surfaces, electrocatalytic layers longitudinally distributed at regular intervals are applied; b) preparation of two subgasket rolls (B) wherein, on a subgasket sheet, in correspondence to the position of the electrocatalytic layers in the roll (A), openings are made; the percent ratio (subgasket opening area)/(electrocatalytic layer area) being between 90% and 99%; c) hot lamination of two rolls (B) with the roll (A); the step being carried out so that the perimeter of the openings of the two rolls (B) falls inside the area of the electrocatalytic layers, and obtaining a roll (C), wherein on each of the two surfaces of the sheet formed of a CCM sequence (roll (A)) a subgasket sheet (roll (B)) is applied.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.Inventors: Luca Merlo, Alessandro Ghielmi, Vincenzo Arcella
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Patent number: 8357725Abstract: The invention pertains to a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer having ion exchange groups comprising recurring units derived from at least one ethylenicalty unsaturated monomer comprising at least one fluorine atom (fluorinated monomer); and a substantial amount of recurring units derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one ion exchange group (functional monomer), wherein the amount of unstable end groups of —COF type is of less than 0.05 mmol/kg, and the use of the stabilized fluoropolymer in fuel cells devices, a membrane and a membrane-electrode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Luca Cirillo, Alessandro Ghielmi, Luca Merlo, Stefano Millefanti
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Publication number: 20120289616Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for stabilizing a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer comprising ion exchange groups, said process comprising: suspending at least one semi-crystalline fluoropolymer having ion exchange groups [polymer (I)] in at least one fluorinated organic dispersing medium [medium (M)] so as to obtain a dispersion (D) of polymer (I) in a dispersing medium (M); contacting said dispersion (D) with fluorine under irradiation with U. V. radiation so as to obtain a stabilized polymer. Still objects of the invention are a stable semi-crystalline fluoropolymer as above defined having a low amount of unstable ends groups of —COF type, the use of the stabilized fluoropolymer obtained by the process or of the stable fluoropolymer in fuel cells devices, a membrane and a membrane-electrode assembly comprising said fluoropolymers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Luca Cirillo, Alessandro Ghielmi, Luca Merlo, Stefano Millefanti
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Patent number: 8268464Abstract: CCM formed of a membrane having on one of the two surfaces a first electrocatalytic layer containing a catalyst and on the other one a second electrocatalytic layer containing a catalyst, said electrocatalytic layers and said membrane containing (per)fluorinated ionomers, said CCM having the following characteristics: size variations, for both the orthogonal directions of the plane xy, lower than 15%, by dipping the CCM, after drying at 105° C. under vacuum for one hour in demineralized water at 100° C. for 30 minutes; the CCM remains substantially unchanged after having been subjected to treatments of 60 cycles by dipping in water at 80° C. for 8 hours and then in water at the temperature of 25° C. for 16 hours.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Alessandro Ghielmi, Paola Vaccarono, Luca Merlo
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Patent number: 8232012Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for operating a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), said PEMFC comprising: (a) a membrane comprising at least one fluorinated ionomer [polymer (I)] comprising recurring units derived from tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and from at least one monomer of formula (M): wherein m is an integer between 1 and 6 and X? is chosen among halogens (Cl, F, Br, I), —O?M+, wherein M+ is a cation selected among H+, NH4+, K+, Li+, Na+, or mixtures thereof, said polymer (I) having an equivalent weight (EW) of from 700 to 850 g/eq.; (b) a cathode; (c) an anode; said process comprising: (i) feeding gaseous reactants at the electrodes at a relative humidity of at most 66%; (ii) maintaining an average current density between 0.05 and 1.5 A/cm2; and (iii) maintaining an average temperature of more than 65° C.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Alessandro Ghielmi, Luca Merlo
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Patent number: 8207235Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for stabilizing a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer comprising ion exchange groups, said process comprising: suspending at least one semi-crystalline fluoropolymer having ion exchange groups [polymer (I)] in at least one fluorinated organic dispersing medium [medium (M)] so as to obtain a dispersion (D) of polymer (I) in a dispersing medium (M); contacting said dispersion (D) with fluorine under irradiation with U.V. radiation so as to obtain a stabilized polymer. Still objects of the invention are a stable semi-crystalline fluoropolymer as above defined having a low amount of unstable ends groups of —COF type, the use of the stabilized fluoropolymer obtained by the process or of the stable fluoropolymer in fuel cells devices, a membrane and a membrane-electrode assembly comprising said fluoropolymers.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2007Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Luca Cirillo, Alessandro Ghielmi, Luca Merlo, Stefano Millefanti
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Publication number: 20120128868Abstract: A composite ionomeric membrane comprising a layer or film of a porous inert material on which a (per) fluorinated sulphonic ionomer is deposited wherein the sulphonic groups are at the end of short side chains (SSC), said ionomer having: equivalent weight comprised between 280 and 1,700 g/eq; side chains of formula: —O—CF2—CF2—SO3—M+, wherein M is hydrogen or an alkaline metal; said membrane having in each of the two orthogonal directions xy of the plane, after dipping in demineralized water at 100° C. for 30 minutes and preliminary drying at 105° C. under vacuum for one hour, the following size variations: in one direction, size variation lower than 25%; in the other direction, size variation lower than 20%.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2012Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: SOLBAY SOLEXIS S.p.AInventors: Vincenzo ARCELLA, Paola Vaccarono, Alessandro Ghielmi
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Fluoroionomers dispersions having a low surface tension, low liquid viscosity and high solid content
Publication number: 20120076990Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for manufacturing certain (per)fluoroionomer liquid compositions, comprising, inter alia, at least one of fluorination and treatment with a polar solvent, to the liquid compositions therefrom having an improved solids content/surface tension/liquid viscosity compromise, to the use of the same for manufacturing composite membranes and to composite membranes obtainable therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.P.A.Inventors: Luca Merlo, Alessandro Ghielmi, Vincenzo Arcella -
Patent number: 8133927Abstract: A composite ionomeric membrane comprising a layer or film of a porous inert material on which a (per) fluorinated sulphonic ionomer is deposited wherein the sulphonic groups are at the end of short side chains (SSC), said ionomer having: equivalent weight comprised between 280 and 1,700 g/eq; side chains of formula: —O—CF2—CF2—SO3—M+, wherein M is hydrogen or an alkaline metal; said membrane having in each of the two orthogonal directions xy of the plane, after dipping in demineralized water at 100° C. for 30 minutes and preliminary drying at 105° C. under vacuum for one hour, the following size variations: in one direction, size variation lower than 25%; in the other direction, size variation lower than 20%.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Paola Vaccarono, Alessandro Ghielmi
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Patent number: 7943267Abstract: Assemblies or MEA devices (Membrane Electrode Assembly) comprising a membrane and two electrocatalytic layers on each side thereof, wherein: the area of each of the two electrocatalytic layers is lower than that of the membrane; on each of the two sides of the ionomeric membrane there is at least one subgasket, applied on the MEA non catalyzed area; the edges of the ionomeric membranes being enclosed among said subgaskets.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.P.A.Inventors: Luca Merlo, Alessandro Ghielmi, Vincenzo Arcella
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Patent number: 7915356Abstract: A fluoropolymer [polymer (F)], a polymerisation process for its manufacture, and a molding process using such fluoropolymer [polymer (F)]. The polymerisation process comprises polymerising at least one fluorinated monomer in a polymerization medium, in which the polymerization medium is mixed by means of a stirring system comprising at least two counter-rotating impellers. Surprisingly and advantageously, the polymerization occurs without fouling or deposit formation on the reactor walls, and moreover, occurs with improved homogeneity, without composition, pressure or temperature gradients, thus enabling obtaining homogeneous polymer composition with no risk of local overheating. A polymer (F) obtained from such process has improved morphology (percentage of organized structures, i.e.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2007Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Valeri Kapeliouchko, Stefano Ferrero, Aniello Gargiulo
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Publication number: 20110052798Abstract: CCM formed of a membrane having on one of the two surfaces a first electrocatalytic layer containing a catalyst and on the other one a second electrocatalytic layer containing a catalyst, said electrocatalytic layers and said membrane containing (per)fluorinated ionomers, said CCM having the following characteristics: size variations, for both the orthogonal directions of the plane xy, lower than 15%, by dipping the CCM, after drying at 105° C. under vacuum for one hour in demineralized water at 100° C. for 30 minutes; the CCM remains substantially unchanged after having been subjected to treatments of 60 cycles by dipping in water at 80° C. for 8 hours and then in water at the temperature of 25° C. for 16 hours.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Alessandro Ghielmi, Paola Vaccarono, Luca Merlo
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Patent number: 7824788Abstract: CCM formed of a membrane having on one of the two surfaces a first electrocatalytic layer containing a catalyst and on the other one a second electrocatalytic layer containing a catalyst, said electrocatalytic layers and said membrane containing (per)fluorinated ionomers, said CCM having the following characteristics: size variations, for both the orthogonal directions of the plane xy, lower than 15%, by dipping the CCM, after drying at 105° C. under vacuum for one hour in demineralized water at 100° C. for 30 minutes; the CCM remains substantially unchanged after having been subjected to treatments of 60 cycles by dipping in water at 80° C. for 8 hours and then in water at the temperature of 25° C. for 16 hours.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Alessandro Ghielmi, Paola Vaccarono, Luca Merlo
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Publication number: 20100116927Abstract: The present invention pertains to a solar cell module comprising at least one photovoltaic element encapsulated between a front layer on its light receiving surface side and a back layer, said front layer comprising at least one layer comprising a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) polymer [polymer (F)], said polymer (F) comprising: recurring units derived from TFE; and from 15 to 25% wt of recurring units derived from at least one perfluoromonomer [monomer (CM)] chosen among: (i) perfluoroalkylvinylethers complying with formula CF2?CFORf1, in which Rf1 is a C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl, e.g. —CF3, —C2F5, —C3F7; and/or (ii) perfluoro-oxyalkylvinylethers complying with formula CF2?CFOX0, in which X0 is a C1-C12 perfluorooxyalkyl having one or more ether groups, like perfluoro-2-propoxy-propyl; and (iii) mixtures thereof. Still objects of the invention are a process for the manufacture of the solar cell module as above defined and its use for producing current to external sources, e.g. for powering a fixed-wing aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.P.A.Inventors: Paolo Toniolo, Padmanabhan Srinivasan, Alessio Marrani, Giambattista Besana, Vincenzo Arcella
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Patent number: 7705083Abstract: Ionically curable fluoroelastomers based on vinylidenfluoride (VDF) comprising: a) 100 parts by weight of fluoroelastomer based on vinylidenfluoride (VDF) substantially polar end groups free; b) from 0.1 to 0.35 phr of accelerating agent; c) from 1 to 15 phr of curing agent; d) from 2 to 20 phr of one or more inorganic acid acceptors, preferably bivalent metal oxides; e) from 0 to 3 phr, preferably from 0 to 1.5 phr of one or more basic compounds preferably hydroxides of bivalent metals or of weak acid metal salts; f) from 0 to 80 phr of reinforcing fillers; g) from 0 to 3 phr of coadjuvants of processability.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2005Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Solvay Solexis S.p.A.Inventors: Milena Stanga, Margherita Albano, Vincenzo Arcella
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Publication number: 20100087553Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for stabilizing a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer comprising ion exchange groups, said process comprising: suspending at least one semi-crystalline fluoropolymer having ion exchange groups [polymer (I)] in at least one fluorinated organic dispersing medium [medium (M)] so as to obtain a dispersion (D) of polymer (I) in a dispersing medium (M), contacting said dispersion (D) with fluorine under irradiation with U.V. radiation so as to obtain a stabilized polymer. Still objects of the invention arc a stable semi-crystalline fluoropolymer as above defined having a low amount of unstable ends groups of —COF type, the use of the stabilized fluoropolymer obtained by the process or of the stable fluoropolymer in fuel cells devices, a membrane and a membrane-electrode assembly comprising said fluoropolymers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2007Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.P.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Luca Cirillo, Alessandro Ghielmi, Luca Merlo, Stefano Millefanti
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Publication number: 20100040912Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for operating a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), said PEMFC comprising: (a) a membrane comprising at least one fluorinated ionomer [polymer (I)] comprising recurring units derived from tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and from at least one monomer of formula (M): wherein m is an integer between 1 and 6 and X? is chosen among halogens (Cl, F, Br, I), —O?M+, wherein M+ is a cation selected among H+, NH4+, K+, Li+, Na+, or mixtures thereof, said polymer (I) having an equivalent weight (EW) of from 700 to 850 g/eq.; (b) a cathode; (c) an anode; said process comprising: (i) feeding gaseous reactants at the electrodes at a relative humidity of at most 66%; (ii) maintaining an average current density between 0.05 and 1.5 A/cm2; and (iii) maintaining an average temperature of more than 65° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.P.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Alessandro Ghielmi, Luca Merlo
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Publication number: 20090264596Abstract: Fluoropolymers comprising a fluoroelastomer matrix incorporating therein particles of a semicrystalline fluoropolymer formed of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) homopolymers or copolymers, wherein the average particle sizes of the semicrystalline fluoropolymer latex range from 10 to 100 nm.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Inventors: Margherita ALBANO, Marco Apostolo, Vincenzo Arcella, Enrico Marchese
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Publication number: 20090258273Abstract: MEA 7-layer assemblies with gasket, comprising: a film of ionomeric membrane (3), containing functional acid groups —SO3H and/or —COOH, having in at least one direction, called direction x, a size variation lower than 0.08%; two GDL sheets (1) and (2) in porous material having on one surface an electrocatalytic layer, not shown in the Figures, of which: the first sheet DGL (1) is coextensive with the membrane (3) surface, positioned so as to overlap thereto; the second sheet GDL (2), having a lower width but the same length of the film of membrane (3), measured in the x direction; the two sheets (1) and (2) placed so that the electrocatalytic layer comes into contact, respectively, with each of the two membrane faces; a gasket positioned according to a frame shape along the assembly perimeter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2007Publication date: October 15, 2009Applicant: SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.p.A.Inventors: Vincenzo Arcella, Luca Merlo, Alessandro Ghielmi
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Publication number: 20090202883Abstract: Catalyst-polymer liquid dispersion (LD) comprising (i) catalyst particles, (ii) polymer particles consisting of at least one (per)fluoro sulfonyl fluoride polymer in the —SO2F form, and (iii) an aqueous suspending medium. Catalyst coated membrane precursor (CCMP), catalyst coated membrane (CCM) and catalytic ionomeric ink (CII) derived therefrom and methods for their manufacture. Catalyst coated membrane (CCM-CII) derived from said (CII).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2007Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: SOLVAY SOLEXIS S.P.A.Inventors: Alessandro Ghielmi, Luca Merlo, Gilberto Nucida, Vincenzo Arcella