Patents by Inventor W. Kenneth Wilkinson

W. Kenneth Wilkinson 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: 10745828
    Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: International Fibers, LTD
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20170002482
    Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20130281650
    Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8372323
    Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: International Fibers, Ltd.
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7964134
    Abstract: A process for preparing superior carbon fiber including a step of rapid imbibation of densification activator from an aqueous bath; and product prepared therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: International Fibers, Ltd.
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20110059314
    Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20090224420
    Abstract: A process for preparing superior carbon fiber including a step of rapid imbibation of densification activator from an aqueous bath; and product prepared therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7015299
    Abstract: Melt spun thermoplastic polyurethane polymers useful as textile fibers and having good tenacity and recovery and substantially no gelation are disclosed. The polymers are prepared by a three-step polymerization process including: preparation of “hard” segment oligomer, preparation of “soft” segment oligomer and final reaction of “hard” segment with “soft” segment in a twin-screw reaction extruder to obtain a final polyurethane product having relatively uniform distances between the “hard” segments. The “soft” segment oligomer comprises blocks of polymeric glycol (poly) urethanes end capped with isocyanate groups. The “hard” segment oligomer comprises blocks of low molecular weight C2–C6 glycol (poly) urethanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20020161137
    Abstract: Melt spun thermoplastic polyurethane polymers useful as textile fibers and having good tenacity and recovery and substantially no gelation are disclosed. The polymers are prepared by a three-step polymerization process including: preparation of “hard” segment oligomer, preparation of “soft” segment oligomer and final reaction of “hard” segment with “soft” segment in a twin-screw reaction extruder to obtain a final polyurethane product having relatively uniform distances between the “hard” segments. The “soft” segment oligomer comprises blocks of polymeric glycol (poly) urethanes end capped with isocyanate groups. The “hard” segment oligomer comprises blocks of low molecular weight C2-C6 glycol (poly) urethanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson