Stretching Or Stretch Forming Patents (Class 264/291)
  • Patent number: 5834114
    Abstract: Fiber material for adsorbing contaminants is prepared according to the steps of preparing coating a glass or mineral fiber substrate with a resin, cross-linking the resin, heating the coated fiber substrate and resin to carbonize the resin, and exposing the coated fiber substrate to an etchant to activate the coated fiber substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: James Economy, Michael Daley
  • Patent number: 5824398
    Abstract: This invention relates to polyester/plasticizer blends which are useful as heat-shrinkable films or sheets in low temperature shrink packaging applications. The heat-shrinkable films or sheets comprise a blend of (A) 90 to 99 weight percent of a polyester having a glass transition temperature of 40.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. and an inherent viscosity of 0.5 to 1.2 dL/g and (B) 1 to 10 weight percent of a plasticizer selected from a C.sub.5 to C.sub.35 monoglyceride prepared from the reaction of glycerol and a fatty acid having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, wherein the combined weights of (A) and (B) total 100 percent. The polyester comprises a dicarboxylic acid component comprising repeat units from at least 80 mole percent of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid having 8 to 14 carbon atoms and a diol component comprising repeat units from at least 10 mole percent of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, based on 100 mole percent dicarboxylic acid and 100 mole percent diol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: Wayne Ken Shih
  • Patent number: 5820967
    Abstract: A shaped article and method for making the article is disclosed. The method involves forming a raw material mixture of a thermosetting resin which can be either solid resin or liquid resin, hydrophilic filler, which can be carbonizable and/or inorganic, temporary organic binder, and optionally an effective amount of extrusion aids. The mixture is extruded into a shaped article, dried, and the resin is cured. The cured article can be further carbonized and activated. The activated carbon, especially a honeycomb is used for adsorbing components from a workstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Kishor P. Gadkaree
  • Patent number: 5814408
    Abstract: An aluminum matrix composite is provided comprising a preform formed from interwoven mats of graphitized vapor grown carbon fibers. The mats comprise semi-aligned, semi-continuous vapor grown carbon fibers which have been interwoven in situ during growth. The preferred method of producing the composite includes the steps of providing a vapor grown carbon preform and infiltrating molten aluminum into the interstices of the preform by a pressure casting process. The resulting aluminum matrix composite has a thermal conductivity of between about 600 W/m-K and 700 W/m-K and is useful as a component in electronic devices, aircraft, spacecraft, and other thermal management applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Jyh-Ming Ting, Max Laverne Lake
  • Patent number: 5811050
    Abstract: An EMI shield for personal computers, cellular telephones, and other electronic devices is constructed from thermoformable polymeric material which is then metallized on all surfaces by vacuum metallization techniques to provide an inexpensive, lightweight, yet effective EMI shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventor: John F. Gabower
  • Patent number: 5792402
    Abstract: A method for forming a carbon composite valve for internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: H. Kevin Rivers, Philip O. Ransone, G. Burton Northam
  • Patent number: 5785910
    Abstract: The present invention is to improve a laminate molding method and a laminate-molding apparatus for manufacturing molded products that have an external appearance of excellent quality. For this purpose, according to a molding method, by which a mold clamping device (3) laminates sheet of skin material (Mm) and a core resin (200), the tension of the sheet of skin material Mm, which is inserted into a cavity (9) between a clamped fixed metal mold (11) and a clamped movable metal mold (12) and is laminated by the movable metal mold (12), is varied, continuously or in a stepped manner, in consonance with the insertion amount of the sheet of skin material (Mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Sakashita, Tetsuzi Funahashi, Akira Yokota, Masayuki Oishi
  • Patent number: 5780073
    Abstract: A method of shaping a catheter tip and an apparatus for shaping a catheter tip are disclosed. A hollow tube is radically preheated, which is non-contact thermoforming. The heated tube is then extent outwards and next cooled. After cut, at least two catheters with taper-shaped tip are formed. The apparatus for shaping the catheter tip includes a twin taper-shaped mold wound by heating coil, a tube extending device, a cooling device and a cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jui-Hsiang Chen, Shu-Fang Jiang, Ken-Yuan Chang, Ruey-Wen Hwang, Huei-Ming Ding
  • Patent number: 5776592
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polyester films which have properties making them suitable for closures, especially of pots for fresh dairy products such as yoghurts, cheeses or desserts. It therefore consists of polyester films which have a thickness of 5 to 30 micrometers and which satisfy the use test, exhibiting a crystallinity higher than or equal to 50%, tensile strengths in the lengthwise direction (MDTS) and in the diagonal directions (.+-.45 degrees relative to the lengthwise direction) (TS45) which are such that: (MDTS)+(TS45).ltoreq.40 kg/mm.sup.2 (392.4 MPa) and elongations at break in the lengthwise direction (MDEB) and in the diagonal directions (.+-.45 degrees relative to the lengthwise direction) (EB45) which are such that: (MDEB)+(EB45).gtoreq.290%. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of such films and to their use for closures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc Films
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Benhayoun, Alain Marze, Brunot Melquioni
  • Patent number: 5776383
    Abstract: Method for producing a shaped part made of a graphitized carbon/carbon composite material in which a compound of carbon fibers is prepared impregnated with a solution of carbon precursors and then cut into sections placed in a mould subjected to a carbonization stage by means of hot unidirectional pressing, wherein, so as to prepare the compound, the fiber is subjected to a heat deoxidation and oil removal treatment followed by a softening in a bath for increasing wettability and hooking and then impregnation in a bath formed of an aqueous solution containing pitch mesophase, high-yield pitch and a binder, the required sufficient calculated amount of compound being placed in bulk in a hot constant volume pressing mould so as to accurately fill the mould at the end of pressing before carrying out said carbonization, the moulded part finally being graphitized at a high temperature. Applications include the aeronautic and spatial fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Societe Nationale Industrielle et Aerospatiale
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Darrieux, Jean-Marc Nicolas Pascal Donzac
  • Patent number: 5770661
    Abstract: A polycarbodiimide compound is reacted with an organic compound having at least two amino groups in the molecule. A polycarbodiimide compound is reacted with an amine compound having a silicon atom in the molecule. The carbodiimide bonds remained in the crosslinked material are further crosslinked. The crosslinked material is further heated/calcined to obtain an inorganic material having high heat resistance and strong toughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyoshi, Ken Yahata, Yasuyoshi Komoto, Yasuyuki Takiguchi, Akira Hayashida
  • Patent number: 5770127
    Abstract: A new apparatus and method for making a carbon or graphite reinforced composite is described. A rigid carbon foam preform is placed within a sealed flexible bag. A vacuum is created within the bag. Matrix resin is introduced into the bag, through an inlet valve, and is amply impregnated into the preform. The resulting resin-filled preform is exposed to a heat source to cure the preform. The resulting carbon or graphite reinforced composite structure is then removed from the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Frances L. Abrams, Joseph W. Hager, Richard B. Hall
  • Patent number: 5746968
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing polymeric material having enhanced structural integrity includes heating the material to a temperature between the material's glass transition temperature and the material's melt temperature. Once heated, the material is highly overstretched in a first direction and moderately overstretched in a second direction. The material is then held in the overstretched condition while it is allowed to cool to room temperature. Cooling is followed by reheating to a curing temperature. After curing for a predetermined period, the material is again allowed to cool. The completed material has high polymeric orientation in the first direction and moderate polymeric orientation in the second direction. Therefore, the material is characterized by enhanced structural integrity and absence of pinhole defects common to highly oriented polymeric materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Interventional Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Herbert R. Radisch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5746951
    Abstract: A process for producing a substrate for magnetic recording medium, which includes molding into an appropriate shape a polycarbodiimide resin or a composition mainly containing a polycarbodiimide resin, carbonizing the shaped material, and processing the carbonized shaped material into a substrate for magnetic recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Takeshi Ishimatsu
  • Patent number: 5744075
    Abstract: A densified carbon matrix carbon fiber composite preform is made by vacuum molding an aqueous slurry of carbon fibers and carbonizable organic powder to form a molded part. The molded part is dried in an oven at 50.degree. C. for 14 hours and hot pressed at 2000 psi at 400.degree. C. for 3 hours. The hot pressed part is carbonized at 650.degree. C. under nitrogen for 3 hours and graphitized at 2400.degree. C. to form a graphitic structure in the matrix of the densified carbon matrix carbon fiber composite preform. The densified preform has a density greater than 1.1 g/cc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Klett, Timothy D. Burchell, Jeffrey L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 5744510
    Abstract: The sol-gel polymerization of a phenolic-furfural mixture in dilute solution leads to a highly cross-linked network that can be supercritically dried to form a high surface area foam. These porous materials have cell/pore sizes .ltoreq.1000 .ANG., and although they are dark brown in color, they can be classified as a new type of aerogel. The phenolic-furfural aerogel can be pyrolyzed in an inert atmosphere at 1050.degree. C. to produce carbon aerogels. This new aerogel may be used for thermal insulation, chromatographic packing, water filtration, ion-exchange, and carbon electrodes for energy storage devices, such as batteries and double-layer capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Richard W. Pekala
  • Patent number: 5736076
    Abstract: Moldings which comprise from 30 to 100% by weight of graphite, prepared from graphite powders which comprise from 5 to 100% by weight of rhombohedral crystalline graphite and, if required, contain additives and/or binders, and a process for their preparation and their use as catalyst carriers, heat transfer material, column packing or diluent in catalyst beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ruprecht Meissner, Matthias Irgang, Knut Eger, Peter Weidlich, Heinz Dreyer
  • Patent number: 5733484
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a carbon preform comprising the steps of charging a container with pitch fibers obtained by melt spinning a carbonaceous pitch to fill therein during spinning, infusibilizing the thus filled pitch fibers, and calcining and molding the infusibilized pitch fibers under a uniaxial pressure, and a method for manufacturing a carbon/carbon composite material comprising densifying the carbon preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Oil Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Uchida, Kazuyoshi Okamoto, Yoshio Soda
  • Patent number: 5733482
    Abstract: By kneading a composition containing a filler and an organic forming binder, extruding the composition, baking the composition in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, there is obtained a first baked lead containing, as a binder, a carbon obtained by the carbonization of the organic forming binder. Then, by heating the first baked lead in an oxidizing atmosphere to remove the binder carbon, there is formed a second baked lead composed of at least the filler. The pores of the second baked lead are impregnated with a solution containing perhydropolysilazane, subjecting the lead to a heat treatment in an inert atmosphere or an ammonia gas atmosphere to form a third baked lead containing the resultant silicon nitride. Finally, ink is filled into the pores of the third baked lead to provide a baked color pencil lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Hoshiba
  • Patent number: 5733495
    Abstract: A blank consisting of a spirally wound fiber for use in the manufacture of a fiber reinforced article of composite material is made by winding the fiber onto a helical track on the surface of a frusto-conical spindle, covering the wound fiber with a thermoplastic binder which sets to form a frusto-conical shell encasing the fiber, removing the shell from the spindle and placing the shell with its base on a plate, and heating the shell starting from its base so as to soften it and cause it to progressively collapse onto the plate to form a disc comprising a spirally wound fiber. If necessary the collapse of the shell may be assisted by pressing on the shell in a direction towards the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "SNECMA"
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Robert Berthelemy, Gerard Philippe Gauthier, Ludovic Edmond Camille Molliex, Alain Robert Yves Perroux
  • Patent number: 5730916
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing filler and distributing bodies essentially or carbon for process technology, in which ground cereal products are used as dry raw material and preferably water or aqueous synthetic resin preparations are used as binders. Dry material, preferably semolina, is mixed with the binder, the mixed composition is molded into primary product bodies and these are then hardened and subsequently coked or coked and graphitized. A typical use of the process involves the manufacture of small filler bodies of complicated shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: SGL Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Kunzel, Manfred Nedoschill, Manfred Schmid
  • Patent number: 5730915
    Abstract: A method for producing semi-permanent casting tooling, including the steps of blending a high char resin with a refractory powder to form a plastic moldable material; shaping the plastic moldable material to form a green tooling body; and heating the green tooling body to convert the high char resin into carbon char to form reusable casting tooling. The casting tooling can be used in casting processes including die casting, permanent mold casting and pressure infiltration casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: James A. Cornie
  • Patent number: 5720910
    Abstract: A process of producing high density articles of boron carbide and all transition metal carbides that optionally contain 1 to 50% by volume of borides is disclosed. The process involves the steps of homogeneously mixing boron carbide, titanium oxide and carbon powders, or homogeneously mixing transition metal carbide with its oxide, boron carbide and carbon when sintering transition metal carbides, forming the powder mixtures into a shaped green body, and sintering the body in a controlled atmosphere at a temperature of from 1900.degree. C. to 2100.degree. C. The shaped articles thus obtained have the theoretical density of at least 95% and preferably greater than 99% of theoretical density of selected composite and flexural strength of at least 350 MPa, preferably grater than 450 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventors: Milan D. Vlajic, Vladimir D. Krstic
  • Patent number: 5720911
    Abstract: A method of making a boron carbide article by sintering includes mixing boron carbide with an epoxidized resin in solution and drying to form a granulated homogenized mixture and a carbonization cycle in which the mixture is maintained at at least two constant temperatures for predetermined times. The rates of temperature rise are at controlled rates sufficient to allow outgassing of the gases evolved during the decomposition of the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Richard N.J. Taylor, Jonathan Crane, Roy Fletcher, Michael Fry, John H. Sant
  • Patent number: 5707567
    Abstract: A self-sintered silicon carbide/carbon-graphite composite material having interconnected pores which may be impregnated, and a raw batch and process for producing the composite material, is provided. The composite material comprises a densified, self-sintered matrix of silicon carbide, carbon-graphite inclusions and small amounts of any residual sintering aids, such as boron and free carbon, and has interconnected pores which may be impregnated with resin, carbon, TEFLON, (polyetrafluoroethylene) metal or other compounds or materials selected for their particular properties to achieve desired tribological characteristics for a specific application. The composite material is produced from a raw batch which includes silicon carbide, sintering aids, a temporary filler and coated graphite particles. The raw batch is then molded/shaped into a green body and heated to carbonize any carbonizable materials and to decompose and volatilize the organic filler to form a matrix of interconnected pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: The Morgan Crucible Company PLC
    Inventor: Mark E. Pfaff
  • Patent number: 5705255
    Abstract: The method for making a graphic representation on objects made of a polyolefin polymer, consists of printing a graphic representation on a face of a first film made of a stretched polymer, chosen among a polyester polymer and an acrylic polymer, associating the first film with a second film in order to obtain a membrane formed by the associated first and second films containing the graphic representation between them, transferring the membrane inside an injection mold and injecting a polyolefin polymer in the mold for forming the object, obtaining at least a partial melting of the second film so that the membrane forms one body with said object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Grazioli S.p.A.
    Inventor: Vittorio Grazioli
  • Patent number: 5705106
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat-insulating structural carbon material and the process for producing thereof. This heat-insulating structural material is prepared from a suspension of discrete carbon fibers in a viscoplastic liquid such as polyglycol, glycerine and petroleum oils, by molding a preform and orienting discrete filaments, followed by baking the preform and depositing pyrolytic carbon in the porous structure thereof. This heat-insulating material comprises a coke matrix, discrete carbon filaments, the coke matrix as a porous film-like structure of coke residue on said filaments, and pyrolytic carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignees: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle, Niigrafit Research Institute
    Inventors: Sergey Anatoljevich Kolesnikov, Valery Ivanovich Kostikov, Alexander Victorovich Demin, Lyubov Semenovna Kondratova, Alexander Mikhailovich Vasiljev
  • Patent number: 5698300
    Abstract: Bicomponent moulded article made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which, in the manner of the side-by-side type, is composed of two PTFE components which shrink under the effect of heat and differ in their hot-air shrinkage by at least 1%. A preferred embodiment is in the form of a fibre which can be crimped under heat treatment. (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Adalbert Wimmer, Josef Bachmaier
  • Patent number: 5698143
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the preparation of a fiber-reinforced silicon carbide-based composite ceramic body having outstandingly high mechanical strengths even without using any sintering aids or without undertaking the hot-press sintering method. The method comprises impregnating carbon fibers or silicon carbide fibers with a slurry containing an elementary silicon powder, an organic resin, e.g., phenolic resins, and an organosilicon polymer, e.g., polysilastyrenes, according to a specified formulation and shaping the impregnated fibers into a green body which is subjected to a calcination treatment at 1300.degree.-1500.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere under normal pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Japan as represented by Director General of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Eiji Tani, Kazuhisa Shobu
  • Patent number: 5695697
    Abstract: The process for the producing improved shaped sintered articles by first shaping a) a mixture of a ceramic or metallic powder or mixtures thereof with a moldable thermoplastic composition containing b) a thermoplastic polyoxymethylene binder and c) a second moldable and essentially inert thermoplastic polymer having a melting point between 90.degree. and 220.degree. C., such as a polyether of bisphenol A and an aliphatic diol. The binder is then removed from the shaped article by exposure to a gaseous acid-containing atmosphere, preferably below its softening temperature, while the second inert thermoplastic polymer is retained as a source of elemental carbon in which the ceramic or metallic powder is finely dispersed. This retained polymer is then pyrolyzed under an inert gas at elevated temperatures of at least 600.degree. C. for conversion to a finely dispersed elemental carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Trubenbach, Graham Edmund McKee, Hans Wohlfromm
  • Patent number: 5695816
    Abstract: The present invention aims at preventing or reducing the lowering in mechanical characteristics of a carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite due to stress orientation caused by the use of a thermosetting resin as a carbon matrix precursor resin to thereby obtain a carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite improved in mechanical characteristics, and for attaining this aim, provides a process for the preparation of a carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite which comprises impregnating a carbon fiber with a bismaleimide-triazine copolymer resin instead of the sizing agent and thermoplastic resin which have been used conventionally and heating the resulting impregnated carbon fiber in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to carbonize or graphitize the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Agency of Industrial Science & Technology
    Inventors: Norio Iwashita, Yoshihiro Sawada
  • Patent number: 5693708
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a colored stretched polyethylene material which comprises an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity of 5-50 dl/g in decalin at 135.degree. C. and 0.001-50 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the polyethylene, of a dye and/or a pigment and which has been stretched at a temperature lower than the melting point of the polyethylene, and a process for producing said polyethylene material. This colored stretched polyethylene material has a tensile modulus of 120 Gpa or more and a tensile strength of 1.5 GPa or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Oil Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimu Iwanami, Seizo Kobayashi, Takashi Mizoe, Osamu Otsu
  • Patent number: 5693389
    Abstract: A polyester composition comprises at least one first semi-crystalline or crystallizable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA-X) and at least one second polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA-Y) in semi-crystalline or crystalline form and having a higher crystalline melting point than said PHA-X. The PHA-Y is prepared by an annealing treatment in which the crystalline melting point is raised preferably by at least 5.degree. C. compared to the PHA-X and preferably by at least 3.degree. C. compared to the PHA-Y prior to the annealing treatment. The PHA-X and PHA-Y are preferably selected from polyhydroxybutyrate and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Zeneca Limited
    Inventor: John Jamieson Liggat
  • Patent number: 5688155
    Abstract: A unitary composite structure having improved flexural strength and a reduced coefficient of thermal expansion comprising a heterogeneous combination of a carbonaceous reinforcing material interbonded with a matrix material, wherein the said matrix material is a poorly graphitizing carbonaceous pitch containing polymerized and cross-linked aromatic components is disclosed. Graphite electrodes comprised of the poorly graphitized pitch matrix material acting as a binder and/or an impregnant are also disclosed. Processes for the preparation of the poorly graphitizing pitch, the composite structure, and particularly the graphite electrodes are disclosed as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Irwin Charles Lewis, Ronald Albert Howard
  • Patent number: 5681511
    Abstract: Methods for making hermetic silicon carbide matrix composite structures by CVI. A fibrous preform is created by winding strands of yarn of refractory fiber material helically about a graphite mandrel. Impregnation of the preform is carried out in a subatmospheric pressure zone at a pressure of about 700 Pa or less by maintaining a relatively slow flow of a mixture of helium and an alkyl chlorosilane through a coating zone heated to a temperature of between about 1100.degree. to 1200.degree. C. at a rate between about 2 and about 10 times the diffusion rate of the gaseous atmosphere in the fibrous preform. Coating is continued until silicon carbide impregnates the interstices of the fibrous preform and preferably deposits an outer layer of dense pore-free silicon carbide thereupon. The resultant structures are hermetic and provide leak-free containment of gases such as helium at temperatures of as high as 1,000.degree. C. and a pressure differential as high as about 20 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Holger H. Streckert, Kirk P. Norton, Clement P. C. Wong
  • Patent number: 5672426
    Abstract: A process for making a transparent film comprising a liquid crystalline polymer, and a transparent film made thereby having high barrier properties. In this process, the LCP is dissolved in an appropriate solvent, then cast into a film at ambient or near-ambient temperatures. The film optionally may be dried at elevated temperatures and/or reduced pressures to remove the solvent. The film is then annealed at a temperature between the glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) and the melting point temperature (T.sub.m) of the polymer. The result is a highly transparent film having liquid crystalline morphology and high barrier properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Hoechst Celanese Corp
    Inventors: Subhash Makhija, M. Ishaq Haider, Edward C. Chenevey, Michael Jaffe
  • Patent number: 5667869
    Abstract: A predrawn net particularly for geotechnical use including an initial component that forms a first and a second layers that are respectively constituted by a first set of mutually substantially parallel filaments and by a second set of mutually substantially parallel filaments that lie transversely with respect to the filaments of the first set, so as to form a plurality of mutual joints. The filaments of the two sets mutually interpenetrate in the joints over a thickness that is less than 50% of one of the layers. The initial component is more than 8 mm thick. The filaments of at least one of the sets are drawn in the direction defined by the respective set of filaments so that the stretching action passes through the joints without substantially affecting the filaments of the other one of the sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Tenax S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Beretta
  • Patent number: 5667826
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming simulated flowers from cut-out sheets of a confectionery material such as gum paste. A kit for forming the simulated flowers includes one or more template cutters formed in the shapes of the leaves and/or petals of an actual flower, a male mold having an exterior surface cast from the interior of the actual flower, and a flower holder having a surface that generally conforms to the exterior or interior of the flower. The flower holder preferably comprises either a female or male mold or a deformable material having indentations therein. Optional components of the kit include a stamen mold for forming a simulated stamen and a ruffling tool for ruffling the peripheral edges of the simulated flower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Judy Lasater
  • Patent number: 5668188
    Abstract: A method of preparing near net shape, monolithic, porous SiC foams is disclosed. Organosilicon precursors are used to produce polymeric gels by thermally induced phase separation, wherein, a sufficiently concentrated solution of an organosilicon polymer is cooled below its solidification temperature to form a gel. Following solvent removal from the gel, the polymer foam is pretreated in an oxygen plasma in order to raise its glass transition temperature. The pretreated foam is then pyrolized in an inert atmosphere to form a SiC foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: LeRoy Louis Whinnery, Monte Carl Nichols, David Roger Wheeler, Douglas Anson Loy
  • Patent number: 5658521
    Abstract: An apparatus 1 for widening a foam sheet S obtained immediately after heating and foaming a foam sheet which has not been yet widened, while the foam sheet S is continuously received or supplied. The sheet widening apparatus 1 comprises: a pair of chains 2 constructed in the form of endless chains composed of links 22 having pin parts 21 and a driving device 3 meshing with these chains 2 and driving the chains 2 along such loci as to widen the space between the chains 2 from sheet receiving start points to sheet receving end points. A method for widening a foam sheet by the sheet widening apparatus 1 comprises the steps of piercing both the side parts of the foam sheet S with the pins 21 at the sheet receiving start points; widening the space of width between the pins 21 along gently curved loci by drying the chains 2 while the pins 21 penetrating the foam sheet; and receiving the foam sheet S from the sheet receiving start points to the sheet receiving end points while the foam sheet is widened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Sekisui Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyuki Morimoto, Ken Takahashi, Takeo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5656213
    Abstract: A process for producing a carbon-filled ceramic composite material comprising a ceramic matrix and a carbon domain dispersed therein with a carbon domain diameter of from 0.01 to 30 .mu.m and a carbon domain area ratio of from 5 to 70%; comprising the steps of mixing ceramic powder, sintering aids and a carbon source, calcining the mixture at 300.degree.-600.degree. C., granulating the mixture, molding and sintering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Sakaguchi, Kazuhiro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 5648027
    Abstract: A slurry containing a precursor fiber convertible to carbon fiber and/or a carbon fiber and, based on 100 parts by weight of the fiber, 10 to 300 parts by weight of a thermosetting resin, e.g. phenol resin, is processed into a random web. This web may contain a pitch or an organic granular material. The web is hot-pressed between a pair of belts while curing of the resin is inhibited to prepare a prepreg sheet. This sheet is disposed, leaving a clearance, in a mold having ribs on a molding surface and heated over the melting point of the resin for expansion and complete cure to provide a porous composite sheet equipped with grooves. This porous composite sheet is carbonized or graphitized to produce a porous carbonaceous material for use as a fuel cell electrode material and so on. This porous carbonaceous material has high homogeneity, gas permeability, electrical conductivity, heat conductivity and mechanical strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignees: Osaka Gas Company Ltd., Unitika Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tajiri, Yoshiteru Nakagawa, Yoshiaki Iwaya, Yoshiharu Tanaka, Keiichi Asami, Katsuyuki Touma, Shinji Okumura
  • Patent number: 5643508
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of nanodimensional particles of oxides and sulphides of metals and metal clusters in a carbonaceous matrix. Inorganic salts of metals are thoroughly mixed with one or more of the polymers polyphenylene sulphide, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene selenide, polyphenylene telluride and polyacrylonitrile in a solvent mixture. The mixture is dried and pellets are made from the dried mixture by applying compaction loads in the range of 4000 to 8000 and more preferably 5000 to 5500 psi followed by heating at a temperature in the range of 400.degree. to 800.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere. The above pellets are cooled to room temperature slowly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Parthasarthy Ganguly, Neela Raghunath Pavaskar, Kunjukrishna Pillai Vijayamohanan, Santhi George, Prabhat Singh
  • Patent number: 5641446
    Abstract: In a method of molding a tag pin assembly P having a plurality of tag pins p each including a head 1, a filament portion 2 and a transverse rod portion 3, and implanted on one connecting rod 5 via connecting portions 4, the method produces a tag pin assembly under a ultra-close contact state by allowing balanced pressures to act on thin wall surfaces between adjacent cavities by supplying a molten resin through a main runner portion 30 connected to an injection molding machine, one first sub-runner portion 31 and a U-shape branched second sub-runner portion 32 to cavities of four tag pins 4 for one second sub-runner portion 32 in a cascade system by halving the molten resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Toska Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masami Kato
  • Patent number: 5636437
    Abstract: Fabrication of conductive solid porous carbon electrodes for use in batteries, double layer capacitors, fuel cells, capacitive dionization, and waste treatment. Electrodes fabricated from low surface area (<50 m.sup.2 /gm) graphite and cokes exhibit excellent reversible lithium intercalation characteristics, making them ideal for use as anodes in high voltage lithium insertion (lithium-ion) batteries. Electrodes having a higher surface area, fabricated from powdered carbon blacks, such as carbon aerogel powder, carbon aerogel microspheres, activated carbons, etc. yield high conductivity carbon compositives with excellent double layer capacity, and can be used in double layer capacitors, or for capacitive deionization and/or waste treatment of liquid streams. By adding metallic catalysts to be high surface area carbons, fuel cell electrodes can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: James L. Kaschmitter, Tri D. Tran, John H. Feikert, Steven T. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5632085
    Abstract: A method for making an electrical contact for a vitreous carbon electrodes includes the steps of making a bore in an electrode blank of a cross-linked artificial resin forming the electrode blank into an electrode body. A solid or hollow pin, or a sleeve, composed of a biocompatible, refractory metal is introduced into the bore. If a pin is to be used, the bore is made to extend only partially into the electrode body, if a sleeve is used the bore extends completely through the body. The pin or sleeve has smaller dimensions than the bore; if a pin is used it projects from one side of the electrode body and if a sleeve is used it projects from both sides of the electrode body. The electrode blank is subjected to a pyrolysis, whereby the cross-linked artificial resin is converted into vitreous carbon and the electrode body shrinks onto the pin or sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Pacesetter AB
    Inventor: Volker Tegeder
  • Patent number: 5632943
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a diaphragm of a speaker includes the steps of: 1. weaving a plurality of fibers to become a fiber sheet; 2. immersing the fiber sheet in resins; 3. spraying or inserting an enforcement material to the fiber sheet to form a combination sheet; 4. rolling the combination sheet into a flat pattern and therefore creating a tension therein; 5. drying the combination sheet, 6. putting said combination sheet into a mold and applying a high temperature thereto under a high pressure to form a cup-like configuration and 7. cutting the combination sheet into a desired configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Po-tsung Lin
  • Patent number: 5628939
    Abstract: A process for producing fireproof, carbon-containing ceramic moldings in which an oxidic fireproof matrix material with a carbon-containing component and a polymer compound is mixed together to form a mixture, and in which the mixture is processed into moldings. The moldings subsequently are heat-treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Veitsch-Radex Aktiengesellschaft fur Feuerfeste Erzeugnisse
    Inventors: Franz Reiterer, Klaus Dosinger
  • Patent number: 5614134
    Abstract: A carbon/carbon composite is prepared without using any expensive carbon fiber fabric and without performing any complicated molding step prior to a densifying step. More specifically, a pitch-based infusiblized fiber alone, or optionally in the form of a mixture thereof with a pitch-based carbonized fiber, is subjected to carbonization and molding under uniaxial pressing to obtain a carbon/carbon composite preform. The preform is then densified using a carbonaceous matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Oil Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshio Sohda, Takefumi Kohno, Yutaka Sanokawa
  • Patent number: 5611985
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved solution casting method to manufacture, with high productivity, a polysulfone resin film superior in quality including appearance, surface smoothness, transparency and thickness accuracy. A polysulfone resin film is cast using the solution casting method in which a solution of polysulfone resin is cast on a support base to a desired thickness, dried to remove the solvent, and resultant resin film is peeled away from the support piece. The solution of polysulfone resin comprises at least one solvent chosen from among anisole, dioxane or tetrahydropyrane. To shorten the drying time even further, at least one solvent chosen from among acetone, methylethylketone, ethyl acetate, toluene and phenol can be mixed in the casting solution of polysulfone resin. The resultant polysulfone film obtained can be uniaxially stretched to produce a high-quality retardation film with superior optical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kobayashi, Takao Saito