Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Amy Ellen Langhorst

Deborah Frances Mielewski

Ellen Cheng-chi Lee

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Clay Wesley Maranville

Anthony Ligi, Jr

Michael Hrecznyj

Alper Kiziltas

Rick H Wykoff

Benjamin R Langhorst

Jason J Powell

Jay Z Chen

A treatment apparatus for a vehicle comprises: a housing with at least one wall and a floor forming a treatment chamber; a source of ultraviolet light configured to emit ultraviolet light into the treatment chamber; and a door connected to the housing, the door having (i) an open position providing access to the treatment chamber and (ii) a closed position denying access to the treatment chamber and, together with the housing, preventing emitted ultraviolet light from irradiating beyond the treatment chamber.

Treatment apparatus for a vehicle to treat an object with ultraviolet light

A method of forming a composite material includes disposing dried plant material, nanoparticles, and a supercritical fluid in a vessel. A cellular structure of the dried plant material expands when disposed in the supercritical fluid and the nanoparticles migrate into and are embedded within the expanded cellular structure of the disposed dried plant material. The disposed dried plant fibers with embedded nanoparticles are removed from the vessel and mixed with a polymer to form a polymer-nanoparticle mixture. A chemical additive can be added to the supercritical fluid and the chemical additive can remove at least one of hemicellulose, lignin and pectins from the dried plant material.

Post-harvest method for natural fiber nanoparticle reinforcement using supercritical fluids

A composite material is provided that includes a polymer matrix and fiber reinforcements within the polymer matrix, the fiber reinforcements including natural fibers having nanoparticles accumulated within a structure of the natural fibers. A method of forming the composite material is also provided that includes accumulating nanoparticles into the structure of the natural fibers to create accumulated natural fibers, drying the accumulated natural fibers, and mixing the accumulated natural fibers within the polymer matrix.

Strategic nanoparticle reinforcement of natural fibers for polymeric composites

A painted vehicle trim component such as a spoiler, side-view mirror housing, or other vehicle body part is provided with electroluminescent paint to emit light from its surface. The trim component includes a substrate having a mounting surface for attaching to the vehicle. A conductor body is at least partially embedded in the substrate to provide a conductive surface exposed externally of the substrate. A conductive wire is crimped to the conductor body and is adapted to connect to an electrical power source remotely from the vehicle trim component. A conductive bus bar paint layer is deposited over the substrate and onto the exposed conductive surface of the conductor body. A light-emitting paint layer deposited over the substrate is disposed relative to the conductive paint layer such that light is emitted when an electrical signal is received at the conductive wire.

Painted electroluminescent vehicle trim components

An additive manufacturing method. The method includes mixing a reflective material including fibers with a photopolymer resin to form a resin mixture having a loading of the reflective material of at least 3 wt. %. The method further includes curing the resin mixture using a light source to form first and second individually cured layers and a bridge of a portion of the fibers between the two layers.

Additive manufacturing process

Articles, methods of making an article, and resin compositions are disclosed. An article is disclosed that includes a cured light-curable resin having dispersed therein a reflective material that reflects at least 85% of the visible light spectrum. A loading of reflective material may be at least 3 wt. % of the article and the reflective material may comprise over 50 vol. % of a total filler composition of the article. The reflective material may be a white or near-white material, such as cellulose fibers, talc powder, or soy flour. A method is disclosed that includes mixing a reflective material that reflects at least 85% of the visible light spectrum with a photopolymer resin at a loading of at least 3 wt. % to form a resin mixture and curing the resin mixture using a light source in an additive manufacturing process. The disclosed resins may reduce the curing time of additive manufacturing processes.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Amy Ellen Langhorst