Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia Corporation

Leroy L Whinnery, Jr

Timothy J Shepodd

Steven Howard Goods

William R Even, Jr

David R Wheeler

Paul Michael Dentinger

James R McElhanon

Thomas Zifer

Dawn M Skala

George M Buffleben

Patrick N Keifer

Craig C Henderson

Disclosed is a method for making a polyurethane closed-cell foam material exhibiting a bulk density below 4 lbs/ftand high strength. The present embodiment uses the reaction product of a modified MDI and a sucrose/glycerine based polyether polyol resin wherein a small measured quantity of the polyol resin is 'pre-reacted' with a larger quantity of the isocyanate in a defined ratio such that when the necessary remaining quantity of the polyol resin is added to the 'pre-reacted' resin together with a tertiary amine catalyst and water as a blowing agent, the polymerization proceeds slowly enough to provide a stable foam body.

Method for providing a low density high strength polyurethane foam

A polymer material useful as the porous dielectric medium for microfluidic devices generally and electrokinetic pumps in particular. The polymer material is produced from an inverse (water-in-oil) emulsion that creates a 3-dimensional network characterized by small pores and high internal volume, characteristics that are particularly desirable for the dielectric medium for electrokinetic pumps. Further, the material can be cast-to-shape inside a microchannel. The use of bifunctional monomers provides for charge density within the polymer structure sufficient to support electroosmotic flow. The 3-dimensional polymeric material can also be covalently bound to the channel walls thereby making it suitable for high-pressure applications.

Castable three-dimensional stationary phase for electric field-driven applications

There is provided a light emitting device comprising a plurality of triboluminescent particles dispersed throughout an elastomeric body and activated by deforming the body in order to transfer mechanical energy to some portion of the particles. The light emitted by these mechanically excited particles is collected and directed into a light conduit and transmitted to a detector/indicator means.

Light emitting elastomer compositions and method of use

A method for providing a uniformly dense polymer foam body having a density between about 0.013 g/cm to about 0.5 g/cm is disclosed. The method utilizes a thermally expandable polymer microsphere material wherein some of the microspheres are unexpanded and some are only partially expanded. It is shown that by mixing the two types of materials in appropriate ratios to achieve the desired bulk final density, filling a mold with this mixture so as to displace all or essentially all of the internal volume of the mold, heating the mold for a predetermined interval at a temperature above about 130&deg; C., and then cooling the mold to a temperature below 80&deg; C. the molded part achieves a bulk density which varies by less then about &plusmn;6% everywhere throughout the part volume.

Uniformly dense polymeric foam body

There is provided a light emitting device comprising a plurality of triboluminescent particles dispersed throughout a low density, frangible body and activated by rapidly crushing the body in order to transfer mechanical energy to some portion of the particles. The light emitted by these mechanically excited particles is collected and directed into a light conduit and transmitted to a detector/indicator means.

Triboluminescent indicator system

Thionyl chloride is a hazardous and reactive chemical used as the liquid cathode in commercial primary batteries. Contrary to previous thinking, ASZM-TEDA&reg; carbon (Calgon Corporation) reversibly absorbs thionyl chloride. Thus, several candidate materials were examined as irreversible getters for thionyl chloride. The capacity, rate and effect of temperature were also explored. A wide variety of likely materials were investigated through screening experiments focusing on the degree of heat generated by the reaction as well as the material absorption capacity and irreversibility, in order to help narrow the group of possible getter choices. More thorough, quantitative measurements were performed on promising materials. The best performing getter was a mixture of ZnO and ASZM-TEDA&reg; carbon. In this example, the ZnO reacts with thionyl chloride to form ZnCl and SO . The SO is then irreversibly gettered by ASZM-TEDA&reg; carbon. This combination of ZnO and carbon has a high capacity, is irreversible and functions effectively above &minus;20&deg; C.

Absorption media for irreversibly gettering thionyl chloride

A method for providing a uniformly dense polymer foam body having a density between about 0.013 / to about 0.5 / is disclosed. The method utilizes a thermally expandable polymer microballoon material wherein some of the microballoons are unexpanded and some are only partially expanded. It is shown that by mixing the two types of materials in appropriate ratios to achieve the desired bulk final density, filling a mold with this mixture so as to displace all or essentially all of the internal volume of the mold, heating the mold for a predetermined interval at a temperature above about 130&deg; C., and then cooling the mold to a temperature below 80&deg; C. the molded part achieves a bulk density which varies by less then about &plusmn;6% everywhere throughout the part volume.

Growing community of inventors

Danville, CA, United States of America

Leroy L Whinnery, Jr