3m Innovative Properties Company

Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

Ut-battelle, Inc.

Michael J Ulsh

Mark A Strobel

Joel A Getschel

Przemyslaw Rupnowski

Bhushan L Sopori

Christopher Stewart Lyons

Claus Daniel

John J Rogers

Jianlin Li

Judith M Invie

David L Wood, Iii

Janet T Keller

Richard L Peloquin

John R Jacobson

Jeffrey J Schwab

Jon E Stickrod

Melvyn C Branch

David F Serino

Michael Mihaylov Penev

Terry R Ray

Guido Bender

Domingo Medina

James Pezzuto

Ko Shiota

Ko Sumitomo 3M Limited Shiota

Thermal methods and systems are described for the batch and/or continuous monitoring of films and/or membranes and/or electrodes produced in large-scale manufacturing lines. Some of the methods described include providing an energy input into a film, measuring a thermal response of the film, and correlating these to one or more physical properties and/or characteristics of the film.

Batch and continuous methods for evaluating the physical and thermal properties of films

An example system includes a material transport system configured to transport a substantially planar material through a monitoring zone, an illumination source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the material that is within the monitoring zone with light, and a sensor configured to obtain a plurality of consecutive datasets. Datasets indicate, for locations of the material and for a specific wavelength of light, a respective intensity of the light that is of the wavelength and that is received from the location. The system also includes a processing system configured to receive the dataset, determine, based on the dataset and for each of at least two locations in the plurality of locations, a respective value of a thickness of the material, and execute, based on the respective value of the thickness of the material for at least one of the at least two locations, an action.

Thickness mapping using multispectral imaging

Reinforced articles particularly adapted for use in combination with an adhesive to form reinforced adhesive tape articles that are stretchable as well as hand-tearable along with being highly conformable and cinchable.

Stretchable, hand-tearable, conformable, and cinchable reinforced adhesive tape articles

A monitoring systemcomprising a material transport systemproviding for the transportation of a substantially planar materialthrough the monitoring zoneof the monitoring system. The systemalso includes a line camerapositioned to obtain multiple line images across a width of the materialas it is transported through the monitoring zone. The systemfurther includes an illumination sourceproviding for the illumination of the materialtransported through the monitoring zonesuch that light reflected in a direction normal to the substantially planar surface of the materialis detected by the line camera. A data processing systemis also provided in digital communication with the line camera. The data processing systemis configured to receive data output from the line cameraand further configured to calculate and provide substantially contemporaneous information relating to a quality parameter of the material. Also disclosed are methods of monitoring a quality parameter of a material.

On-line, continuous monitoring in solar cell and fuel cell manufacturing using spectral reflectance imaging

A method for forming an inorganic or hybrid organic/inorganic layer on a substrate, which method comprises applying a metal alkoxide to form a layer atop the substrate and exposing the metal alkoxide layer to heat from a catalytic combustion heater in the presence of water to cure the layer is provided.

Method of curing metal alkoxide-containing films

An apparatus and methods for flame-perforating films. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a frame, support surface attached to the frame, where the support surface includes a plurality of lowered portions, a burner attached to the frame opposite the support surface, where the burner supports a flame, and where the flame includes a flame tip opposite the burner and a film contacting the support surface, where the flame of the burner is in contact with the film, where the burner is positioned such that the distance between an unimpinged flame tip of the flame and the burner is at least one-third greater than the distance between the film and the burner.

Apparatus and method for flame-perforating films

Methods for flame-perforating films

Disclosure is made of methods, systems, and apparatus for changing characteristics of noise of premixed flames supported on burners by heating burner passageways by an amount that attenuates combustion noises arising from premixed flames. Alternatively, attenuation occurs by controlling a temperature differential between a first point relative to a premixed flame and at least a second point in an uncombusted portion of a fuel/oxidizer mixture causing the flame

Attenuating combustion noise of premixed flames

The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for flame-perforating polymeric films with an oxygen-enriched flame. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a frame, a support surface attached to the frame, where the support surface includes a plurality of lowered portions, an oxygen-enrichment system for increasing the amount of oxygen in the combustible mixture, a burner attached to the frame opposite the support surface, where the burner supports a stable flame, and a film contacting the support surface, where the flame of the burner is directed towards the film to cause the film to be perforated. One embodiment of the method of flame perforating a polymeric film includes igniting an oxygen-enriched combustible mixture to form a stable flame, wherein the flame generated by the oxygen-enriched combustible mixture provides more uniform perforations.

Methods and apparatus for oxygen enriched flame-perforation of a polymer film

Apparatus for oxygen enriched flame-perforation of a polymer film

A polymeric film having a plurality of perforations, which are specially structured and arranged is described. The polymeric film provides a strong, high-tensile strength material that permits hand tearing of the film along a desired tear path, providing a controlled tear propagation line. The polymeric film may also be incorporated into a multi-layer film having cloth-like properties of strength and tear propagation, and is suitable for use various adhesive tape applications. Methods of making the polymeric film are also disclosed.

Cloth-like polymeric film with directional tear

Apparatus for flame-perforating films and methods of flame-perforating films

A method of making embossed optical polymer films and embossed optical polymer films made are described. The embossed optical polymer films have substantially the same optical properties as unembossed optical polymer films. The method includes providing an optical polymer film having first and second major surfaces, softening at least one of the first and second major surfaces to produce a softened surface, embossing the softened surface to produce an embossed optical polymer film, and cooling the embossed optical polymer film.

Embossed optical polymer films

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Michael J Ulsh