This inventor holds 2 USPTO granted patents. Top assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Energy. Active years: 2013-2015.
Company Filing History:
Years Active: 2013-2015
Title: Innovations by Shan Wickramanayake
Introduction
Shan Wickramanayake is an accomplished inventor based in Pittsburgh, PA. He has made significant contributions to the field of polymer technology, particularly in the fabrication of microspheres and fibers. With a total of two patents to his name, his work is recognized for its innovative approaches and practical applications.
Latest Patents
Wickramanayake's latest patents include a method for the production of fabricated hollow microspheroids. This method involves creating polymer microspheres with an asymmetric layer surrounding a hollow interior. The process begins with a nascent hollow microsphere that consists of an inner core of core fluid enveloped by a dope layer of polymer dope. The thickness of the dope layer is carefully controlled to be at least 10% and less than 50% of the diameter of the inner core. The nascent hollow microsphere is then exposed to a gaseous environment, resulting in a vitrified hollow microsphere, which is subsequently immersed in a coagulation bath. This solvent exchange process yields a fabricated hollow microsphere characterized by a densified outer skin surrounding a macroporous inner layer, which encloses a hollow interior. The polymer used in this invention can be a polyimide or a polyamide-imide, with water serving as the non-solvent in both the core fluid and the coagulation bath. These fabricated hollow microspheres are particularly effective as solvent supports for gas separation processes.
Another notable patent by Wickramanayake is related to the fabrication of fiber-supported ionic liquids. This invention involves producing a fabricated fiber that features an asymmetric polymer network with an immobilized liquid, such as an ionic liquid, within its pores. The process utilizes a dry-wet spinning technique with a homogeneous dope solution, offering significant advantages over existing fabrication methods for liquid-supporting polymers. The resulting fabricated fibers can be effectively employed for the separation of chemical species from mixtures, depending on the selection of the polymer, the liquid, and the solvent used in the dope.
Career Highlights
Shan Wickramanayake is currently employed at the U.S. Department of Energy, where he continues to advance his research and development efforts in polymer technology. His work has garnered attention for its potential applications in various industries, particularly in energy and environmental sectors.
Collaborations
Wickramanayake collaborates with fellow researcher David Lueb