The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 21, 1995
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1992
Vincent D McGinnis, Sunbury, OH (US);
Jack R Knox, Naperville, IL (US);
Frank J Jelinek, Westerville, OH (US);
Robert S Whitmore, Jr, Columbus, OH (US);
Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to improving thermoplastic and cross-linked polymeric networks. The inventive method comprises forming the polymeric network under gravitational conditions comprising from about 10.sup.-6 to about 10.sup.-2 g. Three modes of energy transfer have been recognized, inter alia, conduction, convection, and radiation. Polymeric networks formed under microgravity conditions (defined herein as gravitational conditions comprising from about 10.sup.-6 to about 10.sup.-2 g) do not obviate conduction and radiation modes of energy transfer. Convection energy transfer, however, is gravity dependent. Thus, convection currents can be suppressed in thermoplastic and cross-linked polymeric networks during network formation by forming the network under microgravity conditions. Suppression of convection currents reduces the incidences of voids in solvent cast thermoplastic polymeric membranes, which forms yet another aspect of the present invention. Particulate-filled thermoplastic and cross-linked polymeric networks will exhibit a more homogeneous distribution of particulates in the network by forming the network under microgravity conditions also, which forms yet a further aspect of the present invention.