Joshua D Kuntz

US Patent:

7128850, Oct 31, 2006

Filed:

Jun 2, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/453879

Inventors:

Joshua D. Kuntz - Lafayette CA, US
Amiya K. Mukherjee - Davis CA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

C04B 35/596
C04B 35/56
C04B 35/58
H01B 1/06
B28B 3/00

US Classification:

2525181, 2525191, 252500, 501 974, 501 87, 501 91, 501 92, 264625, 264626, 264682, 264683

Abstract:

Composite materials containing silicon, titanium, carbon, and nitrogen, formed by spark plasma sintering of ceramic starting materials to a high relative density, demonstrate unusually high electrical conductivity as well as high-performance mechanical and chemical properties including hardness, fracture toughness, and corrosion resistance. This combination of electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties makes these composites useful as electrical conductors in applications where high-performance materials are needed due to exposure to extreme conditions such as high temperatures, mechanical stresses, and corrosive environments.

US Patent:

8039413, Oct 18, 2011

Filed:

Oct 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/603247

Inventors:

Joel P. Hollingsworth - Oakland CA, US
Joshua D. Kuntz - Livermore CA, US
Zachary M. Seeley - Pullman WA, US
Thomas F. Soules - Livermore CA, US

Assignee:

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC - Livermore CA

International Classification:

C04B 35/50

US Classification:

501152, 264681, 264 86

Abstract:

According to one embodiment, a method for forming a transparent ceramic preform includes forming a suspension of oxide particles in a solvent, adding the suspension to a mold of a desired shape, and uniformly curing the suspension in the mold for forming a preform. The suspension includes a dispersant but does not include a gelling agent. In another embodiment, a method includes creating a mixture without a gelling agent, the mixture including: inorganic particles, a solvent, and a dispersant. The inorganic particles have a mean diameter of less than about 2000 nm. The method also includes agitating the mixture, adding the mixture to a mold, and curing the mixture in the mold at a temperature of less than about 80 C. for forming a preform. Other methods for forming a transparent ceramic preform are also described according to several embodiments.

US Patent:

8268230, Sep 18, 2012

Filed:

May 21, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/805275

Inventors:

Nerine J. Cherepy - Oakland CA, US
Thomas M. Tillotson - Tracy CA, US
Joshua D. Kuntz - Livermore CA, US
Stephen A. Payne - Castro Valley CA, US

Assignee:

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC - Livermore CA

International Classification:

B28B 3/00

US Classification:

264621

Abstract:

A method of fabrication of a transparent ceramic using nanoparticles synthesized via organic acid complexation-combustion includes providing metal salts, dissolving said metal salts to produce an aqueous salt solution, adding an organic chelating agent to produce a complexed-metal sol, heating said complexed-metal sol to produce a gel, drying said gel to produce a powder, combusting said powder to produce nano-particles, calcining said nano-particles to produce oxide nano-particles, forming said oxide nano-particles into a green body, and sintering said green body to produce the transparent ceramic.

US Patent:

8329090, Dec 11, 2012

Filed:

Oct 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/603195

Inventors:

Joel P. Hollingsworth - Oakland CA, US
Joshua D. Kuntz - Livermore CA, US
Thomas F. Soules - Livermore CA, US
Richard L. Landingham - Livermore CA, US

Assignee:

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC - Livermore CA

International Classification:

B28B 1/00
B28B 3/00
B28B 5/00
C04B 33/32
C04B 33/36
C04B 35/64
C04B 35/50

US Classification:

264642, 264621, 264681, 501152

Abstract:

According to one embodiment, a method for forming a composite transparent ceramic preform includes forming a first suspension of oxide particles in a first solvent which includes a first dispersant but does not include a gelling agent, adding the first suspension to a first mold of a desired shape, and uniformly curing the first suspension in the first mold until stable. The method also includes forming a second suspension of oxide particles in a second solvent which includes a second dispersant but does not include a gelling agent, adding the second suspension to the stable first suspension in a second mold of a desired shape encompassing the first suspension and the second suspension, and uniformly curing the second suspension in the second mold until stable. Other methods for forming a composite transparent ceramic preform are also described according to several other embodiments. Structures are also disclosed.

US Patent:

8338322, Dec 25, 2012

Filed:

Aug 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/221788

Inventors:

Joel P. Hollingsworth - Oakland CA, US
Joshua D. Kuntz - Livermore CA, US
Zachary M. Seeley - Pullman WA, US
Thomas F. Soules - Livermore CA, US

Assignee:

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC - Livermore CA

International Classification:

C04B 35/50

US Classification:

501152, 264681, 264 86

Abstract:

A method for forming a transparent ceramic preform in one embodiment includes forming a suspension of oxide particles in a solvent, wherein the suspension includes a dispersant, with the proviso that the suspension does not include a gelling agent; and uniformly curing the suspension for forming a preform of gelled suspension. A method according to another embodiment includes creating a mixture of inorganic particles, a solvent and a dispersant, the inorganic particles having a mean diameter of less than about 2000 nm; agitating the mixture; adding the mixture to a mold; and curing the mixture in the mold for gelling the mixture, with the proviso that no gelling agent is added to the mixture.

US Patent:

8629076, Jan 14, 2014

Filed:

Mar 18, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/051915

Inventors:

Marcus A. Worsley - Hayward CA, US
Joshua D. Kuntz - Livermore CA, US
Theodore F. Baumann - Discover Bay CA, US

Assignee:

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC - Livermore CA

International Classification:

B01J 21/18
B01J 23/02
B01J 23/06
B01F 3/04
B01F 3/06
B01F 3/00
B01F 17/00
C09K 3/30
C09K 3/00
B01J 13/00
B01F 3/08
C08L 91/08
C08L 95/00
C09D 195/00
B01D 21/01
C08J 3/02
B32B 9/00
D02G 3/00
B32B 5/16
B32B 15/02
B32B 17/02
B32B 19/00
B32B 21/02
B32B 23/02
B32B 27/02
B05D 5/12
B05D 7/00
B05D 3/02
C23C 16/00
C23C 4/10
C23C 4/04
B05D 3/00
H05H 1/02
H05H 1/24
C23C 16/48
C23C 8/00
C23C 16/24
C23C 16/30

US Classification:

502183, 516 1, 516 9, 516 38, 516 99, 977742, 428367, 428402, 428404, 427113, 427219, 427229, 42724915, 427450, 427452, 427568, 427574, 427577, 427578, 427579, 427583, 427584, 427589

Abstract:

A metal oxide-carbon composite includes a carbon aerogel with an oxide overcoat. The metal oxide-carbon composite is made by providing a carbon aerogel, immersing the carbon aerogel in a metal oxide sol under a vacuum, raising the carbon aerogel with the metal oxide sol to atmospheric pressure, curing the carbon aerogel with the metal oxide sol at room temperature, and drying the carbon aerogel with the metal oxide sol to produce the metal oxide-carbon composite. The step of providing a carbon aerogel can provide an activated carbon aerogel or provide a carbon aerogel with carbon nanotubes that make the carbon aerogel mechanically robust. Carbon aerogels can be coated with sol-gel silica and the silica can be converted to silicon carbide, improving the thermal stability of the carbon aerogel.

US Patent:

20040167009, Aug 26, 2004

Filed:

Feb 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/377172

Inventors:

Joshua Kuntz - Lafayette CA, US
Guodong Zhan - Davis CA, US
Amiya Mukherjee - Davis CA, US

Assignee:

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, a California corporation - Oakland CA

International Classification:

H05B006/00
C04B035/80
C04B035/117

US Classification:

501/095200, 264/430000, 264/434000, 501/127000

Abstract:

High-density composites of ceramic materials, notably alumina or metal oxides in general, are formed by the incorporation of metal particles, of which niobium is a preferred example, and single-wall carbon nanotubes. The composites demonstrate an unusually high fracture toughness compared to the ceramic alone, and also when compared to composites that contain either the metal alone or single-wall carbon nanotubes alone. The two additives thus demonstrate a synergistic effect in improving the toughness of the ceramic.

US Patent:

20100190639, Jul 29, 2010

Filed:

Jan 27, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/694425

Inventors:

Marcus A. Worsley - Hayward CA, US
Thomas Yong-Jin Han - Livermore CA, US
Joshua D. Kuntz - Livermore CA, US
Octavio Cervantes - Tracy CA, US
Alexander E. Gash - Brentwood CA, US
Theodore F. Baumann - Discovery Bay CA, US

International Classification:

B01J 21/18
B01J 23/74
B01J 23/72
B01J 23/06

US Classification:

502183, 502182, 502185, 502184, 977742

Abstract:

A metal oxide-carbon composite includes a carbon aerogel with an oxide overcoat. The metal oxide-carbon composite is made by providing a carbon aerogel, immersing the carbon aerogel in a metal oxide sol under a vacuum, raising the carbon aerogel with the metal oxide sol to atmospheric pressure, curing the carbon aerogel with the metal oxide sol at room temperature, and drying the carbon aerogel with the metal oxide sol to produce the metal oxide-carbon composite. The step of providing a carbon aerogel can provide an activated carbon aerogel or provide a carbon aerogel with carbon nanotubes that make the carbon aerogel mechanically robust.