Robert W Hopper

US Patent:

47568984, Jul 12, 1988

Filed:

Apr 30, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/044253

Inventors:

Robert W. Hopper - Danville CA
Richard W. Pekala - Pleasant Hill CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

C01B 3102
B01J 2118
B01J 2020

US Classification:

423449

Abstract:

Machinable and structurally stable, low density microcellular carbon, and catalytically impregnated carbon, foams, and process for their preparation, are provided. Pulverized sodium chloride is classified to improve particle size uniformity, and the classified particles may be further mixed with a catalyst material. The particles are cold pressed into a compact having internal pores, and then sintered. The sintered compact is immersed and then submerged in a phenolic polymer solution to uniformly fill the pores of the compact with phenolic polymer. The compact is then heated to pyrolyze the phenolic polymer into carbon in the form of a foam. Then the sodium chloride of the compact is leached away with water, and the remaining product is freeze dried to provide the carbon, or catalytically impregnated carbon, foam.

US Patent:

48062901, Feb 21, 1989

Filed:

Mar 29, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/174923

Inventors:

Robert W. Hopper - Danville CA
Richard W. Pekala - Pleasant Hill CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the The United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

C01B 3102

US Classification:

264 28

Abstract:

Machinable and structurally stable, low density microcellular carbon, and catalytically impregnated carbon, foams, and process for their preparation, are provided. Pulverized sodium chloride is classified to improve particle size uniformity, and the classified particles may be further mixed with a catalyst material. The particles are cold pressed into a compact having internal pores, and then sintered. The sintered compact is immersed and then submerged in a phenolic polymer solution to uniformly fill the pores of the compact with phenolic polymer. The compact is then heated to pyrolyze the phenolic polymer into carbon in the form of a foam. Then the sodium chloride of the compact is leached away with water, and the remaining product is freeze dried to provide the carbon, or catalytically impregnated carbon, foam.

US Patent:

56860315, Nov 11, 1997

Filed:

Jan 5, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/368823

Inventors:

Paul R. Coronado - Livermore CA
John F. Poco - Livermore CA
Lawrence W. Hrubesh - Pleasanton CA
Robert W. Hopper - Danville CA

Assignee:

Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B29C 6500

US Classification:

264 401

Abstract:

An improved, rapid process is provided for making microporous and mesoporous materials, including aerogels and pre-ceramics. A gel or gel precursor is confined in a sealed vessel to prevent structural expansion of the gel during the heating process. This confinement allows the gelation and drying processes to be greatly accelerated, and significantly reduces the time required to produce a dried aerogel compared to conventional methods. Drying may be performed either by subcritical drying with a pressurized fluid to expel the liquid from the gel pores or by supercritical drying. The rates of heating and decompression are significantly higher than for conventional methods.