IP Library Granted Patent US 10,947,419
Granted Patent B2
US 10,947,419 · App. 16/042,679 · Granted Mar 16, 2021

Method for joining dissimilar materials

Inventors: Gabriel Iftime (Dublin, CA); David Mathew Johnson (San Francisco, CA); Jessica Louis Baker Rivest (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
C09J5/04B29C65/526B29C66/7212B32B5/14B32B5/142B32B5/145B32B27/38C09J163/00B29K2307/04C09J2463/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,947,419
App. No.
16/042,679
Granted
Mar 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A composition of matter includes a first compatible material having particles containing chemical elements similar to a first substrate, and second compatible material having particles containing chemical elements similar to a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are chemically different. The particles are dispersed into a matrix that is in between the first and the second substrate. A deposition system has a multi-material printhead, a first reservoir of a first compatible material having particles containing chemical elements similar to a first substrate, a second reservoir of a second compatible material having particles containing chemical elements similar to a second substrate, a third reservoir of an polymer precursor material, and at least one mixer. A method of bonding a joint between dissimilar substrate materials includes functionalizing a first compatible material having chemical elements similar to a first substrate, mixing the first compatible material with a polymer precursor material, functionalizing a second compatible material having chemical elements similar to a second substrate, mixing the second compatible material with a polymer precursor material, and using the deposition system to deposit the first and second compatible materials and a polymer precursor material on the joint between the first and second substrate materials.

Claims (40)

1. A multilayer structure comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate chemically different from the first substrate;

a curable matrix between the first and second substrate;

particles of a first compatible material functionalized with chemical functions capable of reacting with the curable matrix during curing to form a network of chemically linked particles, the particles containing chemical elements similar to the first substrate; and

particles of a second compatible material functionalized with chemical functions capable of reacting with the curable matrix during curing to form a network of chemically linked particles, the particles being chemically different from the particles of first compatible material and containing chemical elements similar to the second substrate;

wherein the particles of first compatible material are dispersed in the curable matrix and are present in a first concentration gradient where the concentration increases in a region approaching the first substrate; and

wherein the particles of second compatible material are dispersed in the curable matrix and are present in a second concentration gradient where the concentration increases in a region approaching the second substrate.

2. The multilayer structure of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are selected from the group consisting of: carbon fiber reinforced polymer; fiber glass reinforced polymer; glass; aluminum; magnesium; and titanium; and the first substrate and the second substrate are not the same.

3. The multilayer structure of claim 1 , wherein the curable matrix is an acrylic adhesive or a two-part epoxy adhesive consisting of an epoxy material and a hardener material.

4. The multilayer structure of claim 1 , wherein the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are selected from the group consisting of: graphene; graphene oxide; carbon nanotubes; aluminum oxide; titanium dioxide; silicon dioxide and magnesium dioxide; provided that the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are not the same and are functionalized with functions capable of reacting with the curable matrix during curing to form a network of chemically linked particles.

5. The multilayer structure of claim 1 , wherein the first substrate is aluminum and the second substrate is carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite (CFPC).

6. The multilayer structure of claim 5 , wherein the particles of first compatible material are functionalized aluminum oxide and the particles of second compatible material are functionalized graphene or graphene oxide.

7. The multilayer structure of claim 1 , wherein the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are present in an overall concentration that is uniform throughout the curable matrix and the first gradient and the second gradient smoothly transition from the first substrate to the second substrate.

8. The multilayer structure of claim 1 , wherein the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are present in an overall concentration, from first substrate to second substrate, that is highest in the regions approaching the first and second substrates and reduced at approximately the midpoint of the curable matrix between the first and second substrates.

9. The multilayer structure of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the particles of the first compatible material and the particles of the second compatible material is present at lower concentrations at the edges of the curable matrix.

10. The multilayer structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the particles of the first compatible material and the particles of the second compatible material is present at lower concentrations at the edges of the curable matrix.

11. A composition of matter, comprising:

a first substrate;

a curable matrix on the first substrate, wherein the curable matrix has an exposed bonding surface;

particles of a first compatible material functionalized with chemical functions capable of reacting with the curable matrix during curing to form a network of chemically linked particles, the particles containing chemical elements similar to the first substrate; and

particles of a second compatible material functionalized with chemical functions capable of reacting with the curable matrix during curing to form a network of chemically linked particles, the having particles being chemically different from the particles of the first compatible material and containing chemical elements similar to a second substrate, which is to be contacted with the bonding surface of the curable matrix;

wherein the particles of first compatible material are dispersed in the curable matrix and are present in a first concentration gradient where the concentration increases in a region approaching the first substrate; and

wherein the particles of second compatible material are dispersed in the curable matrix and are present in a second concentration gradient where the concentration increases in a region approaching the bonding surface of the curable matrix.

12. The composition of matter of claim 11 , wherein the curable matrix is an acrylic adhesive or a two-part epoxy adhesive consisting of an epoxy material and a hardener material.

13. The composition of matter of claim 11 , wherein the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are selected from the group consisting of: graphene; graphene oxide; carbon nanotubes; aluminum oxide; titanium dioxide; silicon dioxide and magnesium dioxide; provided that the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are not the same and are functionalized with functions capable of reacting with the curable matrix during curing to from a network of chemically linked particles.

14. The composition of matter of claim 11 , wherein the particles of first compatible material are functionalized aluminum oxide and the particles of second compatible material are functionalized graphene or graphene oxide.

15. The composition of matter of claim 11 , wherein the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are present in an overall concentration that is uniform throughout the curable matrix and the first gradient and the second gradient smoothly transition from the first substrate to the bonding surface.

16. The composition of matter of claim 11 , wherein the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are present in an overall concentration, from first substrate to bonding surface, that is highest in the regions approaching the first substrate and the bonding surface, and is reduced at approximately the midpoint of the curable matrix between the first substrate and the bonding surface.

17. The composition of matter of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the particles of the first compatible material and the particles of the second compatible material is present at lower concentrations at the edges of the curable matrix.

18. A composition of matter, comprising:

a first substrate;

a curable matrix of a two-part epoxy adhesive consisting of an epoxy material and a hardener material, wherein the curable matrix has an exposed bonding surface;

particles of a first compatible material functionalized with chemical functions capable of reacting with the epoxy material or the hardener material during curing to form a network of chemically linked particles, the particles containing chemical elements similar to the first substrate; and

particles of a second compatible material functionalized with chemical functions capable of reacting with the epoxy material or the hardener material during curing to form a network of chemically linked particles, the particles being chemically different from the particles of the first compatible material and containing chemical elements similar to a second substrate, which is to be contacted with the bonding surface of the curable matrix;

wherein the particles of first compatible material are dispersed in the curable matrix and are present in a first concentration gradient where the concentration increases in a region approaching the first substrate; and

wherein the particles of second compatible material are dispersed in the curable matrix and are present in a second concentration gradient where the concentration increases in a region approaching the bonding surface of the curable matrix.

19. The composition of matter of claim 18 , wherein the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are functionalized with amino groups and are initially dispersed in the hardener material.

20. The composition of matter of claim 18 , wherein the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are functionalized with hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups or a combination of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups and are initially dispersed in the hardener material.

21. The composition of matter of claim 18 , wherein the particles of first compatible material and the particles of second compatible material are functionalized with epoxy groups and are initially dispersed in the epoxy material.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: GENESEE VALLEY INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 073562/0677 →
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071785/0550 →
FIRST LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070824/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT RF 064760/0389 Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068261/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066741/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065628/0019 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF US PATENTS 9356603, 10026651, 10626048 AND INCLUSION OF US PATENT 7167871 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 064038 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 28, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064161/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064760/0389 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064038/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2018
From: IFTIME, GABRIEL; JOHNSON, DAVID MATHEW; RIVEST, JESSICA LOUIS BAKER
To: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 046431/0411 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200024487A1 · Jan 23, 2020