US 11,726,000 B2
Hybrid fluorescent UV dye for refrigerant systems
Muhammad Khizar, St. Joseph, MI (US); Raymond Thompson, St. Joseph, MI (US); and Jordan Sahs, St. Joseph, MI (US)
Assigned to WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/130,973.
Prior Publication US 2022/0196510 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. C09K 11/06 (2006.01); G01M 3/22 (2006.01); C09K 5/04 (2006.01); F25B 49/02 (2006.01); B82Y 30/00 (2011.01); B82Y 40/00 (2011.01)
CPC G01M 3/222 (2013.01) [C09K 5/041 (2013.01); C09K 11/06 (2013.01); F25B 49/02 (2013.01); B82Y 30/00 (2013.01); B82Y 40/00 (2013.01); F25B 2500/222 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid structure ultraviolet dye for leak detection in an appliance, comprising:
a ceramic matrix defining pores; and
encapsulated fluorophore nanoparticles non-covalently bonded to the ceramic matrix within the pores, wherein upon excitation, the encapsulated fluorophore nanoparticles release energy and emit fluorescent light to be detected under an ultraviolet lamp.