US 12,330,006 B2
Polymer immobilization matrix for containment of hazardous materials and methods of using the same
Jimmie Oxley, Narragansett, RI (US); James L. Smith, Narragansett, RI (US); Robert Ichiyama, Kingston, RI (US); and Gerald Kagan, Foxboro, MA (US)
Assigned to University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees, Kingston, RI (US)
Filed by University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees, Kingston, RI (US)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/056,845.
Application 18/056,845 is a division of application No. 16/817,770, filed on Mar. 13, 2020, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/837,520, filed on Apr. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0144468 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. A62D 3/33 (2007.01); A62D 3/02 (2007.01); C08L 101/08 (2006.01); A62D 101/06 (2007.01); A62D 101/20 (2007.01)
CPC A62D 3/33 (2013.01) [A62D 3/02 (2013.01); C08L 101/08 (2013.01); A62D 2101/06 (2013.01); A62D 2101/20 (2013.01); C08L 2312/00 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for a law enforcement officer, military, bomb squad, or other first responder to, in situ, immobilize a hazardous material selected from the group consisting of an explosive material or an illegal drug composition, comprising the steps of:
identifying in a public space, by a law enforcement officer, military, bomb squad, or other first responder the hazardous material for immobilization;
providing, as a ready to use, two-part, instant polymer matrix encapsulating material for immobilizing, in situ, said hazardous material, said polymer matrix encapsulating material comprising:
a first formulation of a crosslinking polymer in a viscous liquid or viscous gel form, in concentrations less than 1% and as much as a fully saturated solution in solvent, said first formulation provided in a ready to dispense container; and
a second formulation of a cross-linking agent, in a sprayable form, said second formulation provided in a ready to spray container;
applying in situ, the first formulation to the hazardous material to substantially cover the hazardous material, said viscous liquid or viscous gel being capable of remaining in a localized area; and
applying, in situ, the second formulation to the first formulation to cross-link and harden the polymer and immobilize the hazardous material.