Richard Yeo (scientist) explained
Richard Yeo Swee Chye is an American scientist with 17 U.S. patents, best known for his research on disposable diapers.[1]
Research
Disposable diapers
Yeo co-invented US patent 5,356,626: "Synthetic fecal fluid compound."[2] At the time, Yeo was a senior research scientist working in Roswell, Georgia[3] for Kimberly-Clark, makers of Huggies. He, along with Debra Welchel, developed the material to help the company produce better disposable diapers.[4] [5]
Yeo described his research as:
Yeo conducted extensive research & developed various disposable diapers & personal care products having new features: breathable back sheets, colorful/embossed backsheets, improved BM flaps and better BM containment, better body liners, flushable materials for constructing diapers, odor control, and better tampons.
Nafion & fuel cells
From 1970-75, Yeo conducted doctorate thesis research on Nafion[6] under the supervision of Adi Eisenberg (Otto Maass Professor of McGill University). In 1977, Yeo and Eisenberg published the earliest peer-reviewed journal article on Nafion.[7]
Yeo continued to publish on Nafion,[8] [9] [10] [11] conducting several comprehensive theoretical studies of the swelling properties of Nafion membrane in various organic and methanol-containing solvents. Yeo found that these perfluorinated ionomer membranes exhibit dual cohesive energy densities. This was referred to by McCain and Covitch as the Yeo Envelope.[12] The commercial importance of Yeo's earliest studies of the unique swelling behavior of Nafion membrane was cited and described by Doyle and Rajendran in the Handbook of Fuel Cells as:[13]
Publications
Book chapters and editing
- Book: Structure and Properties of Nafion. Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry. 13. 1981. Plenum Press. https://www.scribd.com/doc/17688270/Modern-Aspects-of-Electrochemistry-No-16-b-e-Conway.
- Book: Electrochemical Conversion Principles. Comprehensive Treatise of Electrochemistry. 3. 1980. Plenum Press.
- Book: Structure-property studies of ion-containing polymers.
- Electrochemical Membrane Technology. Journal of Membrane Science. 13. 3. 1983.
- A Guide to Advanced Level Physics (published in Singapore).
- Book: Ion Exchange: Transport and Interfacial Properties.
- Book: Transport Processes in Electrochemical Systems. Battery Division. Electrochemical Society. Industrial Electrolytic Division. Electrochemical Society. Energy Technology Group. Electrochemical Society. 1982.
- Book: Advances in Battery Materials and Processes. 9780608046631. Proce. Symposium on Advances in Battery Materials and. 1984. Books on Demand .
- Book: Solubility Parameter of Perfluorosulfonated Polymer. Perfluorinated Ionomer Membranes. 180. A.. Eisenberg. H. L.. Yeager. American Chemical Society. 65–77. 1982. 10.1021/bk-1982-0180.ch005. ACS Symposium Series. 978-0-8412-0698-4.
- Book: Applications of Perfluorosulfonated Polymer Membranes in Fuel Cells, Electrolyzers, and Load Leveling Devices. Perfluorinated Ionomer Membranes. 180. A.. Eisenberg. H. L.. Yeager. American Chemical Society. 453–473. 1982. 10.1021/bk-1982-0180.ch018. ACS Symposium Series. 978-0-8412-0698-4.
Articles
- "Survey on Separators for Electrochemical Systems," Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Report # 18937, US Department of Energy, 1984.
- "Electrochemical Separation Processes – Industrial Needs," in Tutorial Lectures inElectrochemical Engineering and Technology – II, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Symposium Series, Ed. By R. Alkire and D-T. Chin, (1983), pg. 205.
- "Membranes and Diaphragms in Industrial Electrochemical Processes," in Proceedings of the Workshop on Electrochemistry Research Needs for Mineral and Primary Materials Processing, Ed. By T. J. O'Keefe and J. Evans, Rolla, Missouri, (1983), pg. 51-58.
- "Novel Hybrid Separators for Alkaline Zinc Batteries," in Proceedings of Advances in Battery Materials and Processes, Ed. By J. McBreen, R. Yeo, and D-T Chin, Electrochemical Society, 1984, pg. 206. & "Research on separators for alkaline zinc batteries" LBL Report.
- "Transport Properties of Nafion Membranes in Electrochemically Regenerative Hydrogen/halogen Cells," J. of Electrochem. Soc.,126, 1682 (1979).
- "Ruthenium-Based Mixed Oxides as Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution in Acid Electrolytes," J. of Electrochem. Soc., 128, no. 9, (1981)
- "Perfluorosulphonic Acid (Nafion) Membrane as a Separator for an Advanced Alkaline Water Electrolyser," J. of Applied Electrochem, 10, 741 (1980).
- "A Hydrogen-Bromine Cell for Energy Storage Applications," J. of Electrochem. Soc., 127, 549 (1980).
- "An electrochemically regenerative hydrogen-chlorine energy storage system: electrode kinetics and cell performance," J. Applied Electrochem., 10, 393 (1981).
- "An Electrochemically Regenerative Hydrogen-Chlorine Energy Storage System: A Study of Mass and Heat Balances, J. Electrochem. Soc., Volume 126, Issue 5, pp. 713-720 (1979)
- "Swelling Properties of Nafion and Radiation Grafted Cation Exchange Membranes," J. Membrane Sci., 9, (1981) 273.
- "Sorption and transport behavior of perfluorinated ionomer membranes in concentrated NaOH solution Electrochimica Acta (December 1985), 30 (12), pg. 1585-1590
- "Corrosion of polymer–concrete composites in hydrochloric acid at elevated temperature," J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 26, 1159 (1981).
- "Gas-Solid Exchange Reactions: Zinc Vapor and Monocrystalline Zinc Telluride," Canadian J. of Chemistry, 49, 1953 (1971).
Patents
- US. 6096015. Yeo, Richard. Nolan, Benjamin M. Bononcini, Kenneth. Brian Boehmer, Leonard Streeper. patent. Absorbent Articles having Improved Separator Layer. Aug. 1, 2000. Fibertech Group Inc..
- US. 5728081. Baer, Samuel C. Yeo, Richard. Noftsier, Ann Marie. patent. Absorbent Composite Article having Fluid Acquisition Sub-layer. Mar. 17, 1998. Fibertech Group Inc..
- US. 5695855. Yeo, Richard. Weigert, Brigitte Kay. Crowther, David George. patent. Durable Adhesive-based Ink-Printed Polyolefin Nonwovens. Dec. 9, 1997. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 5643662. Yeo, Richard. Creagan, Christopher Cosgrove. patent. Hydrophilic, multicomponent polymeric strands and nonwoven fabrics made therewith. Jul 1997. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 5599420. Yeo, Richard. Uitenbroek, Duane G. Powers, Jennifer R. patent. Patterned embossed nonwoven fabric, cloth-like liquid barrier material and method for making same. Feb. 4, 1997. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 5533990. Yeo, Richard. patent. Tampon exhibiting Low Frictional Drag. Jul. 9, 1996. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 5509913. Yeo, Richard. patent. Flushable Compositions. Apr. 23, 1996. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 5503076. Yeo, Richard. patent. Multi-color Printed Nonwoven Laminates. Apr. 2, 1996. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 5492751. Butt Sr, Jon R. Creagan, Christopher C. Dunkerly II, Cedric A. Yeo, Richard. patent. Disposable Garment with Improved Containments Means. Feb. 20, 1996. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 5399174. Yeo, Richard. Uitenbroek, Duane G. Powers, Jennifer R. patent. Patterned, Embossed Nonwoven Fabric, Cloth-like Liquid Barrier Material. Mar. 21, 1995. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 5356626. Yeo, Richard. Welchel, Debra. patent. Synthetic Fecal Fluid Compound. Oct. 18, 1994. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 5161686. Weber, Mary G. Fitting, Steven W. Weber, Robert E. Yeo, Richard. patent. Odor-Absorbing Web Material and Medical Packages containing the Web Material. Nov. 10, 1992. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 5122407. Yeo, Richard. Weber, Mary G. Majors, Stephanie R. Tanzer, Richard W. patent. Odor-removing Cover for Absorbent Pads and Method of Making Same. Jun 16, 1992. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 4828556. Braun, Ralph V. Garrett, Lance. Phelan, Robert J. Yeo, Richard. patent. Breathable, Multilayered, Clothlike Barrier. May 9, 1989. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 4758239. Yeo, Richard. Schiffer, Daniel K. patent. Breathable Barrier. Jul. 19, 1988. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 4713069. Wang, Kenneth Y. Yeo, Richard. patent. Baffle having Zoned Water Vapor Permeability. Dec. 15, 1987. Kimberly-Clark.
- US. 4713068. Wang, Kenneth Y. Yeo, Richard. patent. Breathable Clothlike Barrier having Controlled Structure Defensive Composite. Dec. 15, 1987. Kimberly-Clark.
- CA. 2158790. Yeo, Richard. Geer, Robert Gillette. Sasse, Philip Anthony. patent. Perimeter barrier seal for personal care absorbent articles and the like. 31-Mar-1996. Kimberly-Clark.
- WO. 9960975. Willis, Jeffrey Michael. Yeo, Richard. Disposable absorbent articles with BM Containment. patent. 2 December 1999. Kimberly-Clark.
- WO. 9610381. Polyvinyl alcohol-treated liner for personal care absorbent articles. Yeo, Richard. Johns, Eric Mitchell. patent. 11 April 1996. Kimberly-Clark.
Notes and References
- News: Patents; An Odorless Way Of Testing Diapers. The New York Times. Sabra. Chartrand. 24 October 1994. 8 April 2012.
- US. 5356626. Yeo, Richard. Welchel, Debra. patent. Synthetic fecal fluid compound. 1994-10-18. Kimberly-Clark.
- News: Goo-goo: Baby, Scope Out This Diaper Discovery. Chicago Tribune. 15 November 1994. 8 April 2012.
- News: Here's the poop, and it won't smell/Substance devised to test diapers. 30 October 1994. Houston Chronicle. 8 April 2012.
- An Odorless Way of Testing Diapers. Pediatrics. 95. 224. 1995. 2. 10.1542/peds.95.2.224. 245042275. L. J. F..
- Structure-property studies of ion-containing polymers. McGill Library and Collections. 1976. Yeo. Richard Swee-Chye.
- Physical properties and supermolecular structure of perfluorinated ion-containing (nafion) polymers. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.. 21. 4. 875. 1977. 10.1002/app.1977.070210401. Yeo. Swee Chye. Eisenberg. A..
- Ion Clustering and Proton Transport in Nafion Membranes and Its Applications as Solid Polymer Electrolyte. J. Electrochem. Soc.. 130. 3. 533–538. 1983. 10.1149/1.2119746. Yeo. Richard S.. 1983JElS..130..533Y . free.
- Dual cohesive energy densities of perfluorosulphonic acid (Nafion) membrane. Polymer. 21. 4. 1980. 432. 10.1016/0032-3861(80)90015-4. Yeo. Richard S..
- Swelling studies of perfluorinated ionomer membranes. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.. 32. 7. 5733. 1986. 10.1002/app.1986.070320706. Yeo. R. S.. Cheng. C.-H..
- Web site: du Pont Nafion® membranes and dispersions.
- Solubility Characteristics of Perfluorinated Polymers with Sulfonyl Fluoride Functionality. G. H.. McCain. M. J.. Covitch. J. Electrochem. Soc.. Jun 1984. 131. 6. 1350–1352. 10.1149/1.2115819. 1984JElS..131.1350M .
- Book: Perfluorinated Membranes. Handbook of Fuel Cells. 3. 368. 2003. John Wiley & Sons. 10.1002/9780470974001.f303034. Doyle. M.. Rajendran. G.. 9780470741511.