DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Status of Claims
Claims 1-17 are canceled, Claims 18 and 35-37 are currently amended, Claims 19-26 are as previously presented, Claim 27 is withdrawn and currently amended, and Claims 28-34 are withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 18-20, 22, 23, 25, 26, and 35-37 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Heikkila (US 2022/0288686 A1) as evidenced by Nielsen in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology.
Heikkila is applied as discussed in the office action mailed 06/18/2026. Regarding the limitation of the property of at least one barrier, Heikkila teaches “the interfacial modifier coatings on particulate provide an inert surface on the particulate substrate [emphasis added]” in [0023] and the interfacial modifiers include hafnium compounds [0021]. Nielsen teaches as evidence that hafnium nitride is a chemically stable surface coating (pages 89, 90, and 93). Therefore, Heikkila teaches a coating (i.e. hafnium compounds) that provides an inert surface that would impede passage of at least one of oxygen, carbon, metal ions, or water, impedes a chemical reaction, and improves chemical resistance based on chemical stability as described by Nielsen.
Claims 18-26 and 35-37 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gibson (US 2018/0133955 A1) in view of Delmée et al (US 12,508,568 B2).
Gibson in view of Delmée et al is applied as discussed in the office action mailed 06/18/2026.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 08/26/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that the interfacial modifies in Heikkila differs from the “barrier layer” in the instant claims. Heikkila does teach a variety of interfacial modifiers that provide physical improvements, but Heikkila specifically teaches “the interfacial modifier coatings on particulate provide an inert surface on the particulate substrate” [0023]. The variety of interfacial modifiers in [0021] includes hafnium compounds, which include chemically inert hafnium nitride as evidenced by Nielsen above.
Applicant also argues that Delmée et al does not reveal complete enveloping as in present invention (instant claims). Delmée et al specifically teaches “the primary particles 1 may have a percentage of surface coverage between 0.1 and 100%. 100% coverage expresses that the primary particles 1 are coated by a layer of secondary particles 2” (column 7, lines 48-51). “100% coverage” is substantially the same as “enveloping” as claimed.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Tima M. McGuthry-Banks whose telephone number is (571)272-2744. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 3:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Keith D. Hendricks can be reached at (571) 272-1401. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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Tima M. McGuthry-Banks
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1733
/Tima M. McGuthry-Banks/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1733
