Patents by Inventor Brian W. S. Kolthammer

Brian W. S. Kolthammer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090182102
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ethylene/?-olefin interpolymer product comprising at least one ?-olefin interpolymerized with ethylene and, characterized in at least one aspect, as having improved properties when utilized in a hot melt adhesive formulation. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing the interpolymer product wherein the process comprises employing two or more single site catalyst systems in at least one reaction environment (or reactor) and wherein the at least two catalyst systems have (a) different comonomer incorporation capabilities or reactivities and/or (b) different termination kinetics, both when measured under the same polymerization conditions. The interpolymer products are useful, for example, in applications such as hot melt adhesives, and also for impact, bitumen and asphalt modification, adhesives, dispersions or latexes and fabricated articles such as, but not limited to, foams, films, sheet, moldings, thermoforms, profiles and fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Teresa P. Karjala, Brian W. S. Kolthammer
  • Patent number: 7531601
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ethylene/?-olefin interpolymer product comprising at least one ?-olefin interpolymerized with ethylene and, characterized in at least one aspect, as having improved properties when utilized in a hot melt adhesive formulation. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing the interpolymer product wherein the process comprises employing two or more single site catalyst systems in at least one reaction environment (or reactor) and wherein the at least two catalyst systems have (a) different comonomer incorporation capabilities or reactivities and/or (b) different termination kinetics, both when measured under the same polymerization conditions. The interpolymer products are useful, for example, in applications such as hot melt adhesives, and also for impact, bitumen and asphalt modification, adhesives, dispersions or latexes and fabricated articles such as, but not limited to, foams, films, sheet, moldings, thermoforms, profiles and fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Teresa Karjala, Brian W. S. Kolthammer
  • Patent number: 7259219
    Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl aromatic monomer having a molecular weight of less than 15,000. Preferably, the copolymer is characterized by a backbone having a first and second terminal end group, the first terminal end group is a methyl group, the second terminal end group is a vinyl group, wherein the ratio of the terminal methyl group to the terminal vinyl group is 0.8:1 to 1:0.8. The article of manufacture includes, but is not limited to, waxes, lubricants, additives, etc. The waxes may be used to formulate paints and coatings, printing inks, carbon paper, photo toners, building and construction materials, mold release agents, hot melt adhesives, candles. The waxes may also be used in wood processing, metal working, powder metallurgy and sintering, wax modeling, sizing, crop protection, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Rosen, Teresa P. Karjala, Selim Yalvac, Yunwa W. Cheung, Martin J. Guest, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Steven M. Ueligger
  • Patent number: 6916883
    Abstract: A new process of interpolymerizing ethylene interpolymer products having improved properties, such as increased onset of crystallization temperature, is disclosed. Preferably, the process comprises interpolymerizing a first homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer and at least one second homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer using at least two constrained geometry catalysts having different reactivities such that the first ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a narrow molecular weight distribution (NMWD) with a very high comonomer content and relatively high molecular weight and the second ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a NMWD with a low comonomer content and a molecular weight lower than that of the first interpolymer. The resultant first homogeneous interpolymer is combined with the resultant second homogeneous interpolymer in appropriate weight ratios resulting in the desired finished polymer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Deepak R. Parikh, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Robert S. Cardwell
  • Patent number: 6747113
    Abstract: A polymer produced by a transition metal containing catalyst useful for the polymerization of &agr;-olefins is prepared by (A) forming in an inert atmosphere which excludes oxygen and moisture a slurry of (1) a porous inorganic oxide support material selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, or a combination of silica and alumina, said support material containing not greater than about 5 millimoles of hydroxyl groups per gram of support material and a particle size not greater than about 10 microns and a surface area of from about 50 to about 800 m2/g in an inert organic liquid medium; (B) mixing said slurry with (2) an alkoxide and stirring the resultant mixture at a temperature of from about −20° C. to about 120° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Lee Spencer, Miriam P. Ripplinger, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Jeffrey J. Wooster
  • Patent number: 6723810
    Abstract: Process for making a non-pourable ultra-low molecular weight ethylene polymer composition and blends thereof. Such polymer compositions tend to have longer lamella and a greater degree of crystalline organization than corresponding higher molecular weight materials at an equivalent density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Malcolm F. Finlayson, Craig C. Garrison, Ralph E. Guerra, Martin J. Guest, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Deepak R. Parikh, Steven M. Ueligger
  • Publication number: 20030166784
    Abstract: A new process of interpolymerizing ethylene interpolymer products having improved properties, such as increased onset of crystallization temperature, is disclosed. Preferably, the process comprises interpolymerizing a first homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer and at least one second homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer using-at least two constrained geometry catalysts having different reactivities such that the first ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a narrow molecular weight distribution (NMWD) with a very high comonomer content and relatively high molecular weight and the second ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a NMWD with a low comonomer content and a molecular weight lower than that of the first interpolymer. The resultant first homogeneous interpolymer is combined with the resultant second homogeneous interpolymer in appropriate weight ratios resulting in the desired finished polymer structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Deepak R. Parikh, Robert S. Cardwell, Brian W. S. Kolthammer
  • Publication number: 20030149181
    Abstract: Film, molded articles and fibers prepared from ethylene/&agr;-olefin interpolymer compositions are disclosed. The interpolymer compositions are blends prepared by combining specified amounts of a narrow molecular weight distribution, narrow composition distribution breadth index interpolymer, and a broad molecular weight distribution, broad composition distribution breadth index interpolymer, with each blend component having a specified density, melt index and degree of branching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Brian W.S. Kolthammer, Robert S. Cardwell, Ronald P. Markovich, Bharat I. Chaudhary, Adam E. Laubach, Jesus Nieto
  • Patent number: 6566446
    Abstract: A new process of interpolymerizing ethylene interpolymer products having improved properties, such as increased onset of crystallization temperature, is disclosed. Preferably, the process comprises interpolymerizing a first homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer and at least one second homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer using at least two constrained geometry catalysts having different reactivities such that the first ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a narrow molecular weight distribution (NMWD) with a very high comonomer content and relatively high molecular weight and the second ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a NMWD with a low comonomer content and a molecular weight lower than that of the first interpolymer. The resultant first homogeneous interpolymer is combined with the resultant second homogeneous interpolymer in appropriate weight ratios resulting in the desired finished polymer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Deepak R. Parikh, Robert S. Cardwell, Brian W. S. Kolthammer
  • Patent number: 6545088
    Abstract: Ethylene, an &agr;-olefin and, optionally, a diene monomer are polymerized in a process comprising the step of contacting (1) ethylene, (2) at least one C3-C20 aliphatic &agr;-olefin, (3) optionally, at least one C4-C20 diene, (4) a catalyst comprising (a) a metallocene complex, and (b) an activator, and (5) a solvent. The process is conducted in either a single reactor or in multiple reactors, the latter configured either in series or parallel. Solvent is removed from the polymer stream in an anhydrous, first stage solvent recovery operation such that the solids concentration of the product stream is increased by at least 100 percent. Additional solvent is removed in an anhydrous, second stage solvent recovery operation from the product of the first stage solvent recovery operation such that the solids concentration of the product stream is in excess of 65 weight percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Robert S. Cardwell, Deepak R. Parikh, Morris S. Edmondson, Stanley W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6538080
    Abstract: A gas phase fluidized bed process is described for producing ethylene polymers having improved processability and an MWD of less than about 2.9. Multiple reactors in series or parallel may be used to produce in-situ blended polymers. Each reactor can separately have a constrained geometry catalyst or a conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyst as needed for obtaining in-situ blended polymer with the desired properties as long as there is a constrained geometry catalyst in at least one reactor. Olefin polymers can be produced according to this invention which have low susceptibility to melt fracture, even under high shear stress conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Robert D. Swindoll, Bruce A. Story, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Kevin P. Peil, David R. Wilson, James C. Stevens
  • Patent number: 6538070
    Abstract: A new process of interpolymerizing ethylene interpolymer products having improved properties, such as increased onset of crystallization temperature, is disclosed. Preferably, the process comprises interpolymerizing a first homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer and at least one second homogeneous ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer using at least two constrained geometry catalysts having different reactivities such that the first ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a narrow molecular weight distribution (NMWD) with a very high comonomer content and relatively high molecular weight and the second ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer has a NMWD with a low comonomer content and a molecular weight lower than that of the first interpolymer. The resultant first homogeneous interpolymer is combined with the resultant second homogeneous interpolymer in appropriate weight ratios resulting in the desired finished polymer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Cardwell, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Publication number: 20020156222
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a non-pourable homogeneous ultra-low molecular weight ethylene polymer composition and a process for the preparation thereof. Such polymer compositions have longer lamella and a greater degree of crystalline organization than corresponding higher molecular weight materials at an equivalent density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Malcolm F. Finlayson, Ralph E. Guerra, Craig C. Garrison, Martin J. Guest, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Steven M. Ueligger, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 6448341
    Abstract: Film, molded articles and fibers prepared from ethylene/&agr;-olefin interpolymer compositions are disclosed. The interpolymer compositions are blends prepared by combining specified amounts of a narrow molecular weight distribution, narrow composition distribution breadth index interpolymer, and a broad molecular weight distribution, broad composition distribution breadth index interpolymer, with each blend component having a specified density, melt index and degree of branching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Robert S. Cardwell, Ronald P. Markovich, Bharat I. Chaudhary, Adam E. Laubach, Jesus Nieto
  • Patent number: 6335410
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a non-pourable homogeneous ultra-low molecular weight ethylene polymer composition and a process for the preparation thereof Such polymer compositions have longer lamella and a greater degree of crystalline organization than corresponding higher molecular weight materials at an equivalent density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Malcolm F. Finlayson, Ralph E. Guerra, Craig C. Garrison, Martin J. Guest, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Steven M. Ueligger, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 6172173
    Abstract: A polymer produced by a transition metal containing catalyst useful for the polymerization of &agr;-olefins is prepared by (A) forming in an inert atmosphere which excludes oxygen and moisture a slurry of (1) a porous inorganic oxide support material selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, or a combination of silica and alumina, said support material containing not greater than about 5 millimoles of hydroxyl groups per gram of support material and a particle size not greater than about 10 microns and a surface area of from about 50 to about 800 m2/g in an inert organic liquid medium; (B) mixing said slurry with (2) an alkoxide and stirring the resultant mixture at a temperature of from about −20° C. to about 120° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Lee Spencer, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Miriam P. Ripplinger, Jeffrey J. Wooster, Pak-Wing S. Chum, Jacquelyn A. deGroot
  • Patent number: 6054544
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a non-pourable homogeneous ultra-low molecular weight ethylene polymer composition and a process for the preparation thereof. Such polymer compositions have longer lamella and a greater degree of crystalline organization than corresponding higher molecular weight materials at an equivalent density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Malcolm F. Finlayson, Craig C. Garrison, Ralph E. Guerra, Martin J. Guest, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Deepak R. Parikh, Steven M. Ueligger
  • Patent number: 6034022
    Abstract: Group 4 metal constrained geometry complexes comprising a fused ring indenyl derivative ligand, catalytic derivatives thereof, processes for preparing the same and their use as components of olefin polymerization catalysts are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Mark H. McAdon, Jasson T. Patton, Peter N. Nickias, Ravi B. Shankar, Francis J. Timmers, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Daniel D. VanderLende, Steven M. Ueligger
  • Patent number: 6025448
    Abstract: A gas phase fluidized bed process is described for producing ethylene polymers having improved processability and an MWD of less than about 2.9. Multiple reactors in series or parallel may be used to produce in-situ blended polymers. Each reactor can separately have a constrained geometry catalyst or a conventional Ziegler-Natta catalyst as needed for obtaining in-situ blended polymer with the desired properties as long as there is a constrained geometry catalyst in at least one reactor. Olefin polymers can be produced according to this invention which have low susceptibility to melt fracture, even under high shear stress conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Swindoll, Bruce A. Story, Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Kevin P. Peil, David R. Wilson, James C. Stevens
  • Patent number: 5869575
    Abstract: Processes for polymerizing ethylene/.alpha.-olefin interpolymer compositions are disclosed. The interpolymer compositions have a controlled composition and a controlled molecular weight distribution. The processes utilize a highly-efficient homogeneous catalyst composition in at least one reactor to produce a first interpolymer having a narrow composition distribution and a narrow molecular weight distribution, and a highly-efficient heterogeneous Ziegler catalyst in at least one other reactor. The reactors can be operated sequentially or separately, depending upon the desired product. The novel compositions have good optical properties (e.g., clarity and haze) and good physical properties (e.g., modulus, yield strength, toughness and tear). Useful products which can be formed from these compositions include film, molded articles and fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Brian W. S. Kolthammer, Robert S. Cardwell