Patents by Inventor Donald S. Tracey

Donald S. Tracey 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).

  • Patent number: 7906600
    Abstract: The present invention provides an elastomeric composition processable in a curable, filled rubber formulation. The composition comprises a halogenated interpolymer of a C4 to C7 isoolefin and from 3 to 20 weight percent alkylstyrene and comprising from 0.2 to 2 mole percent haloalkylstyrene, a Mooney viscosity less than 27, a number average molecular weight less than 270,000, a weight average molecular weight less than 470,000, a z-average molecular weight less than 700,000, and a branching index (g?) from 0.4 to 1.1. Also disclosed are a method of making a cured, filled rubber article, comprising compounding the elastomeric composition with filler and curative, processing the compounded composition to form a shape of the article, and curing the composition to obtain the article in the formed shape, as well as a tire comprising an innerliner made by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Walter H. Waddell, Dirk F. Rouckhout, James P. Stokes, Arthur J. Sullivan, Donald S. Tracey, Robert N. Webb
  • Patent number: 7770621
    Abstract: According to the invention, a processing aid is used to improve processing in a green (uncured) rubber composition, such as in downstream in-plant processing of an innerliner compound, and maintaining, or more preferably, reducing the air permeability of the cured composition, e.g., innerliner compound. In embodiments, another of the advantages of the present invention is that the processing aid according to the invention can be used in very low levels relative to the other processing aids and oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Dirk F. Rouckhout, Walter H. Waddell
  • Patent number: 7772308
    Abstract: According to the invention, a processing aid is used to improve processing in a green (uncured) rubber composition, such as in downstream in-plant processing of an innertube compound, and maintaining, or more preferably, reducing the air permeability of the cured composition, e.g., innertube compound. In embodiments, another of the advantages of the present invention is that the processing aid according to the invention can be used in addition to or as a replacement for the other processing aids and oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Dirk F. Rouckhout, Walter H. Waddell
  • Patent number: 7714043
    Abstract: Provided are elastomeric compositions, such as a tire innerliner, comprising at least one isobutylene based elastomer and at least one hydrocarbon fluid additive (“HFA”). The compositions have improved cold temperature properties and are particularly useful as tire innerliners for an aircraft tire. The use of a HFA in the elastomeric composition may allow for the use of reduced amounts of secondary elastomers, such as natural rubber, while allowing for an improved balance in the composition's brittleness and permeability properties. Examples of useful HFAs include polyalphaolefins, high purity hydrocarbon fluids, and water white group III mineral oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Andy H. Tsou, Bryan R. Chapman, Bruce A. Harrington, David B. Dunaway
  • Patent number: 7696266
    Abstract: The present invention relates to select elastomeric blends including at least one halogenated random copolymer. In particular, the present invention relates to compositions including at least one halogenated random copolymer of isobutylene and methylstyrene, preferably para-methylstyrene; wherein the at least one halogenated random copolymer includes at least 9.0 wt % methylstyrene, preferably para-methylstyrene, based upon the weight of the at least one halogenated random copolymer; and at least one general purpose rubber. The invention also relates to articles made from these compositions and processes for making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Walter H. Waddell, Donald S. Tracey, Stuart W. Botfeld
  • Publication number: 20100076121
    Abstract: Provided are elastomeric compositions, such as a tire innerliner, comprising at least one isobutylene based elastomer and at least one hydrocarbon fluid additive (“HFA”). The compositions have improved cold temperature properties and are particularly useful as tire innerliners for an aircraft tire. The use of a HFA in the elastomeric composition may allow for the use of reduced amounts of secondary elastomers, such as natural rubber, while allowing for an improved balance in the composition's brittleness and permeability properties. Examples of useful HFAs include polyalphaolefins, high purity hydrocarbon fluids, and water white group III mineral oils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Andy H. Tsou, Bryan R. Chapman, Bruce A. Harrington, David B. Dunaway
  • Publication number: 20090197995
    Abstract: Provided are elastomeric compositions, such as a tire innerliner, comprising at least one isobutylene based elastomer and at least one hydrocarbon fluid additive (“HFA”). The compositions have improved cold temperature properties and are particularly useful as tire innerliners for an aircraft tire. The use of a HFA in the elastomeric composition may allow for the use of reduced amounts of secondary elastomers, such as natural rubber, while allowing for an improved balance in the composition's brittleness and permeability properties. Examples of useful HFAs include polyalphaolefins, high purity hydrocarbon fluids, and water white group III mineral oils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Andy H. Tsou, Bryan R. Chapman, Bruce A. Harrington, David B. Dunaway
  • Publication number: 20090054575
    Abstract: According to the invention, a processing aid is used to improve processing in a green (uncured) rubber composition, such as in downstream in-plant processing of an innertube compound, and maintaining, or more preferably, reducing the air permeability of the cured composition, e.g., innertube compound. In embodiments, another of the advantages of the present invention is that the processing aid according to the invention can be used in addition to or as a replacement for the other processing aids and oils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Dirk F. Rouckhout, Walter H. Waddell
  • Publication number: 20090050251
    Abstract: According to the invention, a processing aid is used to improve processing in a green (uncured) rubber composition, such as in downstream in-plant processing of an innerliner compound, and maintaining, or more preferably, reducing the air permeability of the cured composition, e.g., innerliner compound. In embodiments, another of the advantages of the present invention is that the processing aid according to the invention can be used in very low levels relative to the other processing aids and oils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Dirk F. Rouckhout, Walter H. Waddell
  • Patent number: 7425591
    Abstract: The present invention is a composition including an isobutylene-based copolymer and polybutene. The copolymers may be mixed with an exfoliating compound and clay, the entire composition forming a nanocomposite. The clay may or may not have an additional exfoliating treatment present prior to mixing with the interpolymer. The composition of the invention has improved air barrier properties and processing properties, and is suitable as an air barrier. One embodiment of the invention is an elastomeric composition including at least one random copolymer of at least a C4 to C7 isomonoolefin derived unit, at least one filler, and polybutene oil having a number average molecular weight greater than 400. The copolymer may be selected from a halogenated poly(isobutylene-co-p-methylstyrene), a halogenated star-branched butyl rubber, or a halogenated butyl rubber, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc
    Inventors: Anthony Jay Dias, Glenn E. Jones, Donald S. Tracey, Walter H. Waddell
  • Publication number: 20080139730
    Abstract: The present invention provides an elastomeric composition processable in a curable, filled rubber formulation. The composition comprises a halogenated interpolymer of a C4 to C7 isoolefin and from 3 to 20 weight percent alkylstyrene and comprising from 0.2 to 2 mole percent haloalkylstyrene, a Mooney viscosity less than 27, a number average molecular weight less than 270,000, a weight average molecular weight less than 470,000, a z-average molecular weight less than 700,000, and a branching index (g?) from 0.4 to 1.1. Also disclosed are a method of making a cured, filled rubber article, comprising compounding the elastomeric composition with filler and curative, processing the compounded composition to form a shape of the article, and curing the composition to obtain the article in the formed shape, as well as a tire comprising an innerliner made by the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Walter H. Waddell, Dirk F. Rouckhout, James P. Stokes, J. Arthur Sullivan, Donald S. Tracey, N. Webb Robert
  • Publication number: 20080125521
    Abstract: The present invention relates to select elastomeric blends including at least one halogenated random copolymer. In particular, the present invention relates to compositions including at least one halogenated random copolymer of isobutylene and methylstyrene, preferably para-methylstyrene; wherein the at least one halogenated random copolymer includes at least 9.0 wt % methylstyrene, preferably para-methylstyrene, based upon the weight of the at least one halogenated random copolymer; and at least one general purpose rubber. The invention also relates to articles made from these compositions and processes for making the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Walter H. Waddell, Donald S. Tracey, Stuart W. Botfeld
  • Publication number: 20040132894
    Abstract: The present invention is a composition including an isobutylene-based copolymer and polybutene. The copolymers may be mixed with an exfoliating compound and clay, the entire composition forming a nanocomposite. The clay may or may not have an additional exfoliating treatment present prior to mixing with the interpolymer. The composition of the invention has improved air barrier properties and processing properties, and is suitable as an air barrier. One embodiment of the invention is an elastomeric composition including at least one random copolymer of at least a C4 to C7 isomonoolefin derived unit, at least one filler, and polybutene oil having a number average molecular weight greater than 400. The copolymer may be selected from a halogenated poly(isobutylene-co-p-methylstyrene), a halogenated star-branched butyl rubber, or a halogenated butyl rubber, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Anthony Jay Dias, Glenn E Jones, Donald S Tracey, Walter H Waddell
  • Publication number: 20040087704
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a composition suitable for an air barrier. The composition may include a butyl rubber, a filler, and polybutene processing oil having a number average molecular weight of at least 400 in one embodiment, and a number average molecular weight of less than 10,000 in another embodiment. The filler can be such materials as calcium carbonate, clay, mica, silica and silicates, talc, titanium dioxide, starch, wood flower, carbon black, and mixtures thereof. The viscosity of the polybutene processing oil is greater than 10 cSt at 100° C in one embodiment, and naphthenic oil is substantially absent. The air permeability of the cured compositions of the invention ranges from 1×10−8 to 4.5×10−8 cm3·cm/cm2·sec·atm at 65° C. in one embodiment, and has improved aging properties suitable for use as an innerliner or innertube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Glenn E. Jones, Donald S. Tracey, Walter H. Waddell
  • Patent number: 6626219
    Abstract: Halogenated isobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene polymer, preferably brominated isobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene polymer (BIMS) and blends thereof, preferably blends of isobutylene based rubber, show improved heat resistance versus butyl inner tube compositions and retain the superior barrier properties of butyl inner tube compositions versus inner tube compositions with butyl/EP blends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Ilan Duvdevani, Hsien-Chang Wang, Takashi Takeda, Shinichiro Yamashita, Arthur E. Parente, Utpal Paul
  • Publication number: 20020108691
    Abstract: Halogenated isobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene polymer, preferably brominated isobutylene-co-paramethylstyrene polymer (BIMS) and blends thereof, preferably blends of isobutylene based rubber, show improved heat resistance versus butyl inner tube compositions and retain the superior barrier properties of butyl inner tube compositions versus inner tube compositions with butyl/EP blends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Donald S. Tracey, Ilan Duvdevani, Hsien-Chang Wang, Takashi Takeda, Shinichiro Yamashita, Arthur E. Parente, Utpal Paul
  • Patent number: 5373062
    Abstract: An improved promoted curing system for halogenated elastomers has been discovered wherein the curing system contains one or a mixture of bismuth carboxylates having the structure of Formula 1: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain alkyl groups having from 4 to about 30 carbon atoms, aromatic groups containing 6 to about 30 carbon atoms and alkaryl groups containing from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms.It has been found that the use of these bismuth salts, alone or in combination with zinc compounds in the cure of compositions containing halogenated elastomers leads to full, low reversion cures and curable compositions exhibiting very low precure scorch properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Irwin J. Gardner, Donald S. Tracey