Patents by Inventor Fred D. Ehrman

Fred D. Ehrman 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: 11274170
    Abstract: A process including contacting one or more monomers, at least one catalyst system, and at least two condensing agents under polymerizable conditions to produce a polyolefin polymer is provided where the vapor pressure of the condensing agents is ±4 bara of the optimum vapor pressure given by the formula: optimum vapor pressure=614?716*D+2.338*P+3.603*ln(MI), where the optimum vapor pressure has units (bara), D is the polyolefin polymer density with units (g/cc), P is the polymerization condition pressure with units (barg), and MI is the polyolefin polymer melt index with units (g/10 min). The invention also relates to a process where at least three condensing agents are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Corrine L. Brandl, Fred D. Ehrman, James R. Lattner
  • Publication number: 20200071438
    Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst system including contacting one or more catalysts having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom or lanthanide metal atom with a methylalumoxane and one or more support material compositions to a concentration of methylalumoxane of about 4 mmol to about 15 mmol aluminum per gram of support material is provided. The support material composition may have a macroporosity of from about 0.18 cc/g to about 0.50 cc/g. In other embodiments, a process for polymerizing at least one olefin to produce a polyolefin composition including contacting one or more olefins with the aforementioned catalyst system is also provide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Corrine L. Brandl, Fred D. Ehrman, Edward F. Smith, Chi-I Kuo
  • Patent number: 10377841
    Abstract: A process including contacting one or more monomers, at least one catalyst system, and a condensing agent including a majority of 2,2-dimethylpropane under polymerizable conditions to produce a polyolefin polymer is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Sandell, Marc L. De Chellis, Fred D. Ehrman
  • Publication number: 20190218318
    Abstract: A process including contacting one or more monomers, at least one catalyst system, and at least two condensing agents under polymerizable conditions to produce a polyolefin polymer is provided where the vapor pressure of the condensing agents is ±4 bara of the optimum vapor pressure given by the formula: optimum vapor pressure=614?716*D+2.338*P+3.603*ln(MI), where the optimum vapor pressure has units (bara), D is the polyolefin polymer density with units (g/cc), P is the polymerization condition pressure with units (barg), and MI is the polyolefin polymer melt index with units (g/10 min). The invention also relates to a process where at least three condensing agents are used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Corrine L. Brandl, Fred D. Ehrman, James R. Lattner
  • Publication number: 20180118861
    Abstract: A process including contacting one or more monomers, at least one catalyst system, and a condensing agent including a majority of 2,2-dimethylpropane under polymerizable conditions to produce a polyolefin polymer is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: David J. Sandell, Marc L. De Chellis, Fred D. Ehrman
  • Patent number: 8058366
    Abstract: Embodiments of our invention relate generally to methods of monitoring and controlling polymerization reactions including reactions producing multimodal polymer products using multiple catalysts in a single reactor. Embodiments of the invention provide methods of rapidly monitoring and controlling polymerization reactions without the need to sample and test the polymer properties. The method uses reactor control data and material inventory data in a mathematical leading indicator function to control the reactor conditions, and thereby the products produced under those conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Sandell, Marjorie E. King, Fred D. Ehrman
  • Patent number: 7855253
    Abstract: Articles such as, for example, pipes or bottles, prepared from multimodal polyethylenes possessing a density from 0.940 to 0.965 g/cm3, and an I21 from 4 to 20 dg/min, and comprising a low molecular weight ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 5,000 amu to 50,000 amu; and a high molecular weight ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 60,000 amu to 800,000 amu, both components having a desirable balance of short chain branching making the multimodal polyethylene suitable for films, pipes, rotomolding applications and blow molding applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Porter C. Shannon, Fred D. Ehrman
  • Patent number: 7799877
    Abstract: Methods of monitoring and controlling polymerization reactions are disclosed. The ratio of concentrations of two reactor components are determined in a gas stream of a reactor to obtain a leading indicator function L. The value of L or a function of L, such as a rescaled value or a reciprocal, is compared to a target value, and at least one reactor parameter is adjusted in response to a deviation between L or the function of L and the target value. Monitoring of the leading indicator permits rapid diagnosis of reactor problems, and rapid adjustments of reactor parameters, compared to laboratory analysis of samples of polymer properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Schurzky, Robert L. Santana, Fred D. Ehrman, Pradeep P. Shirodkar
  • Publication number: 20100022720
    Abstract: Embodiments of our invention relate generally to methods of monitoring and controlling polymerization reactions including reactions producing multimodal polymer products using multiple catalysts in a single reactor. Embodiments of the invention provide methods of rapidly monitoring and controlling polymerization reactions without the need to sample and test the polymer properties. The method uses reactor control data and material inventory data in a mathematical leading indicator function to control the reactor conditions, and thereby the products produced under those conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Sandell, Marjorie E. King, Fred D. Ehrman
  • Publication number: 20090258995
    Abstract: Articles such as, for example, pipes or bottles, prepared from multimodal polyethylenes possessing a density from 0.940 to 0.965 g/cm3, and an I21 from 4 to 20 dg/min, and comprising a low molecular weight ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 5,000 amu to 50,000 amu; and a high molecular weight ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 60,000 amu to 800,000 amu, both components having a desirable balance of short chain branching making the multimodal polyethylene suitable for films, pipes, rotomolding applications and blow molding applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: UNIVATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Porter Clarke Shannon, Fred D. Ehrman
  • Patent number: 7595364
    Abstract: Multimodal polyethylenes possessing a density from 0.940 to 0.965 g/cm3, and an I21 from 4 to 20 dg/min, and comprising a low molecular weight ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 5,000 amu to 50,000 amu; and a high molecular weight ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 60,000 amu to 800,000 amu, both components having a desirable balance of short chain branching making the multimodal polyethylene suitable for films, pipes, rotomolding applications and blow molding applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Porter Clarke Shannon, Fred D. Ehrman
  • Patent number: 7393916
    Abstract: A process of producing a polyolefin, in one embodiment a polyethylene, and in a preferred embodiment a bimodal polyethylene comprising a high molecular weight component and a low molecular weight component, the process comprising providing a polyolefin having an I21 value of from 2 to 100 g/10 min and a density of from 0.91 to 0.97 g/cm3; followed by forming a melt of the polyolefin and passing the polyolefin through one or more active screen filter(s) having a mesh size of from 70 to 200 micron at a mass flux of from 5 to 100 lbs/hr/square inch; and isolating the polyolefin having passed through the screen filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Charles Neubauer, Fred D. Ehrman, H. Rodney Tunnell, III
  • Patent number: 7238756
    Abstract: Methods of controlling the flow index and/or molecular weight split of a polymer composition are disclosed. The method of producing a polymer composition in one embodiment comprises incorporating a high molecular weight polymer into a low molecular weight polymer to form the polymer composition in a single polymerization reactor in the presence of polymerizable monomers, a bimetallic catalyst composition and at least one control agent; wherein the control agent is added in an amount sufficient to control the level of incorporation of the high molecular weight polymer, the level of low molecular weight polymer, or both. Examples of control agents include alcohols, ethers, amines and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fred D. Ehrman, Pradeep P. Shirodkar, Mark Bradley Davis, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., Porter C. Shannon
  • Patent number: 6995235
    Abstract: Films and methods of forming films comprising first combining in a reactor olefins, a catalyst composition and an activator; wherein the activator is present from less than 50 wt % in a diluent by weight of the activator and diluent; followed by isolating a polyolefin having a density of from 0.940 to 0.980 g/cm3; and finally, extruding the polyolefin into a film having a gel count of less than 200 gels/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fred D. Ehrman, Rainer Kolb, Chi-I Kuo, Porter C. Shannon, Keith W. Trapp
  • Patent number: 6870023
    Abstract: Reactor wall coatings for polymerization reactors and processes for forming such coatings are disclosed. The reactor wall coatings can have a thickness of at least 100 ?m and a molecular weight distribution including a major peak having one or more of an Mw/Mn ratio of less than 10; an Mz/Mw ratio of less than 7; and a maximum value of d(wt %)/d(log MW) at less than 25,000 daltons in a plot of d(wt %)/d(log MW), where MW is the molecular weight in daltons. The reactor wall coatings can be formed in-situ during polymerization, on reactor walls initially free of a reactor wall coating, or having a pre-existing reactor wall coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Muhle, Porter C. Shannon, Fred D. Ehrman
  • Publication number: 20040254308
    Abstract: Methods of monitoring and controlling polymerization reactions are disclosed. The ratio of concentrations of two reactor components are determined in a gas stream of a reactor to obtain a leading indicator function L. The value of L or a function of L, such as a rescaled value or a reciprocal, is compared to a target value, and at least one reactor parameter is adjusted in response to a deviation between L or the function of L and the target value. Monitoring of the leading indicator permits rapid diagnosis of reactor problems, and rapid adjustments of reactor parameters, compared to laboratory analysis of samples of polymer properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Schurzky, Robert L. Santana, Fred D. Ehrman, Pradeep P. Shirodkar
  • Patent number: 6828395
    Abstract: Methods of controlling rheological properties of polymer compositions comprising at least one high molecular weight polymer and one low molecular weight polymer are disclosed. The polymer compositions are produced by polymerizing monomers in a single reactor using a bimetallic catalyst composition. A control agent such as, for example, an alcohol, ether, oxygen or amine is added to the reactor to control the rheological properties of the reactor. The polymerization takes place in the presence of rheological-altering compounds such as alkanes and aluminum alkyls. The control agents are added in an amount sufficient to counter the influences of the rheological-altering compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fred D. Ehrman, Pradeep P. Shirodkar, Robert Lynn Santana, Porter C. Shannon
  • Publication number: 20040063874
    Abstract: Reactor wall coatings for polymerization reactors and processes for forming such coatings are disclosed. The reactor wall coatings can have a thickness of at least 100 &mgr;m and a molecular weight distribution including a major peak having one or more of an Mw/Mn ratio of less than 10; an Mz/Mw ratio of less than 7; and a maximum value of d(wt %)/d(log MW) at less than 25,000 daltons in a plot of d(wt %)/d(log MW), where MW is the molecular weight in daltons. The reactor wall coatings can be formed in-situ during polymerization, on reactor walls initially free of a reactor wall coating, or having a pre-existing reactor wall coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Michael E. Muhle, Porter C. Shannon, Fred D. Ehrman