Patents by Inventor Graham R. Lief

Graham R. Lief 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: 11945938
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers are characterized by a density from 0.92 to 0.955 g/cm3, a HLMI of less than 35 g/10 min, and a ratio of a number of short chain branches (SCBs) per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mz to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn in a range from 11.5 to 22. These polymers can have a higher molecular weight (HMW) component and a lower molecular weight (LMW) component, in which a ratio of a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the HMW component to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the LMW component is in a range from 10.5 to 22. These ethylene polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing an unbridged metallocene compound with an indenyl group having at least one halogen-substituted hydrocarbyl substituent with at least two halogen atoms, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group and a cyclopentadienyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Youlu Yu
  • Patent number: 11859041
    Abstract: This disclosure provides new methods for the design and development of ethylene polymerization catalysts, including Group 4 metallocene catalysts such as zirconocenes, which are based on an improved ability to adjust co-monomer incorporation into the polymer. Computational analyses with and without dispersion corrections revealed that designing catalyst scaffolds which induce stabilizing non-covalent dispersion type interactions with incoming ?-olefin co-monomers can be used to modulate co-monomer selectivity into the polyethylene chain. Demonstrated herein is a lack of correlation of computed ??G‡ values against experimental ??G‡ values when the dispersion correction (D3BJ) was disabled, and B3LYP was used in the absence of Grimme's D3 dispersion and Becke-Johnson (BJ) dampening, but a correlation of computed against experimental ??G‡ with B3LYP+D3BJ, which are used to design new catalyst scaffolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Steven M. Bischof, Qing Yang, Orson L. Sydora, Graham R. Lief, Richard M Buck, Daniel H. Ess, Steven M. Maley
  • Patent number: 11761120
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are high melt flow polypropylene homopolymers generally characterized by a melt flow rate ranging from 200 g/10 min to 3000 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn ranging from 2 to 5, and a peak melting point ranging from 138° C. to 151° C. These polypropylene homopolymers can be produced by catalyst systems containing a racemic ansa-bis(indenyl)zirconocene compound, an activator-support, and an organoaluminum co-catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke
  • Publication number: 20230272197
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers are characterized by a density from 0.92 to 0.955 g/cm3, a HLMI of less than 35 g/10 min, and a ratio of a number of short chain branches (SCBs) per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mz to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn in a range from 11.5 to 22. These polymers can have a higher molecular weight (HMW) component and a lower molecular weight (LMW) component, in which a ratio of a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the HMW component to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the LMW component is in a range from 10.5 to 22. These ethylene polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing an unbridged metallocene compound with an indenyl group having at least one halogen-substituted hydrocarbyl substituent with at least two halogen atoms, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group and a cyclopentadienyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Youlu Yu
  • Publication number: 20230192914
    Abstract: Methods for controlling the long chain branch content of ethylene homopolymers and copolymers produced in a polymerization process include the steps of contacting a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, a high LCB activator-support, and a low LCB activator-support to form a catalyst composition, contacting the catalyst composition with ethylene and an optional olefin comonomer in a polymerization reactor system under polymerization conditions to produce an ethylene polymer having a LCB content, and controlling the relative amount of the high LCB activator-support and the low LCB activator-support in the catalyst composition to adjust the LCB content of the ethylene polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Max P. McDaniel, Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Carlos A. Cruz, Yongwoo Inn, Jared Barr
  • Publication number: 20230192909
    Abstract: Sulfated bentonite compositions are characterized by a total pore volume from 0.4 to 1 mL/g, a total BET surface area from 200 to 400 m2/g, and an average pore diameter from 55 to 100 Angstroms. The sulfated bentonite compositions also can be characterized by a d50 average particle size in a range from 15 to 50 µm and a ratio of d90/d10 from 3 to 15. The sulfated bentonite compositions can contain a sulfated bentonite and from 10 to 90 wt. % of colloidal particles, or the sulfated bentonite compositions can contain a sulfated bentonite and from 0.2 to 10 mmol/g of zinc and/or phosphorus. These compositions can be utilized in metallocene catalyst systems to produce ethylene based polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Max P. McDaniel, Qing Yang, Ryan N. Rose, Kathy S. Clear, Graham R. Lief, Eric D. Schwerdtfeger, Anand Ramanathan, Jeremy M. Praetorius, Connor D. Boxell
  • Patent number: 11667777
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers are characterized by a density from 0.92 to 0.955 g/cm3, a HLMI of less than 35 g/10 min, and a ratio of a number of short chain branches (SCBs) per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mz to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn in a range from 11.5 to 22. These polymers can have a higher molecular weight (HMW) component and a lower molecular weight (LMW) component, in which a ratio of a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the HMW component to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the LMW component is in a range from 10.5 to 22. These ethylene polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing an unbridged metallocene compound with an indenyl group having at least one halogen-substituted hydrocarbyl substituent with at least two halogen atoms, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group and a cyclopentadienyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Youlu Yu
  • Publication number: 20230098789
    Abstract: This disclosure provides new methods for the design and development of ethylene polymerization catalysts, including Group 4 metallocene catalysts such as zirconocenes, which are based on an improved ability to adjust co-monomer incorporation into the polymer. Computational analyses with and without dispersion corrections revealed that designing catalyst scaffolds which induce stabilizing non-covalent dispersion type interactions with incoming ?-olefin co-monomers can be used to modulate co-monomer selectivity into the polyethylene chain. Demonstrated herein is a lack of correlation of computed ??G‡ values against experimental ??G‡ values when the dispersion correction (D3BJ) was disabled, and B3LYP was used in the absence of Grimme's D3 dispersion and Becke-Johnson (BJ) dampening, but a correlation of computed against experimental ??G‡ with B3LYP+D3BJ, which are used to design new catalyst scaffolds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Steven M. Bischof, Qing Yang, Orson L. Sydora, Graham R. Lief, Richard M. Buck, Daniel H. Ess, Steven M. Maley
  • Publication number: 20210395413
    Abstract: Disclosed are metallocene compounds, catalyst compositions comprising at least one metallocene compound, processes for polymerizing olefins, methods for making catalyst compositions, olefin polymers and articles made from olefin polymers. In an aspect, a metallocene compound and catalyst composition are disclosed in which the metallocene contains at least one indenyl ligand, the indenyl ligand containing at least one halogenated substituent, such as a fluorinated substituent. These metallocene compounds and catalyst compositions can produce polyethylene having unexpectedly low levels of short chain branching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Eric J. Haschke
  • Patent number: 11186665
    Abstract: Disclosed are metallocene compounds, catalyst compositions comprising at least one metallocene compound, processes for polymerizing olefins, methods for making catalyst compositions, olefin polymers and articles made from olefin polymers. In an aspect, a metallocene compound and catalyst composition are disclosed in which the metallocene contains at least one indenyl ligand, the indenyl ligand containing at least one halogenated substituent, such as a fluorinated substituent. These metallocene compounds and catalyst compositions can produce polyethylene having unexpectedly low levels of short chain branching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Eric J. Haschke
  • Publication number: 20210147661
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers are characterized by a density from 0.92 to 0.955 g/cm3, a HLMI of less than 35 g/10 min, and a ratio of a number of short chain branches (SCBs) per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mz to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn in a range from 11.5 to 22. These polymers can have a higher molecular weight (HMW) component and a lower molecular weight (LMW) component, in which a ratio of a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the HMW component to a number of SCBs per 1000 total carbon atoms at Mn of the LMW component is in a range from 10.5 to 22. These ethylene polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing an unbridged metallocene compound with an indenyl group having at least one halogen-substituted hydrocarbyl substituent with at least two halogen atoms, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group and a cyclopentadienyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Youlu Yu
  • Publication number: 20210102017
    Abstract: Disclosed are metallocene compounds, catalyst compositions comprising at least one metallocene compound, processes for polymerizing olefins, methods for making catalyst compositions, olefin polymers and articles made from olefin polymers. In an aspect, a metallocene compound and catalyst composition are disclosed in which the metallocene contains at least one indenyl ligand, the indenyl ligand containing at least one halogenated substituent, such as a fluorinated substituent. These metallocene compounds and catalyst compositions can produce polyethylene having unexpectedly low levels of short chain branching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Qing Yang, Eric J. Haschke
  • Patent number: 10927053
    Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for oligomerizing an olefin feedstock containing C4 to C20 alpha olefins using a catalyst system containing a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a suspension of a chemically-treated solid oxide. The liquid medium for the suspension of the chemically-treated solid oxide can be an alpha-olefin oligomer product formed by the oligomerization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke, Pasquale Iacono
  • Publication number: 20210032779
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are high melt flow polypropylene homopolymers generally characterized by a melt flow rate ranging from 200 g/10 min to 3000 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn ranging from 2 to 5, and a peak melting point ranging from 138° C. to 151° C. These polypropylene homopolymers can be produced by catalyst systems containing a racemic ansa-bis(indenyl)zirconocene compound, an activator-support, and an organoaluminum co-catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke
  • Patent number: 10883197
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are high melt flow polypropylene homopolymers generally characterized by a melt flow rate ranging from 200 g/10 min to 3000 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn ranging from 2 to 5, and a peak melting point ranging from 138° C. to 151° C. These polypropylene homopolymers can be produced by catalyst systems containing a racemic ansa-bis(indenyl)zirconocene compound, an activator-support, and an organoaluminum co-catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke
  • Publication number: 20190256441
    Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for oligomerizing an olefin feedstock containing C4 to C20 alpha olefins using a catalyst system containing a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a suspension of a chemically-treated solid oxide. The liquid medium for the suspension of the chemically-treated solid oxide can be an alpha-olefin oligomer product formed by the oligomerization process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke, Pasquale Iacono
  • Patent number: 10344106
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are dual catalyst compositions containing an unbridged metallocene compound, a bridged metallocene compound, a chemically-treated solid oxide, and an optional co-catalyst. These catalyst compositions can be used for the oligomerization of propylene to produce an oligomer product. For example, a heavy propylene oligomer can be recovered from the oligomer product, and the heavy propylene oligomer can be characterized by a high flash point and viscosity index, and a low pour point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Uriah J. Kilgore, Eric J. Haschke
  • Patent number: 10336663
    Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for oligomerizing an olefin feedstock containing C4 to C20 alpha olefins using a catalyst system containing a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a suspension of a chemically-treated solid oxide. The liquid medium for the suspension of the chemically-treated solid oxide can be an alpha-olefin oligomer product formed by the oligomerization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke, Pasquale Iacono
  • Publication number: 20190077727
    Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for oligomerizing an olefin feedstock containing C4 to C20 alpha olefins using a catalyst system containing a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a suspension of a chemically-treated solid oxide. The liquid medium for the suspension of the chemically-treated solid oxide can be an alpha-olefin oligomer product formed by the oligomerization process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Eric J. Haschke, Pasquale Iacono
  • Publication number: 20180194879
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are dual catalyst compositions containing an unbridged metallocene compound, a bridged metallocene compound, a chemically-treated solid oxide, and an optional co-catalyst. These catalyst compositions can be used for the oligomerization of propylene to produce an oligomer product. For example, a heavy propylene oligomer can be recovered from the oligomer product, and the heavy propylene oligomer can be characterized by a high flash point and viscosity index, and a low pour point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Graham R. Lief, Uriah J. Kilgore, Eric J. Haschke