Patents by Inventor Kevin M. McCauley
Kevin M. McCauley 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).
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Publication number: 20170233549Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to rubber compositions containing a chemical additive capable of generating or enhancing strain-induced crystallization into the compositions, and tires containing the rubber compositions in one or more components such as sidewalls or treads. The chemical additive is at least one nucleating agent of formula (I) or formula (II). As well, certain embodiments relate to methods for achieving reduced wear or improved durability in a tire tread or tire sidewall by using the chemical additives.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2015Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Amy M. Randall, Kevin M. McCauley, Sheel P Agarwal, Christopher G. Robertson
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Patent number: 9650456Abstract: A method for producing a polydiene, the method comprising the steps of (i) forming an active catalyst by combining a lanthanide-containing compound, an alkylating agent, and a halogen source in the substantial absence of an organosulfide; and (ii) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of the active catalyst and an organosulfide.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Zengquan Qin, Steven Luo
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Patent number: 9546227Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the steps of (i) providing conjugated diene monomer; (ii) charging a nickel-based catalyst system to the conjugated diene monomer; and (iii) charging a modulating Lewis base to the conjugated diene monomer, to thereby polymerize the conjugated diene monomer in the presence of the modulating Lewis base, where said step of charging a modulating Lewis base is separate from said step of charging a nickel-based catalyst, and where said steps of providing conjugated diene monomer, charging a nickel-based catalyst system and charging a Lewis base form a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo
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Patent number: 9512263Abstract: A method for preparing a coupled polymer, the method comprising the steps of: (i) polymerizing monomer to form a reactive polymer; (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a polyisocyanate having a functionality of X to form an intermediate polymer product; and (iii) reacting the intermediate polymer product with a polyol having a functionality of Y to form the coupled polymer product, where X+Y?5.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Terrence E. Hogan, William L. Hergenrother
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Patent number: 9505859Abstract: A method for producing a polydiene, the method comprising the steps of: (i) forming an active catalyst by combining a lanthanide-containing compound, an alkylating agent, and a halogen source in the substantial absence of a sulfone, a sulfoxide, and a phosphine oxide; and (ii) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of the active catalyst and a polymerization modulator selected from the group consisting of a sulfone, a sulfoxide, and a phosphine oxide.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo
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Publication number: 20160304707Abstract: A process for preparing a blend of cis-1,4-polybutadiene and syndiotactic 1,2 polybutadiene, the process comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing 1,3-butadiene in the presence of a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a polymerization mixture including cis-1,4-polybutadiene, and (ii) polymerizing 1,3-butadiene in the presence of a cobalt-based catalyst within the polymerization mixture including cis-1,4-polybutadiene to form syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and thereby produce a blend of cis-1,4-polybutadiene and syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2014Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo
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Publication number: 20160264698Abstract: Disclosed herein are solution polymerization processes for producing a high-cis polydiene. The processes include polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer in an organic solvent in the presence of at least one thiol compound and a lanthanide-based catalyst composition to produce a polydiene having a cis-1,4-linkage content of 90-99%. The at least one thiol compound is represented by the general formula R—S—H, where R is a hydrocarbyl group or a substituted hydrocarbyl group. The lanthanide-based catalyst composition comprises (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a halogen source, where (c) may optionally be provided by (a), (b), or both (a) and (b). The molar ratio of the at least one thiol compound to the lanthanide compound used in the polymerization process ranges from 0.01:1 to 100:1. Improved solution polymerization processes regarding the same are also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATIONInventors: ZENGQUAN QIN, KEVIN M. MCCAULEY, STEVEN LUO
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Patent number: 9353205Abstract: Disclosed herein are solution polymerization processes for producing a high-cis polydiene. The processes include polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer in an organic solvent in the presence of at least one thiol compound and a lanthanide-based catalyst composition to produce a polydiene having a cis-1,4-linkage content of 90-99%. The at least one thiol compound is represented by the general formula R—S—H, where R is a hydrocarbyl group or a substituted hydrocarbyl group. The lanthanide-based catalyst composition comprises (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a halogen source, where (c) may optionally be provided by (a), (b), or both (a) and (b). The molar ratio of the at least one thiol compound to the lanthanide compound used in the polymerization process ranges from 0.01:1 to 100:1. Improved solution polymerization processes regarding the same are also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Zengquan Qin, Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo
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Publication number: 20160108153Abstract: A method for producing a polydiene, the method comprising of combining a lanthanide compound, an alkylating agent, a halogen source, and optionally conjugated diene monomer to form an active preformed catalyst; independent of step (i), introducing an amine with conjugated diene monomer to be polymerized; independent of step (i), introducing the active preformed catalyst to the conjugated diene monomer to be polymerized to form an active polymerization mixture, where the active polymerization mixture includes less than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the active polymerization mixture, of a solvent; and allowing the monomer to be polymerized to polymerize in the presence of the amine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Kevin M. MCCAULEY, Steven LUO
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Patent number: 9249244Abstract: A method for producing a polydiene, the method comprising the steps of: (i) forming an active catalyst by combining a lanthanide-containing compound, an alkylating agent, and a halogen source in the substantial absence of an amine; and (ii) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of the active catalyst and an amine.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2011Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo
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Patent number: 9228037Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the steps of: polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a metallocene complex catalyst system within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, where the metallocene complex catalyst system includes the combination or reaction product of: (a) metallocene complex, (b) an alkylating agent, and optionally (c) a non-coordinating anion.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Zengquan Qin, Joshua S. Dickstein, Steven Luo
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Publication number: 20150299350Abstract: Disclosed herein are solution polymerization processes for producing a high-cis polydiene. The processes include polymerizing at least one conjugated diene monomer in an organic solvent in the presence of at least one thiol compound and a lanthanide-based catalyst composition to produce a polydiene having a cis-1,4-linkage content of 90-99%. The at least one thiol compound is represented by the general formula R—S—H, where R is a hydrocarbyl group or a substituted hydrocarbyl group. The lanthanide-based catalyst composition comprises (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a halogen source, where (c) may optionally be provided by (a), (b), or both (a) and (b). The molar ratio of the at least one thiol compound to the lanthanide compound used in the polymerization process ranges from 0.01:1 to 100:1. Improved solution polymerization processes regarding the same are also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATIONInventors: Zengquan QIN, Kevin M. MCCAULEY, Steven LUO
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Patent number: 8987395Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a nickel-based catalyst system, where said step of polymerizing takes place within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, where the temperature of the polymerization mixture is maintained below 34° C. during said step of polymerizing, and where the conversion of the conjugated diene monomer is maintained below 30%.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo
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Patent number: 8981020Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (a) polymerizing monomer in the presence of a coordination catalyst to form a polymer, (b) inhibiting said step of polymerizing with a Lewis base, and (c) reacting the polymer with a functionalizing agent.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Timothy L. Tartamella, Mark W. Smale, Randhir Shetty
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Publication number: 20150031845Abstract: A method for producing a polydiene, the method comprising the steps of (i) forming an active catalyst by combining a lanthanide-containing compound, an alkylating agent, and a halogen source in the substantial absence of an organosulfide; and (ii) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of the active catalyst and an organosulfide.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Zengquan Qin, Steven Luo
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Publication number: 20140378630Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the steps of: polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a metallocene complex catalyst system within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, where the metallocene complex catalyst system includes the combination or reaction product of: (a) metallocene complex, (b) an alkylating agent, and optionally (c) a non-coordinating anion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2012Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Zengquan Qin, Joshua S. Dickstein, Steven Luo
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Publication number: 20140357795Abstract: A method for preparing a coupled polymer, the method comprising the steps of: (i) polymerizing monomer to form a reactive polymer; (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a polyisocyanate having a functionality of X to form an intermediate polymer product; and (iii) reacting the intermediate polymer product with a polyol having a functionality of Y to form the coupled polymer product, where X+Y?5.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2012Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Terrence E. Hogan, William L. Hergenrother
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Publication number: 20140303327Abstract: A method for producing a polydiene, the method comprising the steps of: (i) forming an active catalyst by combining a lanthanide-containing compound, an alkylating agent, and a halogen source in the substantial absence of a sulfone, a sulfoxide, and a phosphine oxide; and (ii) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of the active catalyst and a polymerization modulator selected from the group consisting of a sulfone, a sulfoxide, and a phosphine oxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2012Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo
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Patent number: 8673998Abstract: A method for preparing a polymeric composition, the method comprising providing a polymer cement including a polymer and a solvent; introducing a cold-flow inhibitor with the polymer cement, where the cold-flow inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of vicinal diamides, vicinal diureas and vicinal amide-ureas; and isolating at least a portion of the polymer and the cold-flow inhibitor from the solvent to provide a polymeric composition including the polymer and the cold-flow inhibitor.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M McCauley, Toshihiro Uchiyama, Christine M. Rademacher, Terrence E. Hogan
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Publication number: 20140011963Abstract: A method for producing a polydiene, the method comprising the steps of: (i) forming an active catalyst by combining a lanthanide-containing compound, an alkylating agent, and a halogen source in the substantial absence of an amine; and (ii) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of the active catalyst and an amine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2011Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo