Patents by Inventor Rainer Kolb

Rainer Kolb 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: 9012578
    Abstract: Copolymers comprising ethylene and propylene and methods for producing such polymers are provided. The polymers are blocky copolymers having semicrystalline ethylene sequences and amorphous or low crystallinity propylene sequences. The polymers are preferably prepared using metallocene-based catalyst systems but without the use of a chain shuttling agent. The polymers may have higher melting temperatures than previously known random copolymers or blocky copolymers prepared with chain shuttling agents having similar comonomer contents. The polymers include both ethylene-rich and propylene-rich copolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Kolb, Donna J. Crowther, Peijun Jiang
  • Patent number: 9006161
    Abstract: Disclosed are rheology modifiers comprising compositionally disperse polymeric compositions and/or crystallinity disperse polymeric compositions that may be useful in modifying the rheological properties of lubrication fluids, and methods for making such compositions. The compositionally disperse polymeric composition are formed from at least two discrete compositions of ethylene copolymers. The crystallinity disperse polymeric composition are formed from ethylene copolymers having at least two discrete values of residual crystallinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, JoAnn M. Canich, Liehpao O. Farng, Rainer Kolb, Vera Minak-Bernero, Eric B. Sirota, Thomas T. Sun, Mun F. Tse, Manika Varma-Nair
  • Patent number: 8999907
    Abstract: Polymeric compositions and methods for making and using the same are provided. The polymeric composition can include a first ethylene-based copolymer and a second ethylene-based copolymer. The first ethylene-based copolymer can have a weight percent of ethylene-derived units based on a weight of the polymeric composition (EA) ranging from about 35 wt % to about 52 wt % and a weight-average molecular weight (MwA) of less than or equal to 130,000. The second ethylene-based copolymer can have a weight percent of ethylene-derived units based on the weight of the polymeric composition (EB) ranging from about 65 wt % to about 85 wt % and a weight-average molecular weight (MwB) of less than 130,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Rainer Kolb, Liehpao Oscar Farng, Vera Minak-Bernero, Mun Fu Tse, Eric B. Sirota, Diana Smirnova
  • Patent number: 8835577
    Abstract: A polymerization catalyst system and polymerization processes using the catalyst systems are disclosed. The polymerization catalyst systems may include a) a first catalyst compound, and b) a second catalyst compound, wherein the first catalyst compound comprises a biphenyl phenol compound having essentially no hydrogen response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Francis C. Rix, Sun-Chueh Kao, Rainer Kolb, Dongming Li, Cesar A. Garcia-Franco
  • Patent number: 8835587
    Abstract: Provided are catalyst systems, processes for polymerizing one or more olefins, polymers resulting therefrom, and articles prepared from such polymers. The processes comprise contacting under polymerization conditions one or more olefin monomers, preferably propylene, with a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound and an activator of the formula (1) or (2) as described herein. The polymer compositions described herein exhibit advantageously narrow composition distributions and high melting points in comparison to conventional polymers having the same comonomer content. The polymers described herein exhibit improved properties, e.g., pellet stability, impact properties, heat seal properties, and structural integrity in film and fabricated parts applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Donna J. Crowthers, Peijun Jiang, Rainer Kolb
  • Publication number: 20140194845
    Abstract: Propylene-based polymer compositions are provided comprising propylene and from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of one or more C2 and/or C4-C12 ?-olefins. The polymer compositions have a triad tacticity greater than about 90%, a heat of fusion less than about 75 J/g, and a melt flow rate (MFR) greater than or equal to about 25 g/10 min (230° C., 2.16 kg). Further, the polymer compositions are reactor grade compositions comprising a reactor blend of a first polymer and a second polymer, preferably where both of the first and second polymers are prepared using the same catalyst system. Meltspun nonwoven fabrics, such as meltblown or spunbond fabrics, comprising such polymer compositions are also provided, as well as processes for forming the nonwoven fabrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Galen C. Richeson, Rainer Kolb, Jean-Roch H. Schauder, Thomas T. Sun
  • Patent number: 8710148
    Abstract: Propylene-based polymer compositions are provided comprising propylene and from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of one or more C2 and/or C4-C12 ?-olefins. The polymer compositions have a triad tacticity greater than about 90%, a heat of fusion less than about 75 J/g, and a melt flow rate (MFR) greater than or equal to about 25 g/10 min (230° C., 2.16 kg). Further, the polymer compositions are reactor grade compositions comprising a reactor blend of a first polymer and a second polymer, preferably where both of the first and second polymers are prepared using the same catalyst system. Meltspun nonwoven fabrics, such as meltblown or spunbond fabrics, comprising such polymer compositions are also provided, as well as processes for forming the nonwoven fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Galen C. Richeson, Rainer Kolb, Jean-Roch Schauder, Thomas T. Sun
  • Publication number: 20140080982
    Abstract: Provided is an ethylene copolymer having 40 wt. % to 70 wt. % of units derived from ethylene and at least 30 wt. % of units derived from at least one ?-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms and has the following properties: (a) a weight-average molecular weight (Mw), as measured by GPC, in the range of about 50,000 to about 200,000 g/mol; (b) a melting point (Tm) in ° C., as measured by DSC, that satisfies the relation: Tm>3.4×E?180 where E is the weight % of units derived from ethylene in the copolymer; (c) a ratio of Mw/Mn of about 1.8 to about 2.5; (d) a content of Group 4 metals of no more than 5 ppm; and (e) a ratio of wt ppm Group 4 metals/wt ppm Group 5 metals of at least 3. Also provided are methods for making an ethylene copolymer and compositions comprising an ethylene copolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Rainer Kolb, Donna J. Crowther, Peijun Jiang
  • Publication number: 20140038486
    Abstract: Provided are catalyst systems, processes for polymerizing one or more olefins, polymers resulting therefrom, and articles prepared from such polymers. The processes comprise contacting under polymerization conditions one or more olefin monomers, preferably propylene, with a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound and an activator of the formula (1) or (2) as described herein. The polymer compositions described herein exhibit advantageously narrow composition distributions and high melting points in comparison to conventional polymers having the same comonomer content. The polymers described herein exhibit improved properties, e.g., pellet stability, impact properties, heat seal properties, and structural integrity in film and fabricated parts applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Donna J. Crowther, Peijun Jiang, Rainer Kolb
  • Patent number: 8618033
    Abstract: Provided is an ethylene copolymer having 40 wt. % to 70 wt. % of units derived from ethylene and at least 30 wt. % of units derived from at least one ?-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms and has the following properties: (a) a weight-average molecular weight (Mw), as measured by GPC, in the range of about 50,000 to about 200,000 g/mol; (b) a melting point (Tm) in ° C., as measured by DSC, that satisfies the relation: Tm>3.4×E?180 where E is the weight % of units derived from ethylene in the copolymer; (c) a ratio of Mw/Mn of about 1.8 to about 2.5; (d) a content of Group 4 metals of no more than 5 ppm; and (e) a ratio of wt ppm Group 4 metals/wt ppm Group 5 metals of at least 3. Also provided are methods for making an ethylene copolymer and compositions comprising an ethylene copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Kolb, Donna J. Crowther, Peijun Jiang
  • Patent number: 8586497
    Abstract: Olefin polymerization catalyst systems including a high molecular weight catalyst compound and a low molecular weight catalyst compound, and methods of making same are provided. High molecular weight catalysts include metallocene catalysts and low molecular weight catalysts include non-metallocene compounds including biphenyl phenol compounds. Generally catalyst systems may include less than about 5.0 mol % of the high molecular weight catalyst compound relative to said low molecular weight catalyst. Methods for olefin polymerization including the aforementioned catalyst systems, and polyolefins and products made therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Kolb, Dongming Li, Francis C. Rix, Cesar A. Garcia-Franco
  • Patent number: 8580902
    Abstract: Provided are catalyst systems, processes for polymerizing one or more olefins, polymers resulting therefrom, and articles prepared from such polymers. The processes comprise contacting under polymerization conditions one or more olefin monomers, preferably propylene, with a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound and an activator of the formula (1) or (2) as described herein. The polymer compositions described herein exhibit advantageously narrow composition distributions and high melting points in comparison to conventional polymers having the same comonomer content. The polymers described herein exhibit improved properties, e.g., pellet stability, impact properties, heat seal properties, and structural integrity in film and fabricated parts applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Donna J. Crowther, Peijun Jiang, Rainer Kolb
  • Publication number: 20130281340
    Abstract: Lubricant compositions, as well as processes for their formulation, are provided. The lubricant compositions comprise an oil basestock and one or more blocky ethylene propylene copolymers. The copolymers are preferably prepared using metallocene catalyst systems but without using a chain shuttling agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Rainer Kolb
  • Publication number: 20130281641
    Abstract: Copolymers comprising ethylene and propylene and methods for producing such polymers are provided. The polymers are blocky copolymers having semicrystalline ethylene sequences and amorphous or low crystallinity propylene sequences. The polymers are preferably prepared using metallocene-based catalyst systems but without the use of a chain shuttling agent. The polymers may have higher melting temperatures than previously known random copolymers or blocky copolymers prepared with chain shuttling agents having similar comonomer contents. The polymers include both ethylene-rich and propylene-rich copolymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Kolb, Donna J. Crowther, Peijun Jiang
  • Publication number: 20130281339
    Abstract: Provided are ethylene-based copolymers, methods of preparing the same, lubricating oil compositions including the same, methods for preparing such lubricating oil compositions, and end uses for such ethylene-based copolymers and lubricating oil compositions. The ethylene-based copolymers may include from about 35 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of units derived from ethylene and at least 1.0 wt. % of one or more alpha-olefin comonomers having 3 to 20 carbon atoms. The ethylene-based copolymers are substantially amorphous and have a polydispersity index of about 2.8 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Chemical Company
    Inventors: Rainer KOLB, Sudhin DATTA, Liehpao O. FARNG, Vera MINAK-BERNERO, Eric B. SIROTA, Thomas T. SUN, Mun Fu TSE
  • Publication number: 20130203641
    Abstract: Provided are processes for making polymer compositions, especially those with reduced or no gel formation in lubricating oils as identified by rheological and visual gel tests and which are useful as viscosity modifiers. The processes described herein aim to achieve this objective by adjusting the concentrations of the hydrogen feed(s) in the first and/or second polymerization reaction zones, preferably such that (a) the hydrogen feed concentration in the first polymerization reaction zone is 0.0-1.0 wt %, based on total weight of feed(s) of hydrogen, ethylene monomer, ?-olefin comonomer, and solvent into the first polymerization reaction zone, and/or (b) the hydrogen feed concentration in the second polymerization reaction zone is 0.0-0.5 wt %, based on total weight of feed(s) of hydrogen, ethylene monomer, ?-olefin comonomer, and solvent into the second polymerization reaction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Rainer Kolb, Phillip T. Matsunaga, Periagaram S. Ravishankar, Lisa B. Stefaniak, Quintin Paul Ward Costin
  • Publication number: 20130203640
    Abstract: Polymer compositions for use as viscosity modifiers comprising at least two ethylene-based copolymer components are provided. The polymer composition comprises (a) a first ethylene-?-olefin copolymer and (b) a second ethylene-?-olefin copolymer. The first ethylene-?-olefin copolymer (a) has an ethylene content from about 60 to about 80 wt % and the second ethylene-?-olefin copolymer (b) has an ethylene content of less than about 60 wt %. The first ethylene-?-olefin copolymer (a) has a Melt Flow Rate Ratio (MFRR), defined as the ratio of the MFR measured at 230° C./21.6 kg and at 230° C./2.16 kg, of greater than 30 and optionally also has a Melt Flow Rate (MFR) of at least about 1.5 g/10 min, measured by ASTM D 1238 condition L (230° C./2.16 kg). The present disclosure is also directed to lubricant compositions comprising a lubricating basestock and a polymer composition of the present disclosure and is further directed to reducing gelation in the lubricant compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicants: Chevron Oronite Company LLC, ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip T. Matsunaga, Kirk A. Nass, Pritesh A. Patel, Rainer Kolb, Sudhin Datta
  • Patent number: 8497329
    Abstract: The invention generally provides for methods for controlling polymer properties. In particular, invention provides for methods for controlling the comonomer composition distribution of polyolefins such as ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers by altering at least one or more of the following parameters: the molar ratio of hydrogen to ethylene, the molar ratio of comonomer to ethylene, the partial pressure of ethylene, and the reactor temperature without substantially changing the density and/or the melt index of the copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Kolb, James M. Farley, John F. Szul, Mark P. Ossowski
  • Patent number: 8476392
    Abstract: A process for the production of an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer is disclosed, the process including polymerizing ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin by contacting the ethylene and the at least one alpha-olefin with a metallocene catalyst in at least one gas phase reactor at a reactor pressure of from 0.7 to 70 bar and a reactor temperature of from 20° C. to 150° C. to form an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer. The resulting ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer may have a density D of 0.927 g/cc or less, a melt index (I2) of from 0.1 to 100 dg/min, a MWD of from 1.5 to 5.0. The resulting ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer may also have a peak melting temperature Tmax second melt satisfying the following relation: Tmax second melt>D*398?245.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Kolb, Agapios K. Agapiou, James M. Farley, Eric J. Markel, Bruce J. Savatsky, Christopher R. Davey, Richard B. Pannell
  • Publication number: 20130143461
    Abstract: Propylene-based polymer compositions are provided comprising propylene and from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of one or more C2 and/or C4-C12 ?-olefins. The polymer compositions have a triad tacticity greater than about 90%, a heat of fusion less than about 75 J/g, and a melt flow rate (MFR) greater than or equal to about 25 g/10 min (230° C., 2.16 kg). Further, the polymer compositions are reactor grade compositions comprising a reactor blend of a first polymer and a second polymer, preferably where both of the first and second polymers are prepared using the same catalyst system. Meltspun nonwoven fabrics, such as meltblown or spunbond fabrics, comprising such polymer compositions are also provided, as well as processes for forming the nonwoven fabrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Galen C. Richeson, Rainer Kolb, Jean-Roch Schauder, Thomas T. Sun