Patents by Inventor Y. Paul Handa
Y. Paul Handa 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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Patent number: 9453090Abstract: Process for producing a thermoplastic polymer foam article includes preparing an expandable polymeric formulation comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a blowing agent blend, forming the formulation into an expandable bead, and expanding the expandable bead to form a thermoplastic polymer foam article. The blowing agent blend includes methyl formate, hydrocarbon, and either carbon dioxide or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a). The blowing agent blend has a higher effective volatility than that of methyl formate alone. A thermoplastic polymer foam article prepared by a process is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORKInventors: Y. Paul Handa, Gary A. Francis, Glenn C. Castner, Mohammad Zafar
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Publication number: 20140187658Abstract: Process for producing a thermoplastic polymer foam article includes preparing an expandable polymeric formulation comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a blowing agent blend, forming the formulation into an expandable bead, and expanding the expandable bead to form a thermoplastic polymer foam article. The blowing agent blend includes methyl formate, hydrocarbon, and either carbon dioxide or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a). The blowing agent blend has a higher effective volatility than that of methyl formate alone. A thermoplastic polymer foam article prepared by a process is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: Pactiv LLCInventors: Y. Paul Handa, Gary A. Francis, Glenn C. Castner, Mohammad Zafar
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Patent number: 8703835Abstract: A blowing agent blend for making thermoplastic polymer foams includes methyl formate. The blowing agent blend can further comprise at least one co-blowing agent. The co-blowing agent is either a physical co-blowing agent (e.g. an inorganic agent, a hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, a hydrocarbon with polar, functional group(s), water or any combination thereof), or a chemical co-blowing agent, or combinations thereof. The thermoplastic polymer foam can be an alkenyl aromatic polymer foam, e.g. a polystyrene foam. The blowing agent blend includes methyl formate and one or more co-blowing agents. The methyl formate-based blowing agent blends produce dimensionally stable foams that have improved resistance to flame spread. A process for the preparation of such foams is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Pactiv LLCInventors: Y. Paul Handa, Gary A. Francis, Glenn C. Castner, Mohammad Zafar
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Patent number: 8598244Abstract: A blowing agent blend for making thermoplastic polymer foams includes methyl formate. The blowing agent blend can further comprise at least one co-blowing agent. The co-blowing agent is either a physical co-blowing agent (e.g. an inorganic agent, a hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, a hydrocarbon with polar, functional group(s), water or any combination thereof), or a chemical co-blowing agent, or combinations thereof. The thermoplastic polymer foam can be an alkenyl aromatic polymer foam, e.g. a polystyrene foam. The blowing agent blend includes methyl formate and one or more co-blowing agents. The methyl formate-based blowing agent blends produce dimensionally stable foams that have improved resistance to flame spread. A process for the preparation of such foams is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Pactiv LLCInventors: Y. Paul Handa, Gary A. Francis, Glenn C. Castner, Mohammad Zafar
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Publication number: 20130011648Abstract: A blowing agent blend for making thermoplastic polymer foams includes methyl formate. The blowing agent blend can further comprise at least one co-blowing agent. The co-blowing agent is either a physical co-blowing agent (e.g. an inorganic agent, a hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, a hydrocarbon with polar, functional group(s), water or any combination thereof), or a chemical co-blowing agent, or combinations thereof. The thermoplastic polymer foam can be an alkenyl aromatic polymer foam, e.g. a polystyrene foam. The blowing agent blend includes methyl formate and one or more co-blowing agents. The methyl formate-based blowing agent blends produce dimensionally stable foams that have improved resistance to flame spread. A process for the preparation of such foams is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Inventors: Y. Paul Handa, Gary A. Francis, Glenn C. Castner, Mohammad Zafar
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Publication number: 20130011647Abstract: A blowing agent blend for making thermoplastic polymer foams includes methyl formate. The blowing agent blend can further comprise at least one co-blowing agent. The co-blowing agent is either a physical co-blowing agent (e.g. an inorganic agent, a hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, a hydrocarbon with polar, functional group(s), water or any combination thereof), or a chemical co-blowing agent, or combinations thereof. The thermoplastic polymer foam can be an alkenyl aromatic polymer foam, e.g. a polystyrene foam. The blowing agent blend includes methyl formate and one or more co-blowing agents. The methyl formate-based blowing agent blends produce dimensionally stable foams that have improved resistance to flame spread. A process for the preparation of such foams is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Inventors: Y. Paul Handa, Gary A. Francis, Glenn C. Castner, Mohammad Zafar
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Patent number: 8309619Abstract: A blowing agent blend for making thermoplastic polymer foams includes methyl formate. The blowing agent blend can further comprise at least one co-blowing agent. The co-blowing agent is either a physical co-blowing agent (e.g. an inorganic agent, a hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, a hydrocarbon with polar, functional group(s), water or any combination thereof), or a chemical co-blowing agent, or combinations thereof. The thermoplastic polymer foam can be an alkenyl aromatic polymer foam, e.g. a polystyrene foam. The blowing agent blend includes methyl formate and one or more co-blowing agents. The methyl formate-based blowing agent blends produce dimensionally stable foams that have improved resistance to flame spread. A process for the preparation of such foams is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Pactiv LLCInventors: Y. Paul Handa, Gary A. Francis, Glenn C. Castner, Mohammad Zafar
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Patent number: 8026291Abstract: Expanded and extruded polyolefin foams are obtained using environmentally benign non-VOC methyl formate as a blowing agent. The blowing agent can be a blend further including at least one co-blowing agent, preferably an environmentally friendly species (e.g., non-VOC), which is either a physical co-blowing agent (e.g. an inorganic agent, a hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, a hydrocarbon with polar, functional group(s) or any combination thereof), or a chemical co-blowing agent, or combinations thereof. The blowing agent blend can include any combination of methyl formate and one or more co-blowing agents. The polymer foam can include polyethylene, polypropylene or a combination thereof. The methyl formate-based blowing agent blends produce stable foams for various applications, including containers, packaging systems, as well as for insulation and protective cushioning. Processes for the preparation of such foams are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2007Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Y. Paul Handa, Gary A. Francis
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Patent number: 7977397Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising blends of alkenyl aromatic polymers such as styrenic polymers (i.e. PS and HIPS) and bio-based or biodegradable polymers (i.e. PLA, PGA, PHA, PBS, PCL) compatibilized with styrene-based copolymers (i.e. styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymers, maleated SEBS, styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate (SMMA) copolymer) or a mixture of two or more styrene-based copolymers such as SEBS and SMA. These novel compositions can be extruded and thermoformed to produce very low density food service and consumer foam articles such as plates, hinged lid containers, trays, bowls, and egg cartons with good mechanical properties.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Yunwa Wilson Cheung, David V. Dobreski, Richard Turner, Mark Wheeler, Y. Paul Handa
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Patent number: 7872056Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising blends of alkenyl aromatic polymers such as styrenic polymers (i.e. PS and HIPS) and bio-based or biodegradable polymers (i.e. PLA, PGA, PHA, PBS, PCL) compatibilized with styrene-based copolymers (i.e. styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymers, maleated SEBS, styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate (SMMA) copolymer) or a mixture of two or more styrene-based copolymers such as SEBS and SMA. These novel compositions can be extruded and thermoformed to produce very low density food service and consumer foam articles such as plates, hinged lid containers, trays, bowls, and egg cartons with good mechanical properties.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2009Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Yunwa Wilson Cheung, David V. Dobreski, Richard Turner, Mark Wheeler, Y. Paul Handa
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Patent number: 7846987Abstract: Expanded and extruded biodegradable polymer foams are obtained using biodegradable polymers and environmentally benign non-VOC methyl formate as a blowing agent. The blowing agent can be a blend further including at least one co-blowing agent, preferably an environmentally friendly species (e.g., non-VOC), which is either a physical co-blowing agent (e.g. an inorganic agent, a hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, a hydrocarbon with polar, functional group(s), water or any combination thereof), or a chemical co-blowing agent, or combinations thereof. The blowing agent blend can include any combination of methyl formate and one or more co-blowing agents. The polymer foam can include a biodegradable polymer or its blends with other biodegradable polymers or conventional (non-biodegradable) polymers. The methyl formate-based blowing agent blends produce stable foams for various applications, including containers, packaging systems, as well as for insulation and protective cushioning.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventor: Y. Paul Handa
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Publication number: 20090123728Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising blends of alkenyl aromatic polymers such as styrenic polymers (i.e. PS and HIPS) and bio-based or biodegradable polymers (i.e. PLA, PGA, PHA, PBS, PCL) compatibilized with styrene-based copolymers (i.e. styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymers, maleated SEBS, styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate (SMMA) copolymer) or a mixture of two or more styrene-based copolymers such as SEBS and SMA. These novel compositions can be extruded and thermoformed to produce very low density food service and consumer foam articles such as plates, hinged lid containers, trays, bowls, and egg cartons with good mechanical properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2009Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: PACTIV CORPORATIONInventors: Yunwa Wilson Cheung, David V. Dobreski, Richard Turner, Mark Wheeler, Y. Paul Handa
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Publication number: 20080146686Abstract: Expanded and extruded biodegradable polymer foams are obtained using biodegradable polymers and environmentally benign non-VOC methyl formate as a blowing agent. The blowing agent can be a blend further including at least one co-blowing agent, preferably an environmentally friendly species (e.g., non-VOC), which is either a physical co-blowing agent (e.g. an inorganic agent, a hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, a hydrocarbon with polar, functional group(s), water or any combination thereof), or a chemical co-blowing agent, or combinations thereof. The blowing agent blend can include any combination of methyl formate and one or more co-blowing agents. The polymer foam can include a biodegradable polymer or its blends with other biodegradable polymers or conventional (non-biodegradable) polymers. The methyl formate-based blowing agent blends produce stable foams for various applications, including containers, packaging systems, as well as for insulation and protective cushioning.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventor: Y. Paul Handa
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Patent number: 7045556Abstract: A blowing agent blend for making polyolefin foams comprising isopentane and at least one co-blowing agent. The co-blowing agent is either a physical co-blowing agent having a boiling point less than 28° C., or a chemical co-blowing agent, or combinations thereof. The blowing agent blend comprises less than about 99 mol % isopentane.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2002Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Pactiv CorporationInventors: Y. Paul Handa, Jiayan Gu
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Publication number: 20040006149Abstract: A blowing agent blend for making polyolefin foams comprising isopentane and at least one co-blowing agent The co-blowing agent is either a physical co-blowing agent having a boiling point less than 28° C., or a chemical co-blowing agent, or combinations thereof The blowing agent blend comprises less than about 99 mol % isopentane.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2002Publication date: January 8, 2004Inventors: Y. Paul Handa, Jiayan Gu
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Patent number: 5955511Abstract: The invention disclosed provides a method for producing ultramicrocellular polymer foams at low pressures. A polymer is saturated with a blowing agent at low temperatures and pressures within a short time period, due to retrograde vitrification. The blowing agent may be in the form of a gas or a volatile liquid. Polymer-blowing agent combinations are selected to provide a processing temperature/pressure in the area below the positive slope portion of the retrograde vitrification profile of the glass transition temperature of the polymer versus pressure. The polymer thus saturated has an exceptionally high blowing agent content, and is then foamed to produce materials with small cells and high cell density.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1998Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Inventors: Y. Paul Handa, Zhiyi Zhang