Utilizing An Apparatus With Two Or More Physically Distinct Zones Patents (Class 525/53)
  • Patent number: 7687588
    Abstract: A process for the gas-phase polymerization of ?-olefÊns CH2?CHR, where R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical having 1-12 carbon atoms, carried out in a first and a second interconnected polymerization zones, wherein the growing polymer particles flow through the first of said polymerization zones (riser) under fast fluidization conditions, leave said riser and enter the second of said polymerization zones (downcomer) through which they flow downward in a densified form, leave said downcomer and are reintroduced into said riser, in which process: (a) the gas mixture present in the riser is totally or partially prevented from entering the downcomer, and (b) the gaseous composition inside a portion of the downcomer is maintained substantially similar to the gaseous composition reacting in the riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Basel Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.
    Inventors: Gabriele Mei, Joachim T. M. Pater, Gerben Meier, Pietro Baita
  • Patent number: 7687589
    Abstract: A method for the continuous production of polydienes, the method comprising the steps of (a) charging a mixture of one or more monomer, catalyst system, and less than 50% weight percent organic solvent based on the total weight of the monomer, catalyst and solvent, into first vessel, (b) polymerizing the monomer to a conversion of up to 20% by weight of the monomer to form a mixture of reactive polymer and monomer, (c) removing the mixture of reactive polymer and monomer from the vessel, and (d) terminating the reactive polymer prior to a total monomer conversion of 25% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy L. Tartamella, William M. Cole, Mark Smale
  • Patent number: 7683141
    Abstract: The present invention relates in a first embodiment to a polymer film comprising a propylene random copolymer with a total comonomer content of 4.5 to 12 mol % wherein the sealing initiation temperature SIT of the film is Tm?30° C. or less, preferably Tm?33° C. or less, in a second embodiment to a polymer film comprising a propylene random copolymer with a total comonomer content of 4.5 to 12 mol % wherein the film is having a relative reduction of the static friction value (inside-inside) from one to four days of 35% or more, preferably 40% or more, in a third embodiment to a polymer film comprising a propylene random copolymer with a total comonomer content of 4.5 to 12 mol % wherein the distribution of the comonomer in the random copolymer determined according to TREF method is multimodal, preferably bimodal, in a fourth embodiment to a polymer film comprising a propylene random copolymer with a total comonomer content of 4.5 to 12 mol %, wherein the copolymer is having an elution interval of 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Pirjo Jaaskelainen, Markus Gahleitner, Manfred Kirchberger, Paivi Pitkanen
  • Publication number: 20100063207
    Abstract: A polyolefin composition comprising, in percent by weight: A) 10-25% of a propylene homopolymer or copolymer with up to 8% of comonomer(s); B) 75-90% of a copolymer of ethylene and (i) propylene or (ii) CH2?CHR alpha-olefins, where R is a 2-8 carbon alkyl radical, or (iii) a combination thereof, optionally with minor amounts of a diene, containing from 54 to 65% of ethylene; wherein the weight ratio B/XS of the content B of copolymer component (B) to the fraction XS soluble in xylene at room temperature, both referred to the total weight of (A)+(B), is of 1.50 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Basell Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo Goberti, Giampaolo Pellegatti, Letizia Baraldi
  • Publication number: 20100056719
    Abstract: Polyolefin compositions, comprising (percent by weight): 1) 55-80% of a homopolymer or copolymer of propylene, said copolymer containing up to 15% of ethylene and/or C4-C10 ?-olefin(s). 2) 20-45% of a copolymer of ethylene with one or more C4-C10 ?-olefin(s) containing from 10 to 40% of said C4-C10 ?-olefin(s); said compositions having values of MFR (230° C., 2.16 kg) up to 20 g/10 min, a total content of ethylene of 20% or more, a total content of C4-C10 ?-olefin(s) of 4.5% or more, a ratio of the total content of ethylene to the total content of C4-C10 ?-olefin(s) of 2.3 or more, a total fraction soluble in xylene at room temperature of 18 wt % or higher and flexural modulus, referred to the composition as a reactor grade, of more than 700 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Basell Poliolefine Italy s.r.I.
    Inventors: Roberta Marzolla, Marco Ciarafoni, Michele Grazzi, Paola Massari, Jean News
  • Publication number: 20100041825
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for degassing polymer powder comprising flushing the polymer powder in a first chamber with a first flow of flushing gas, transferring the polymer powder into a second chamber and flushing the polymer powder with a second flow of flushing gas in said second chamber. The present invention also relates to a system suitable for carrying out this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventors: Eric Damme, Marc Moers, Lieven Van Looveren
  • Patent number: 7662892
    Abstract: This invention relates to a continuous process to prepare olefin impact copolymers comprising producing a semi-crystalline olefin polymer in a first reactor and then transferring the reactor contents to a second reactor where a low crystallinity olefin polymer is produced in the presence of the semi-crystalline polymer, where a fluorinated hydrocarbon is present in the polymerization medium of the first reactor, the second reactor or both reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Peijun Jiang, John Richard Shutt, Charles Stanley Speed, Pradeep P. Shirodkar, Robert Olds Hagerty, Larry L. Iaccino
  • Patent number: 7649052
    Abstract: A heterophasic polyolefin composition comprising: (A) 50-0% of a crystalline propylene polymer; (B) 5-20% of a first elastomeric copolymer of ethylene with at least a C3-C8 ?-olefin comonomer; and (C) 10-45% of a second elastomeric copolymer of ethylene with at least a C3-C8 ?-olefin comonomer; wherein the ratio between the ethylene content of the fraction insoluble in xylene at room temperature (C2xif) multiplied by the weight percentage of the fraction insoluble in xylene at room temperature (% XIF) and the ethylene content of the fraction soluble in xylene at room temperature (C2xsf) multiplied by the weight percentage of fraction soluble in xylene at room temperature (% SXF) satisfies the following relation (I): C 2 ? xif × % ? XIF C 2 ? xsf × % ? SXF > 0.01 ? x + 0.261 , wherein x is the total amount of ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.
    Inventors: Paola Massari, Jean News, Marco Ciarafoni
  • Patent number: 7645835
    Abstract: Blend compositions containing a novel homopolymer, the use of which allows the incorporation of more comonomer in the additional components of the blend (for the same overall density) resulting in increased tie molecule formation and improvement in properties such as ESCR, toughness and impact strength are disclosed. The homopolymers are important for applications where a high density is needed to ensure certain mechanical properties like abrasion resistance, indentation resistance, pressure resistance, topload resistance, modulus of elasticity, or morphology (for the chlorination of PE to CPE) and additional advantages such as melt processability. The blend can be obtained by dry or melt mixing the already produced components, or through in-situ production by in parallel and/or in series arranged reactors. These resins can be used in applications such as films, blow molded, injection molded, and rotomolded articles, fibers, and cable and wire coatings and jacketings and, various forms of pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jozef J. Van Dun, Akira Miyamoto, Grant B. Jacobsen, Fumio Matsushita, Patrick J. Schouterden, Lee Spencer, Pak-Wing S. Chum, Larry A. Meiske, Peter L. Wauteraerts
  • Publication number: 20090275698
    Abstract: A process for making modified polybutylene terephthalate random copolymers from a polyethylene terephthalate component includes reacting an oligomeric diol component selected from the group consisting of bis(hydroxybutyl)terephthalate, bis(hydroxybutyl)isophthalate, hydroxybutyl-hydroxyethyl terephthalate, and combinations thereof to a reactor; (i) a polyethylene terephthalate component selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate copolymers with (ii) a diol component selected from the group consisting of 1,4-butanediol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and combinations thereof, in the reactor under conditions sufficient to depolymerize the polyethylene terephthalate component into a first molten mixture; combining the first molten mixture is combined with 1,4-butanediol under conditions to form a second molten mixture; and placing the second molten mixture under conditions sufficient to produce the modified polybutylene terephthalate random copolymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Gomatam Raghavan Ravi, Deepak Ramaraju, Srinivasan Krishnaswami
  • Patent number: 7601787
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The polymerization is performed in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system in two slurry reaction zones. Most of the polyethylene (70-95 wt. %) is produced in one of the zones, while a smaller fraction is produced in the other zone. The ratio of the weight average molecular weight of the smaller fraction to that of the larger fraction is greater than 8:1. The resulting polyethylene blend, which should have both high melt strength and high extrudate swell, will be useful for blow-molding applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, IP
    Inventors: Harilaos Mavridis, Manivakkam J. Shankernararayanan
  • Publication number: 20090234059
    Abstract: The present invention provides a block copolymer composition and method of making the same having the structures (A2-B)n-X-(A1) or (A2-B2)n-X-(B1A1), where A1 and A2 are each a polymer block of a monoalkenyl arene and B, B1, and B2 are each a polymer block of one or more conjugated dienes or a hydrogenated diene polymer, n is an integer from 2 to 30 and X is the residue of a coupling agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: KRATON POLYMERS US LLC
    Inventors: Dale Lee Handlin, JR., Peter Pasman, Glenn H. Fredrickson, Carl L. Willis, Robert C. Bening
  • Patent number: 7579422
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a propylene random copolymer comprising polymerization of propylene with a comonomer, said comonomer being ethylene or an ?-olefin comprising at least four carbon atoms, in the presence of a catalyst in a multistage process comprising polymerization of propylene with a comonomer in a first reaction zone including at least one slurry reactor to give a first polymerization product, transferring said first product to a second reaction zone including at least one gas phase reactor and polymerisations of propylene with a comonomer in said gas phase reactor in the presence of said first polymerization product, wherein the temperature in the gas phase reactor is at least 10° C. higher than in the slurry reactor and to a polymer obtainable by this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Pirjo Jaaskelainen, Norbert Hafner, Paivi Pitkanen, Markus Gahleitner, Olli Tuominen, Wilfried Toltsch
  • Patent number: 7576166
    Abstract: A process for producing bimodal linear low-density polyethylene polymer compositions, useful for making films. The polymer compositions have a melt flow rate MFR2 of 0.4 to 1.0 g/10 min and a density of 918 to 925 kn/m3. The process to produce the polymer compositions involves copolymerizing ethylene with an alpha-olefin comonomer in a loop reactor to produce a low molecular weight polymer having a melt flow rate MFR2 of 50 to 500 g/10 min and a density of 945 to 953 kg/m3. The polymerization is continued in a gas phase reactor to produce a high molecular weight polymer, such that the final polymer composition has the desired properties. The final composition contains from 41 to 48% by weight of the low molecular weight polymer and from 59 to 52% by weight of the high molecular weight polymer. The resulting films have an excellent visual appearance and good mechanical properties. The compositions can easily be converted to films. The process can be operated a long time without a shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Jari Äärilä, Irene Helland, Ole Jan Myhre, Jorunn Nilsen, Markku Vahteri
  • Publication number: 20090203841
    Abstract: In a golf ball composed of a core and a cover having a plurality of layers that encloses the core, at least a first layer of the cover is formed primarily of a heated mixture of (A) a metal ion neutralization product of an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer and/or a metal ion neutralization product of an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer, (B) at least one type of olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer and/or olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer having the same content of unsaturated carboxylic acid as component A, and (C) a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer; and at least one other cover layer adjoining the at least first cover layer is formed primarily of a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Rinya TAKESUE
  • Publication number: 20090198015
    Abstract: A screw cap is disclosed comprising a composition based on a multimodal ethylene polymer having a standard density (SD) greater than 950 kg/m3 and a melt flow index MI2 of less than 10 g/10 min, said multimodal ethylene polymer comprising from 35 to 65 wt %, based on the total weight of the multimodal ethylene polymer, of a fraction of ethylene polymer (A) having an SD(A) of more than 965 kg/m3 and a melt flow index MI2(A) of at least 10 g/10 min, and from 65 to 35 wt % based on the total weight of the multimodal ethylene polymer, of a fraction of a copolymer (B) of ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin containing from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and having a melt flow index MI2(B) of less than 10 g/10 min and a content of said alpha-olefin(s) of from 0.1 to 5 mol %. This composition is said to demonstrate an excellent balance between ESCR, injectability and impact resistance, together with excellent organoleptic properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Ineos Manufacturing Belgium NV
    Inventors: Guy DE CAMBRY DE BAUDIMONT, Pascal VANDEN BERGHE
  • Publication number: 20090171019
    Abstract: The method for producing a propylene-ethylene block copolymer in accordance with the present invention has: a first polymerization process which is performed using two or more polymerization tanks connected in series and in which a solid catalyst or a prepolymerized catalyst containing a solid catalyst, and propylene are continuously supplied to a first polymerization tank; and a second polymerization process in which propylene, ethylene, and polypropylene particles continuously extracted from the last polymerization tank of the first polymerization process are supplied to a polymerization tank to produce a propylene-ethylene block copolymer, wherein the average retention time of the polypropylene particles in each polymerization tank of the first polymerization process is 0.1 to 1.5 h and the sum total of average retention times of polypropylene particles in the polymerization tanks of the first polymerization process is 1.5 to 3.0 h.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Shin-ichi KUMAMOTO, Noriyuki Satou, Masaki Endo
  • Publication number: 20090171020
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a non-glossy rubber modified aromatic vinyl-vinyl cyanide copolymer and a method for continuously preparing the same. The copolymer comprises about 80 to about 93% by weight of an aromatic vinyl-vinyl cyanide copolymer grafted onto about 7 to about 20% by weight of a diene-based rubber, and a dispersed phase of the copolymer has an average rubber particle diameter of about 6 to about 20 ?m and a span of about 1.2 to about 2.8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: CHEIL INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Hwan Seok Park, Young Sub Jin, Jae Keun Hong, Sung Kwan Kim, Byeong Do Lee, Ho Ryong Sun, Seung Dae Lee
  • Publication number: 20090171018
    Abstract: Elastoplastic polyolefin composition comprising, in percent by weight: A) 10-50% of a copolymer of propylene with one or more comonomer(s) selected from ethylene and CH2?CHR alpha-olefins where R is a 2-8 carbon alkyl, which copolymer contains from 1 to 8% of comonomer(s); B) 50-90% of a copolymer of ethylene and (i) propylene or (ii) CH2?CHR alpha-olefins, where R is a 2-8 carbon alkyl radical, or (iii) a combination thereof, optionally with minor amounts of a diene, containing from 57 to 80% of ethylene; wherein the weight ratio B/XS of the content B of copolymer component (B) to the fraction XS soluble in xylene at room temperature, both referred to the total weight of (A)+(B), is of 1.5 or less, and the intrinsic viscosity [?] of the said XS fraction is of 3 dl/g or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Giampaolo Pellegatti, Paolo Goberti, Michael Balow, Robert Butala
  • Publication number: 20090163643
    Abstract: Isotactic polypropylene ethylene-propylene copolymer blends and in-line processes for producing them. The blend of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene copolymer may have between 1 and 50 wt % of isotactic polypropylene with a melt flow rate of between 0.5 and 20,000 g/10 min and a melting peak temperature of 145° C. or higher, and wherein the difference between the DSC peak melting and the peak crystallization temperatures is less than or equal to 0.5333 times the melting peak temperature minus 41.333° C., and between 50 and 99 wt % of ethylene-propylene copolymer including between 10 wt % and 20 wt % randomly distributed ethylene with a melt flow rate of between 0.5 and 20,000 g/10 min, wherein the copolymer is polymerized by a bulk homogeneous polymerization process, and wherein the total regio defects in the continuous propylene segments of the copolymer is between 40 and 150% greater than a copolymer of equivalent melt flow rate and wt % ethylene polymerized by a solution polymerization process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Gabor Kiss, Patrick Brant, Robert Partick Reynolds, JR., Aspy K. Mehta, Manika Varma-Nair, John W. Chu, Steven P. Rucker
  • Publication number: 20090163642
    Abstract: An in-line fluid phase process for blending low crystallinity polymer components (LCPCs) and high crystallinity polymer components (HCPCs) to form pellet-stable polyolefin pellets is provided. The in-line process for producing the blend includes providing two or more parallel reactor trains and one or more separators for product blending and product-feed separation; wherein the two or more reactor trains producting the LCPC and HCPC blend components operate under fluid phase bulk homogeneous conditions, and at least one of the reactor trains operates under supercritical conditions. The HCPC blend component is a high crystallinity polypropylene-based polymer. The LCPC blend component is a low crystallinity ethylene-based or propylene-based polymer. The resultant blend pellets exhibit a reduced tendency or an eliminated tendency to agglomerate during shipping, handling and storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Gabor Kiss, Alan Anthony Galuska
  • Patent number: 7531605
    Abstract: A process for producing a polyolefin-based resin composition comprises, in the first polymerization stage, polymerizing an ?-olefin having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, a styrene or a cyclic olefin in the presence of a specific catalyst and, in the second polymerization stage, copolymerizing the obtained polymer with an ?-olefin having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, a styrene or a cyclic olefin in the presence of a polyene. A polypropylene composition has a branching parameter a and a branching index g in specific ranges. The curve showing the change in viscosity under elongation with time, the degradation parameter D or the content of a high molecular weight component is specified. The polyolefin-based resin composition exhibits excellent uniformity and improved workability in melting due to improved tension in melted condition. The polypropylene composition exhibits excellent melting elasticity and secondary workability and provides foamed molded articles, sheets and blow molded articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Machida, Masayuki Shinohara, Tatsuya Housaki
  • Patent number: 7524897
    Abstract: A film with a broad molecular weight distribution, excellent impact strength and a high dart drop value or moderate dart drop value accompanied by good optical property consisting of a bimodal terpolymer comprising a low molecular weight homopolymer of ethylene and a high molecular weight terpolymer of ethylene, 1-butene and a C6 to C12 alpha-olefin, or a bimodal terpolymer comprising a low mo-lecular weight polymer which is a binary copolymer of ethylene and a C4 to C12 alpha-olefin and a high molecular weight polymer which is either a binary copolymer of ethylene and 1-butene, if the low molecular weight polymer is a binary co-polymer of ethylene and a C6 to C12 alpha-olefin, or a terpolymer of ethylene, 1 -butene and a C6 to C12 alpha-olefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Jari {umlaut over ( )}Äärilä, Marja Ora, Tuula Sivonen, Markku Vahteri
  • Patent number: 7524903
    Abstract: A process for preparing heterophasic propylene copolymers by polymerizing propylene in the presence of a polymerization catalyst and hydrogen as a molecular weight regulator, the process comprising the following steps: a) polymerizing in gas- or liquid-phase propylene to prepare a crystalline polymer fraction; b) copolymerizing ethylene with propylene and/or 1-butene, and optionally one or more alpha-olefin comonomers C5-C12, in a gas-phase reactor having interconnected polymerization zones, wherein the growing polymer particles flow upward through a first polymerization zone (riser) under fast fluidization or transport conditions, leave said riser and enter a second polymerization zone (downcomer) through which they flow downward under the action of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.
    Inventors: Gabriele Mei, Joachim T. M. Pater, Stefano Bertolini
  • Patent number: 7521507
    Abstract: An adhesive blend is described that can include a semi-crystalline copolymer of propylene and at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene and at least one C4 to C20 ?-olefin, the copolymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) from about 15,000 to about 200,000; an melt index (MI) from about 7 dg/min to about 3000 dg/min as measured by ASTM D 1238(B), and a (Mw/Mn) of approximately 2. Various production processes are also described. Also described are adhesive compositions and methods for making adhesive compositions having polymers or polymer blends with melt flow rates (MFRs) equal to and above 250 dg/min. at 230° C. Certain specific embodiments of the invention involve the use of a free radical initiator, e.g., a peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lewtas, Sudhin Datta, Charles Cozewith, Bruce A. Harrington, David J. Lohse, Olivier J. F. Georjon, Anthony G. Karandinos, Keith A. Nelson, Jean M. Tancrede
  • Publication number: 20090082523
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polyethylene resin having excellent slow crack growth property, in particular a resin having excellent durability in a pipe application, which has a specific (a) high-load melt flowrate (HLMFR; HLa), a specific (b) density (Da), and a specific (c) ?-olefin content (Ca) and in which (d) a breaking time (T) measured by notched Lander ESCR, the HLa, and the Ca satisfy log T??2.9×log HLa+5.1×log Ca+6.8. It further relates to a process for producing the resin and to a pipe and a joint each comprising the resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: JAPAN POLYETHYLENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki Saito, Yoshito Sasaki, Tetsuya Yoshikiyo, Hirofumi Nishibu
  • Publication number: 20090076214
    Abstract: A process for in-line blending of plasticizers and polymers is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Gabor Kiss, Alan Anthony Galuska
  • Publication number: 20090062465
    Abstract: The current invention provides a method of improving the efficiency of one or more heat exchangers used in cooperation with a high temperature solution polymerization process. Addition of surface active agents, such as C6 to C22 carboxylic acids, to a two phase liquid-liquid polymer solution downstream of a reactor system and upstream of a heat exchanger system can increase the efficiency of heat exchange by more than 10%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Cheluget, Arun Sood
  • Publication number: 20090054589
    Abstract: The invention is directed an alpha-olefin homo- or copolymer composition comprising at least one (i) alpha-olefin homo- or copolymer component, wherein the alpha-olefin homo- or copolymer composition comprises a decreased amount of C6-C15-oligomers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Torvald Vestberg, Peter Denifl, Timo Leinonen
  • Publication number: 20090048393
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for introducing additives onto a polymer powder. It also provides a method for introducing an additive into a polyolefin powder, which method comprises the following steps: (a) adding the additive in a solvent to form a solution; and (b) introducing the solution to the polymer powder at a temperature of 60° C. or more, wherein, the solution is introduced to the polymer powder by spraying via a heated spraying means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Louis Fouarge, Leopoid D'Hooghe, Marianne Sillis
  • Publication number: 20090043045
    Abstract: A process for preparing polyolefin blends comprising: a) polymerizing in a solution phase propylene or 1-butene to prepare a polymeric solution containing a semicrystalline polymer component; b) polymerizing in a solution phase 1-hexene or 1-octene to prepare a polymeric solution containing an amorphous polymer component; c) mixing the polymeric solutions obtained from steps a) and b); d) subjecting the mixture of step c) to a devolatilization step to separate a polyolefin blend comprising a semicrystalline component and an amorphous component; the polymerization steps a) and b) being carried out in two polymerization reactors connected in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Basell Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.
    Inventors: Luigi Resconi, Daniele Bigiavi
  • Patent number: 7488774
    Abstract: A continuous process for producing high impact polystyrene comprising feeding at least one vinyl aromatic monomer, an elastomer, and a free radical initiator to a first linear flow reactor to form a reaction mixture, polymerizing the reaction mixture in said linear flow reactor to at least the phase inversion point of the mixture, and feeding the reaction mixture from the first linear flow reactor to a second reactor for post-inversion polymerization of the mixture. A method of producing an elastomer-reinforced polymer comprising inverting a reaction mixture comprising at least one vinyl aromatic monomer, an elastomer, and a free radical initiator in a plug flow reactor. A high impact polystyrene reactor system, comprising a linear flow reactor having an inlet and an outlet, and a continuously stirred tank reactor having an inlet in fluid communication with the linear flow reactor outlet and receiving an effluent from the linear flow reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug Berti, Aron Griffith, Jay Reimers, Thanh Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20090029098
    Abstract: Slit films and processes of forming the same are generally described herein. In one embodiment, the slit films include an impact copolymer (ICP) formed of polypropylene and less than about 8 wt. % total ethylene, wherein the slit film exhibits less shrinkage and higher tenacity than a slit film formed from an ICP having greater than 10 wt. % ethylene. In one embodiment, the slit films include an impact copolymer including propylene and ethylene, wherein the slit film is absent another polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Ashbaugh, William R. Wheat
  • Patent number: 7482406
    Abstract: Olefin polymer composition comprising (by weight, unless otherwise specified): A) 60-95% of a propylene homopolymer or copoloymer having a Polydispersity Index (P.I.) value of from 4.6 to 10 and a content of isotactic pentads (mmmm), measured by 13C NMR on the fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C., higher than 98 molar, B) 5-40% of a copolymer of ethylene containing from 40% to 70% of propylene or C4-C10 ?-olefins) or of combinations thereof, and optionally minor proportions of a diene; said composition having a Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (TREF) profile, obtained by fractionation in xylene and collection of fractions at temperatures of 40° C., 80° C. and 90° C., in which the ethylene content Y of the fraction collected at 90° C. satisfies the following relation (1): Y??0.8+0.035X+0.0091X2 wherein X is the ethylene content of the fraction collected at 40° C. and both X and Y are expressed in percent by weight, and a value of intrinsic viscosity [?] of the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.
    Inventors: Jean News, Paola Massari, Hans-Jürgen Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7470756
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a propylene random copolymer comprising polymerisation of propylene with a comonomer, said comonomer being ethylene or an ?-olefin comprising at least four carbon atoms, in the presence of a catalyst in a muiltistage process comprising polymerisation of propylene with a comonomer in a first reaction zone including at least one slurry reactor to give a first polymerisation product, transferring said first product to a second reaction zone including at least one gas phase reactor and polymerisations of propylene with a comonomer in said gas phase reactor in the presence of said first polymerisation product, wherein the temperature in the gas phase reactor is at least 10° C. higher than in the slurry reactor and to a polymer obtainable by this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Pirjo Jääskeläinen, Norbert Hafner, Päivi Pitkänen, Markus Gahleitner, Olli Tuominen, Wilfried Töltsch
  • Patent number: 7452953
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a propylene random copolymer comprising polymerization of propylene with a comonomer, said comonomer being ethylene or an ?-olefin comprising at least four carbon atoms, in the presence of a catalyst in a multistage process comprising polymerization of propylene with a comonomer in a first reaction zone including at least one slurry reactor to give a first polymerization product, transferring said first product to a second reaction zone including at least one gas phase reactor and polymerizations of propylene with a comonomer in said gas phase reactor in the presence of said first polymerization product, wherein the temperature in the gas phase reactor is at least 10° C. higher than in the slurry reactor and to a polymer obtainable by this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Pirjo Jääskeläinen, Norbert Hafner, Päivi Pitkänen, Markus Gahleitner, Olli Tuominen, Wilfried Töltsch
  • Patent number: 7449527
    Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a polyolefin having a multimodal molecular weight distribution, which process comprises: (a) polymerizing a first olefin monomer in the presence of an isomerizable metallocene catalyst, to form a first multi-modal polyolefin component; and (b) polymerizing a second olefin monomer in the presence of a second metallocene catalyst to form a second polyolefin component; wherein the molecular weight distribution of the first polyolefin component overlaps with the molecular weight distribution of the second polyolefin component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventor: Abbas Razavi
  • Publication number: 20080269412
    Abstract: A process for the polymerization of one or more addition polymerizable monomers and the resulting polymer products, said process comprising: 1) contacting an addition polymerizable monomer or mixture of monomers under addition polymerization conditions in a reactor or reactor zone with a composition comprising at least one olefin polymerization catalyst and a cocatalyst and characterized by the formation of polymer chains from said monomer or monomers; 2) transferring the reaction mixture to a second reactor or reactor zone and optionally adding one or more additional reactants, catalysts, monomers or other compounds prior to, commensurate with, or after said transfer; and 3) causing polymerization to occur in said second reactor or reactor zone to form polymer chains that are differentiated from the polymer chains formed in step 1); said process being characterized by addition of a chain shuttling agent to the reaction mixture prior to, during, or subsequent to step 1) such that at least some of the resultin
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund M. Carnahan, Phillip D. Hustad, Roger L. Kuhiman, Timothy T. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 7442743
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a propylene polymer in a multistage polymerization process comprising the polymerisation of propylene in the presence of a catalyst in a first reaction zone comprising at least one slurry reactor to give a first polymerisation product, transferring said first product to a second reaction zone comprising at least one gas phase reactor and continuing polymerisation of propylene in the gas phase in the presence of said first polymerisation product which is characterised in that the temperature in both the slurry and the gas phase reactor is at least 75° C. and the product of at least one reactor is having an ethylene content in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 wt %. Furthermore, the invention relates to a propylene polymer obtainable by the inventive process, to a propylene polymer which is characterised in that it comprises ethylene comonomer in an amount of 0.05 to 0.5 wt. %, is having a xylene solubles contents of 3.0 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Pirjo Jääskeläinen, Marijke Verpoest, Bert Broeders, Helge Grande
  • Patent number: 7427649
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polyethylene composition with multi-modal molecular mass distribution, which is particularly suitable for blow molding of small containers with a volume in the range of from 200 to 5000 cm3 (=ml). The composition has a density in the range of from 0.955 to 0.960 g/cm3 at 23° C. and an MFR190/5 in the range from 0.8 to 1.6 dg/min. It composition from 45 to 55% by weight of a low-molecular-mass ethylene homopolymer A, from 20 to 35% by weight of a high-molecular-mass copolymer B made from ethylene and from another 1-olefin having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and from 20 to 30% by weight of an ultrahigh-molecular-mass ethylene copolymer C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Berthold, Ludwig Böhm, Peter Krümpel, Rainer Mantel
  • Patent number: 7423098
    Abstract: An ethylene polymerization process is disclosed. Ethylene is polymerized in two slurry reaction zones with a C6-C10 alpha-olefin in the presence of a single-site catalyst capable of making a high molecular weight polyolefin. The process yields medium density and linear low density polyethylene having a bimodal molecular weight distribution and a melt index from about 0.10 to about 0.80. Films from the polyethylene have superior impact properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Philip J. Garrison, Charles S. Holland, Mark P. Mack, Linda N. Winslow, Everett O. Lewis, James R. Clark, Leonard V. Cribbs, Bradley P. Etherton, Jean A. Merrick-Mack, Paula L. Nygard
  • Publication number: 20080214699
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing a compatibilized polymeric blend. A first thermoplastic polymer and a reactive moiety are provided to a progressive melt kneading apparatus. The reactive moiety comprises a first reactive group capable of reacting with the first thermoplastic polymer but not a second polymer and a second reactive group capable of reacting with the second polymer but not the first polymer. The first thermoplastic polymer and the reactive moiety are then melt kneaded so that the first reactive group reacts with the first thermoplastic polymer and the second reactive group is grafted to the first thermoplastic polymer, forming a molten self-compatibilizer. A molten second polymer is then provided. The molten self-compatibilizer is melt kneaded with the molten second polymer so that the second reactive group reacts with the second polymer to form a compatibilized polymeric blend. Also provided are articles formed from the compatibilized polymer blend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: PRS Mediterranean Ltd.
    Inventors: Izhar Halahmi, Oded Erez, Adi Erez
  • Publication number: 20080153977
    Abstract: A polymer blend including: (i) a fluoroolefin polymer prepared by a process, including contacting in a first reaction zone an initiator, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene, and optionally, at least one first ethylenically unsaturated comonomer capable of copolymerizing therewith, wherein contacting is carried out at a first temperature, pressure and length of time sufficient to produce the fluoroolefin polymer; and (ii) an acrylic polymer prepared by a process, including contacting in a second reaction zone an initiator, at least one acrylic monomer selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylate ester, methacrylate ester, and a mixture thereof, and optionally, at least one second ethylenically unsaturated comonomer capable of copolymerizing therewith, wherein contacting is carried out at a second temperature, pressure and length of time sufficient to produce the acrylic polymer. Processes for preparing the polymer blends are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: George J. Samuels, Gregory J. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20080139745
    Abstract: A screw cap is disclosed comprising a composition based on a multimodal ethylene polymer having a standard density (SD) greater than 950 kg/m3 and a melt flow index MI2 of less than 10 g/10 min, said multimodal ethylene polymer comprising from 35 to 65 wt %, based on the total weight of the multimodal ethylene polymer, of a fraction of ethylene polymer (A) having an SD(A) of more than 965 kg/m3 and a melt flow index MI2(A) of at least 10 g/10 min, and from 65 to 35 wt % based on the total weight of the multimodal ethylene polymer, of a fraction of a copolymer (B) of ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin containing from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and having a melt flow index MI2(B) of less than 10 g/10 min and a content of said alpha-olefin(s) of from 0.1 to 5 mol %. This composition is said to demonstrate an excellent balance between ESCR, injectability and impact resistance, together with excellent organoleptic properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Guy De Cambry De Baudimont, Pascal Vanden Berghe
  • Publication number: 20080132640
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The polymerization is performed in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system in two slurry reaction zones. Most of the polyethylene (70-95 wt. %) is produced in one of the zones, while a smaller fraction is produced in the other zone. The ratio of the weight average molecular weight of the smaller fraction to that of the larger fraction is greater than 8:1. The resulting polyethylene blend, which should have both high melt strength and high extrudate swell, will be useful for blow-molding applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Harilaos Mavridis, Manivakkam J. Shankernarayanan
  • Patent number: 7378472
    Abstract: The use of a multimodal polyethylene composition comprising as comonomers to ethylene at least two C4-12 alpha olefins in injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Hans Jörg Fell, Philipp Walter
  • Patent number: 7365136
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a high melt strength propylene polymer or copolymer suitable for manufacturing foams and thermoformed product exhibiting a melt strength of at least 3 g and comprising a high molar mass portion and a low or medium molar mass portion. The polymers are produced by subjecting propylene and optionally other olefins to polymerization in a plurality of polymerization reactors connected in series, employing different amounts of hydrogen as a molar mass modifier in at least two of the reactors, and carrying out the polymerization reaction in the presence of a catalyst system capable of catalyzing the formation of a high molar mass polymerization product having a MFR2 of less than 0.1 g/10 min and a low or medium molar mass polymerization product having a MFR2 of more than 0.5 g/10 min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Paivi Huovinen, Ali Harlin, Pirjo Jaaskelainen, Amir Karbasi, Nina Manner
  • Patent number: 7351777
    Abstract: This invention is a process to manufacture high quality vinyl aromatic polymer that is essentially free of unreacted vinyl aromatic monomer using retarded anionic polymerization wherein the retardant is insoluble and can be removed from the polymerization at an intermediate stage so that the polymerization can be carried to completion in the absence of the retardant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventors: Eugene R. Moore, Duane B. Priddy, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7351776
    Abstract: A method for the continuous production of polydienes, the method comprising the steps of (a) charging a mixture of one or more monomer, catalyst system, and less than 50% weight percent organic solvent based on the total weight of the monomer, catalyst and solvent, into first vessel, (b) polymerizing the monomer to a conversion of up to 20% by weight of the monomer to form a mixture of reactive polymer and monomer, (c) removing the mixture of reactive polymer and monomer from the vessel, and (d) terminating the reactive polymer prior to a total monomer conversion of 25% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy L. Tartamella, William M. Cole, Mark Smale
  • Patent number: 7348381
    Abstract: Provided herein are propylene polymers which are capable of being used as thermoplastic polyolefins just as they emerge from the reactor system described, without further compounding of components which substantially modify the physical properties of the polymers, as such compounding is required of polymers of the prior art. Polymers according to the invention unexpectedly possess both low temperature ductility and high flexural modulus, which properties were related in inverse proportion to one another in the polymers of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Flint Hills Resources, LP
    Inventors: Bill R. Bodiford, Lixin Sun, Gerald Cummings, Pierre Donaldson, George Allen