Patents Represented by Attorney Tenley R. Krueger
  • Patent number: 7494627
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an injector nozzle defining a passage for a flow of reactants to be injected into a loop reactor suitable for olefin slurry polymerization, consisting essentially of a fluid conduit extending into a discharge orifice portion to be connected to an opening in the reactor wherein the passage of the discharge orifice portion has a non-circular cross-section and the passage of the fluid conduit has a circular cross-section. The invention also relates to the use of the injector nozzle for injecting reactants into a loop reactor suitable for olefin polymerization reaction, wherein said injector nozzle is connected on an inner three quarter circle on or above an elbow section of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: TOTAL Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventor: Marc Moers
  • Patent number: 7495139
    Abstract: Alkylation systems and methods are described herein and generally include contacting an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon with a cerium promoted zeolite catalyst and then contacting the alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon with an alkylation catalyst to form a second aromatic hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Kevin P. Kelly
  • Patent number: 7495045
    Abstract: Asphalt and polymer mixtures treated with an inorganic acid and cross-linked with sulfur and/or other crosslinkers or accelerators gives a polymer modified asphalt with improved high temperature properties. The acid should be added to the asphalt before the crosslinker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Buras, William Lee
  • Patent number: 7488790
    Abstract: The present invention discloses the use of a supercritical fluid to improve the homogeneity of heterogeneous bi- or multi-modal resins resulting from a physical or a chemical blend of two or more fractions of the same type of polymer resin, said fractions having different molecular weights or of two or more polymer resins having different chemical compositions, or both. It also discloses the use of a supercritical fluid to improve the dispersion of additives or fillers into a polymer resin. It further discloses the process for preparing the homogeneous resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventors: Marc Dupire, Tom Lindt, Guy Debras
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7473743
    Abstract: This invention discloses the use in the production of a polyolefin of a slurry loop reactor wherein all internal parts in contact with the slurry are polished first by a mechanical process to a level of at most 70 RMS roughness value and are subsequently polished by a chemical or electrochemical process, to a final level of at most 40 RMS roughness value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: TOTAL Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventors: Louis Fouarge, Marc Van der Auwera
  • Patent number: 7473744
    Abstract: A polymer can be prepared using a loop reactor and process including feeding a process stream through the loop reactor and maintaining the loop reactor at a steady state by controlling a flow of coolant fluid to maintain a temperature in the loop reactor at a preset point. The temperature in the loop reactor may be maintained at a preset point by using a coolant fluid flow controller and valve unit having a substantially linear response over the normal operating range of the controller and valve unit. The normal operating range of the controller and valve unit may be sufficient to provide a flow range not limiting to the throughput of the loop reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Chenoweth, Jeffrey Tilley
  • Patent number: 7473664
    Abstract: Methods of forming polyolefins and catalysts are described herein. Such methods generally include forming Ziegler-Natta catalyst compounds in the absence of one or more blended compounds typically used to form such catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayo Vizzini, David Knoeppel, Steven Gray, David Rauscher, Tim Coffy, Henry Enriquez
  • Patent number: 7468339
    Abstract: An olefin polymerization catalyst may be prepared using a process including contacting a metal compound of the formula M(OR1)2 with a diketone to form a catalyst precursor having the general formula: wherein M is a Group IIA metal; O is oxygen; n=1 or 2; R1, R2, R3, and R4 are the same or different; and are a hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl moiety having from about 1 to about 20 carbons atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim J. Coffy, Steven D. Gray
  • Patent number: 7449529
    Abstract: A polymer, and a process of producing the polymer, that comprises at least one olefin and has an ESCR of 100 hours to 500 hours, a density of 0.955 g/cc to 0.959 g/cc, and a flexural modulus of 140,000 psi to 220,000 psi. An article of manufacture that comprises the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Guenther, Curtis D. Clark
  • Patent number: 7446167
    Abstract: A method of deactivating a polymerization catalyst system comprising contacting the catalyst system with a catalyst deactivation agent wherein the catalyst system comprises an alkyl aluminum cocatalyst and the reaction of the catalyst system and catalyst deactivation agent produces reaction products that are noncorrosive, nongelatinous, or both. A method of inhibiting the polymerization of propylene comprising contacting a polymerization catalyst system with a catalyst deactivation agent wherein the catalyst system comprises an alkyl aluminum cocatalyst and the reaction of the cocatalyst and the catalyst deactivation agent produces reaction products that are noncorrosive, nongelatinous, or both. A method of deactivating a polymerization catalyst system having an alkyl aluminum cocatalyst, comprising contacting the catalyst system with an alcohol, a carboxylic acid, an alkylene glycol, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Blackmon, Joseph L. Thorman
  • Patent number: 7439205
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a transition metal olefin polymerization catalyst component characterized by the formula: where, M is a Group IV or a Group IV transition metal, B is a bridge group containing at least two carbon atoms, A? and A? are organogroups, each containing a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen and phosphorus, X is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine, a C1-C20 alkyl group, a C6-C30 aromatic group and mixtures thereof, and n is 1, 2 or 3. The invention also encompasses a method for the polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which comprises contacting a transition metal catalyst component as characterized by formula (1) above and an activating co-catalyst component in a polymerization reaction zone with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer under polymerization conditions to produce a polymer product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Abbas Razavi, Vladimir Marin, Margarito Lopez
  • Patent number: 7390860
    Abstract: Polymerization processes in a bulk loop reactor are described herein. In particular, a method of contacting a flow of metallocene with a flow of propylene is provided. This method includes directing the flow of metallocene towards a junction, directing the flow of propylene towards the junction and maintaining a portion of the flow of metallocene separate from a portion of the flow propylene within a portion of the junction downstream of the flow of propylene into the junction. In another embodiment, a method of introducing a quantity of antifouling agent into a catalyst mixing system is provided. In this embodiment a portion of the antifouling agent is introduced at or downstream of a point of contact of a stream of propylene with a stream of catalyst. The antifouling agent may be a member, alone or in combination with other members, selected from Stadis 450 Conductivity Improver, Synperonic antifouling agent, and Pluronic antifouling agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Tharappel, Renaud Oreins, William Gauthier, David Attoe, Kevin McGovern, Michel Messiaen, David Rauscher, Kai Hortmann, Michel Daumerie
  • Patent number: 7365138
    Abstract: A method of modifying a Ziegler-Natta type polyolefin catalyst comprises contacting the Ziegler-Natta catalyst with olefin monomer to form a prepolymerized catalyst. The prepolymerized catalyst can comprise a reduced number of catalyst particles having a size of 40 microns or less. The prepolymerized catalyst can be used in a polymerization process to produce polymer fluff particles with a reduced number of polymer fluff fines than the Ziegler-Natta type catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Gray, Tim J Coffy, Edwar S. Shamshoum, Hong Chen
  • Patent number: 7332058
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for devolatilizing a polymer including passing the polymer through a devolatizer including a plate heat exchanger wherein the plates of the plate heat exchanger are heated by a plurality of heating tubes and wherein the heating tube including a return tube nested inside of a supply tube. The use of the disclosed invention allows for a comparatively small heat profile across heating plates as compared to prior art plate heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay Reimers
  • Patent number: 7309742
    Abstract: An impact copolymer having a flexural modulus (ASTM D-790) of at least about 1,100 MPa; a melt flow rate (ASTM D-1238) of at least about 15 g/10 min; and a maximum load under Dynatup Impact test (ASTM D-3763) of equal to or greater than about 1,700 N at a temperature of less than or equal to about ?40° C. and articles of manufacture from same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Poncelet, Jerry Murrey, Doug Burmaster, Marc Mayhall, Owen Hodges
  • Patent number: 7309739
    Abstract: A polymer blend and a method of making the same are provided. The polymer blend includes an ethylene-propylene (C2-C3) random copolymer and a modifier selected from the group consisting of a metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene-based copolymer, a metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene-based terpolymer, and a syndiotactic polypropylene homopolymer. The polymer blend may also include an organic peroxide for visbreaking the polymer blend. An end use article is made from the foregoing polymer blend. The end use article may be, for example, a film, an injection molded article, a compression molded article, a thermoformed article, and a fiber. The end use article is desirably a film having an Elmendorf tear strength of at least about 300 g/ply in the machine and transverse directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Musgrave, Likuo Sun, Mark Miller
  • Patent number: 7282552
    Abstract: A styrene copolymer composition comprising at least one alkyl acrylate and/or at least one alkyl methacrylate wherein the styrene copolymer composition has a bimodal molecular weight distribution. A method of producing a styrene copolymer comprising reacting styrene and at least one alkyl acrylate and/or at least one alkyl methacrylate, wherein the alkyl acrylate comprises an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and the alkyl methacrylate comprises an alkyl group having equal to or greater than 10 carbon atoms. A method of increasing the molecular weight distribution in a styrene copolymer comprising incorporating at least one alkyl acrylate and/or at least one alkyl methacrylate wherein the styrene copolymer has a polydispersity index equal to or greater than 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose M. Sosa, Shazia Ullah, Billy Ellis
  • Patent number: 7220806
    Abstract: A process for preparing low melting copolymers comprising contacting a mixture of olefin monomers with a CpFlu-type metallocene catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to form a copolymer. The copolymers thus prepared desirably display melt temperatures from about 100° C. to about 140° C. and may be produced with reduced amounts of ethylene. The copolymers may also exhibit reduced levels of undesirable xylene solubles, relatively narrow molecular weight distribution, and other improved optical and physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William John Gauthier, Jun Tian, David John Rauscher, Constance Hayworth Patrick, Shady Nader Henry, Nathan Williams
  • Patent number: 7217767
    Abstract: It has been discovered that the properties of sheet or film materials of broad molecular weight distribution ethylene/propylene rubber impact-modified heterophasic copolymer (ICP) can be improved by blending the ICP with a second polyolefin. The second polyolefin may be a syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP), a random copolymer (RCP) of propylene and comonomer (e.g. ethylene and/or butene) made using a Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalyst, medium density polyethylene (MDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), or low crystalline copolymer of propylene/?-olefin. Improvements include, but are not necessarily limited to, reduced motor amps, lower secant modulus, increased dart drop strength, increased gloss, reduced haze, increased elongation to yield, elimination of stress whitening, improved puncture resistance, and decreased seal initiation temperature. This sheet of film materials may be co-extruded with other resins or laminated with other materials after extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Jose Aguirre, Mike McLeod, Rodolfo Mier, Nguong van Nguyen