Abstract: Elastic ethylene polymers are disclosed which have processability similar to highly branched low density polyethylene (LDPE), but the strength and toughness of linear low density polyethylene (LDPE). The polymers have processing indices (PI's) less than or equal to 70 percent of those of a comparative linear ethylene polymer and a critical shear rate at onset of surface melt fracture of at least 50 percent greater than the critical shear rate at the onset of surface melt fracture of a traditional linear ethylene polymer at about the same I2and Mw/Mn. The novel polymers can also have from about 0.01 to about 3 long chain branches/1000 total carbons and have higher low/zero shear viscosity and lower high shear viscosity than comparative linear ethylene polymers. The novel polymers can also be characterized as having a melt flow ratio, I10/I2, ≧5.63, a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, defined by the equation: Mw/Mn≦(I10/I2)−4.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 15, 1999
Date of Patent:
March 18, 2003
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Shih-Yaw Lai, John R. Wilson, George W. Knight, James C. Stevens
Abstract: A process for the preparation of a copolymer comprises reacting in an aqueous medium at a temperature of from 25° C. to 100° C. in the presence of from 1.0-25 weight percent based on the total weight of a), b) and c) of a free-radical initiator,
a) at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated monocarboxylic acids and their salts, &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, their half-esters free of polyoxyalkylene side chains and their salts,
b) at least on olefinic monomer selected from the group consisting of aromatic vinyl compounds, vinyl ethers, vinyl esters, nitrogen-containing vinyl compounds and aliphatic olefins, and
c) from 0.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 14, 2001
Date of Patent:
March 4, 2003
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Juergen Eiffler, Christoph Froehlich, Kerstin Stranimaier
Abstract: The present invention is a polyurethane dispersion that can be used to prepare polyurethane polymers which have moisture resistant properties. Moisture resistant polymers of the present invention are obtained by preparing the polymers from a polyurethane dispersion using a prepolymer formulation which includes an aliphatic mono, di or polyhydroxy compound which has an aliphatic side chain substituent which contains from 5 to 30 carbon atoms.
Abstract: The invention relates to a process to produce polyethylene terephthalate modified with o-phthalic acid units while avoiding any high phthalic acid losses during esterification or polycondensation and while maintaining the favorable use properties effected by the phthalic acid.
According to the present invention, a precondensate made of phthalic anhydride and ethylene glycol in a non-catalytic reaction is added in the esterification and/or polycondensation stages, whereby the ethylene glycol is used at a molar excess of 2 to 3.5 relative to the phthalic anhydride.
Abstract: The subject invention provides a film having at least one layer comprising an interpolymer of ethylene and at least on comonomer selected from the group consisting of C3-C20 &agr;-olefins, dienes, and cycloalkenes, wherein the interpolymer is characterized as having a high degree of processability, good optical performance, and good mechanical properties. The subject invention further provides film fabrication processes and polymer compositions which are useful in preparing the subject films.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 31, 2002
Publication date:
January 30, 2003
Applicant:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Seema V. Karande, Lonnie G. Hazlitt, Pradeep Jain, Kaelyn Koch, Shih-Yaw Lai, Li-Min Tau
Abstract: A two-step method and apparatus for controlling cracking severity in the effluent from a cracking furnace such as an ethylene cracker. The method includes two steps. The first step consists of determining the near infrared spectrum of effluent in-line. The second step consists of changing the temperature and/or residence time of the furnace according to the determination of the first step. The apparatus includes a light source mounted on a conduit for the effluent, a light detector mounted on the opposite side of the conduit from the light source to receive light emitted from the light source, means for sheltering the light source from the effluent, means for sheltering the lights detector from the effluent, means for flowing a fluid past the light source at a higher pressure than the pressure of the effluent; and means for flowing a fluid past the light detector at a higher pressure than the pressure of the effluent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 22, 1996
Date of Patent:
January 28, 2003
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Gerardus J. Timmermans, Henrious J. Morgenstern
Abstract: Elastic ethylene polymers are disclosed which have processability similar to highly branched low density polyethylene (LDPE), but the strength and toughness of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). The polymers have processing indices (PI's) less than or equal to 70 percent of those of a comparative linear ethylene polymer and a critical shear rate at onset of surface melt fracture of at least 50 percent greater than the critical shear rate at the onset of surface melt fracture of a traditional linear ethylene polymer at about the same I2 and Mw/Mn. The novel polymers can also have from about 0.01 to about 3 long chain branches/1000 total carbons and have higher low/zero shear viscosity and lower high shear viscosity than comparative linear ethylene polymers. The novel polymers can also be characterized as having a melt flow ratio, I10/I2, ≧5.63, a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, defined by the equation: Mw/Mn≦(I10/I2)−4.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 18, 2000
Date of Patent:
January 14, 2003
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Shih-Yaw Lai, John R. Wilson, George W. Knight, James C. Stevens
Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of a radioiodinated phenolic compound of the formula
wherein: m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3, X is a group that is negatively or positively charged at physiological pH, R, R1, R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, or a carboxyl group, and I* is 123I, 131I or 125I, and its pharmaceutically-acceptable salts. The compound is formulated and used in vivo in an animal in brachytherapy in an implantable catheter. In addition, due to the rapid renal clearance of these compounds, they may be used to study renal function. A process to prepare these compounds is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2000
Date of Patent:
January 14, 2003
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Jaime Simon, R. Keith Frank, Alan D. Strickland
Abstract: The present invention includes a process of preparing a coupled polymer comprising heating an admixture containing (1) at least one elastomer comprising ethylene and at least one comonomer which is selected from alpha olefins having at least 3 carbon atoms, dienes and combinations thereof and (2) a coupling amount at least one poly(sulfonyl azide) to at least the decomposition temperature of the poly(sulfonyl azide) for a period sufficient for decomposition of at least 80 weight percent of the poly(sulfonyl azide) and sufficient to result in a coupled polymer having a gel content of less than 2 weight percent. The invention includes compositions comprising the reaction product formed by the inventive process. The invention additionally includes articles which comprise a composition of the invention particularly when the article is formed from a melt of the composition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 29, 2001
Date of Patent:
January 14, 2003
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Wendy D. Hoenig, Teresa Karjala, Che-I Kao, Clark H. Cummins, Michael J. Mullins, H. Craig Silvis, Thoi H. Ho
Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of a radioiodinated phenolic compound of the formula
wherein: m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3, X is a group that is negatively or positively charged at physiological pH, R, R1, R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, or a carboxyl group, and I* is 123I, 131I or 125I, and its pharmaceutically-acceptable salts. The compound is formulated and used in vivo in an animal in brachytherapy in an implantable catheter. In addition, due to the rapid renal clearance of these compounds, they may be used to study renal function. A process to prepare these compounds is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2000
Date of Patent:
January 14, 2003
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Jaime Simon, Alan D. Strickland, R. Keith Frank
Abstract: Disclosed are cyclic phosphate esters of fumarate- or maleic acids suitable for use as a comonomer, capable of being copolymerized with a monovinylidene aromatic compounds to impart flame resistant properties to the resultant copolymers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 24, 2001
Date of Patent:
January 7, 2003
Assignees:
The Dow Chemical Company, The University of Akron
Inventors:
Steven R. Mitchell, H. James Harwood, William G. Stobby, Duane B. Priddy, Kyung W. Suh
Abstract: The present invention provides a unitary run flat tire (RFT) reinforcement using filament material that is formed into a relatively rigid shape. The reinforcement is insertable into a mold for an RFT support and can maintain the needed structural rigidity for such insertion. Further, the invention provides an RFT support that is molded and includes the RFT reinforcement. The invention also provides a wheel assembly including a tire, a rim, and an RFT support between the rim and the tire, where the support includes the RFT reinforcement. The RFT support can have a colored indicator formed or subsequently applied thereto to indicate one or more attributes of the support.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 6, 2001
Publication date:
January 2, 2003
Applicant:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Rick L. Tabor, Patricio Jimenez, Wayne R. Wilkomm, Ralph D. Priester, Martin C. Cornell, Chris P. Christenson, Kimberly F. Bennett, Peder E. Danielsen, Jeffery D. Zawisza
Abstract: The present invention relates to elastic articles comprising a crosslinked or crosslinkable ethylene polymer and a method for making the same. In particular, the invention relates to a shaped article (e.g. film or fiber) characterized by improved elasticity at elevated temperatures and comprising a substantially cured, irradiated, or crosslinked (or curable, irradiated or crosslinkable) homogeneously branched ethylene polymer. The improved elastic article of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in applications where good elasticity must be maintained at elevated temperatures such as, for example, personal hygiene items and disposable infection-control garments at body temperatures of about 100° F. (38° C.).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 18, 1999
Date of Patent:
December 31, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Michael F. Langohr, Selim Bensason, Rajen M. Patel, Jill M. Martin, Thoi H. Ho, Nancy J. Schrock
Abstract: Novel composite and humanized anti-TAG-72 monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, and derivatives thereof using human subgroup IV kappa light chain framework regions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 30, 1997
Date of Patent:
December 17, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Peter S. Mezes, Ruth A. Richard, Kimberly S. Johnson, Jeffrey Schlom, Syed V. S. Kashmiri, Liming Shu, Eduardo A. Padlan
Abstract: Fibrous product is externally sized by applying to the material a basic aqueous dispersion of an interpolymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid comonomer. The preferred dispersions which have lower initial viscosities provide dispersion/starch dilute solutions with higher viscosities and improved external sizing effectiveness. Resulting fibrous products are adequately sized and exhibit excellent printability and strength properties.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 3, 1998
Date of Patent:
November 19, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Malcolm F. Finlayson, Kenneth E. Springs, John J. Gathers, James L. Cooper, Walter L. Vaughn, Brian H. Schumann, Stephen M. Oliver
Abstract: Functionalized catalyst supports useful in formation of supported catalyst systems for the polymerization of olefins are disclosed. Methods for preparing functionalized catalyst supports and supported catalyst compositions therefrom as well as polymerization processes utilizing such supported catalysts are also disclosed. The functionalized catalyst support comprises a particulated support material having chemically bonded thereto a plurality of non-ionic, Lewis acid, aluminum-containing groups containing at least one fluoro-substituted hydrocarbyl ligand containing from 1 to 20 carbons bonded to the aluminum, said support being capable of activating a Group 3-10 metal complex for the addition polymerization of one or more addition polymerizable monomers.
Abstract: Sulfonated substantially random interpolymers made from monomer components comprise from 1 to 65 mole percent of (a) at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer, or (b) at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinylidene monomer, or (c) a combination of at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer and at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinylidene monomer, and from 35 to 99 mole percent of at least one aliphatic &agr;-olefin having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms; and optionally, from 0 to 20 mole percent of a diene containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms; wherein the sulfonated interpolymer contains at least one mer (or moiety) of a group represented by the formula —SO3−M where M is hydrogen or a group 1, 7 or 12 metal in ionic form or combination thereof. Blends of these polymers with polyamides and polyolefins are made.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 20, 2000
Date of Patent:
November 12, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Yunwa W. Cheung, Stephen F. Hahn, James C. Stevens, Francis J. Timmers, Gregory F. Schmidt, Thoi H. Ho, Robert H. Terbrueggen
Abstract: Disclosed are stable aqueous polyurethane latexes prepared from prepolymer formulations including a polyisocyanate component and polyol component, wherein from 5 to 40 percent of the weight of the polyol component is ethylene oxide in the form of ethylene oxide applied as an end cap onto a propylene oxide or higher oxyalkylene polyoxyalkylene polyol, and no more than 45 percent of the weight of polyol component is ethylene oxide. These latexes are prepared without the use of organic solvents.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 30, 2002
Publication date:
November 7, 2002
Applicant:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Rick L. Tabor, Douglas R. Moore, James J. Jakubowski, Wayne R. Willkomm, Ruben Solis
Abstract: The present invention relates to functionalized catalyst supports that are useful in the formation of supported polymerization catalysts, supported catalysts derived from such functionalized catalyst supports, methods for preparing such functionalized catalyst supports and supported catalysts, and polymerization processes utilizing such supported catalysts. The functionalized catalyst support comprises a particulated support material having chemically bonded thereto a plurality of aluminum-containing groups derived from a non-ionic Lewis acid, said aluminum-containing groups: containing at least one fluoro-substituted hydrocarbyl ligand containing from 1 to 20 carbons, said hydrocarbyl ligand being bonded to aluminum, and being bonded to said support material, optionally through a bridging moiety, said composition being capable of activating a Group 3-10 metal complex for the addition polymerization of one or more addition polymerizable monomers.
Abstract: Organic compounds are hydrogenated in the presence of certain bis(pentadienyl) divalent Group IV metal complexes having &pgr;-bound, neutral, conjugated diene ligands. These complexes are effective hydrogenation catalysts for polymers containing ethylenic unsaturation. They further provide for selective hydrogenation of ethylenic unsaturation sites in the presence of aromatic groups.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2000
Date of Patent:
November 5, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
David D. Devore, James C. Stevens, Stephen F. Hahn, Francis J. Timmers, David R. Wilson