Patents Assigned to FLOW POLYMERS, LLC
  • Patent number: 10087306
    Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that the silica compounding additives of this invention can be included in silica reinforced rubber formulations to increase the low strain dynamic stiffness exhibited by the rubber composition without a substantial increase in the cured compound hysteresis. This increase in stiffness allows for use of process aids that would otherwise result in an unacceptable further reduction in low strain dynamic stiffness. The present invention specifically discloses a rubber formulation which is comprised of (1) a rubbery polymer, (2) a reinforcing silica, and (3) a silica compounding additive of the structural formula: wherein M represents a divalent metal, and wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, alkylene groups, hydroxyl substituted alkyl or alkylene groups, amine substituted alkyl or alkylene groups and thiol substituted alkyl or alkylene groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Flow Polymers, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, Adeyemi A. Adepetun
  • Patent number: 9777158
    Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that hydroxylated carboxylic acids which contain at least 17 carbon atoms and zinc, aluminum or alkaline earth metal salts thereof, such as zinc ricinoleate, act effectively as deodorants in asphalt and asphalt containing compositions. The present invention more specifically discloses an asphalt additive composition which is comprised of (1) an asphalt, (2) 0.05 weight percent to about 4 weight percent of a partitioning agent, and (3) at least 0.1 weight percent of a deodorant selected from the group consisting of (a) a hydroxylated carboxylic acid which contains at least 17 carbon atoms and (b) an aluminum, zinc, or alkaline earth metal salt of a hydroxylated carboxylic acid which contains at least 17 carbon atoms. In many applications it is beneficial for the asphalt additive composition to further include 0.5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of a polymer additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Flow Polymers, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, Michael S. Ivany, James W. Hoover
  • Publication number: 20170022365
    Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that hydroxylated carboxylic acids which contain at least 17 carbon atoms and zinc, aluminum or alkaline earth metal salts thereof, such as zinc ricinoleate, act effectively as deodorants in asphalt and asphalt containing compositions. The present invention more specifically discloses an asphalt additive composition which is comprised of (1) an asphalt, (2) 0.05 weight percent to about 4 weight percent of a partitioning agent, and (3) at least 0.1 weight percent of a deodorant selected from the group consisting of (a) a hydroxylated carboxylic acid which contains at least 17 carbon atoms and (b) an aluminum, zinc, or alkaline earth metal salt of a hydroxylated carboxylic acid which contains at least 17 carbon atoms. In many applications it is beneficial for the asphalt additive composition to further include 0.5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of a polymer additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Flow Polymers, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, Michael S. Ivany, James W. Hoover
  • Patent number: 9469764
    Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that a hydroxylated carboxylic acids which contain at least 17 carbon atoms and zinc, aluminium, or alkaline earth metal salts thereof, such as zinc ricinoleate, act effectively as deodorants in asphalt and asphalt containing compositions. The present invention more specifically discloses an asphalt additive composition which is comprised of (1) an asphalt, (2) 0.05 weight percent to about 4 weight percent of a partitioning agent, and (3) at least 0.1 weight percent of a deodorant selected from the group consisting of (a) a hydroxylated carboxylic acid which contains at least 17 carbon atoms and (b) an aluminium, zinc, or alkaline earth metal salt of a hydroxylated carboxylic acid which contains at least 17 carbon atoms. In many applications it is beneficial for the asphalt additive composition to further include 0.5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of a polymer additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Flow Polymers, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, Michael S. Ivany, James W. Hoover
  • Patent number: 9410031
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing an organically functionalized layered double hydroxide which comprises reacting (a) a layered double hydroxide, (b) a triglyceride oil, (c) an enzyme which is capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of an ester, and (d) water, to produce the organically functionalized layered double hydroxide. The subject invention further reveals a method for preparing an organically functionalized layered double hydroxide which comprises (1) dispersing into an aqueous medium (a) the layered double hydroxide, (b) the triglyceride oil, and (c) the enzyme, (2) allowing the triglyceride oil to hydrolyze into long-chain fatty acids and glycerol to produce a dispersion of the organically functionalized layered double hydroxide; and (3) recovering the organically functionalized layered double hydroxide from the aqueous dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Flow Polymers, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, Xiaofan Luo
  • Publication number: 20160208076
    Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that the silica compounding additives of this invention can be included in silica reinforced rubber formulations to increase the low strain dynamic stiffness exhibited by the rubber composition without a substantial increase in the cured compound hysteresis. This increase in stiffness allows for use of process aids that would otherwise result in an unacceptable further reduction in low strain dynamic stiffness. The present invention specifically discloses a rubber formulation which is comprised of (1) a rubbery polymer, (2) a reinforcing silica, and (3) a silica compounding additive of the structural formula: wherein M represents a divalent metal, and wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, alkylene groups, hydroxyl substituted alkyl or alkylene groups, amine substituted alkyl or alkylene groups and thiol substituted alkyl or alkylene groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: Flow Polymers, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, Adeyemi A. Adepetun
  • Patent number: 9249305
    Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that activated carbon can be used to sequester polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that may be present in asphalt and creosote compositions. The treatment of asphalt and creosote compositions with activated carbon accordingly reduces the level of free polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in such compositions by sequestering them therein or removing them from the composition. After being sequestered the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons remain trapped in the asphalt or creosote composition, and are not available to the environment during normal processing into useful industrial products. This sequestration reduces the risk of exposing humans and the environment to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which would otherwise be free to migrate from the asphalt or creosote product during manufacturing and the service life of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Flow Polymers, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, James W. Hoover, Xiaofan Luo
  • Publication number: 20150020711
    Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that activated carbon can be used to sequester polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that may be present in asphalt and creosote compositions. The treatment of asphalt and creosote compositions with activated carbon accordingly reduces the level of free polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in such compositions by sequestering them therein or removing them from the composition. After being sequestered the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons remain trapped in the asphalt or creosote composition, and are not available to the environment during normal processing into useful industrial products. This sequestration reduces the risk of exposing humans and the environment to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which would otherwise be free to migrate from the asphalt or creosote product during manufacturing and the service life of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: FLOW POLYMERS LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, James W. Hoover, Xiaofan Luo
  • Patent number: 8852424
    Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that activated carbon can be used to sequester polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that may be present in asphalt and creosote compositions. The treatment of asphalt and creosote compositions with activated carbon accordingly reduces the level of free polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in such compositions by sequestering them therein or removing them from the composition. After being sequestered the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons remain trapped in the asphalt or creosote composition, and are not available to the environment during normal processing into useful industrial products. This sequestration reduces the risk of exposing humans and the environment to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which would otherwise be free to migrate from the asphalt or creosote product during manufacturing and the service life of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Flow Polymers, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, James W. Hoover, Xiaofan Luo
  • Publication number: 20130005871
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing an organically functionalized layered double hydroxide which comprises reacting (a) a layered double hydroxide, (b) a triglyceride oil, (c) an enzyme which is capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of an ester, and (d) water, to produce the organically functionalized layered double hydroxide. The subject invention further reveals a method for preparing an organically functionalized layered double hydroxide as specified in claim 1 which comprises (1) dispersing into an aqueous medium (a) the layered double hydroxide, (b) the triglyceride oil, and (c) the enzyme, (2) allowing the triglyceride oil to hydrolyze into long-chain fatty acids and glycerol to produce a dispersion of the organically functionalized layered double hydroxide; and (3) recovering the organically functionalized layered double hydroxide from the aqueous dispersion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: FLOW POLYMERS LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, Xiaofan Luo
  • Publication number: 20120204760
    Abstract: This invention is based upon the discovery that a hydroxylated carboxylic acids which contain at least 17 carbon atoms and alkaline earth metal salts thereof, such as zinc ricinoleate, act effectively as deodorants in asphalt and asphalt containing compositions. The present invention more specifically discloses an asphalt additive composition which is comprised of (1) an asphalt, (2) 0.05 weight percent to about 4 weight percent of a partitioning agent, and (3) at least 0.1 weight percent of a deodorant selected from the group consisting of (a) a hydroxylated carboxylic acid which contains at least 17 carbon atoms and (b) an alkaline earth metal salt of a hydroxylated carboxylic acid which contains at least 17 carbon atoms. In many applications it is beneficial for the asphalt additive composition to further include 0.5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of a polymer additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: FLOW POLYMERS, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron S. Puhala, Michael S. Ivany, James W. Hoover