Abstract: Disclosed is a mass polymerized rubber-modified monovinylidene aromatic copolymer composition with an excellent balance of physical and mechanical properties and high intrinsic gloss, and methods for preparing such a composition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 16, 1999
Date of Patent:
April 30, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Rony S. Vanspeybroeck, Gilbert Bouquet, Dominique Maes, Nicolaas Hermans
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 about 80 weight percent of the poly(sulfonyl azide) and sufficient to result in a coupled polymer having a gel content of less than about 2 weight percent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 5, 1998
Date of Patent:
April 23, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Wendy D. Hoenig, Che-I Kao, Teresa Karjala, Clark H. Cummins, Michael J. Mullins, Thoi H. Ho, H. Craig Silvis
Abstract: This invention involves several ways for improving a coalescing process for purifying a crude polyether. In one aspect, particulate zirconium dioxide is selected as a coalescing medium. In a second aspect, alkali metal catalyst is recovered and recycled to make additional polyether product. In a third aspect, a polyether stream obtained from the coalescing step is purified by stripping water in at least two phases, the first of which involves moderate conditions so that water but not allyl alcohol or higher molecular weight impurities are removed from the polyether, and the second of which involves more stringent stripping conditions. In a fourth aspect, crude polyether that is subjected to a holding period before undergoing a coalescing step is mixed with water to minimize the formation of impurities that are believed to compatibilize the aqueous and polyether phases. In a fifth aspect, the coalescing process is conducted under a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 25, 1999
Date of Patent:
April 23, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
James P. Cosman, Paul D. Bettge, Richard J. Elwell, Raymond A. Plepys
Abstract: The invention relates to a fast hardening aqueous coating composition comprising from about 95 to about 99 weight percent of an anionically stabilized aqueous emulsion of a copolymer having a Tg of from about 0° C. to about 40° C., the copolymer containing two or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, wherein from 0 to about 4 weight percent of the monomers are &agr;,&bgr;-ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid monomers; from about 0.2 to about 5 weight percent of a polyimine having a molecular weight of from about 250 to about 20,000; and from about 0.2 to about 5 weight percent of a volatile base, wherein the composition has a pH from about 8 to about 11, and wherein a cast film of the composition has a hardening rate measurement rating of at least 5 within 20 minutes after casting under ambient conditions of temperature up to 30° C. and relative humidity no less than 50 percent.
Abstract: Metal [hexacyanometallate hexanitrometallate] complexes are useful alkylene oxide polymerization catalysts. The metal is any that forms a precipitate with hexacyanometallate and hexanitrometallate groups. These catalysts are made from less expensive raw materials than the common zinc hexacyanocobaltate catalysts, and provide short induction periods and in many cases more controlled exotherms.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 19, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 23, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
David E. Laycock, Kendra L. Flagler, Robert J. Gulotty, Jr.
Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydrogenated copolymer of a vinyl aromatic and isoprene monomer which produces optical media discs having extremely low birefringence.
Abstract: The present invention pertains to elastic films having at least one layer comprising a substantially random interpolymer or a blend thereof. The interpolymer comprises polymer units derived from at least C2-20 &agr;-olefin and (i) at least one vinyl aromatic monomer, or (ii) at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, or (iii) a combination of at least one aromatic vinyl monomer and at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer. The interpolymer may also comprise one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers other than those previously mentioned. The elastic films have a recovery in the cross direction of greater than or equal to about 80% and has a recovery in the machine direction of greater than or equal to about 60%.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 24, 1999
Date of Patent:
April 23, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Yunwa W. Cheung, Martin J. Guest, William R. Van Volkenburgh
Abstract: Aluminum-magnesium silicate- or fluorinated magnesium silicate- aerogels which may be calcined, chemically modified, ion-exchanged, agglomerated, used as a component of a catalyst composition for an addition polymerization; supported versions thereof; and processes for polymerization are disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 27, 2001
Date of Patent:
April 23, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Tao Sun, David R. Wilson, Juan M. Garces
Abstract: A catalyst and process of polymerizing olefins using it are described, the catalyst comprising a cocatalyst and a metal complex preferably of the formulas 4-9,
wherein M is a group 4 metal, Z is a boron atom, and T is one of
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 11, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 23, 2002
Assignees:
The Dow Chemical Company, The Regents of The University of Michigan
Inventors:
Arthur J. Ashe, III, David D. Devore, Xinggao Fang, Kevin A. Frazier, D. Patrick Green, Jasson T. Patton, Francis J. Timmers
Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydrogenation catalyst and a process for hydrogenating an aromatic polymer having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of from 40,000 to less than 120,000 comprising contacting the aromatic polymer with a hydrogenating agent in the presence of a silica supported metal hydrogenation catalyst, characterized in that the silica has a pore size distribution such that at least 95 percent of the pore volume is defined by pores having diameter from 300 to 1000 angstroms, less than 4 percent of the pore volume is defined by pores having a diameter of 200 angstroms or less and at least 80 percent aromatic hydrogenation is achieved.
Abstract: A process for preparing a starch-based thermoplastic hydroxy-functional polyether comprising (1) feeding from about 40 to about 98 weight percent starch and from about 2 to about 60 weight percent of a thermoplastic hydroxy-functional polyether derived from monomers containing one or more epoxy groups into a processing equipment at a temperature and for a time sufficient to provide a compounded mixture of the components and then (2) forming the compounded mixture into pellets. The pellets are suitable for injection molding and other thermal processes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 18, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 23, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Marie S. Winkler, Tricia S. Berry, Donald E. Kirkpatrick, David F. Pawlowski
Abstract: A process for improving the green strength of ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymers is described comprising (A) selecting an ethylene/&agr;olefin/diene polymer having a Mooney viscosity at 125 C up to about 80 and a percent gel (% gel) up to about 30 percent and (B) partially crosslinking the ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymer selected in step (A) to make a modified ethylene/&agr;-olefin/diene polymer satisfying the equations MV≦100 and
MV
≤
⁢
100
W
≤
⁢
(
MS
2
-
MS
1
MS
1
)
wherein MV is the Mooney viscosity of the modified polymer, MS1 is the melt strength in centiNewtons of the polymer selected in step (A) at 110 C, when formulated according to AS
Abstract: The present invention is a low density polyurethane foam cushion useful as an attached carpet cushion or as a detached carpet underlay. The low density foams of the present invention are prepared by a process wherein a polyurethane foam formulation is blown by both mechanical and chemical processes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 5, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 16, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Daniel W. Kazmierski, Randall C. Jenkines
Abstract: The present invention is an flame resistant resin composition comprising:
A) from about 50 to about 90 parts by weight of a rubber modified polymer derived from a vinyl aromatic monomer,
B) from about 1 to about 8 parts by weight of an impact modifier,
C) from about 0.5 to about 5 parts by weight of a polyolefin having a density of greater than 0.940 g/cm3 and a melt flow rate of less than 4 as measured according to ASTM D1238 at 190° C. using a 2.16 kg weight,
D) a sufficient amount of a halogen-containing flame retardant to provide the composition with 7 to 14 parts by weight halogen, and
E) from about 2 to about 6 parts by weight of an inorganic flame retardant synergist.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 6, 1996
Date of Patent:
April 16, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Kevin D. Sikkema, Dawn M. Orbeck, Robert G. Nelb, II
Abstract: An acoustical insulation foam having, either with or without elastification, an Asker C hardness of less than about 65, a density of about 5 to about 150 kg/m3, a cell size of about 0.05 to about 15 mm, an open cell content of 0 to about 100 volume percent, a thickness of about 1 to about 200 mm, and a width of about 100 to about 3000 mm; comprising;
(A) one or more alkenyl aromatic polymers,
(B) one or more substantially random interpolymers and
(C) optionally, one or more nucleating agents and
(D) optionally, one or more other additives; and
(E) one or more blowing agents.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 12, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 9, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Bharat I. Chaudhary, Russell P. Barry, Chung P. Park, Martin Reimers
Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomeric blend composition comprising: A) from 99 to 1 weight percent of an elastomer block copolymer comprising at least one segment of a styrenic polymer and at least one segment of an elastomeric saturated olefin polymer; and B) from 1 to 99 weight percent of a linear or substantially linear ethylene/&agr;-olefin interpolymer, and fabricated articles made from such composition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 16, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 9, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Stephen R. Betso, Peter F. M. van den Berghen, Martin J. Guest, Antonio Batistini
Abstract: A polymer composition comprising, based on the total weight of A), B), C) and D),
A) from about 10 to 89.99 percent of a substantially random interpolymer comprising in polymerized form i) from about 35 to about 89.5 mole percent of one or more &agr;-olefin monomers and ii) from about 65 to about 10.5 mole percent of one or more vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomers and/or one or more sterically hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomers, and optionally iii) other polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s);
B) from about 10 to about 75 percent of one or more polyolefins selected from the group consisting of I) propylene polymers and II) high density polyethylenes; and
C) from 0.01 to about 10 percent of a non-ionic lubricant; and
D) from 0 to about 60 percent of a substantially random interpolymer comprising in polymerized form i) from about 50 to about 99.5 mole percent of one or more &agr;-olefin monomers and ii) from about 50 to about 0.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 12, 1999
Date of Patent:
April 2, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Jerker B. L. Kjellqvist, Brian W. Walther, Wenbin Liang, Roland Karlsson
Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of substituted or unsubstituted 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-hydroxyaliphatics such as 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxypropanes by reacting substituted or unsubstituted 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-halogen substituted aliphatics such as 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-chloropropanes in the presence of a base and water.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 26, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 2, 2002
Assignee:
The Dow Chemical Company
Inventors:
Robert E. Hefner, Jr., Katherine S. Clement, Lance L. Black, Louis L. Walker