Patents Assigned to Tonen Chemical Corporation
  • Publication number: 20090148761
    Abstract: A multi-layer, microporous polyethylene membrane comprising (a) a first microporous layer made of a polyethylene resin, and (b) a second microporous layer comprising a polyethylene resin, and a heat-resistant polymer having a melting point or a glass transition temperature of 170° C. or higher, the heat-resistant polymer being dispersed in the form of fine particles in the polyethylene resin, and the second microporous layer having pores containing fine particles of the heat-resistant polymer as nuclei from which the cleavage of polyethylene resin fibrils starts, the multi-layer microporous polyethylene membrane having well-balanced shutdown properties, meltdown properties, permeability, mechanical strength, heat shrinkage resistance and compression resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro Kikuchi, Kotaro Takita
  • Publication number: 20090146334
    Abstract: A microporous polyolefin membrane having large pore diameters and excellent air permeability, mechanical strength and compression resistance can be obtained by (a) stretching a gel molding comprising a polyolefin and a membrane-forming solvent at least uniaxially at a temperature from the crystal dispersion temperature of the polyolefin +15° C. to the crystal dispersion temperature of the polyolefin +40° C., removing the membrane-forming solvent, and then stretching again the resultant membrane to 1.1 to 2.5 fold at least uniaxially, or by (b) stretching the gel molding at least uniaxially, bringing the stretched film into contact with a hot solvent before and/or after removing the membrane-forming solvent, and then stretching again the resultant membrane to 1.1 to 2.5 fold at least uniaxially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Kotaro Kimishima, Koichi Kono
  • Publication number: 20090134538
    Abstract: A multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane comprising a polypropylene layer and a polyethylene resin layer and having well-balanced permeability, mechanical strength, heat shrinkage resistance, shutdown properties and meltdown properties can be obtained by (1) forming a sheet comprising a gel-like polypropylene layer containing a membrane-forming solvent or a polypropylene layer containing no membrane-forming solvent and a gel-like polyethylene resin layer containing a membrane-forming solvent, stretching the sheet at two-stage temperatures, and then removing the membrane-forming solvent, or (2) forming a gel-like polypropylene sheet containing a membrane-forming solvent or a polypropylene sheet containing no membrane-forming solvent, and a gel-like polyethylene resin sheet containing a membrane-forming solvent, stretching them at two-stage temperatures, removing the membrane-forming solvent, and then laminating the resultant microporous polypropylene membrane and the resultant microporous polyethylene me
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Shintaro Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090127733
    Abstract: A method for producing a microporous thermoplastic resin membrane from a thermoplastic resin and a membrane-forming solvent, using as part of a starting material film waste based on the thermoplastic resin and the membrane-forming solvent, which is generated in the production process of the microporous thermoplastic resin membrane, comprising the steps of melt-blending a virgin thermoplastic resin and a membrane-forming solvent in an extruder to prepare a virgin material solution, adding the film waste generated in the same or different production processes to the virgin material solution in a molten state in the extruder at an intermediate point, melt-blending them to prepare a thermoplastic resin solution, extruding the thermoplastic resin solution through a die, cooling the extrudate to form a gel-like sheet, and removing the membrane-forming solvent from the gel-like sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Koichi Kono
  • Publication number: 20090117453
    Abstract: A multi-layer, microporous polyethylene membrane having at least three layers comprising (a) a first microporous layer amount of a polyethylene resin and constituting at least both surface layers, and (b) at least one second microporous layer made of a polyethylene resin, a heat-resistant resin having a melting point or glass transition temperature of 150° C. or higher and a filler, and sandwiched by both surface layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro Kikuchi, Kotaro Takita, Kazuhiro Yamada, Teiji Nakamura, Koichi Kono
  • Publication number: 20090117455
    Abstract: A multi-layer, microporous polyethylene membrane having at least two layers, which comprises (a) a microporous polyethylene resin layer A comprising high-density polyethylene A having 0.2 or more terminal vinyl groups per 10,000 carbon atoms when measured by infrared spectroscopy, and (b) a microporous polyethylene resin layer B comprising high-density polyethylene B having less than 0.2 terminal vinyl groups per 10,000 carbon atoms when measured by infrared spectroscopy, has well-balanced permeability, mechanical strength, heat shrinkage resistance, shutdown properties, meltdown properties and oxidation resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Tonen Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Shintaro Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090098341
    Abstract: The microporous polyolefin membrane obtained by stretching a gel molding comprising a polyolefin and a membrane-forming solvent at least uniaxially, heat-setting it, removing the membrane-forming solvent, and re-stretching it at least uniaxially has a large pore diameter and excellent air permeability, mechanical strength and compression resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Norimitsu Kaimai, Teiji Nakamura, Koichi Kono
  • Publication number: 20090098450
    Abstract: (1) a combination of a microporous layer made of a polyethylene resin and a microporous layer made of polypropylene and a heat-resistant resin having a melting point or a glass transition temperature of 170° C. or higher, or (2) a combination of a microporous layer made of a polyethylene resin and a microporous layer made of polypropylene and inorganic filler having an aspect ratio of 2 or more provides a multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane with well-balanced permeability, mechanical strength, heat shrinkage resistance, shutdown properties and meltdown properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro Kikuchi, Kotaro Takita
  • Publication number: 20090098449
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microporous polyolefin membrane of high permeability and novel structure, and also provides a method of producing the same, wherein its average pore size is gradually decreases from at least one membrane surface towards its center. The method of producing the microporous polyolefin membrane comprises the steps of extruding the solution, composed of 10 to 50 weight % of (A) a polyolefin having a weight-average molecular weight of 5×105 or more or (B) a composition containing this polyolefin and 50 to 90 weight % of a solvent, into a gel-like formed article and removing the solvent therefrom, wherein a treatment step with a hot solvent is incorporated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Tonen Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiko Funaoka, Kotaro Takita, Norimitsu Kaimai, Shigeaki Kobayashi, Koichi Kono
  • Publication number: 20090079102
    Abstract: A method for producing a microporous polyolefin membrane by extruding a melt blend comprising a polyethylene resin, polypropylene having a mass-average molecular weight of 1×105 or more and an ethylene content of 5% by mass or less, and a membrane-forming solvent through a die, slowly cooling the resultant extrudate to form a gel-like sheet, stretching the gel-like sheet, and removing the above membrane-forming solvent, the slow-cooling speed of the extrudate being 30° C./second or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Kazuhiro Yamada, Norimitsu Kaimai, Teiji Nakamura, Koichi Kono
  • Publication number: 20090042008
    Abstract: A microporous polyolefin membrane comprising a polyethylene resin, and having (a) a shutdown temperature of 135° C. or lower, at which the air permeability measured while heating at a temperature-elevating speed of 5° C./minute reaches 1×105 sec/100 cm3, (b) a maximum melting shrinkage ratio of 40% or less in a transverse direction in a temperature range of 135 to 145° C., which is measured by thermomechanical analysis under a load of 2 gf and at a temperature-elevating speed of 5° C./minute, and (c) a meltdown temperature, at which the air permeability measured while further heating after reaching the above shutdown temperature becomes 1×105 sec/100 cm3 again, being 150° C. or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Tonen Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Kimishima, Norimitsu Kaimai
  • Patent number: 7479243
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microporous polyolefin membrane of high permeability and novel structure, and also provides a method of producing the same, wherein its average pore size is gradually decreases from at least one membrane surface towards its center. The method of producing the microporous polyolefin membrane comprises the steps of extruding the solution, composed of 10 to 50 weight % of (A) a polyolefin having a weight-average molecular weight of 5×105 or more or (B) a composition containing this polyolefin and 50 to 90 weight % of a solvent, into a gel-like formed article and removing the solvent therefrom, wherein a treatment step with a hot solvent is incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Tonen Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiko Funaoka, Kotaro Takita, Norimitsu Kaimai, Shigeaki Kobayashi, Koichi Kono
  • Publication number: 20090008816
    Abstract: A microporous polyolefin membrane having excellent compression resistance is obtained by stretching a gel molding comprising a polyolefin and a membrane-forming solvent, removing the membrane-forming solvent, and stretching the resultant membrane again at least uniaxially at a speed of 3%/second or more at a temperature equal to or lower than the crystal dispersion temperature +20° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Kazuhiro Yamada, Norimitsu Kaimai, Teiji Nakamura, Koichi Kono
  • Publication number: 20070004847
    Abstract: An emulsion composition of a modified polypropylene. It can have exceedingly improved emulsion stability because the modified polypropylene used has extremely high solubility in solvents and is easily emulsifiable. The modified-polypropylene emulsion composition comprises water and a modified polypropylene dispersed and emulsified therein, and is characterized in that the modified polypropylene has a racemic diad content [r] of 0.12 to 0.88 and has hydrophilic functional groups in a number of 0.5 or larger on the average per molecular chain of the polypropylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Tonen Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ozaki, Masatoshi Horii, Mitsuhiro Nishida, Hideaki Wakabayashi, Kunihiko Imanishi, Satoshi Ueki, Sadakatsu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20060281859
    Abstract: A method for producing a modified polyolefin solution, which can reduce polymer loss, solvent loss and further number of steps, and thus has excellent productivity and economic efficiency in a series of steps, wherein an ?-olefin is polymerized to obtain a polyolefin, followed by modification with a modifying agent to produce a modified polyolefin solution, characterized by comprising a step wherein an ?-olefin is polymerized in the presence of polymerization catalyst in liquid phase to obtain a polyolefin as a polymer solution or slurry state and a step wherein thus obtained polymer is reacted with a modifying agent to modify a polyolefin, and in that the polymer is not isolated, not recovered, nor substantially dried, in a method for producing a modified polyolefin solution by modification, using a modification agent, of a polyolefin obtained by polymerization of an ?-olefin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sadakatsu Suzuki, Hiroyuki Ozaki, Masatoshi Horii, Satoshi Ueki, Kunihiko Imanishi, Hideaki Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7105608
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new copolymer of propylene and a conjugated diene having a carbon-carbon double bond in a side chain, wherein a molar ratio of a total of 1,2-adducts and 3,4-adducts to 1,4-adducts, derived from the conjugated diene, is 100:0. The copolymer is prepared in a process, characterized in that propylene and the conjugated diene are copolymerized in the presence of hydrogen, an organometallic compound comprising a transition metal selected from the group 4 of the periodic table, and at least one Lewis acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignees: Tonen Chemical Corporation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishihara, Ban The Hoang, Hideaki Hagihara, Kenji Tsuchihara, Takeshi Shiono
  • Publication number: 20050154139
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new copolymer of propylene and a conjugated diene having a carbon-carbon double bond in a side chain, wherein a molar ratio of a total of 1,2-adducts and 3,4-adducts to 1,4-adducts, derived from the conjugated diene, is 100:0. The copolymer is prepared in a process, characterized in that propylene and the conjugated diene are copolymerized in the presence of hydrogen, an organometallic compound comprising a transition metal selected from the group 4 of the periodic table, and at least one Lewis acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicants: Tonen Chemical Corporation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishihara, Ban Hoang, Hideaki Hagihara, Kenji Tsuchihara, Takeshi Shiono
  • Publication number: 20050098913
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microporous polyolefin membrane of high permeability and novel structure, and also provides a method of producing the same, wherein its average pore size is gradually decreases from at least one membrane surface towards its center. The method of producing the microporous polyolefin membrane comprises the steps of extruding the solution, composed of 10 to 50 weight % of (A) a polyolefin having a weight-average molecular weight of 5×105 or more or (B) a composition containing this polyolefin and 50 to 90 weight % of a solvent, into a gel-like formed article and removing the solvent therefrom, wherein a treatment step with a hot solvent is incorporated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: TONEN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiko Funaoka, Kotaro Takita, Norimitsu Kaimai, Shigeaki Kobayashi, Koichi Kono
  • Patent number: 6887944
    Abstract: A modified polypropylene which is a polypropylene having a value of racemic diad fraction [r] in a specific range and modified with a specific compound, e.g., (meth)acrylic acids, and their derivatives or styrene derivatives to have well-balanced properties of affinity for polypropylene-based materials, thermal stability, and high solubility in organic solvents; and a process for producing same. More particularly, the modified polypropylene which is a polypropylene having a value of racemic diad fraction [r] of 0.51 to 0.88, determined by 13C-NMR analysis, and chemically modified with a compound serving as a modifier, e.g., (meth)acrylic acids, and their derivatives or styrene derivatives; and the process for producing the modified polypropylene, wherein the polypropylene having a value of racemic diad fraction [r] in the above range is reacted with at least one type of the compound serving as the modifier in the presence of a radical initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Tonen Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Wakabayashi, Hiroyuki Ozaki, Kunihiko Imanishi, Takeshi Ishihara, Masatoshi Horii, Satoshi Ueki
  • Publication number: 20050058823
    Abstract: A method for producing a microporous polyolefin membrane formed by fine fibrils, the membrane comprising (A) a polyolefin having a weight-average molecular weight of 5×105 or more or (B) a composition containing Component (A), connected to each other, and having micropores of 0.05 to 5 ?m in average pore size and crystal lamellas of Component (A) or (B) being in a specific alignment state. The method includes extruding a solution of Component (A) or (B) in a solvent into a gel-like formed article; thermally setting the article, with or without stretching, at least at the crystal dispersion temperature of Component (A) or (B), but at melting point of Component (A) or (B) plus 30° C. or lower; and removing the solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: Tonen Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiko Funaoka, Kotaro Takita, Norimitsu Kaimai, Shigeaki Kobayashi, Koichi Kono