Abstract: A falling film of water is applied around the periphery of a fluid bed olefin polymerization reactor to cool the wall and reduce the temperature in the fluid bed near the inside surface of the wall. Cooling has the effect of reducing static in the reactor, which in turn ameliorates a sheeting problem and can enhance production by facilitating control of the relation of the reactor temperature and the dew point of recycled gas. The process may be used concurrently with a gas cooling and condensing recycle system wherein at least some of the condensed recycle gas is injected in the vicinity of the internal wall surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 31, 1998
Date of Patent:
October 9, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Thomas Edward Spriggs, James Laurence Riley, Jr., James Daniel Madden, George William Schwarz, Jr., Mark Gregory Goode
Abstract: Condensation copolymers are disclosed which are polymerized from a first monomer which is capable of polymerization by condensation polymerization, e.g., ring opening lactone polymerization, and a second monomer which is effective to suppress the crystallization of the copolymer. It is disclosed that suppression of the crystallization can provide enhanced mechanical properties in films made from the copolymers. As a result, films prepared from the copolymers of the present invention can have properties rendering them suitable for use as biodegradable trash bags as well as for other uses.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 24, 2000
Date of Patent:
October 2, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Daniel Goldberg, Sandra A. Kupperblatt, Robert F. Eaton, Wong F Ark, David M Simpson
Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more products from a reaction product fluid comprising a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand, said one or more products, one or more polar reaction solvents and one or more nonpolar reaction solvents, wherein said process comprises (1) subjecting said reaction product fluid to fractional countercurrent extraction with at least two immiscible extraction solvents, said at least two immiscible extraction solvents comprising at least one polar extraction solvent and at least one nonpolar extraction solvent, to obtain a polar phase comprising said metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, said optionally free organophosphorus ligand, said one or more polar reaction solvents and said at least one polar extraction solvent and a nonpolar phase comprising said one or more products, said one or more nonpolar reaction solvents and said at least one nonpolar extraction solvent, and (2) recovering said nonpo
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2000
Date of Patent:
September 25, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Jeffrey Scott Kanel, John Nicholas Argyropoulos, Ailene Gardner Phillips, Brian Michael Roesch, John Robert Briggs, Max Min Lee, John Michael Maher, David Robert Bryant
Abstract: A polymer of the invention comprising the comonomers ethylene, one or more alpha-olefins having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and one or more cyclic dienes having up to 30 carbon atoms, said polymer having a density of at least 0.890 gram per cubic centimeter; long chain branching; a plurality of double bonds; an Mw/Mn ratio ratio (PDI) of at least 2.5; a flow activation energy of greater than about 6.5 kcal/mol; and a Relaxation Spectrum Index (RSI), PDI, and Melt Index (MI), such that RSI·MIa>2.7 and RSI·MIa·PDIb is in the range of about 0.8 to about 60, when a and b are about 0.6 and minus 1.2, respectively.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 22, 1999
Date of Patent:
August 28, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Scott Hanley Wasserman, James LaMonte Adams, Tong Chen, George Norris Foster, Laurence Herbert Gross, Day-Chyuan Lee, Walter Thomas Reichle, Robert Harold Vogel
Abstract: This invention comprises a metallocene catalyst system for the production of high molecular weight polyolefins, particularly polyethylene and higher poly-alpha olefins, and copolymers of ethylene and/or alpha olefins with other unsaturated monomers, including diolefins, acetylenically unsaturated monomers and cyclic olefins. The catalyst system is highly active, at low ratios of Al to transition metal, and hence catalyzes the production of a polyolefin product containing low levels of catalyst metal residues. The catalyst system comprises (i) a metallocene precursor (Component A), aluminoxane (Component B), and phenolic modifier (Component C) or (ii) the reaction product of a metallocene precursor with a phenolic compound (Component A′) and aluminoxane (Component B). There is also provide a polymerization process using the catalyst and the product so produced.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 4, 1999
Date of Patent:
August 28, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Abstract: The invention provides a process for synthesizing alkanolamines and/or alkyleneamines by reacting either an alkane, an alkene, or both with a source of oxygen and a source of nitrogen and, optionally, additional hydrogen to convert the alkane and/or alkene by selective partial oxidative amination to at least one of the desired end products. The invention further provides a regenerable catalyst for use in synthesizing alkanolamines and/or alkyleneamines by selective partial oxidative amination of alkanes and/or alkenes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 29, 1999
Date of Patent:
August 28, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Abstract: In gas phase fluid bed polymerization processes, operation can be achieved over wider ranges of fluidizing gas velocities without incurring undue energy costs by adjusting the pressure drop through the grid below the bed to provide a ratio of pressure drop through the grid to pressure drop through the grid and bed above about 0.15:1. The range of fluidizing gas velocities can enhance the practicality of operating the processes over varying bed heights while reducing the risk of forming deposits of polymer. The processes of the invention are particularly useful to accommodate start-ups, catalyst transitions and shutdowns.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 10, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 17, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Abstract: A composition comprising:
(a) polyethylene;
(b) as a scorch inhibitor, alpha-tocopherol in an amount of at least about 0.08 part by weight per 100 parts by weight of polyethylene;
(c) optionally, a cure booster; and
(d) an organic peroxide.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 17, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Jeffrey Morris Cogen, Laurence Herbert Gross
Abstract: There is provided a catalyst containing a transition metal precursor having the formula (C5R15)MX3, an alcohol, a substituted bulky phenol, an aluminoxane, and optionally a support or spray drying material. There is also provided a polymerization process employing the catalyst composition, a polymer produced using the catalyst, and a cable produced therefrom.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 17, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 10, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Eric Paul Wasserman, Xinlai Bai, Elizabeth Clair Fox
Abstract: A process for starting a polymerization of butadiene to produce polybutadiene in a gas phase reactor having a seed bed which comprises (i) passivating the reactor and the seed bed by introducing an aluminum alkyl having a concentration ranging from about 2,000 to 20,000 ppm and (ii) feeding the catalyst and co-catalyst to the reactor before the addition of the butadiene.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 22, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 3, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Albert George Dietz, III, Daniel Paul Zilker, Kiu Hee Lee
Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing particulate product from a fluidized bed reactor to optimize, within the constraints of the product removal cycle, conservation of gas in which the product is entrained. Data are compiled on the time required for equalizing pressure between product discharge tanks, and these data are used to determine the optimum times for various valves to be open. Product movement steps and equalization steps can be performed simultaneously.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 7, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 3, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Ivan Jeremy Hartley, Guadalupe Garcia Leal, John Roberts Parrish
Abstract: There is provided a polymerization of a sticky polymer in the presence of a catalyst under polymerization conditions using carbon black as the inert particulate material, the improvement comprises conducting said polymerization in the presence of a carbon black that has been treated with a sulfur donor and/or an oxidizing agent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 3, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the separation of a metal complex catalyst and any free ligand which may be present, from a homogeneous organic synthesis reaction mixture using sub-nanoporous, chemically stable membranes having discrete pores which allow organic products and by-products to pass through the membrane as permeate while retaining substantially all of the metal complex catalyst and free ligand, if any, as retentate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 8, 1999
Date of Patent:
June 26, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Jay Fingeret Miller, Joan Ayer Rodberg, Brian Michael Roesch, George Ernest Keller, II, Lisa Evans Curry, Paul Frank Bryan, John Edward Davis, James Charles Hatfield
Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more cyclic products from a reaction product fluid comprising one or more cyclic reactants, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand, a non-polar solvent and said one or more cyclic products, wherein said process comprises: (1) reacting said one or more cyclic reactants in the presence of said metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand and non-polar solvent to form a multiphase reaction product fluid; and (2) separating said multiphase reaction product fluid to obtain a non-polar phase comprising said one or more cyclic reactants, metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand and non-polar solvent and a polar phase comprising said one or more cyclic products.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 27, 1999
Date of Patent:
June 26, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
John Nicholas Argyropoulos, David Robert Bryant, Michael Leo Tulchinsky, Jeffrey Scott Kanel, Paul Foley, Barry Brent Fish
Abstract: Preactivated unsupported catalysts are prepared by contacting an unsupported olefin polymerization catalyst precursor with an activator, or co-catalyst in a suitable reaction medium and then contacting the mixture with additional solvent to form a preactivated unsupported olefin polymerization catalyst composition. The preactivated unsupported olefin polymerization catalyst composition is useful in a method of polymerizing an olefin monomer by adding it, in solution or slurry, to a gas phase polymerization reactor together with one or more olefins to form a polymer, copolymer, terpolymer, or the like. The use of the preactivated unsupported olefin polymerizaiton catalysts compositions does not plug the catalyst injection nozzle or feed tube when feeding the solution to the gas phase reactor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 30, 1998
Date of Patent:
June 26, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Kersten Anne Erickson, Lewis Joe Fouts, Jr.
Abstract: A process for production of a polyethylene blend in situ comprising contacting ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin with a magnesium/titanium based catalyst system including a partially activated precursor and a cocatalyst in each of two fluidized bed reactors connected in series, one of the provisos being that the precursor is formed by contacting an alkylaluminum halide with a solid reaction product prepared from a magnesium alkoxide, a titanium tetraalkoxide, and a solubility enhancing agent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 6, 1999
Date of Patent:
June 19, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Vinayak Maheshwari, Robert Charles Job, William A. Hoffman, III, William James Michie, Jr.
Abstract: Novel water-borne resin compositions useful in architectural or industrial coatings comprising:
(a) a resin
(b) a coupling solvent comprising ethylene glycol pentyl ether which contains at least about 90% by weight of ethylene glycol n-pentyl ether, and
(c) water.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 6, 1999
Date of Patent:
June 5, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Scott Patrick Christensen, Brian T. Keen
Abstract: A catalyst composition is provided, which is prepared by contacting a cycloalkadienyl compound, a transition metal amide of the formula M(NMe2)mXn, an aluminoxane, and optionally a solid support at a temperature of 0 to 100° C.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 5, 1999
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Inventors:
Xinmin Yang, Walter Thomas Reichle, Frederick John Karol
Abstract: A composition comprising: polyethylene; as a scorch inhibitor, 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene; as a cure booster, 3,9-divinyl-2,4,8,10-tetra-oxaspiro[5.5]undecane; and an organic peroxide.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 1999
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation
Abstract: A composition comprising:
(a) polyethylene;
(b) as a scorch inhibitor, 4,4′-thiobis(2-methyl-6-t-butylphenol); 2,2′ thiobis(6-t-butyl-4-methylphenol); or mixtures thereof;
(c) optionally, a cure booster; and
(d) an organic peroxide.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 16, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 8, 2001
Assignee:
Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology
Corporation