Patents Assigned to Univation Technologies, LLC
  • Polyolefin production with chromium-based catalysts
    Patent number: 10196466
    Abstract: A system and method for feeding a chromium-based catalyst to a polymerization reactor; adding a reducing agent to the chromium-based catalyst, and polymerizing an olefin into a polyolefin in the polymerization reactor in the presence of the chromium-based catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Gross, Kevin J. Cann, Mark G. Goode, John H. Moorhouse
  • Bridged bi-aromatic ligands and olefin polymerization catalysts prepared therefrom
    Patent number: 10195589
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel bridged bi-aromatic phenol ligands and transition metal catalyst compounds derived therefrom. Also disclosed are methods of making the ligands and transition metal compounds, and polymerization processes utilizing the transition metal compounds for the production of olefin polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Catherine Anne Faler, C. Jeff Harlan
  • POLYOLEFIN FILM WITH IMPROVED TOUGHNESS
    Publication number: 20190031841
    Abstract: A film formed from a polyethylene copolymer using a reduced chromium oxide catalyst, ethylene monomers and a co-monomer selected from butene monomers or 1-hexene, where the polyethylene copolymer has a density in the range of from about 0.935 to about 0.950 g/cm3 and an I21/I5 in a range of about 18.0 to about 30.0. The film formed from the polyethylene copolymer has a dart drop impact (g/im) that significantly greater as compared to a film of the polyethylene copolymer formed using a silyl chromate catalyst in place of the reduced chromium oxide catalyst. A method of making such films is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cliff R. Mure, Dongming Li, Barbara J. Kopp, Mark G. Goode
  • Fluorinated catalyst supports and catalyst systems
    Patent number: 10189917
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method for making a catalyst support includes forming a mixture of a support material and a fluoride donor. The mixture is added to a fluidized bed reactor. The mixture is fluidized to form a fluidized bed with a height to diameter ratio of at least about 2.3. The mixture is calcined to decompose the fluoride donor, forming a fluorinated support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John H. Moorhouse, Kevin J. Cann, Phuong A. Cao, Mark G. Goode, C. Jeff Harlan, Wesley R. Mariott
  • Producing polyolefin products
    Patent number: 10189923
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method of polymerizing olefins to produce a polyolefin polymer with a multimodal composition distribution, includes contacting ethylene and a comonomer with a catalyst system. The catalyst system includes a first catalyst compound and a second catalyst compound that are co-supported to form a commonly supported catalyst system. The first catalyst compound includes a compound with the general formula (C5HaR1b)(C5HcR2d)HfX2. The second catalyst compound includes at least one of the following general formulas: In both catalyst systems, the R groups can be independently selected from any number of substituents, including, for example, H, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a heteroatom group, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ching-Tai Lue, Francis C. Rix, C. Jeff Harlan, Laughlin G. McCullough
  • PROCESS CONTROL FOR LONG CHAIN BRANCHING CONTROL IN POLYETHYLENE PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20190016835
    Abstract: Polymerization process control methods for making polyethylene are provided. The process control methods include performing a polymerization reaction in a polymerization reactor to produce the polyethylene, where ethylene, and optionally one or more comonomers, in the polymerization reaction is catalyzed by an electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst and an alkyl aluminum co-catalyst. A melt flow ratio (I21/I2) of the polyethylene removed from the polymerization reactor is measured and an amount of long chain branching (LCB) of the polyethylene from the polymerization reactor is controlled by adjusting a weight concentration of the alkyl aluminum co-catalyst present in the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley R. Mariott, Kevin J. Cann, John H. Moorhouse, Mark G. Goode, Thomas Oswald
  • Methods of changing polyolefin production rate with the composition of the induced condensing agents
    Patent number: 10174142
    Abstract: Polyolefin polymerization performed by contacting in a reactor an olefin monomer and optionally a comonomer with a catalyst system in the presence of induced condensing agents (ICA) and optionally hydrogen. The ICA may include two or more ICA components where the composition of the ICA (i.e., the concentration of each ICA component) may affect the polyolefin production rate. Changes to the relative concentration of the two or more ICA components may be according to ICA equivalency factors that allow for increasing the polyolefin production rate while maintain a sticking temperature, increasing polyolefin production rate while increasing the dew point approach temperature of the ICA, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Brandon C. Locklear, R. Eric Pequeno, Abarajith S. Hari, David M. Glowczwski
  • Producing polyolefin products
    Patent number: 10174143
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are described herein. A catalyst system can include at least three catalysts. The three catalysts include a metallocene catalyst, a first non-metallocene including a ligand complexed to a metal through two or more nitrogen atoms, and a second non-metallocene including a ligand complexed to a metal through one or more nitrogen atoms and an oxygen atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Juliet Bauer Wagner, Garth R. Giesbrecht, Sun-Chueh Kao, Stephen P. Jaker
  • Preparation of polyolefin
    Patent number: 10167350
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are provided. The catalyst systems can include a plurality of silica particles and a metallocene catalyst and an activator supported on the plurality of silica particles. The polymerization catalysts have a particle size distribution in which about 10% of the particles have a size less than about 17 to about 23 micrometers, about 50% of the particles have a size less than about 40 to about 45 micrometers, and about 90% of the particles have a size less than about 72 to about 77 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: C. Dale Lester, Kevin J. Cann, Phuong A. Cao, Abarajith S. Hari, F. David Hussein, Wesley R. Mariott, John H. Moorhouse, Richard B. Pannell, Bruce J. Savatsky, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., Mark G. Goode
  • Methods of controlling polyolefin melt index while increasing catalyst productivity
    Patent number: 10167351
    Abstract: The catalyst productivity of a polyolefin catalyst in the methods disclosed herein may be increased by increasing the concentration of an induced condensing agent (ICA) in the reactor system. The effect the increased ICA concentration may have on a melt index may be counteracted, if necessary, in various ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Natarajan Muruganandam, Timothy R. Lynn, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., Fathi David Hussein
  • Process control for long chain branching control in polyethylene production
    Patent number: 10155831
    Abstract: Polymerization process control methods for making polyethylene are provided. The process control methods include performing a polymerization reaction in a polymerization reactor to produce the polyethylene, where ethylene, and optionally one or more comonomers, in the polymerization reaction is catalyzed by an electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst and an alkyl aluminum co-catalyst. A melt flow ratio (I21/I2) of the polyethylene removed from the polymerization reactor is measured and an amount of long chain branching (LCB) of the polyethylene from the polymerization reactor is controlled by adjusting a weight concentration of the alkyl aluminum co-catalyst present in the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley R. Mariott, Kevin J. Cann, John H. Moorhouse, Mark G. Goode, Thomas Oswald
  • Chromium-Based Catalyst Compositions for Olefin Polymerization
    Publication number: 20180327521
    Abstract: Modified chromium-based catalyst compositions for olefin polymerization are disclosed. The modifiers prevent or reduce catalyst particle aggregation providing improved catalyst particle dispersion and consistent flow index response of the compositions in olefin polymerization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Cann, John H. Moorhouse, Parul A. Khokhani, Tomas T. Tamargo, Kevin R. Gross, Mark G. Goode
  • OPERATING A POLYOLEFIN REACTOR
    Publication number: 20180326386
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a polymerization reactor in a non-sticking regime are disclosed. An exemplary method includes measuring parameters for the polymerization reaction including a reactor temperature and a concentration of an induced condensing agent (ICA) in a polymerization reactor. An equivalent partial pressure ((PICA)equiv) of the ICA is calculated. The polymerization reactor operation is located in a two dimension space defined by a reactor temperature dimension and a ((PICA)equiv) dimension. The location in the two dimensional space is compared to an non-sticking regime, defined as the space between an upper temperature limit (UTL) curve and a lower temperature limit (LTL) curve. Parameters of the polymerization reactor are adjusted to keep the reactor within the non-sticking regime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Abarajith S. Hari, Bruce J. Savatsky, David M. Glowczwski, Xianyi Cao
  • Methods of changing polyolefin production conditions to mitigate small gels in a polyolefin article
    Patent number: 10113019
    Abstract: The number of small gels that form in polyolefin thin films may be reduced by altering certain production parameters of the polyolefin. In some instances, the number of small gels may be influenced by the melt index of the polyolefin. However, in many instances, melt index is a critical part of the polyolefin product specification and, therefore, is not manipulated. Two parameters that may be manipulated to mitigate small gel count while maintaining the melt index are polyolefin residence time in the reactor and ICA concentration in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr.
  • BIS(AMINOPHENYLPHENOL) LIGANDS AND TRANSITION METAL COMPOUNDS PREPARED THEREFROM
    Publication number: 20180305324
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel bis(aminophenylphenol) ligands and transition metal compounds derived therefrom. Also disclosed are methods of making the ligands and transition metal compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Catherine Anne Faler, Kevin P. Ramirez
  • PRODUCING POLYOLEFIN PRODUCTS
    Publication number: 20180298128
    Abstract: A polymerization catalyst system, a method of using the polymerization catalyst system, and a polymer produced with the catalyst system. The polymerization catalyst system has a non-metallocene catalyst and a metallocene catalyst. The metallocene catalyst has the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently, phenyl, methyl, chloro, fluoro, or a hydrocarbyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: C. Jeff Harlan, Timothy R. Lynn, Fathi David Hussein, Timothy M. Boller
  • POLYOLEFIN PRODUCTION WITH CHROMIUM-BASED CATALYSTS
    Publication number: 20180223020
    Abstract: A system and method for charging a chromium-based catalyst to a mix vessel; introducing a reducing agent through an entrance arrangement into the mix vessel, and agitating a mixture of the chromium-based catalyst, the reducing agent, and a solvent in the mix vessel to promote contact of the reducing agent with the chromium-based catalyst to give a reduced chromium-based catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John H. Moorhouse, Kevin J. Cann, Mark G. Goode, Kevin R. Gross
  • POLYOLEFIN PRODUCTION WITH CHROMIUM-BASED CATALYSTS
    Publication number: 20180223021
    Abstract: A system and method for feeding a chromium-based catalyst to a polymerization reactor; adding a reducing agent to the chromium-based catalyst, and polymerizing an olefin into a polyolefin in the polymerization reactor in the presence of the chromium-based catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Gross, Kevin J. Cann, Mark G. Goode, John H. Moorhouse
  • Continuity compositions and methods of making and using the same
    Patent number: 10035868
    Abstract: Continuity compositions are provided as are methods of their preparation. The compositions comprise metal carboxylate salts and fatty amines and find advantageous use in olefin polymerization processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard B. Pannell, David M. Glowczwski, Chi-I Kuo, Timothy R. Lynn, Fathi David Hussein, Phuong A. Cao, Wesley R. Mariott, Michael D. Awe
  • Method for determining a stickiness temperature of a resin
    Patent number: 10029226
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a polymerization reactor in a non-sticking regime are disclosed. An exemplary method includes measuring parameters for the polymerization reaction including a reactor temperature and a concentration of an induced condensing agent (ICA) in a polymerization reactor. An equivalent partial pressure ((PICA)equiv) of the ICA is calculated. The polymerization reactor operation is located in a two dimension space defined by a reactor temperature dimension and a ((PICA)equiv) dimension. The location in the two dimensional space is compared to an non-sticking regime, defined as the space between an upper temperature limit (UTL) curve and a lower temperature limit (LTL) curve. Parameters of the polymerization reactor are adjusted to keep the reactor within the non-sticking regime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Abarajith S. Hari, Bruce J. Savatsky, David M. Glowczwski, Xianyi Cao