Patents Examined by Alan Holler
  • Patent number: 4067928
    Abstract: Polymers of excellent impact strength, reduced particle size, and enhanced proportions of fines are obtained in the bulk polymerization of a vinyl halide or mixture thereof with comonomer(s) in the presence of a high molecular weight polyolefin added to the polymerization mass upon conversion of 0 to about 20% by weight of monomer(s) to polymer, by removing from the polymerization mass during the thick paste state thereof sufficient vinyl halide to adjust the effective concentration of polyolefin to above about 3.5% based on vinyl halide. The resultant product which contains an enhanced proportion of fines and is devoid of massive agglomerates, requires less mechanical work in comminution or shorter heating in melting in subsequent conventional processing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: Hooker Chemicals & Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Leigh E. Walker
  • Patent number: 4068054
    Abstract: An olefin is polymerized in a hydrocarbon diluent in a turbulent reaction zone to produce particles of polymer which are substantially insoluble in the diluent. Fouling of the reactor by adherence of polymer particles to the walls of the reactor is reduced by adding to the reaction medium a composition which comprises a porphyrin compound, alone or together with a metal alkyl sulfosuccinate. This composition is also useful as an antistatic agent for liquid hydrocarbons and halohydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Willcox
  • Patent number: 4068059
    Abstract: This invention relates to a polymerization reaction vessel having a coating on the inner surfaces thereof resulting from applying thereto a coating composition containing, as a primary ingredient, an alkali soluble dye dissolved in an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution or an ammonium hydroxide solution. When polymerizing olefinic monomers, such as vinyl halides, vinylidene halides, and vinylidene monomers having at least one terminal CH.sub.2 =C< grouping, and mixtures thereof, in the presence of said coating, polymer build-up on the inner surfaces of the reaction vessel is substantially eliminated. Further, multiple charges or batches of polymer can be made in said internally coated reaction vessel without opening the same between charges thus preventing the escape of unreacted monomer to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: Donald Edward Witenhafer
  • Patent number: 4068060
    Abstract: Removing oligomers (short chain polymers of from two to seven atoms in the chain) from olefin monomer vapor recovered for recycle from the reaction mass resulting from the catalytic polymerization of liquid olefinic monomers by flowing such recovered vapor through a mass transfer plate tower upwardly through openings in the plates of said tower and in the form of bubbles through layers of liquid oligomer reflux maintained on said plates by weirs and downcomers by means of which said reflux is flowed from each plate downwardly to the plate below it and, as a layer, along the top of the plate and thence downwardly to the next lower plate, condensing in a reflux condenser the vapor from the top of said tower, removing olefin monomer from said condenser as a vapor and refluxing condensed liquid oligomers back to the top of said tower. Preferably the tower is a valve tray tower and the plates are valve trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: The Badger Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantine D. Miserlis, Peter J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 4068053
    Abstract: Removing water and light ends from recycle liquid olefin monomer and fresh liquid olefin monomer feed before catalytic polymerization thereof in said liquid state with a water sensitive catalyst, by flowing them through a mass transfer plate tower with a reboiler which vaporizes them upwardly through openings in the plates of said tower and in the form of bubbles through layers of liquid monomer reflux maintained on said plates by weirs and downcomers by means of which said reflux is flowed from each plate downwardly to the plate below it and, as a layer, along the top of the plate and thence downwardly to the next lower plate, condensing in a reflux condenser the vapor from the top of said tower, removing from said condenser as a vapor said light ends, removing water from said condenser as a heavy condensed liquid fraction and refluxing back to the top of said tower as a lighter liquid fraction, condensed liquid monomer. Preferably the tower is a valve tray tower and the plates are valve trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: The Badger Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Constantine D. Miserlis, Peter J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 4066718
    Abstract: A method for the continuous production of crystalline ethylene-propylene block copolymers containing propylene as the major component and having excellent physical properties as that by a batch process in a slurry-phase by homopolymerizing propylene and then copolymerizing ethylene and propylene in the presence of an inert hydrocarbon solvent and a stereoregular polymerization catalyst in polymerization vessels connected in series, which is characterized by homopolymerizing propylene in three polymerization vessels, wherein the inner pressure of the vessels is decreased in order so as to make the inner-pressure difference between each consecutive two vessels from 1 to 3 kg/cm.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1978
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shinichi Saito, Asaya Okaue, Kazuo Baba, Shigeo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4065610
    Abstract: In conventional olefin polymerization using TiCl.sub.3 -containing Ziegler type catalysts, the catalyst-containing reaction product may be de-ashed by treatment with titanium-solubilizing compounds such as alcohols and the polymer product from the de-ashing step washed with a hydrocarbon to separate it from catalyst residue. It is desirable to treat the dirty hydrocarbon wash liquid to recover purified hydrocarbon suitable for recycle to the polymerization reaction. According to this invention the dirty hydrocarbon wash liquid is treated with an epoxy compound in the presence of an alcohol and distilled to recover purified hydrocarbon suitable for recycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Jan W. De Beukelaar, Henry Van Zwet, Jacob B. Roest
  • Patent number: 4065520
    Abstract: Polymers of at least two different alpha monoolefinic monomers capable of polymerizing with themselves and each other. The polymers comprise a plurality of polymer chains along which the proportion of mer units provided by a first such monomer for a given first chain length gradually increases as the proportion of mer units provided by a second such monomer along the first chain length gradually decreases to a second chain length along which the proportion of mer units provided by the first and second monomers, respectively, remain substantially constant throughout said second chain length. Also, included are polymers of this type wherein the polymer chains comprise a third chain length along which the proportion of mer units provided by the first monomer is greater than the minimum proportion of the same type of mer units in the given first chain length and remains substantially constant throughout the third chain length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick Eugene Bailey, Werner Claus VON Dohlen, Markus Matzner, Robert Hayward Young, Lloyd Mahlon Robeson
  • Patent number: 4065609
    Abstract: Polymerization of a mono-.alpha.-olefine monomer is effected by contacting the gaseous monomer with a solid phase comprising polymer and catalyst at a pressure and temperature which are such that the temperature is in the range from tp + 0.1.degree. C up to tp + 5.0.degree. C, where tp is the temperature at which the monomer condenses at a pressure which is equal to the monomer partial pressure within the polymerization vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited
    Inventor: Bruce Albert Edward Willmore
  • Patent number: 4065433
    Abstract: According to the invention, polyaddition products containing imide groups are manufactured by reacting certain polyimides (preferably maleimides) with polyhydric alcohols in the presence of basic compounds. The preferred embodiment (E) relates to the use of catalysts as basic compounds. In particular, amines and alkali metal compounds can be used. A further embodiment (F) relates to the use of primary polyamines as basic compounds. In the latter case, the polyamine participates in the polyaddition mechanism, that is to say the molecules are incorporated into the polyaddition products. In this latter case, catalysts can also be used additionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Albrecht Muller, Theobald Haug, Alfred Renner
  • Patent number: 4064198
    Abstract: Process for the manufacture of shaped articles of a mixture of polystyrene and a copolymer of ethylene with vinyl ester, acrylate or methacrylate. To this end, the said copolymers having a content of from 3 to 40% by weight of unsaturated ester are reacted with monomeric styrene in aqueous suspension in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiators. Whereas a portion of the styrene used is directly grafted onto the ethylene copolymer, the remainder of the polymerized styrene is present in a finely divided state as a homopolymer beside or within the grafted ethylene copolymer. There are obtained homogeneous shaped articles having a styrene content of more than 50% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1977
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Zeitler, Lothar Hoehr, Heinz Mueller-Tamm
  • Patent number: 4064336
    Abstract: A new catalyst and method of making polymers therewith and the process of preparing the catalyst in which the catalyst is prepared by dispersing on a finely divided carrier material, particularly a difficulty reducible inorganic support such as silica, an organic chromium compound or complex such as a chelate derived from an N-nitroso-substituted N-arylhydroxylamine, N-nitroso-substituted hydroxamic acid, N-aryl-substituted hydroxamic acid, or an aromatic hydroxamic acid with or without an N-substituent and activating the resulting mixture by heating at an elevated temperature in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1977
    Assignee: Chemplex Company
    Inventor: Yu-Tang Hwang
  • Patent number: 4061694
    Abstract: Polypropylene molding compositions of improved impact strength are obtained by subjecting certain block copolymers of ethylene and propylene to controlled oxidative degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Dart Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene Gennaro Castagna
  • Patent number: 4061858
    Abstract: Acrylonitrile or monomer mixtures containing acrylonitrile are purified by treating them with alkaline reacting compounds followed by distillation. The products are particularly suitable for the manufacture of acrylonitrile polymers showing improved color stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Wild, Rudolf Jung, Adolf Echte, Johann Zizlsperger, Hermann Gausepohl
  • Patent number: 4061848
    Abstract: A process for cooling a polymerization reaction of compounds in a dispersion and/or solution involves evaporation of one or more liquids contained in the dispersion and/or solution, condensation of the vapors in a reflux condenser, and recycling of the thus-condensed vapors into the reactor, together with the use of a controllable flow of coolant which is introduced into the reflux condenser jacket. In this process the amount of heat given off during condensation serves as the control variable for a controller for controlling the input of cooling medium for the reflux condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Chemische Werke Huls Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eberhard Sistig, Karl-Heinz Reinermann
  • Patent number: 4061849
    Abstract: Gaseous and/or vaporous monomers are recovered from reaction off-gases by treating the latter with compounds which are liquid at 50.degree. C and atmospheric pressure and with which, and/or in which, the said monomers are subsequently reacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Alfred Muenster
  • Patent number: 4058654
    Abstract: Process for the continuous production of a polymer of an .alpha.-olefin monomer. The monomer is polymerized in bulk, employing a screw conveyor as the reactor. The monomer can be in liquid phase when introduced into the conveyor. By the process, the use of diluents is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hubert Sutter, Reinhard Peuker
  • Patent number: 4058652
    Abstract: The fouling of autorefrigeration polymerization systems because of entrained particles in the vaporized solvent-diluent is substantially reduced by returning the recycle solvent-diluent into the reaction zone through nozzles which provide a solvent-diluent spray of an average droplet size of less than 1000 microns, preferably between about 225 and 300 micron average particle size, which spray removes major amounts of entrained particles down to 5 microns in size. The solvent diluent may be an inert material or unreacted alpha-olefin, such as propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Stuart B. Smith, James J. McAlpin, Jose M. A. Peruyero, Ronald L. Hazelton, Edward F. Upchurch
  • Patent number: 4057600
    Abstract: Block copolymers are produced by (i) polymerizing ethylene or propylene, or copolymerizing the same with another .alpha.-olefin of 2 to 7 carbon atoms in the presence of a Ziegler-type catalyst, and (ii) copolymerizing the resulting polymer or copolymer with a radical-polymerizable vinyl compound (e.g., methyl methacrylate) in the presence of an organic sulfoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Company Limited
    Inventors: Akio Kimura, Kenji Seki, Mamoru Ukita, Satoshi Asahi, Sanae Tagami
  • Patent number: 4056667
    Abstract: Improved process permitting a vinyl chloride batch which is to undergo polymerization in suspension, to be additionally cooled. Gaseous matter formed in the gas chamber of a polymerization vessel is delivered through a pipe connection communicating with the gas chamber and a reflux condenser, to the reflux condenser and condensed therein, and the resulting condensate is returned to the polymerization vessel. In the improved process one or more nozzle structures are used to inject fully desalted water into the pipe connection over the entire polymerization period. The spray water has an approximate temperature of from 5.degree. to 45.degree. C and is used in a proportion of at least 10% by volume, based on the overall quantity of water necessary for effecting the polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Sonnenberg, Bruno Kramer