Patents Examined by Judy M. Reddick
  • Patent number: 6683129
    Abstract: This invention relates to aqueous emulsions comprising a water-dispersible copolymer which is non-dispersible in aqueous solutions containing 0.5% or more of an inorganic salt, comprising acidic ethylenically unsaturated monomers and ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The acidic ethylenically unsaturated monomers and the ethylenically unsaturated monomers are defined herein. The present invention also pertains to emulsion polymerization methods for making the aqueous emulsions with or without a surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Michael W. Eknoian
  • Patent number: 6680354
    Abstract: The present invention is a process for preparing high concentration polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aqueous mixtures, wherein the PVA solid concentration is at least 14% in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: William J. Knapp, Richard K. Grenville
  • Patent number: 6673862
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the production of stable aqueous dispersions of vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymers, preferably at high solids, i.e., greater than 65 wt %, preferably >70% which are useful as adhesives. The vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer is comprised of polymerized units of vinyl acetate and ethylene in approximately 60-95 wt % and 5-40 wt % respectively. The copolymers are prepared by the emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate and ethylene monomers in the presence of a stabilizing system consisting essentially of (1) a poly(vinyl alcohol) which is 75-99+mole % hydrolyzed and has an average degree of polymerization ranging from 100-2200 and (2) a polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight of from 200 to 20,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Air Products Polymers, L.P.
    Inventor: Carrington Duane Smith
  • Patent number: 6673854
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vinyl acetate-ethylene polymer dispersion containing a vinyl acetate-ethylene polymer, a phosphate-functional surfactant, and a protective colloid. The invention is also directed to an aqueous coating composition having at least 65 percent by volume of pigment, on a dry solids volume basis and an amount effective to produce good scrub resistance of up to 25 percent by weight of the vinyl acetate-ethylene binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Dorian Pierre, Stephen John Baines, Keith Charles Allen
  • Patent number: 6673852
    Abstract: A conductive composition for a biological electrode is capable of reducing the impedance between the electrode and the skin. A conductive gel composition for a biological electrode which is capable of electrically and physically connecting a living body to an electrode element and is composed of at least the following components: (1) a radical-polymerizable unsaturated compound; (2) a moisturizer serving as a plasticizer and functioning to supplementing and promoting the physiological humidifying function of the horny layer; (3) a polymerization initiator; and (4) a crosslinking agent. This moisturizer serves also as a plasticizer and, furthermore, elevates the moisture content in the horny layer at the application of this composition. The above-mentioned composition may further contain a plasticizer selected from among polyhydric alcohols, amines and ethers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Suda, Tohru Kurata
  • Patent number: 6670414
    Abstract: A binder resin containing a mixture of carboxyl group containing chlorinated polyolefins and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The binder resin is incorporated in primer formulations for application on substrates including polyolefinic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Shiraishi, Naosuke Komoto, Takaaki Ueda, Keiji Urata
  • Patent number: 6670411
    Abstract: A process for separating a solvent and low molecular weight material from an acrylic resin by adding a hindered amine light stabilizer having at least one aminoether group to a mixture of the organic solvent, low molecular weight material and the acrylic resin and subjecting the resulting mixture to an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to remove the solvent and low molecular weight material from the acrylic resin by devolatilization. A composition can be provided which is capable of being formed into a powder coating composition which essentially contains an acrylic resin, a hindered amine light stabilizer having at least one aminoether group or residue thereof and less than 4% by weight of low molecular weight material having a molecular weight less than 600.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Anderson Development Co.
    Inventors: Szu-Ping Lu, Paul J. Prucnal
  • Patent number: 6667358
    Abstract: An olefin-type flame-retardant resin composition having excellent mechanical strength, abrasion resistance and workability, and exhibiting excellent flame-retardant properties and shell-forming properties when it has burned, despite the resin composition is blended with an inorganic compound. The composition contains 25 to 250 parts by weight of (D) a flame-retardant inorganic compound per 100 parts by weight of a base resin composition containing 95 to 5% by weight of (A) a copolymer of an ethylene and a vinyl acetate or other polar group-containing monomer, (B) 5 to 95% by weight of a copolymer of an olefin and an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester or other polar group-containing monomer, and 0 to 49% by weight of (C) a thermoplastic resin other than the above copolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: DuPont-Mitsui Polychemicals Co.
    Inventor: Masataka Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6663942
    Abstract: Disclosed are adhesive formulations as creping process aids for producing an absorbent creped cellulosic sheet having a high level of surface-perceived softness that comprises continuously forming a web of cellulosic papermaking fibers, adhering said web to a thermal drying means by means of adhesive compositions comprising polymers having at least one primary or secondary amine group in the backbone such as chitosan, plolyvinylamine, polyvinyl alcohol-vinyl amine and polyaminoamide in combination with crosslinking agents such as zirconium compounds having a valence of plus four including ammonium zirconium carbonate, zirconium acetylacetonate, zirconium acetate, zirconium carbonate, zirconium sulfate, zirconium phosphate, potassium zirconium carbonate, zirconium sodium phosphate and sodium zirconium tartrate and creping said treated web from said thermal drying means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Phuong Van Luu, Cristian M. Neculescu, Dawn M. Mews
  • Patent number: 6664332
    Abstract: A resin composition suitable for forming ink receptive layer of recording sheets and having excellent ink receptivity, feathering prevention, gloss and weatherability, which comprises (A) an oxyalkylene group-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin and (B) a cationic group-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin, wherein a 15% by weight aqueous solution of the resin composition has a transparency according to JIS K 6726 of at least 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: The Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Saeki
  • Patent number: 6660801
    Abstract: An aqueous coating composition having improved adhesion to friable surfaces including an emulsion polymer of certain compositions and certain acid numbers having a glass transition temperature of −20 C to 100 C and an average particle diameter less than 120 nanometers; and 0.25-10%, by weight based on emulsion polymer weight, water-soluble alkoxylated amine is provided. In addition a method for for improving adhesion to friable surfaces by using the aqueous coating compositions of the invention is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Matthew Stewart Gebhard, Bradley Keith Hageman
  • Patent number: 6657004
    Abstract: The present invention provides a film for packaging chemical agents, which contains an oxyalkylene unit-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin (A) and a carboxyl-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin (B), and preferably further containing a sulfo-containing polyvinyl alcohol resin (C). This film shows fine solubility in water even after a long-term packaging of an acidic chemical agent or alkaline chemical agent, and is superior in mechanical strength. Thus, the film for packaging chemical agents of the present invention is suitably used for packaging a chemical agent, such as powdered soap, synthetic detergent, agricultural chemical, antibacterial, deodorant, insecticide and the like, which is cast into water when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: The Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 6653400
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer in which visible imperfections (particularly fish eyes) of the saponified copolymer is inhibited. In this invention, a mixture solution is prepared by adding water to a methanol solution after saponifying an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and insoluble materials are removed from this mixture solution. Various types of filter or centrifugal separator are used to remove insoluble materials. It is preferable that the weight ratio of methanol to water is from 5:5 to 9:1, the concentration of the saponified copolymer is from 30 to 60 wt %, and the temperature is from 55 to 80° C. This method is particularly suitable for producing a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene content of 20 to 70 mol % and a saponification degree of at least 95 mol %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaharu Kawahara, Toshio Tuboi
  • Patent number: 6653381
    Abstract: Novel compounds derived from traditional semi- drying and non-drying oils featuring internally plasticizing and crosslinkable properties are disclosed and claimed. Preferred embodiments include acrylate or methacrylate esters of hydroxy long-chain olefinic compounds derived from castor oil or lesquerella oil. A process for the preparation of the novel compounds is also disclosed, which involves esterification reaction of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids or its derivatives with substituted hydroxy long-chain olefinic compounds. These compounds are suitable for forming latices, which form films at low minimum film forming temperatures (MFT) ranging from −5 to 10 ° C. and cure to above ambient glass transition (Tg polymers without the use of traditional organic cosolvents which contribute to environmental pollution via volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions. These latices are therefore useful in waterborne coatings, contact and pressure sensitive adhesives, and inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Shelby Freland Thames, Kamlesh Gopichand Panjnani, Rajan Hariharan, Zhiyu Wang
  • Patent number: 6653384
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for priming an aluminum material by applying a primer containing the nitrate or related compound of a metal selected from aluminum, zirconium, cerium, chromium, and iron to the surface of the aluminum material so that the amount of adhering metal becomes 1.0 mM/m2 or more and baking the primer, and also relates to a primer for an aluminum material containing water-soluble acrylic acid-based polymers in the range of 3.5 to 22.5 g/l as solids concentration, the nitrate or related compound of a metal selected from aluminum, zirconium, cerium, and iron in the range of 30 to 500 g/l, a hydrofluoric acid-based compound in the range of 1.0 to 5.0 g/l as elemental fluorine, and an organic reducing agent in the range of 5 to 30 g/l. This invention makes it possible to apply a primer to the surface of an aluminum material with excellent corrosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Ishii, Kazuhiko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6649323
    Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a substrate, a free radical polymerizable photosensitive layer comprising a light-sensitive composition on the substrate, and a water-soluble overcoat layer on the photosensitive layer, wherein the overcoat layer comprises polyvinyl alcohol, and a further component that is not amphoteric and is poly(1-vinylimidazole) or a copolymer of 1-vinylimidazole and at least one further monomer. The photosensitive layer comprises a free radical polymerizable component and a photoinitiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Kodak Polychrome Graphics LLC
    Inventors: Socrates Peter Pappas, Harald Baumann, Udo Dwars, Celin M. Savariar-Hauck, Hans-Joachim Timpe
  • Patent number: 6646087
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is provided which suppresses the formation of scale and gelled product. In a continuous polymerization of ethylene and vinyl acetate in a polymerizing vessel with a cooling jacket and/or coil, the heat transfer area of the jacket and/or coil and the polymerizing calorific value per hour satisfy the following formula: A<Q/2000 wherein A is the heat transfer area (m2) and Q is the calorific value (kcal/hr) for polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Nagao
  • Patent number: 6639022
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of superabsorbent polymers by alkaline hydrolysis of polyacrylonitrile emulsions is disclosed. In an embodiment of the invention the process comprise preparing a PAN emulsion, subjecting the emulsion to alkaline hydrolysis, neutralizing the hydrolysate followed by drying, granulation and modifying the surface of the granular polymer by crosslinking. The process is characterized in that the isolation of the superabsorbent polymer entails neither alcohols nor organic solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gisbert Michels, Thomas Gross
  • Patent number: 6635709
    Abstract: A dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization of a vinyl compound containing a vinyl alcohol polymer (A) having a content of an ethylene unit of 0.5 to 10 mol %, a degree of saponification of 60 mol % or more and a degree of polymerization of 600 or more and a vinyl alcohol polymer (B) selected from the group consisting of a vinyl alcohol polymer (B1) having a content of an ethylene unit of 0.5 to 10 mol %, a degree of saponification of 20 to 80 mol % and a degree of polymerization of 100 to 600, a vinyl alcohol polymer (B2) having a degree of saponification of 20 to 60 mol % and a degree of polymerization of 100 to 600 and a vinyl alcohol polymer (B3) having a content of an ethylene unit of 0.5 to 10 mol %, a degree of saponification of 90 mol % or more and a degree of polymerization of 1,000 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kato, Naokiyo Inomata, Seiji Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 6632888
    Abstract: The invention relates to rubber mixtures which contain microgels and isocyanatosilanes and vulcanisates produced therefrom. By adding isocyanatosilanes the mechanical properties of the vulcanisates, in particular the elongation properties and the abrasion resistance, are improved without the difference in rebound resilience at 70° C. and 23° C. being reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Obrecht, Martin Mezger, Anthony Sumner