Patents Examined by P. Hampton Hightower
  • Patent number: 6541085
    Abstract: Disclosed is a member of nylon 12 having a relative viscosity of from 1.9 to 3.5 when measured in 98% sulfuric acid at a concentration of 10 g/dm3 and at 25° C. and a melt flow rate of 0.1 g/10 min. or more when measured at 235° C. under a load of 2,160 g, wherein said relative viscosity and said melt flow rate have a relationship of the following formula (I): 2.87×103 exp (−3.48 &eegr;r)≦MFR≦3.25×104 exp (−3.48 &eegr;r)  (I) wherein &eegr;r is relative viscosity and MFR is melt flow rate. The nylon 12 has excellent extrusion moldability and creep characteristics, fatigue characteristics and the like mechanical properties and is suited for tubular molds. A nylon 12 composition comprising the nylon 12 having the above-described specific relationship between &eegr;r and MFR and a plasticizer is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Isobe, Tetsuji Hirano, Kouichiro Kurachi, Nobuhiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6541600
    Abstract: Highly branched polyamides prepared in a single step procedure of condensation polymerization of multifunctional monomer reactants comprising amine and carboxylic acid functional groups. Polymerization proceeds by reaction of an amine group of a first monomer unit with an acid group of a second monomer unit to form a reaction product having an amide linkage between the first and second monomer units and repetition of such amidation reaction between additional amine groups and acid groups of the multi-functional monomers and reaction products of the multi-functional monomers. In the present invention, in order to obtain a water soluble or dispersible hyperbranched polyamide, at least one of the multifunctional monomer unit reactants contains an amine, phosphine, arsenine or sulfide group, such that the highly branched polyamide contains in the backbone thereof an N, P, As or S atom capable of forming an onium ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jin-Shan Wang, Huijuan D. Chen
  • Patent number: 6538097
    Abstract: A process for production of polyimide powder, which comprises reacting a biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and an aromatic diamine in an amide-based solvent optionally containing a water-soluble ketone, in the presence of an imidazole at 1-100 equivalent percent based on the carboxylic acid content of the polyimide precursor, separating and collecting the produced polyimide precursor powder from a water-soluble ketone solvent containing 3-30 wt % of an amide-based solvent, and heating the polyimide precursor powder to an imidation rate of 90% or greater, as well as polyimide powder obtained thereby, molded bodies of the polyimide powder, and a process for production of the molded bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: UBE Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamaguchi, Fumio Aoki
  • Patent number: 6538099
    Abstract: Disclosed is a member of nylon 12 having a relative viscosity of from 1.9 to 3.5 when measured in 98% sulfuric acid at a concentration of 10 g/dm3 and at 25° C. and a melt flow rate of 0.1 g/10 min. or more when measured at 235° C. under a load of 2,160 g, wherein said relative viscosity and said melt flow rate have a relationship of the following formula (I): 2.87×103 exp(−3.48 &eegr;r)≦MFR≦3.25×104 exp(−3.48 &eegr;r)  (I) wherein &eegr;r is relative viscosity and MFR is melt flow rate. The nylon 12 has excellent extrusion moldability and creep characteristics, fatigue characteristics and the like mechanical properties and is suited for tubular molds. A nylon 12 composition comprising the nylon 12 having the above-described specific relationship between &eegr;r and MFR and a plasticizer is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Isobe, Tetsuji Hirano, Kouichiro Kurachi, Nobuhiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6538100
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of producing polyimide resins having excellent heat resistance, which can utilize inexpensive monomers and does not use solvents. The method comprises mixing, in the absence of a solvent, a diamine and at least one tetracarboxylic acid component selected from the group consisting of a tetracarboxylic acid, a tetracarboxylic acid monoanhydride and a tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride capable of forming two imide rings upon cyclization, and then heat-treating the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Bakelite Company Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamamori, Hiroyuki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6538101
    Abstract: A stereospecific poly(lactic acid) is isotactic poly(lactic acid) having a number average molecular weight ranging from 10,000 to 200,000 grams per mole, with, on average, an equal number of poly (R) and poly (S) blocks where each block contains an average of 5 to 50 monomer units. Product was prepared by polymerizing rac-lactide in the presence of racemic catalyst consisting of: and the corresponding S-enantiomer or in the presence of racemic catalyst consisting of: and the corresponding S-enantiomer, wherein R is C1-C4 alkyl which is straight chain or branched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Coates, Tina M. Ovitt
  • Patent number: 6534622
    Abstract: A process for production of polyimide powder, which comprises reacting an aromatic diamine with a partial ester of a biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, which is a partial ester of a biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride with a primary alcohol of 1-5 carbon atoms of which at least 30 mole percent is a 2,3,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid component, in the presence of the primary alcohol, separating out and collecting the resulting solid polyimide precursor and heating for dehydrating ring closure, polyimide powder obtained thereby, molded bodies of the polyimide powder, and a process for production of the molded bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamaguchi, Fumio Aoki
  • Patent number: 6531520
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymer blends which can be used both in foamed and unfoamed states as a replacement for conventional EPDM and other elastomers. The composition of the blend includes a single-site catalyzed polyolefin resin having a density of below 0.878 g cm−3 and up to 40 weight percent a polyolefin including ethylene and propylene. The polymer blend is cross-linked. The polymer blends are formable-and foamable. The use of sulfur to vulcanize the polymer blend is not necessary. The polymer blends can be used to make foam for floatation or for making gaskets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Sentinel Products Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Bambara, Matthew L. Kozma, Todd Cagwin, Robert F. Hurley
  • Patent number: 6531570
    Abstract: Disclosed are the use of lactams, aminocarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof as acceleratant or cocatalyst in the production of polyamides from aminonitriles and water, and a suitable process therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Mohrschladt, Volker Hildebrandt
  • Patent number: 6531568
    Abstract: This invention provides crosslinkable-group-containing polyimides of various known thermoplastic polyimide backbone structures, which are provided with far better heat resistance, chemical resistance and mechanical properties than known polyimides of the structures without impairing excellent moldability or formability, superb sliding property, low water absorption property, outstanding electrical properties, high thermal oxidation stability and high radiation resistance, all of which are inherent to the structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Shibuya, Tomomi Okumura, Hideaki Oikawa, Yoshihiro Sakata, Takashi Kuroki, Yuichi Okawa, Shoji Tamai
  • Patent number: 6528615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to copolymers containing polyamide blocks and polyether blocks based on ethoxylated primary amines, these copolymers having a melting point of between 80° C. and 135° C. and an MFI (melt flow index) of between 5 and 80 g/10 min (2.16 kg-150° C.). The invention also relates to adhesives of the HMA (or hot melt adhesive) type consisting of the above copolymers containing polyamide blocks and polyether blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Atofina
    Inventors: Hermann Hilgers, Reinhard Linemann
  • Patent number: 6528614
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of polyamide-6 by polymerization of &egr;-caprolactam with full re-use of extracted caprolactam and oligomers. The extract is not subjected to a pretreatment for reduction of the cyclic dimer content. By carrying out the polymerization in two steps, the first at an elevated pressure, but lower than the vapor pressure of the reaction mixture supplied, and the second at approximately atmospheric or reduced pressure, the cyclic dimer content of the polymerizate leaving the second polymerization step is kept at a constant level. The process offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of production capacity and composition and proportion of recycled lactam in the lactam feed for the polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: DSM N.V.
    Inventors: Ernst E. G. Kloosterman, Albert A. A. Van Geenen, Cornelis C. L. Van Der Sluijs, Erik E. R. Peerlkamp, Theo T. K. Schulpen, Ronald R. J. H. Hoenen
  • Patent number: 6525167
    Abstract: The continuous process for producing polyamides by reacting at least one aminonitrile with water comprises the following steps: (10) reacting at least one aminonitrile with water at a temperature of from 200 to 290° C. at a pressure of from 40 to 70 bar in a flow tube containing a Brönsted acid catalyst selected from a beta-zeolite, sheet-silicate or metal oxide catalyst in the form of a fixed bed, (11) diabatically or adiabatically expanding the reaction mixture from step (1) into a first separation zone to a pressure of from 20 to 40 bar, the pressure being at least 10 bar lower than the pressure in step (1), and to a temperature within the range from 220 to 290° C. by flash evaporation and removal of ammonia, water and any aminonitrile monomer and oligomer, (12) further reacting the reaction mixture from step (2) in the presence of water at a temperature of from 200 to 290° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Mohrschladt, Volker Hildebrandt, Motonori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6524719
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminate film where on at least one face of a substrate layer selected from polyester film and aliphatic polyamide film, there is provided a polyamide layer in which the chief component is an aromatic polyamide of glass transition temperature at least 60° C., as a layer to undergo vapour deposition, and (1) the centre-line average roughness (Ra) of the face which is to undergo vapour deposition is in the range 0.005 to 0.03 &mgr;m, or (2) between the substrate layer and the polyamide layer, a layer comprising a single polymer or a plurality of polymers of SP value 10 to 15 is interposed between the substrate A layer and the polyamide C layer; and the invention offers film for vapour-deposition which is outstanding in its processability in vapour-deposition, and in its gas barrier properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Yamane, Kokichi Hashimoto, Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 6525166
    Abstract: The invention concerns a polyamide comprising macromolecular chains having a star-shaped configuration, a method for making said polyamide and compositions comprising same. More particularly, the invention concerns a method for making a polyamide comprising linear macromolecular chains and star-shaped macromolecular chains with control of the star-shaped chain concentration in the polymer. Said control is obtained by using besides the polyfunctional polymers and amino acids or lactams a polyfunctional comonomer comprising either acid functions or amine functions. The resulting polyamide has optimal mechanical and rheological properties for improving the speed and quality of mould filling and producing mouldable compositions comprising high filler factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nyltech Italia S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Di Silvestro, Franco Speroni, Cuiming Yuan, Haichun Zhang
  • Patent number: 6518392
    Abstract: A novel dielectric composition is provided that is useful in the manufacture of integrated circuit devices and integrated circuit packaging devices. The dielectric composition is prepared by imidizing and curing an oligomeric precursor compound comprised of a central polybenzoxazole, polybenzothiazole, polyamic acid or polyamic acid ester segment end-capped at each terminus with an aryl-substituted acetylene moiety such as an ortho-bis(arylethynyl)aryl group, e.g., 3,4-bis(phenylethynyl)phenyl. Integrated circuit devices, integrated circuit packaging devices, and methods of synthesis and manufacture are provided as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Carter, James L. Hedrick, Victor Yee-Way Lee, Dale C. McHerron, Robert D. Miller
  • Patent number: 6518387
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a soybean-based adhesive resin including a soybean flour and a cross-linking agent. The cross-linking agent is reacted with the functional groups in the soybean flour to form an adhesive resin. The present invention also relates to a method of making a soybean-based adhesive resin. This method involves providing an aqueous solution of soybean flour and adding a cross-linking agent to the solution under conditions effective to cross-link the soybean flour so that an adhesive resin is formed. Also disclosed is a composite product which includes particulate plant material and the soybean-based adhesive resin. The adhesive is prepared by reacting the cross-linking agent with the functional groups in the soybean flour. The present invention also relates to a method of making a composite product by providing particulate plant material and applying the soybean-based adhesive resin to the particulate plant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Monlin Kuo, Deland J. Myers, Howard Heemstra, Daniel Curry, Daniel O. Adams, Douglas D. Stokke
  • Patent number: 6517343
    Abstract: A curable composition is placed on a candle, and then the composition is exposed to curing conditions such as ultraviolet light, to thereby cure the coating composition and provide a candle having a cured coating. The curable composition may be the reaction product of TMPTA (trimethylolpropanetriacrylate), itself the reaction product of trimethylolpropane and acrylic acid) and oleyl amine (an unsaturated primary amine having eighteen carbons). The candle may be made of wax or a gelled solvent, i.e., a mixture of gellant and solvent, particularly a hydrocarbon or other low polarity solvent. The undiluted coating may be applied by spraying on the oily surface of the candle. Ultraviolet cure of the coating occurs in 1-2 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Arizona Chemical Company
    Inventors: Raymond H. Jones, Charles D. Moses, Ronald L. Gordon
  • Patent number: 6515099
    Abstract: The polyamide resin shaped article of the present invention is produced by preliminarily melt-kneading a m-xylylene-containing polyamide resin and a layered silicate subjected to a swelling treatment to prepare a resin composition containing the layered silicate in high concentration, melt-kneading the resin composition with another portion of m-xylylene-containing polyamide resin, and then formed into the shaped article. Since the amount of the m-xylylene-containing polyamide resin exposed to the heat history twice in the melt-kneading steps is minimized, the gel formation due to the thermal degradation can be reduced and the lowering of the relative viscosity due to the decrease of the molecular weight caused by the thermal degradation of the m-xylylene-containing polyamide resin is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunobu Sato, Koji Yamamoto, Kazunobu Maruo, Satoshi Okada
  • Patent number: 6509104
    Abstract: An article having a non-thrombogenic surface and a process for making the article are disclosed. The article is formed by (i) coating a polymeric substrate with a crosslinked chemical combination of a polymer having at least two amino substituted side chains, a crosslinking agent containing at least two crosslinking functional groups which react with amino groups on the polymer, and a linking agent containing a first functional group which reacts with a third functional group of the crosslinking agent, and (ii) contacting the coating on the substrate with an antithrombogenic agent which covalently bonds to a second functional group of the linking agent. In one example embodiment, the polymer is a polyamide having amino substituted alkyl chains on one side of the polyamide backbone, the crosslinking agent is a phosphine having the general formula (A)3P wherein A is hydroxyalkyl, the linking agent is a polyhydrazide and the antithrombogenic agent is heparin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Michigan Biotechnology Institute
    Inventors: Zhi Heng Huang, William F. McDonald, Stacy C. Wright, Andrew C. Taylor