Patents Examined by R. Rabago
  • Patent number: 6384158
    Abstract: The catalyst system of the invention comprises: I) a catalyst for polymerizing olefins comprising: a) a first component comprising at least one transition metal of Group IV, V or VI and at least two cyclopentadienyl containing rings, said rings each having at least two substituents bonded to each of said rings in the same position; b) a second component comprising said transition metal and said cyclopentadienyl containing rings, said rings each having at least two substituents bonded to each of said rings in the same or different position than said substituents of said first component; said substituents of the said first and second components can be the same or different, with the provision that when the substituents of said first and second components are the same, said substituents of said components are bonded to said rings in different positions; and c) a third component comprising said transition metal bonded to said cyclopentadienyl containing rings where one of said rings is substituted identically
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Bamberger, Moses Olukayode Jejelowo
  • Patent number: 6384161
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a supported metallocene catalyst system that can be used to catalyze formation of polyolefins having a wide molecular weight range. In accordance with the process of the present invention, a first portion of an inorganic oxide is dried under a first set of conditions, wherein upon treatment with an organoaluminoxide and a metallocene, a first catalyst system is formed usable to produce a polyolefin product having a first molecular weight average distribution. A second portion of an inorganic oxide under a second set of conditions, wherein upon treatment with an organoaluminoxane and a metallocene, a second catalyst system is formed usable to produce polyolefin product having a second molecular weight distribution. An amount of the first portion is mixed with an amount of the second portion to produce a final inorganic oxide support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: M. Bruce Welch, David W. Dockter, Syriac J. Palackal, Bryan E. Hauger, David C. Rohlfing
  • Patent number: 6372869
    Abstract: The molecular weight of polyolefins produced using selected late transition metal complexes of bidentate ligands may be lowered by carrying out the polymerization in the presence of hydrogen, a selected silane, or CBr4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Samuel David Arthur, Stephan James McLain
  • Patent number: 6369175
    Abstract: This invention is for a metallocene compound which can be used in a catalyst system to produce hemiisotactic polymer. The compound is a bridged metallocene compound having dissimilar cyclopentadienyl groups and no bi-lateral symmetry. One example of the compound is isopropylidene(3-methylcyclopentadienyl-1-fluorenyl) zirconium dichloride. The catalyst of this invention can be converted to an ionic metallocene catalyst by an ionizing agent, such as methylaluminoxane. The polymer produced with this catalyst is characterized by having an isotactic structure effecting only every other asymmetric carbon atom. In the case of polypropylene, every other methyl group is on the same side of the principal polymer chain as represented by a Fisher projection. The remaining methyl groups can be either on the same side or on the opposite side of the principal polymer chain. The polymer produced with the catalyst of this invention can be used as a plasticizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ewen
  • Patent number: 6369183
    Abstract: A composition of matter, comprising: a chemically functionalized carboxylate-alumoxane that is functionalized with a chemically reactive substituent, and a reactive compound, wherein the chemically reactive substituent reacts with the reactive compound so as to link the carboxylate-alumoxane to the reactive compound and form a polymer matrix. The functional groups on the carboxylate-alumoxane can vary depending on the desired properties of the matrix. Also, the composition of matter may comprise a cross-linked matrix in which the cross-linked components consist of functionalized alumoxanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Wm. Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ronald Lee Cook, Andrew Ross Barron, Kevin Joseph Gleason, David Brent MacQueen, Georgette Laila Siparsky, Yoshihiro Koide, Cullen Taylor Vogelson
  • Patent number: 6368708
    Abstract: Microspheres comprise a polymer or copolymer including one or more of 1) a plurality of C3 or larger alpha-olefin units wherein the polymer has an average number of branch points less than one per monomer unit, and 2) a plurality of C2 alpha-olefin units wherein the polymer has an average number of branch points greater than 0.01 per monomer unit, the microspheres having an average diameter in the range of 1 to 300 micrometers. Optionally, the polymer of the microspheres can be crosslinked. The microspheres can be prepared by suspension or dispersion polymerization processes using aqueous or organic reaction media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Katherine A. Brown, Michael R. Kesti
  • Patent number: 6369254
    Abstract: Metallocene compounds with two indenyl-type ligands linked in the 4 position by means of a divalent bridging group can be suitably used as components of catalysts for the polymerization of olefins. In particular, it is possible to prepare saturated or unsaturated elastomeric copolymers of ethylene characterized by valuable properties, such as low ash content and uniform distribution of the comonomers in the polymer chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Basell Technology Company BV
    Inventors: Luigi Resconi, Ilya E. Nifant'ev, Yuri A. Dubitsky, Elisabetta Barbassa, Colin J. Schaverien, Ren' Ernst
  • Patent number: 6369176
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymer blends having an MWD of at least about 2 are made in a single reactor using a mixed constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) system. The process comprises the steps of contacting under polymerization conditions and in a single reaction vessel (i) ethylene, (ii) at least one C3-C20 (&agr;-olefin, (iii) optionally, at least one polyene, and (iv) a mixed CGC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Debra J. Mangold, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 6362290
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for continuous gas phase polymerization of olefin(s) in a reactor containing a fluidized bed, consisting of a cylinder with a vertical side wall and of a desurging or disengagement chamber (3) mounted above the said cylinder, characterized in that the fluidized bed occupies at least all of the cylinder with a vertical side wall of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Durand, Frederic Robert Marie Michel Morterol
  • Patent number: 6355742
    Abstract: A method of recycling a cocatalyst for olefin polymerization conducted with a metallocene catalyst is provided. In the method, olefinic monomers are polymerized using a supported catalyst and cocatalyst. The supported catalyst is prepared by covalent bonding a catalyst with a support and the cocatalyst is dissolved in a suspension. The cocatalyst is separated from the resulting suspension after polymerization, and the separated cocatalyst is reused for subsequent polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: LG Chemical, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Seung Oh, Bun-Yeoul Lee
  • Patent number: 6350832
    Abstract: A catalyst system and a process for the bulk addition polymerization or of polycyclic olefins, such as norbornene, methylnorbornene, ethylnorbornene, butylnorbornene or hexylnorbornene, 1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanonapthalene, 5,5′-(1,2-ethanediyl)bisbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, and 1,4,4a,4b,5,8,8a,8b-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanobiphenylene are disclosed. The catalyst includes an organonickel or organopalladium transition metal procatalyst and an activator compound. Polymerization can be carried out in a reaction injection molding process to yield thermoplastic and thermoset molded polymeric articles possessing high glass transition temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventors: Andrew Bell, Larry F. Rhodes, Brian L. Goodall, John C. Fondran
  • Patent number: 6348555
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a substantially linear olefin polymer which has long chain branches, a high melt flow ratio, a narrow molecular weight distribution and critical shear rate at onset of surface melt fracture of a least 50 percent greater than the critical shear rate at the onset of melt fracture which is substantially higher than that of a linear olefin polymer having about the same molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. The novel polymer is an interpolymer of ethylene with at least one C3-C20 alpha-olefin and at least one unsaturated monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Shih-Yaw Lai, John R. Wilson, George W. Knight, James C. Stevens
  • Patent number: 6346585
    Abstract: Calcined ammonium salts of phosphotungstic acid salts are used to polymerize C2-C30 &agr;-olefins and derivatives thereof to form highly reactive products having a high content of terminal vinylidene groups and &bgr;-isomers in resonance therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Johnson, James D. Burrington
  • Patent number: 6344529
    Abstract: Disclosed are compounds useful as catalyst activators for olefin polymerization, comprising structures of the following formulae: wherein: L+ is a protonated derivative of an element of Group 15 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, additionally bearing two hydrocarbyl substituents of from 1 to 50 carbons each, or a positively charged derivative of an element of Group 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, said Group 14 element being substituted with three hydrocarbyl substituents of from 1 to 50 carbons each; R1 is a divalent linking group of from 1 to 40 non-hydrogen atoms; R2 independently each occurrence is a ligand group of from 1 to 50 nonhydrogen atoms with the proviso that in a sufficient number of occurrences to balance charge in the compound, R2 is L+—R1—; M1 is boron, aluminum or gallium; Arf independently each occurrence is a monovalent, fluorinated organic group containing from 6 to 100 non-hydrogen atoms; Y is a Group 15 element; and Z is a Grou
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Edmund M. Carnahan, Grant B. Jacobsen, Jerzy Klosin, Peter N. Nickias, David J. Schwartz, David R. Neithamer
  • Patent number: 6339135
    Abstract: A novel double crosslinking type transition metal compound is herein disclosed which is represented by the general formula (I) wherein M is a metallic element in the groups 3 to 10 or a lanthanoide series of the periodic table; E1 and E2 are each a cyclopentadienyl group, an indenyl group or the like, and they form a crosslinking structure via A1 and A2; A1 and A2 are each a crosslinking group comprising a hydrocarbon group of one or more carbon atoms; X is a &sgr;-bonding ligand; and Y is a Lewis base. Also disclosed are a double crosslinking type biscyclopentadienyl derivative and bisindenyl derivative for use in the above-mentioned transition metal compound, its preparation process, a catalyst for olefin polymerization using the transition metal compound, and a preparation process of an olefin polymer by the use of this catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kashiwamura, Nobuhiro Yabunouchi, Masami Watanabe, Noriyuki Tani, Takuji Okamoto, Kiyohiko Yokota, Mitsugu Kanzawa, Tetsuya Inoue
  • Patent number: 6333423
    Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of the following formulae, and their use in the polymerization of olefins: wherein M is preferably titanium, zirconium or hafnium, R1-R8 are univalent radicals, X1 and X2 are univalent ligands, X3 is a divalent ligand, and (RnY—T) is an optional donor or non-donor group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignees: Ramot University Authority for Applied Research and Industrial Development Ltd., Bar-Ilan University
    Inventors: Moshe Kol, Edit Tshuva, Zeev Goldschmidt
  • Patent number: 6331590
    Abstract: The present invention relates to homopolymer and copolymer waxes which have been prepared by polymerization using metallocene compounds in the presence of hydrogen and have a melt viscosity of less then 100 mPas, measured at 170° C. As a result of their high thermal stabillty, these waxes display neither discoloration nor crosslinking reactions and are vary well suited for use in toners, for plastics processing, for masterbatches, for printing inks, surface coatings and melt adhesives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Clariant GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Friedrich Herrmann, Gerd Hohner
  • Patent number: 6326444
    Abstract: Polymers of alkenes are prepared by suspension polymerization in the presence of catalyst systems by a process in which the catalyst systems used are supported catalyst systems obtainable by A) reaction of an inorganic carrier with a metal compound of the general formula I M1(R1)r(R2)s(R3 )t(R4 )u  I where M1 is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or a metal of main group III or IV of the Periodic Table, R1 to R7 are variously halogen, alkoxy, dialkylamino, hydrogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl each having 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical, r, s, t and u are integers from 1 to 4 the sum r+s+t+u corresponding to the valency of M1, B) reaction of the material obtained according to A) with a metallocene complex in its metal dihalide form and a compound forming metallocenium ions and C) subsequent reaction with a metal compound of the general formula II M2(R5)o(R6)p(R7)q  II.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefin GmbH
    Inventors: John Lynch, David Fischer, Hans-Helmut Görtz, Günther Schweier
  • Patent number: 6326445
    Abstract: A catalyst composition for the polymerization of olefins is provided, which comprises the reaction product of a fulvene, a complex of an atom selected from Groups 3-14 and the Lanthanides, and an activating cocatalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Todd Wenzel
  • Patent number: 6323284
    Abstract: The present invention is broadly directed to a process for copolymerizing one or more alpha-olefins and one or more di-olefin monomers in the presence of at least one stereospecific metallocene catalyst system and at least one non-stereospecific metallocene catalyst system. Crosslinking of at least a portion of the mixture of polymer segments is accomplished during the polymerization of the composition by incorporation of single di-olefin comonomers into two polymer segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Peacock