Patents by Inventor Akio Imai

Akio Imai has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5854164
    Abstract: A solid catalyst component (A) for olefin polymerization comprising Mg, Ti, a halogen and a cyclic organic nitrogen compound (C), a solid catalyst comprising the solid catalyst component and an organoaluminum compound, and a process for producing an olefin polymer with the catalyst.According to the present invention, there can be provided an olefin polymerization catalyst having a high catalyst activity per titanium enough to make the removal of catalyst residues unnecessary and a process for producing an olefin polymer having a low content of low molecular weight component with the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shiraishi, Eiji Nakaishi, Takahiro Hino, Akio Imai
  • Patent number: 5608018
    Abstract: An .alpha.-olefin polymerization catalyst system having so high a catalytic activity and stereoregularity that the catalyst residue and amorphous polymer need not be removed and a process for producing an.alpha.-olefin polymer using the catalyst system, said catalyst system consisting essentially of:(A) a trivalent titanium compound-containing solid catalyst component prepared by reducing a titanium compound, represented by the general formula Ti(OR.sup.1).sub.a X.sub.4-a in which R.sup.1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; X represents a halogen atom; and a represents a numeral satisfying 0<a.ltoreq.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Ebara, Teruyosi Kiyota, Akio Imai
  • Patent number: 5428173
    Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of an aminothiadiazolylacetyl halide derivative represented by the following formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or halogenated lower alkyl group; and R.sup.2 represents an amino-protecting group or a hydrogen atom, or a salt thereof, which process uses as the starting material a compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the same meanings as defined above, or a salt thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Eisai Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Kanai, Akio Imai, Katsuhiko Sato, Homare Shinohara, Kazumi Oishi
  • Patent number: 5219938
    Abstract: A process for preparing modified diene polymer rubbers having an increased impact resilience, a reduced hardness at low temperatures and an improved processability, and useful as rubber materials for automobile tires and other industries which comprises producing a conjugated diene polymer having alkali metal end or ends, and reacting the alkali metal-containing polymer with (a) a silicon or tin compound of the formula: R.sub.a MX.sub.b wherein R is an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkenyl group or an aromatic hydrocarbon atom, a is 0, 1 or 2 and b is 2, 3 or 4, and (b) at least one member selected from the group consisting of a nitro compound; a phosphoryl chloride compound of the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are an alkyl group; an aminosilane compound of the formula (2): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are an alkyl group or an alkoxyl group, R.sup.8 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Akio Imai, Tomoaki Seki, Keisaku Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5191041
    Abstract: An inert hydrocarbon solvent-soluble catalyst for polymerization of olefinic hydrocarbons and a process for producing an olefinic polymer using the same are disclosed, the catalyst being composed of (A) a reaction product obtained by reacting (a) at least one vanadium compound represented by formula:VO(OR).sub.m X.sub.3-mwherein R represents a hydrocarbon group; X represents a halogen atom; and m represents a real number of from 0 to 3, and (b) a dihydroxy hydrocarbon compound constituted of a straight chain hydrocarbon skeleton containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms and having a hydroxyl group at each of both terminals thereof and at least one hydrocarbon branch bonded to said hydrocarbon skeleton in an inert hydrocarbon solvent at an (a) to (b) molar ratio of from 1:0.5 to 1:1.4 and (B) at least one organoaluminum compound represented by formula:R'.sub.n AlX'.sub.3-nwherein R' represents a hydrocarbon group; X' represents a halogen atom; and n represents a real number more than 0 and less than 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Saba, Keisaku Yamamoto, Akio Imai, Kiyoyuki Sugimori, Kizuku Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 5189108
    Abstract: A modified polymer rubber is obtained by(1) graft-polymerizing at least one grafting monomer to a shreaded rubbery polymer (A) in an aqueous suspension at a temperature of 30.degree.-130.degree. C. to obtain a graft polymer, and(2) kneading the graft polymer with at least one polymerizable monomer in the presence of a free radical initiator at a temperature of 180.degree.-280.degree. C. This process does not cause gel formation and is advantageous in manufacturing cost.The modified polymer rubber thus obtained is excellent in processability and storage stability, and highly useful as a compatibilizer for various resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Akio Imai, Mitsuji Tsuji, Takashi Sanada, Keisaku Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5189109
    Abstract: A process for preparing modified diene polymer rubbers having an increased impact resilience and a reduced hardness at low temperatures and useful as rubber materials for automobile tires and other industries which comprises producing an alkali metal-containing conjugated diene polymer, and reacting the akali metal-containing polymer with an acrylamide modifier compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen atom or methyl group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently an alkyl group and n is an integer said alkali metal-containing diene polymer being prepared by a living anionic polymerization using an alkali metal-based catalyst or by an addition reaction of a diene polymer having conjugated diene units and an alkali metal-based catalyst in a hydrocarbon solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Akio Imai, Tomoaki Seki
  • Patent number: 5128416
    Abstract: A process for preparing modified diene polymer rubbers having an increased impact resilience, a reduced hardness at low temperatures and an improved processability, and useful as rubber materials for automobile tires and other industries which comprises producing a conjugated diene polymer having alkali metal end or ends, and reacting the alkali metal-containing polymer with (a) a silicon or tin compound of the formula: R.sub.a MX.sub.b wherein R is an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a cycloalkenyl group or an aromatic hydrocarbon group, M is silicon atom or tin atom, X is a halogen atom, a is 0, 1 or 2 and b is 2, 3 or 4, and (b) at least one member selected from the group consisting of a nitro compound; a phosphoryl chloride compound of the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are an alkyl group; an aminosilane compound of the formula (2): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are an alkyl group or an alkoxyl group, R.sup.8 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Akio Imai, Tomoaki Seki, Keisaku Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5122493
    Abstract: An inert hydrocarbon solvent-soluble catalyst for polymerization of olefinic hydrocarbons and a process for producing an olefinic polymer using the same are disclosed, the catalyst being composed of (A) a reaction product obtained by reacting (a) at least one vanadium compound represented by formula:VO(OR).sub.m X.sub.3-mwherein R represents a hydrocarbon group; X represents a halogen atom; and m represents a real number of from 0 to 3, and (b) a dihydroxy hydrocarbon compound constituted of a straight chain hydrocarbon skeleton containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms and having a hydroxyl group at each of both terminals thereof and at least one hydrocarbon branch bonded to said hydrocarbon skeleton in an inert hydrocarbon solvent at an (a) to (b) molar ratio of from 1:0.5 to 1:1.4 and (B) at least one organoaluminum compound represented by formula:R'.sub.n AlX'.sub.3-nwherein R' represents a hydrocarbon group X' represents a halogen atom; and n represents a real number more than 0 and less than 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Saba, Keisaku Yamamoto, Akio Imai, Kiyoyuki Sugimori, Kizuku Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 5082908
    Abstract: An ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer is disclosed, which comprises ethylene and an .alpha.-olefin having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, has an ethylene/.alpha.-olefin molar ratio of from 88/12 to 98/2, and which has a number average molecular weight of from 35,000 to 80,000 and a weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight ratio of from 1.8/1 to 3.0/1 as determined by gel permeation chromatography. A process for producing the ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer is also disclosed. The ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer exhibits excellent transparency and excellent low-temperature heat-sealing properties. The process is advantageous from the standpoint of equipment, energy and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Imai, Kiyoyuki Sugimori, Keisaku Yamamoto, Minoru Takane
  • Patent number: 5037891
    Abstract: A modified copolymer rubber obtained by kneading at 200.degree.-280.degree. C.(A) at least one copolymer rubber material selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber having a number-average molecular weight of 10,000-100,000 and an ethylene content of 15-85% by weight and an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin-nonconjugated diene copolymer rubber having a number-average molecular weight of 10,000-100,000, an ethylene content of 15-85% by weight and a nonconjugated diene content of 3.0% by weight or less,(B) a free-radical initiator,(C) at least one vinyl aromatic monomer and(D) an unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride, wherein the weight ratios of (B):(A), (C):(A), (D):(A) and (C):(D) are 0.005-1.0:100, 0.2-20:100, 0.5-15:100 and 0.1-3:1, respectively.The process is suited for industrially producing a modified copolymer rubber having a high bound unsaturated dicarboxylic anhydride content, a low tendency of increase of the Mooney viscosity [ML.sub.1+4 (121.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Takao, Akio Imai, Mitsuji Tsuji
  • Patent number: 5015692
    Abstract: A process for preparing modified diene polymer rubbers having an increased impact resilience and a reduced hardness at low temperatures and useful as rubber materials for automobile tires and other industries which comprises producing an alkali metal-containing conjugated diene polymer, and reacting the alkali metal-containing polymer with a modifier selected from the group consisting of a nitro compound, a phosphoryl chloride compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are independently an alkyl group, and an aminosilane compound of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5 to R.sup.7 are independently an alkyl group or an alkoxyl group, R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 are independently an alkyl group, and n is an integer,said alkali metal-containing diene polymer being prepared by a living anionic polymerization using an alkali metal-based catalyst or by an addition reaction of a diene polymer having conjugated diene units and an alkali metal-based catalyst in a hydrocarbon solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Takao, Akio Imai, Tomoaki Seki, Mitsuji Tsuji
  • Patent number: 4981760
    Abstract: An ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymer comprising ethylene and an .alpha.-olefin having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, the copolymer having an .alpha.-olefin content of from 1.0 to 8.0 mol %, a density of from 0.900 to 0.930 g/cm.sup.3, and a melt flow rate of from 0.1 to 100 g/10 min., the programed-temperature thermogram of said copolymer as determined with a differential scanning calorimeter after being completely melted and then gradually cooled showing an endothermic peak (a) in a range of from 75.degree. to 100.degree. C. and an endothermic peak (b) in a range of from 120.degree. to 140.degree. C., with the ratio of an endotherm at the endothermic peak (b), .DELTA.Hb, to an endotherm at the endothermic peak (a), .DELTA.Ha, i.e., .DELTA.Hb/.DELTA.Ha, being from 0.03 to 2.0. The copolymer provides a film exhibiting excellent physical properties required for packaging film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yukio Naito, Kohzoh Miyazaki, Yuji Gotoh, Masashi Hamba, Akio Imai, Kiyoyuki Sugimori
  • Patent number: 4957976
    Abstract: A process for preparing modified diene polymer rubbers having an increased impact resilience and a reduced hardness at low temperatures and useful as rubber materials for automobile tires and other industries which comprises producing an alkali metal-containing conjugated diene polymer, and reacting the alkali metal-containing polymer with a modifier selected from the group consisting of a nitro compound, a phosphoryl chloride compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are independently an alkyl group, and an aminosilane compound of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5 to R.sup.7 are independently an alkyl group or an alkoxyl group, R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 are independently an alkyl group, and n is an integer, said alkali metal-containing diene polymer being prepared by a living anionic polymerization using an alkali metal-based catalyst or by an addition reaction of a diene polymer having conjugated diene units and an alkali metal-based catalyst in a hydrocarbon solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Takao, Akio Imai, Tomoski Seki, Mitsuji Tsuji
  • Patent number: 4918142
    Abstract: A rubber composition suitable for tire treads having well-balanced excellent steering stability in cornering, wet skid characteristic, ice skid characteristic and rolling characteristic, and an excellent processability, which comprises a rubber component containing a block copolymer consisting essentially of a block A and a block B, obtained by conducting polymerization of an aromatic vinyl compound and a conjugated diene compound in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an organolithium initiator and modifying with a coupling agent, and satisfying the following conditions (A) to (E);(A) the block A having a content of an aromatic vinyl compound of 5 to 29% by weight and a content of 1,2-bonds in the conjugated diene component of 25 to 55% by weight,(B) the block B having a content of an aromatic vinyl compound of 35 to 60% by weight and a content of 1,2-bonds in the conjugated diene component of 20 to 70% by weight,(C) the content of the block A in the block copolymer being from 20 to 80% by weight,(D) th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignees: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Saito, Takuzoh Yabuta, Hiroyoshi Takao, Akio Imai, Mitsuji Tsuji
  • Patent number: 4885338
    Abstract: A process for preparing modified diene polymer rubbers having an increased impact resilience and a reduced hardness at low temperatures and useful as rubber materials for automobile tires and other industries which comprises producing an alkali metal-containing conjugated diene polymer, and reacting the alkali metal-containing polymer with a modifier selected from the group consisting of a nitroalkyl acrylate of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently an alkyl group and n is an integer, and a nitroamino compound of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 to R.sup.6 are independently an alkyl group, and m is an integer, said alkali metal-containing diene polymer being prepared by a living anionic polymerization using an alkali metal-based catalyst or by an addition reaction of a diene polymer having conjugated diene units and an alkali metal-based catalyst in a hydrocarbon solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Takao, Akio Imai, Tomoaki Seki
  • Patent number: 4845173
    Abstract: A process for producing a thermoplastic elastomer comprising a block copolymer of the A-B-A' type, wherein A is a monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block, B is a conjugated diolefin polymer block, and A' is either the same as A or a polymer block derived from a dialkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon or a dihalogenated hydrocarbon, which process comprises polymerizing a monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon in a polymerization medium in the presence of an organomonolithium compound as a polymerization initiator, adding a conjugated diolefin to perform block copolymerization, and further adding a monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon to perform polymerization or in the alternative, adding a dialkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon or a dihalogenated hydrocarbon to perform coupling, wherein the monomer components are used in such amounts that the weight ratio of (A+A') to B ranges from 10/90 to 65/35, and a chained aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent containing from 0.0001 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yoshida, Akio Imai, Tomoaki Seki
  • Patent number: 4812527
    Abstract: A rubber composition suitable for tire treads having well-balanced excellent wet skid characteristic, ice skid characteristic and rolling characteristic, and an excellent processability, which comprises a rubber component containing at least 20% by weight of a block copolymer consisting essentially of a block A and a block B, obtained by conducting polymerization of an aromatic vinyl compound and a conjugated diene compound in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an organolithium initiator and modifying with a coupling agent, and satisfying the following conditions (A) to (E);(A) the block A having a content of an aromatic vinyl compound of at most 5% by weight and a content of 1,2-bonds in the conjugated diene component of at least 10% by weight,(B) the block B having a content of an aromatic vinyl compound of 25 to 50% by weight and a content of 1,2-bonds in the conjugated diene component of at least 10% by weight,(C) a content of the block A in the block copolymer being from 20 to 80% by weight,(D) a c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignees: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Takao, Nabuyuki Yoshida, Akio Imai, Mitsuji Tsuji, Yuichi Saito
  • Patent number: 4743652
    Abstract: An elastomeric copolymer of an aromatic vinyl compound and butadiene prepared by a solution polymerization method, which has a glass transition temperature of not less than -50.degree. C. and contains polymer chains modified with a trifunctional or tetrafunctional coupling agent, and which contains not less than 3% by weight to less than 23% by weight, based on the whole polymer chains, of polymer chains having a molecular weight of at least 5 times a molecular weight corresponding to a peak appearing on the low molecular weight side of a high performance liquid chromatogram of the elastomeric copolymer. The elastomeric copolymer has an excellent processability and shows a low rolling resistance and a high wet grip characteristic when used as a rubber component in tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignees: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yoshida, Yasushi Okamoto, Akio Imai, Tomoaki Seki, Hiroshi Furukawa, Yuichi Saito
  • Patent number: 4737535
    Abstract: A tire tread rubber composition which is improved in grip characteristic, steering stability characteristics and low-temperature characteristics, containing 15 to 50 parts by weight of a particular styrene-butadiene rubber obtained by solution polymerization containing polymer chains modified with trifunctional and/or tetrafunctional coupling agents, 50 to 85 parts by weight of at least one rubber selected from the group consisting of emulsion-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber, natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene rubber and butadiene rubber, at least one compound as plasticizer selected from the group consisting of a sebacic acid ester, an adipic acid ester and a fatty acid ester, and carbon black having an average particle size of not more than 30 m.mu..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Furukawa, Yuichi Saito, Akio Imai, Nobuyuki Yoshida