Patents by Inventor Ali Harlin

Ali Harlin 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).

  • Publication number: 20260159655
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing bimodal and/or multimodal cellulose materials, such as films and filaments, which combine the benefits of cellulosic raw materials having different average molecular weight distribution and/or side chain length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Inventors: Pia Willberg-Keyriläinen, Jarmo Ropponen, Ali Harlin
  • Publication number: 20260159612
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing bimodal and/or multimodal cellulose materials, such as films and filaments, which combine the benefits of cellulosic raw materials having different average size (degree of polymerization) and/or molecular weight distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Inventors: Pauliina Ahokas, Ali Harlin, Hannes Orelma, Ilona Leppänen
  • Publication number: 20260097389
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a cellulose-based biodegradable superabsorbent material, suitable for use in applications such as wet wipes, disposable packaging, hygiene products, medical devices and a vast variety of other technical applications requiring a combination of high absorption and water hold-up. The invention also relates to the thus obtained material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Inventors: Ali Harlin, Lauri Hauru, Harri Setälä
  • Patent number: 12497494
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an extrusion foaming method for producing low-density extrusion foam from a thermoplastic cellulose-based starting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Pia Willberg-Keyriläinen, Jarmo Ropponen, Tero Malm, Teijo Rokkonen, Hannu Minkkinen, Ali Harlin
  • Patent number: 12435160
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of separating cellulosic fibres and non-cellulosic fibres from a mixed fibre textile material comprising cellulosic and non-cellulosic fibres. The method comprises mechanically disintegrating the textile material to open textile structures in the material, contacting the mechanically opened structures with an acid in a first chemical step, and contacting the mechanically opened structures with an alkaline in a second chemical step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: Infinited Fiber Company
    Inventors: Ali Harlin, Sakari Siren, Jani Mäkelä
  • Publication number: 20250283277
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided method for manufacturing a barrier layer on top of a paper or carton board from dissolved cellulose, which combines the benefits of the raw material, improved casting method and replacement of sulphuric acid with sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate in regeneration bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 11, 2025
    Inventors: Vesa Kunnari, Ali Harlin, Pauliina Ahokas, Hannes Orelma
  • Patent number: 12252602
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of molar mass controlled cellulose in injection molding, extrusion and three dimensional printing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Pia Willberg-Keyriläinen, Jarmo Ropponen, Ali Harlin, Riku Talja
  • Patent number: 12060441
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing cellulose carbamate in an aqueous phase. The method comprises the steps of a) providing a cellulose raw-material; b) providing urea; c) mixing cellulose and urea to provide a mixture; d) subjecting the mixture to a reduced pressure of no more than 350 mbar(a); e) heating the mixture to a temperature of 130 to 150° C. to subject cellulose to reaction with urea to form cellulose carbamate; f) releasing the pressure; and g) recovering the cellulose carbamate g) recovering the cellulose carbamate, and h) washing the cellulose carbamate with water to remove water soluble nitrogenous compounds wherein the water-soluble nitrogeneous compounds make up at the most 12%, preferably 6% or less, of the total weight of cellulose carbamate and water-soluble nitrogenous compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Infinited Fiber Company Oy
    Inventors: Erkki Malanin, Jani Mäkelä, Sakari Siren, Martin Stjernberg, Ali Harlin
  • Publication number: 20240141074
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing cellulose carbamate in an aqueous phase. The method comprises the steps of a) providing a cellulose raw-material; b) providing urea; c) mixing cellulose and urea to provide a mixture; d) subjecting the mixture to a reduced pressure of no more than 350 mbar(a); e) heating the mixture to a temperature of 130 to 150° C. to subject cellulose to reaction with urea to form cellulose carbamate; f) releasing the pressure; and g) recovering the cellulose carbamate g) recovering the cellulose carbamate, and h) washing the cellulose carbamate with water to remove water soluble nitrogenous compounds wherein the water-soluble nitrogeneous compounds make up at the most 12%, preferably 6% or less, of the total weight of cellulose carbamate and water-soluble nitrogenous compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Erkki Malanin, Jani Mäkelä, Sakari Siren, Martin Stjernberg, Ali Harlin
  • Publication number: 20240117530
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of continuously dissolving cellulose carbamate in an alkaline aqueous phase to form a solution, comprising the steps of providing cellulose carbamate, mixing the cellulose carbamate with an aqueous alkaline solution to form a mixture, conducting the mixture through the mixing zone of a continuously operated mixing kneader at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius or less to produce a solution of said cellulose carbamate in an alkaline aqueous phase, and recovering the cellulose carbamate containing aqueous phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Sakari Siren, Ali Harlin, Martin Stjernberg
  • Publication number: 20230257542
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an extrusion foaming method for producing low-density extrusion foam from a thermoplastic cellulose-based starting material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Pia Willberg-Keyriläinen, Jarmo Ropponen, Tero Malm, Teijo Rokkonen, Hannu Minkkinen, Ali Harlin
  • Publication number: 20230235483
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a melt spinning method of cellulose based fibers with controlled molar masses and different side lengths, and continuous melt spun cellulose fibers thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Pia Willberg-Keyriläinen, Jarmo Ropponen, Tero Malm, Teijo Rokkonen, Ali Harlin
  • Patent number: 11525094
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of deoxygenating tall oil pitch, yielding aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The invention even comprises turning the aliphates into polymerizable olefins by steam cracking, and turning the aromates into polymerizable terephthalic acid by oxygenation and, as necessary, rearrangement. The monomers can be used for the production of polymers of partially or completely biologic origin. According to the invention, tall oil pitch is first heated to turn it into liquid, which is then fed into a catalyst bed and catalytically deoxygenated with hydrogen. The deoxygenation catalyst is preferably a Ni—Mo catalyst and, in addition, a cracking catalyst can be used, such as an acidic zeolite catalyst. The deoxygenated product stream is cooled down so as to obtain a liquid, which is distilled for separation of the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons for use in the production of the respective monomers and finally polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Jari Räsänen, Ali Harlin, Olli Aaltonen, Juha Linnekoski, Jinto Anthonykutty
  • Publication number: 20220325005
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of molar mass controlled cellulose in injection molding, extrusion and three dimensional printing applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Pia Willberg-Keyriläinen, Jarmo Ropponen, Ali Harlin, Riku Talja
  • Publication number: 20220316135
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing modified cellulose fibers for a moldable cellulose fiber based material, said method comprising: a) providing a chemical or semi-chemical wood pulp comprising cellulose fibers, and optionally subjecting the pulp to alkaline extraction to obtain an alkaline extracted pulp; and b) subjecting the pulp or the alkaline extracted pulp of step a) to a chemical treatment with an alkaline solution and/or an organic solvent to obtain a treated pulp or treated alkaline extracted pulp comprising modified cellulose fibers for a moldable cellulose fiber based material. The invention further relates to a moldable cellulose fiber based material comprising at least 70% by dry weight of modified cellulose fibers obtainable by the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Harri Setälä, Kari Kammiovirta, Christiane Laine, Ali Harlin, Tuomo Hjelt, Hanna Koskela, Jukka Ketoja
  • Publication number: 20220275109
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for pretreating cellulose, e.g. cotton, comprising the steps of providing a mixture having a solid content, said mixture comprising cellulose, and a liquid, and mechanically working the mixture to open the fibril structure of cell walls of cellulose. The mechanical working comprises shear mixing in a continuous mechanical mixing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Ali Harlin, Erkki Malanin, Jani Mäkelä
  • Patent number: 11421042
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of molar mass controlled cellulose in injection molding, extrusion and three dimensional printing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Pia Willberg-Keyriläinen, Jarmo Ropponen, Ali Harlin, Riku Talja
  • Patent number: 11214704
    Abstract: Described herein is a feasible, significantly simplified production method that avoids challenging lactonization steps and converts a low molecular weight aliphatic polyester, consisting of hydroxy acids and a comonomer, whose molecular weight has been increased by step-growth polymerization reactions. The molecular weight of the aliphatic polyester, based on comparison of initial and final weight average molecular weights (Mw,1/Mw,2), increased significantly at a rate which permits the use of reactive extrusion to produce high molecular weight aliphatic polyesters in a simple, economically feasible manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Thomas Gadda, Minni Pirttimaa, Ali Harlin, Mika Harkonen
  • Patent number: 10975522
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of manufacturing paper or board, the paper or board obtained by the method, and a method of producing a tray from the board. In a fibrous stock for papermaking is incorporated an amount of polymer coated fibrous particles, which even have a foaming agent such as moisture contained therein. A web is formed from the fibrous stock on a forming fabric of a paper or board machine, followed by pressing and drying to a finished paper or board. As the paper or board is sufficiently heated the foaming agent within the particles evaporates, causing expansion and foaming of the polymer coating, which adds to malleability of the board as it is moulded into a shaped article such as a board tray. The invention even covers production of doubly coated fibrous particles for use in said methods, the inner coating layer being of a foamable polymer with a higher melt flow rate and the outer coating layer being of a non-foaming polymer of a lower melt flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Jari Räsänen, Mari Hiltunen, Ali Harlin, Hanna Koskela, Christiane Laine, Laura Kela
  • Publication number: 20200308768
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of manufacturing paper or board, the paper or board obtained by the method, and a method of producing a tray from the board. In a fibrous stock for papermaking is incorporated an amount of polymer coated fibrous particles, which even have a foaming agent such as moisture contained therein. A web is formed from the fibrous stock on a forming fabric of a paper or board machine, followed by pressing and drying to a finished paper or board. As the paper or board is sufficiently heated the foaming agent within the particles evaporates, causing expansion and foaming of the polymer coating, which adds to malleability of the board as it is moulded into a shaped article such as a board tray. The invention even covers production of doubly coated fibrous particles for use in said methods, the inner coating layer being of a foamable polymer with a higher melt flow rate and the outer coating layer being of a non-foaming polymer of a lower melt flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Jari Räsänen, Mari Hiltunen, Ali Harlin, Hanna Koskela, Christiane Laine, Laura Kela