Patents by Inventor Alistair Duncan Westwood

Alistair Duncan Westwood 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: 10161063
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for forming a multilayer construction, and the multilayer constructions including at least one layer of an elastic meltblown fabric, the process comprising extruding one or more polyolefin polymer (e.g., a propylene-?-olefin copolymer) having a MFR from less than 90 dg/min through at least one die having a plurality of nozzles to form a plurality of continuous fibers, at least one die operating at a melt pressure from greater than 500 psi (3.45 MPa) to form at least one elastic meltblown fabric, and adhering the at least one elastic meltblown fabric to at least one extensible fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Alistair Duncan Westwood
  • Patent number: 9194060
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for forming a multilayer construction, and the multilayer constructions including at least one layer of an elastic meltblown fabric, the process comprising extruding one or more polyolefin polymer (e.g., a propylene-?-olefin copolymer) having a MFR from less than 90 dg/min through at least one die having a plurality of nozzles to form a plurality of continuous fibers, at least one die operating at a melt pressure from greater than 500 psi (3.45 MPa) to form at least one elastic meltblown fabric, and adhering the at least one elastic meltblown fabric to at least one extensible fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Alistair Duncan Westwood
  • Patent number: 9168718
    Abstract: Temperature resistant multilayer composites, methods for making same, and articles made therefrom. The method can include extruding one or more polyolefin polymers having a MFR from less than 90 dg/min through at least one die having a plurality of nozzles to form a plurality of continuous fibers, at least one die operating at a melt pressure from greater than 500 psi (3447 kPa) to form at least one elastic meltblown layer; adhering the at least one elastic meltblown layer to at least one extensible layer to form a multilayer composite; and at least partially crosslinking the elastic meltblown layer or the extensible layer or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Alistair Duncan Westwood, Michael Glenn Williams, Galen Charles Richeson
  • Patent number: 9168720
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of imparting constraint in a biaxially elastic nonwoven laminate, and the constrained laminate itself, the method comprising providing a biaxially elastic nonwoven laminate comprising at least one meltspun elastic fabric and at least one extensible fabric or film; and fusing at least, or preferably, only a portion(s) of the at least one meltspun elastic fabric to at least one of the extensible fabrics to create at least one inelastic zone. Desirably, the at least one meltspun elastic fabric and at least one extensible fabric or film is biaxially elastic, and referred to as being “nonwoven” due to the at least one layer of meltspun elastomer. The meltspun elastic fabric may comprise a polyolefin-based elastomer or blend of an elastomer with a thermoplastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Alistair Duncan Westwood, William M. Ferry
  • Publication number: 20140255672
    Abstract: Described herein is a meltspun laminate comprising two or more layers of meltspun fabrics, wherein layers that are adjacent to one another are in situ entangled with one another to define an interfacial region of mixed fibers between the layers. Also described herein is a method of making a meltspun in situ laminate comprising simultaneously meltspinning two or more polymer melts adjacent to one another to form adjacent fabrics, wherein layers that are adjacent to one another are in situ entangled with one another to form an interfacial region of mixed fibers between the layers. Also described herein is a meltspinning apparatus comprising one or more dies, each die comprising two or more meltspinning zones, wherein each zone comprises a plurality of nozzles that are fluidly connected to the corresponding zone, and wherein each zone is fluidly connected to a melt extruder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Alistair Duncan Westwood
  • Patent number: 8748693
    Abstract: Described herein is a meltspun laminate comprising two or more layers of meltspun fabrics, wherein layers that are adjacent to one another are in situ entangled with one another to define an interfacial region of mixed fibers between the layers. Also described herein is a method of making a meltspun in situ laminate comprising simultaneously meltspinning two or more polymer melts adjacent to one another to form adjacent fabrics, wherein layers that are adjacent to one another are in situ entangled with one another to form an interfacial region of mixed fibers between the layers. Also described herein is a meltspinning apparatus comprising one or more dies, each die comprising two or more meltspinning zones, wherein each zone comprises a plurality of nozzles that are fluidly connected to the corresponding zone, and wherein each zone is fluidly connected to a melt extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Alistair Duncan Westwood
  • Publication number: 20120225601
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for forming a multilayer construction, and the multilayer constructions including at least one layer of an elastic meltblown fabric, the process comprising extruding one or more polyolefin polymer (e.g., a propylene-?-olefin copolymer) having a MFR from less than 90 dg/min through at least one die having a plurality of nozzles to form a plurality of continuous fibers, at least one die operating at a melt pressure from greater than 500 psi (3.45 MPa) to form at least one elastic meltblown fabric, and adhering the at least one elastic meltblown fabric to at least one extensible fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: Alistair Duncan Westwood
  • Patent number: 7863364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making an article subject to dynamic loading, the process comprises: (i) shaping a polymer-containing composition in the green state, the composition comprising (a) a continuous phase of a polymeric component of at least 15 wt %, based on the total weight of the polymer component of a propylene elastomer having a heat of fusion of less than 70 J/g and an isotactic triad tacticity of 50 to 99% and optionally containing units derived from a diene, the polymeric component having a density of less than 0.9 g/cm3 and (b) from 20 to 120 phr, preferably 30 to 100 phr, most preferably 40 to 90 phr based on the total weight of the polymer component of a reinforcing filler component; and (c) a peroxide curative. The composition is combined with a fibrous reinforcement which is then cured to a cure state as determined by ODR @ 170° C., 30 min MH-ML of from 5 to 80 dNm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Alistair Duncan Westwood, Abdelhadi Sahnoune
  • Publication number: 20100266824
    Abstract: Multilayer meltblown composites, articles made therefrom, and methods for making same. The meltblown composite can include a first meltblown layer comprising one or more resins having an Ultimate Elongation (UE) of from about 50% to about 250%, as measured according to ASTM D412; and a second meltblown layer comprising a propylene-?-olefin copolymer having an ethylene content of about 5 wt % to about 20 wt %; a MFR (ASTM-1238D, 2.16 kg, 230° C.) of about 10 g/10 min to about 30 g/10 min; and a heat of fusion of 75 J/g or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Alistair Duncan Westwood, Galen Charles Richeson
  • Publication number: 20100267914
    Abstract: Temperature resistant multilayer composites, methods for making same, and articles made therefrom. The method can include extruding one or more polyolefin polymers having a MFR from less than 90 dg/min through at least one die having a plurality of nozzles to form a plurality of continuous fibers, at least one die operating at a melt pressure from greater than 500 psi (3447 kPa) to form at least one elastic meltblown layer; adhering the at least one elastic meltblown layer to at least one extensible layer to form a multilayer composite; and at least partially crosslinking the elastic meltblown layer or the extensible layer or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Alistair Duncan Westwood, Michael Glenn Williams, Galen Charles Richeson
  • Publication number: 20100266818
    Abstract: Provided are multi-beam meltblowing apparatuses having a ridged collecting surface, methods for making multilayer meltblown composites using such apparatuses, and multilayer meltblown composites made therefrom. Also provided are a multilayer composite comprising an elastic layer and at least one ridged layer and a method for making the multilayer composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Alistair Duncan Westwood, Galen Charles Richeson
  • Publication number: 20100222761
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of imparting constraint in a biaxially elastic nonwoven laminate, and the constrained laminate itself, the method comprising providing a biaxially elastic nonwoven laminate comprising at least one meltspun elastic fabric and at least one extensible fabric or film; and fusing at least, or preferably, only a portion(s) of the at least one meltspun elastic fabric to at least one of the extensible fabrics to create at least one inelastic zone. Desirably, the at least one meltspun elastic fabric and at least one extensible fabric or film is biaxially elastic, and referred to as being “nonwoven” due to the at least one layer of meltspun elastomer. The meltspun elastic fabric may comprise a polyolefin-based elastomer or blend of an elastomer with a thermoplastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Alistair Duncan Westwood, William M. Ferry
  • Publication number: 20100222755
    Abstract: Described herein is a meltspun laminate comprising two or more layers of meltspun fabrics, wherein layers that are adjacent to one another are in situ entangled with one another to define an interfacial region of mixed fibers between the layers. Also described herein is a method of making a meltspun in situ laminate comprising simultaneously meltspinning two or more polymer melts adjacent to one another to form adjacent fabrics, wherein layers that are adjacent to one another are in situ entangled with one another to form an interfacial region of mixed fibers between the layers. Also described herein is a meltspinning apparatus comprising one or more dies, each die comprising two or more meltspinning zones, wherein each zone comprises a plurality of nozzles that are fluidly connected to the corresponding zone, and wherein each zone is fluidly connected to a melt extruder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Alistair Duncan Westwood
  • Publication number: 20100081352
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for forming a multilayer construction, and the multilayer constructions including at least one layer of an elastic meltblown fabric, the process comprising extruding one or more polyolefin polymer (e.g., a propylene-?-olefin copolymer) having a MFR from less than 90 dg/min through at least one die having a plurality of nozzles to form a plurality of continuous fibers, at least one die operating at a melt pressure from greater than 500 psi (3.45 MPa) to form at least one elastic meltblown fabric, and adhering the at least one elastic meltblown fabric to at least one extensible fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Alistair Duncan Westwood
  • Publication number: 20070167553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making an article subject to dynamic loading, the process comprises: (i) shaping a polymer-containing composition in the green state, the composition comprising (a) a continuous phase of a polymeric component of at least 15 wt %, based on the total weight of the polymer component of a propylene elastomer having a heat of fusion of less than 70 J/g and an isotactic triad tacticity of 50 to 99% and optionally containing units derived from a diene, the polymeric component having a density of less than 0.9 g/cm3 and (b) from 20 to 120 phr, preferably 30 to 100 phr, most preferably 40 to 90 phr based on the total weight of the polymer component of a reinforcing filler component; and (c) a peroxide curative. The composition is combined with a fibrous reinforcement which is then cured to a cure state as determined by ODR @ 170° C., 30 min MH-ML of from 5 to 80 dNm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Alistair Duncan Westwood, Abdelhadi Sahnoune
  • Patent number: 6576803
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a lower hydrocarbon to form at least one higher hydrocarbon and/or lower olefin. In one embodiment, the catalyst includes a nonstoichiometric rare earth oxycarbonate of the formula MXCYOZ having a disordered and/or defect structure, wherein M is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm; X=2; Z=3+AY; A is less than about 1.8, and Y is the number of carbon atoms in the oxycarbonate. When used for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a lower hydrocarbon at a pressure above about 100 psig, the catalyst has a selectivity of at least about 40% to at least one higher hydrocarbon and/or lower olefin. Methods for preparing catalysts taught by the invention and processes for using the catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of lower hydrocarbons are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rick David Cantrell, Anca Ghenciu, Kenneth Dwight Campbell, David Michael Anthony Minahan, Madan Mohan Bhasin, Alistair Duncan Westwood, Kenneth Andrew Nielsen
  • Publication number: 20020173420
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a lower hydrocarbon to form at least one higher hydrocarbon and/or lower olefin. In one embodiment, the catalyst includes a nonstoichiometric rare earth oxycarbonate of the formula MXCYOZ having a disordered and/or defect structure, wherein M is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm; X=2; Z=3+AY; A is less than about 1.8, and Y is the number of carbon atoms in the oxycarbonate. When used for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a lower hydrocarbon at a pressure above about 100 psig, the catalyst has a selectivity of at least about 40% to at least one higher hydrocarbon and/or lower olefin. Methods for preparing catalysts taught by the invention and processes for using the catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of lower hydrocarbons are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Rick David Cantrell, Anca Ghenciu, Kenneth Dwight Campbell, David Michael Anthony Minahan, Madan Mohan Bhasin, Alistair Duncan Westwood, Kenneth Andrew Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6403523
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a lower hydrocarbon to form at least one higher hydrocarbon and/or lower olefin. In one embodiment, the catalyst includes a nonstoichiometric rare earth oxycarbonate of the formula MXCYOZ having a disordered and/or defect structure, wherein M is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm; X=2; Z=3+AY; A is less than about 1.8, and Y is the number of carbon atoms in the oxycarbonate. When used for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a lower hydrocarbon at a pressure above about 100 psig, the catalyst has a selectivity of at least about 40% to at least one higher hydrocarbon and/or lower olefin. Methods for preparing catalysts taught by the invention and processes for using the catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of lower hydrocarbons are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rick David Cantrell, Anca Ghenciu, Kenneth Dwight Campbell, David Michael Anthony Minahan, Madan Mohan Bhasin, Alistair Duncan Westwood, Kenneth Andrew Nielsen