Patents by Inventor Barbara M. Tsuie

Barbara M. Tsuie 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: 7781549
    Abstract: A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of an ?-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported bridged indeno[1,2-b]indolyl zirconium complex. The process produces polyethylene characterized by good incorporation of the ?-olefin and low long-chain branching. The process is capable of forming high-molecular-weight polyethylene and has good hydrogen sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie
  • Patent number: 7776974
    Abstract: A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in a first reactor in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported dimethylsilyl-bridged indeno[1,2-b]indolyl zirconium complex to produce an ethylene homopolymer, removing some of the unreacted hydrogen, and reacting the homopolymer slurry in a second reactor with ethylene and a C3-C10 ?-olefin to produce polyethylene. The polyethylene has weight-average molecular weight greater than 150,000, broad molecular weight distribution, low long-chain branching, and it provides pipes or molded articles with good environmental stress crack resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Linda N. Winslow, Sebastian Joseph, Sandor Nagy, Natalia Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Charles H. Gates
  • Patent number: 7723451
    Abstract: A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of an ?-olefin, hydrogen, and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported, dimethylsilyl-bridged bis(indenoindolyl)zirconium complex. The process has high catalyst activity and produces polyethylene having a broad molecular weight distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Bradley P. Etherton, Jean A. Merrick-Mack, Everett O. Lewis, Mark P. Mack, Natalia Nagy, Edward S. Vargas
  • Patent number: 7671151
    Abstract: A process for making polyethylene having an uncommon but valuable balance of broad molecular weight distribution and a low level of long-chain branching is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in a single reactor in the presence of an ?-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported dialkylsilyl-bridged bis(indeno[1,2-b]indolyl)zirconium complex. The polyethylene, which has an Mw/Mn greater than 10 and a viscosity enhancement factor (VEF) of less than 2.5, is valuable for making blown films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Stephen M. Imfeld
  • Patent number: 7666961
    Abstract: A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of an ?-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported bridged bis-indeno[2,1-b]indolyl zirconium complex. The process uses a highly active catalyst and provides polyethylene characterized by a high level of long-chain branching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Jean A. Merrick-Mack, Natalia Nagy
  • Patent number: 7655740
    Abstract: A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of an ?-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported bridged indeno[1,2-b]indolyl zirconium complex. The process produces polyethylene characterized by good incorporation of the ?-olefin and moderate long-chain branching. The process is capable of forming high molecular weight polyethylene and has good catalyst activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Jean A. Merrick-Mack, Natalia Nagy
  • Patent number: 7638584
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of a catalyst system which comprises a bridged indenoindolyl transition metal complex on a support material, an alkylalumoxane, a titanium tetralkoxide, and a branched alkyl aluminum compound. The process provides polyethylenes with low density from ethylene alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Ronald J. Clemons
  • Publication number: 20090292087
    Abstract: A process for making polyethylene having an uncommon but valuable balance of broad molecular weight distribution and a low level of long-chain branching is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in a single reactor in the presence of an ?-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported dialkylsilyl-bridged bis(indeno[1,2-b]indolyl)zirconium complex. The polyethylene, which has an Mw/Mn greater than 10 and a viscosity enhancement factor (VEF) of less than 2.5, is valuable for making blown films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Stephen M. Imfeld
  • Publication number: 20090275711
    Abstract: A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in a first reactor in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported dimethylsilyl-bridged indeno[1,2-b]indolyl zirconium complex to produce an ethylene homopolymer, removing some of the unreacted hydrogen, and reacting the homopolymer slurry in a second reactor with ethylene and a C3-C10 ?-olefin to produce polyethylene. The polyethylene has weight-average molecular weight greater than 150,000, broad molecular weight distribution, low long-chain branching, and it provides pipes or molded articles with good environmental stress crack resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Linda N. Winslow, Sebastian Joseph, Sandor Nagy, Natalia Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Charles H. Gates
  • Publication number: 20090062490
    Abstract: A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of an ?-olefin, hydrogen, and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported, dimethylsilyl-bridged bis(indenoindolyl)zirconium complex. The process has high catalyst activity and produces polyethylene having a broad molecular weight distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Bradley P. Etherton, Jean A. Merrick-Mack, Everett O. Lewis, Mark P. Mack, Natalia Nagy, Edward S. Vargas
  • Publication number: 20090062488
    Abstract: A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of an ?-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported bridged indeno[1,2-b]indolyl zirconium complex. The process produces polyethylene characterized by good incorporation of the ?-olefin and moderate long-chain branching. The process is capable of forming high molecular weight polyethylene and has good catalyst activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Jean A. Merrick-Mack, Natalia Nagy
  • Publication number: 20090062489
    Abstract: A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of an ?-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported bridged bis-indeno[2,1-b]indolyl zirconium complex. The process uses a highly active catalyst and provides polyethylene characterized by a high level of long-chain branching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Jean A. Merrick-Mack, Natalia Nagy
  • Publication number: 20090062487
    Abstract: A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of an ?-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported bridged indeno[1,2-b]indolyl zirconium complex. The process produces polyethylene characterized by good incorporation of the ?-olefin and low long-chain branching. The process is capable of forming high-molecular-weight polyethylene and has good hydrogen sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie
  • Publication number: 20070293639
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of a catalyst system which comprises a bridged indenoindolyl transition metal complex on a support material, an alkylalumoxane, a titanium tetralkoxide, and a branched alkyl aluminum compound. The process provides polyethylenes with low density from ethylene alone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, Ronald J. Clemons
  • Patent number: 7273914
    Abstract: Methods for making polyolefins are disclosed. One method comprises polymerizing an olefin in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a single-site complex, an agglomerated metal oxide/clay support-activator, and an ionic borate. Including an ionic borate with the support-activator provides an unexpected boost in catalyst activity and gives polyolefins with high molecular weight and improved comonomer incorporation. In another method of the invention, an olefin is polymerized in the presence of an indenoindolyl metal alkylated complex and an agglomerated metal oxide/clay support-activator. Use of alkylated indenoindolyl complexes with the support-activators provides improved activity compared with metal halides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Shaotian Wang, Barbara M. Tsuie, Mark P. Mack, Edward S. Vargas, Debra L. Beran
  • Patent number: 7122497
    Abstract: A catalyst system useful for polymerizing olefins is disclosed. The catalyst system comprises a cocatalyst and a supported transition metal prepared from a halogen-containing Group 4–6 transition metal compound and an organoaluminum-siloxane containing mixture. The latter mixture, which is prepared from an organoaluminum compound and an organomagnesium-siloxane reaction product, incorporates a chelating ligand. The invention includes a method for making the catalyst system and a process for polymerizing olefins using the catalyst system. The process is convenient and avoids expensive catalyst components used in known olefin polymerization processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie
  • Patent number: 7026415
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for olefin polymerization are disclosed. The polymerizations are performed in the presence of a clathrochelate which comprises a transition metal ion and an encapsulating macropolycyclic ligand. At least one of the capping atoms of the macropolycyclic ligand is a Group 3–10 transition metal or a Group 13 atom. When a capping atom is a Group 3–10 transition metal, the clathrochelate can be used with an activator to polymerize olefins. When a capping atom is a Group 13 atom, the clathrachelate can be used as an activator for an olefin polumerization. Clathrochelates allow polyolefin markers to fine tune catalyst reactivity and polyolefin properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie
  • Patent number: 6958377
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing olefins is disclosed. The process uses an organometallic complex with at least one non-bridged indenoindolyl ligand bonded to M. The substituent on the indole nitrogen contains an atom selected from the group consisting of S, O, P, and N. Polyolefins from the process have unexpectedly high molecular weight compared with polyolefins made using similar supported indenoindolyl complexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie
  • Patent number: 6908972
    Abstract: A method for making ethylene polymers and copolymers is disclosed. The method uses a catalyst system comprising a low level of an aluminum-containing activator, a bridged indenoindolyl transition metal complex, and a treated silica support. The method enables economical preparation of ethylene copolymers having very low density. The silica-supported, bridged complexes incorporate comonomers efficiently and are valuable for a commercial slurry loop process. Use of a bridged indeno[2,1-b]indolyl complex provides exceptionally efficient comonomer incorporation, and gives polymers with a substantial and controlled level of long-chain branching. The method facilitates the production of a wide variety of polyolefins, from HDPE to plastomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Barbara M. Tsuie, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins, Sandor Nagy, Michael W. Lynch, Mark P. Mack, Shaotian Wang, Jean A Merrick-Mack, Clifford C. Lee, Joel A. Mutchler, Kenneth W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6841500
    Abstract: Catalyst systems useful for olefin polymerization are disclosed. The catalysts include a bimetallic complex that incorporates two linked indenoindolyl groups, each of which is pi-bonded through its cyclopentadienyl ring to one of the metals. Compared with conventional indenoindolyl complexes, the bimetallic complexes of the invention have enhanced ability to give polyolefins with desirably low melt indices. Certain bimetallic indenoindolyl complexes also provide a way to broaden polymer molecular weight distribution and thereby improve processability simply by regulating the amounts of comonomer and activator used in the polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie, William J. Sartain