Patents by Inventor Brian W. Kolthammer

Brian W. Kolthammer 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: 11555084
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods for producing a trimodal polymer in a solution polymerization process comprise three solution polymerization reactors organized in parallel or in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Sarat Munjal, Brian W. Kolthammer, Mehmet Demirors, Michael D. Turner, Joshua B. Gaubert, Yijian Lin
  • Publication number: 20210079139
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods for producing a trimodal polymer in a solution polymerization process comprise three solution polymerization reactors organized in parallel or in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Sarat Munjal, Brian W. Kolthammer, Mehmet Demirors, Michael D. Turner, Joshua B. Gaubert, Yijian Lin
  • Patent number: 10858463
    Abstract: The instant invention provides an improved process for producing pelletized polymer compositions, and pelletized polymer compositions. The process for producing a pelletized polymer composition according to the present invention comprises: (1) polymerizing one or more alpha-olefins in one or more solution reactors thereby producing a molten polymer composition comprising one or more solvents; (2) removing at least a portion of said one or more solvents thereby forming a polymer composition having a low solvent content (typically less than 1,000 parts of solvent per million of polymer on a weight basis); (3) removing heat from said polymer composition having low solvent content to a temperature in the range of equal to or greater than the crystallization point of the polymer composition having low solvent content to less than or equal to a temperature in the range of from (the crystallization point of the polymer composition having low solvent content+20° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Brian W. Kolthammer, Michael J. Zogg, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170129976
    Abstract: The instant invention provides an improved process for producing pelletized polymer compositions, and pelletized polymer compositions. The process for producing a pelletized polymer composition according to the present invention comprises: (1) polymerizing one or more alpha-olefins in one or more solution reactors thereby producing a molten polymer composition comprising one or more solvents; (2) removing at least a portion of said one or more solvents thereby forming a polymer composition having a low solvent content (typically less than 1,000 parts of solvent per million of polymer on a weight basis); (3) removing heat from said polymer composition having low solvent content to a temperature in the range of equal to or greater than the crystallization point of the polymer composition having low solvent content to less than or equal to a temperature in the range of from (the crystallization point of the polymer composition having low solvent content+20° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Brian W. Kolthammer, Michael J. Zogg, JR.
  • Patent number: 8846991
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to homogeneous liquid low molecular weight ethylene/alpha-olefin polymers having a number average molecular weight (Mn) as determined by gel permeation chromatography, of less than 25,000, a total crystallinity, as measured by DSC, of less than 10%, and a pour point, as measured by ASTM D97, of less than 50° C. The subject invention also pertains to homogeneous gel-like low molecular weight ethylene/alpha-olefin polymers having a number average molecular weight (Mn) as determined by gel permeation chromatography, of less than 25,000, a total crystallinity, as measured by DSC, of less than 50%, and a pour point, as measured by ASTM D97, of less than 90° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Teresa P. Karjala, Selim Yalvac, Thomas Karjala, Daniel D. VanderLende, Brian W. Kolthammer, James C. Stevens, Charles F. Diehl
  • Patent number: 8420742
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ethylene/?-olefin interpolymer product comprising at least one ?-olefin interpolymerized with ethylene and, characterized in at least one aspect, as having improved properties when utilized in a hot melt adhesive formulation. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing the interpolymer product wherein the process comprises employing two or more single site catalyst systems in at least one reaction environment (or reactor) and wherein the at least two catalyst systems have (a) different comonomer incorporation capabilities or reactivities and/or (b) different termination kinetics, both when measured under the same polymerization conditions. The interpolymer products are useful, for example, in applications such as hot melt adhesives, and also for impact, bitumen and asphalt modification, adhesives, dispersions or latexes and fabricated articles such as, but not limited to, foams, films, sheet, moldings, thermoforms, profiles and fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Teresa P. Karjala, Brian W. Kolthammer
  • Publication number: 20120245400
    Abstract: Methods for producing alpha-olefins. The methods include selectively isomerizing an alpha-olefin to a mixture of beta-olefins and ethenolyzing at least a portion of the mixture of beta-olefins to an alpha-olefin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas P. Clark, Kevin A. Frazier, Francis J. Timmers, Brian W. Kolthammer
  • Patent number: 8211949
    Abstract: Novel mixtures of long-chain (C10-C20) olefins are functionalized by conversion to aldehydes using an OXO process, or to sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, sulfides, or sulfoxides by direct sulfonation. The aldehydes may then be hydrogenated to form alcohols, or aminated to form amines or amides. The olefins starting mixture may be acquired as a byproduct of the tetramerization of ethylene in the presence of certain chromium-containing tetramerization catalysts. The functionalized mixtures, and derivatives prepared therefrom such as alkoxylates prepared from the alcohols, may be useful as surfactants that may offer improved performance in many applications, while their preparation based on a byproduct mixture reduces their cost and also reduces waste-handling issues for this non-targeted stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Pierre T. Varineau, Brian W. Kolthammer, Aaron W. Sanders, David A. Wilson, Kara S. Weber, Robert Kirk Thompson, Cynthia L. Rand, Thomas C. Eisenschmid
  • Publication number: 20120108777
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ethylene/?-olefin interpolymer product comprising at least one ?-olefin interpolymerized with ethylene and, characterized in at least one aspect, as having improved properties when utilized in a hot melt adhesive formulation. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing the interpolymer product wherein the process comprises employing two or more single site catalyst systems in at least one reaction environment (or reactor) and wherein the at least two catalyst systems have (a) different comonomer incorporation capabilities or reactivities and/or (b) different termination kinetics, both when measured under the same polymerization conditions. The interpolymer products are useful, for example, in applications such as hot melt adhesives, and also for impact, bitumen and asphalt modification, adhesives, dispersions or latexes and fabricated articles such as, but not limited to, foams, films, sheet, moldings, thermoforms, profiles and fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Teresa P. Karjala, Brian W. Kolthammer
  • Patent number: 8119747
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ethylene/?-olefin interpolymer product comprising at least one ?-olefin interpolymerized with ethylene and, characterized in at least one aspect, as having improved properties when utilized in a hot melt adhesive formulation. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing the interpolymer product wherein the process comprises employing two or more single site catalyst systems in at least one reaction environment (or reactor) and wherein the at least two catalyst systems have (a) different comonomer incorporation capabilities or reactivities and/or (b) different termination kinetics, both when measured under the same polymerization conditions. The interpolymer products are useful, for example, in applications such as hot melt adhesives, and also for impact, bitumen and asphalt modification, adhesives, dispersions or latexes and fabricated articles such as, but not limited to, foams, films, sheet, moldings, thermoforms, profiles and fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Teresa P. Karjala, Brian W. Kolthammer
  • Publication number: 20100256427
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to homogeneous liquid low molecular weight ethylene/alpha-olefin polymers having a number average molecular weight (Mn) as determined by gel permeation chromatography, of less than 25,000, a total crystallinity, as measured by DSC, of less than 10%, and a pour point, as measured by ASTM D97, of less than 50° C. The subject invention also pertains to homogeneous gel-like low molecular weight ethylene/alpha-olefin polymers having a number average molecular weight (Mn) as determined by gel permeation chromatography, of less than 25,000, a total crystallinity, as measured by DSC, of less than 50%, and a pour point, as measured by ASTM D97, of less than 90° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Teresa P. Karjala, Selim Yalvac, Thomas Karjala, Daniel D. VanderLende, Brian W. Kolthammer, James C. Stevens, Charles F. Diehl
  • Patent number: 7795365
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to homogeneous liquid low molecular weight ethylene/alpha-olefin polymers having a number average molecular weight (Mn) as determined by gel permeation chromatography, of less than 25,000, a total crystallinity, as measured by DSC, of less than 10%, and a pour point, as measured by ASTM D97, of less than 50° C. The subject invention also pertains to homogeneous gel-like low molecular weight ethylene/alpha-olefin polymers having a number average molecular weight (Mn) as determined by gel permeation chromatography, of less than 25,000, a total crystallinity, as measured by DSC, of less than 50%, and a pour point, as measured by ASTM D97, of less than 90° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Teresa P. Karjala, Selim Yalvac, Thomas Karjala, Daniel D. Vanderlende, Brian W. Kolthammer, James C. Stevens, Charles F. Diehl
  • Publication number: 20090078910
    Abstract: Novel mixtures of long-chain (C10-C20) olefins are functionalized by conversion to aldehydes using an OXO process, or to sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, sulfides, or sulfoxides by direct sulfonation. The aldehydes may then be hydrogenated to form alcohols, or aminated to form amines or amides. The olefins starting mixture may be acquired as a byproduct of the tetramerization of ethylene in the presence of certain chromium-containing tetramerization catalysts. The functionalized mixtures, and derivatives prepared therefrom such as alkoxylates prepared from the alcohols, may be useful as surfactants that may offer improved performance in many applications, while their preparation based on a byproduct mixture reduces their cost and also reduces waste-handling issues for this non-targeted stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Pierre T. Varineau, Brian W. Kolthammer, Aaron W. Sanders, David A. Wilson, Kara S. Weber, Robert Kirk Thompson, Cynthia L. Rand, Thomas C. Eisenschmid
  • Publication number: 20030120012
    Abstract: A process for making an interpolymer product that includes contacting at least one &agr;-olefinic monomer and at least one vinyl or vinylidene monomer in the presence of at least a first single site catalyst and second single site catalyst in a reactor system, and effectuating the polymerization of the monomers in the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Yunwa W. Cheung, Martin J. Guest, Robert K. Rosen, Brian W. Kolthammer
  • Patent number: 6552148
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic interpolymer product comprising an &agr;-olefin interpolymerized with at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer and/or at least one hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer and, in at least one aspect, is characterized as having substantially synergistic thermal properties. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing the interpolymer product wherein the process employs two or more single site or metallocene catalyst systems in at least one reaction environment and wherein at least two of the catalyst systems have (a) different monomer incorporation capabilities or reactivities and (b) the same or, optionally, different monomer sequencing and/or tacticity characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Yunwa W. Cheung, Martin J. Guest, Robert K. Rosen, Brian W. Kolthammer
  • Patent number: 5965756
    Abstract: Group 4 metal constrained geometry complexes comprising a fused ring indenyl derivative ligand, catalytic derivatives thereof, processes for preparing the same and their use as components of olefin polymerization catalysts are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Mark H. McAdon, Jasson T. Patton, Peter N. Nickias, Ravi B. Shankar, Francis J. Timmers, Brian W. Kolthammer, Daniel D. VanderLende, Steven M. Ueligger