Patents by Inventor Bruce A. E. Willmore

Bruce A. E. Willmore 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).

  • Removal of olefin monomer from olefin polymer
    Patent number: 4781896
    Abstract: A solid particulate olefin polymer containing monomer(s) dissolved therein is vigorously agitated mechanically to raise the temperature of the polymer to at least 90.degree. C. This vigorous agitation is effected in the absence of any purge gas and the unpolymerized olefin monomer desorbed from the polymer by the increase in temperature can readily be recovered and recycled to the polymerization vessel. The technique can form part of the work-up process in which the polymer is removed from the polymerization vessel and separated from unconverted monomer(s) prior to isolation. By this technique, propylene is removed from polypropylene without using a purge stream of nitrogen which makes recovery of the propylene difficult and expensive. The technique additionally heats up the polymer which can be advantageous for subsequent processing. Apparatus for effecting the process includes an agitation vessel which is connected, preferably through an intermediate separation vessel, to an olefin polymerization vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: Bruce A. E. Willmore, Jeffrey C. Greaves
  • Removal of olefin monomer from olefin polymer
    Patent number: 4340701
    Abstract: A solid particulate olefin polymer containing monomer(s) dissolved therein is vigorously agitated mechanically to raise the temperature of the polymer to at least 90.degree. C. This vigorous agitation is effected in the absence of any purge gas and the unpolymerized olefin monomer desorbed from the polymer by the increase in temperature can readily be recovered and recycled to the polymerization vessel. The technique can form part of the work-up process in which the polymer is removed from the polymerization vessel and separated from unconverted monomer(s) prior to isolation. By this technique, propylene is removed from polypropylene without using a purge stream of nitrogen which makes recovery of the propylene difficult and expensive. The technique additionally heats up the polymer which can be advantageous for subsequent processing. Apparatus for effecting the process includes an agitation vessel which is connected, preferably through an intermediate separation vessel, to an olefin polymerization vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited
    Inventors: Bruce A. E. Willmore, Jeffrey C. Greaves