Patents by Inventor C. Jeff Harlan

C. Jeff Harlan 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: 10730966
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards metal complexes that can be utilized to form polymers. As an example, the present disclosure provides a metal complex of Formula (I) wherein M is Zr, Hf, or Ti; each Het is independently a heterocyclic; each L is independently a bridging group; each X is independently Cl, Br, I, or alkyl; each R1 is independently selected from the group including hydrogen, alkyls, alkenyls, alkynyls, cycloalkyls, aryls, acyls, aroyls, alkoxys, aryloxys, alkylthiols, dialkylamines, alkylamidos, alkoxycarbonyls, aryloxycarbonyls, carbomoyls, alkyl- and dialkyl-carbamoyls, acyloxys, acylaminos, aroylaminos, aromatic rings, fused aromatic rings, and combinations thereof; and each n is independently an integer having a value of one to five.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahsa Heydari, Roger L. Kuhlman, C. Jeff Harlan
  • Publication number: 20200190128
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards metal complexes that can be utilized to form polymers. As an example, the present disclosure provides a metal complex of Formula I: wherein each Me represents methyl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: C. Jeff Harlan, Ching-Tai Lue
  • Patent number: 10654029
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel bridged bi-aromatic phenol ligands and transition metal catalyst compounds derived therefrom. Also disclosed are methods of making the ligands and transition metal compounds, and polymerization processes utilizing the transition metal compounds for the production of olefin polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Catherine Anne Faler, C. Jeff Harlan
  • Patent number: 10626134
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. In an example, a method of synthesizing a monocyclopentadienyl compound is provided. The method includes melting a dicyclopentadienyl compound including the following structure: As used herein, M is hafnium or zirconium. Each R is independently an H, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom group. Each X is a leaving group selected from a halogen or a heteroatom group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: C. Jeff Harlan
  • Patent number: 10604606
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are described. A method includes selecting a catalyst blend using a blend polydispersity index (bPDI) map. The polydispersity map is generated by generating a number of polymers for at least two catalysts. Each polymer is generated at a different hydrogen to ethylene ratio. At least one catalyst generates a higher molecular weight polymer and another catalyst generates a lower molecular weight polymer. A molecular weight for each polymer is measured. The relationship between the molecular weight of the polymers generated by each of the catalysts and the ratio of hydrogen to ethylene is determined. A family of bPDI curves for polymers that would be made using a number of ratios of a blend of the at least two catalysts for each of a number of ratios of hydrogen to ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Francis C. Rix, Ching-Tai Lue, Timothy M. Boller, Garth R. Giesbrecht, C. Jeff Harlan
  • Publication number: 20200048384
    Abstract: A high density, high polydispersity polyethylene having improved properties, and a process of producing same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter S. Martin, John F. Szul, Roger L. Kuhlman, Mahsa McDougal, C. Jeff Harlan, Timothy M. Boller
  • Publication number: 20200031958
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure directed towards polymerization catalysts having improved ethylene enchainment. As an example, the present disclosure provides a polymerization catalyst having improved ethylene enchainment, the polymerization catalyst comprising a zirconocene catalyst of Formula (I) where R1 is a C1 to C20 alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, wherein R2 is an C1 to C20 alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, and where R3 is a C1 to C20 alkyl or a hydrogen, and where each X is independently a halide, C1 to C20 alkyl, aralkyl group or hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roger L. KUHLMAN, Mahsa McDOUGAL, Timothy M. BOLLER, C. Jeff HARLAN, Timothy R. LYNN, Cliff R. MURE, John F. SZUL, Daniel P. ZILKER, JR.
  • Patent number: 10538604
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. A catalyst composition is provided that includes a catalyst compound supported to form a supported catalyst system, the catalyst compound including: where each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and X are as discussed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donna J. Crowther, C. Jeff Harlan, Jackie Lovell, Haiqing Peng
  • Patent number: 10519095
    Abstract: Synthetic methods for the preparation of ligands and metal-ligand complexes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Catherine A. Faler, C. Jeff Harlan
  • Publication number: 20190367650
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method of methylating a catalyst composition while substantially normalizing the entiomeric distribution is provided. The method includes slurrying the organometallic compound in dimethoxyethane (DME), and adding a solution of RMgBr in DME, wherein R is a methyl group or a benzyl group, and wherein the RMgBr is greater than about 2.3 equivalents relative to the organometallic compound. After the addition of the RMgBr, the slurry is mixed for at least about four hours. An alkylated organometallic is isolated, wherein the methylated species has a meso/rac ratio that is between about 0.9 and about 1.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Francis C. Rix, Alexander D. Todd, C. Jeff Harlan
  • Publication number: 20190352314
    Abstract: Synthetic methods for the preparation of ligands and metal-ligand complexes are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Catherine A. Faler, C. Jeff Harlan
  • Publication number: 20190352252
    Abstract: Synthetic methods for the preparation of ligands and metal-ligand complexes are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Catherine A. Faler, C. Jeff Harlan
  • Publication number: 20190352436
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. A catalyst composition is provided that includes a catalyst compound supported to form a supported catalyst system, the catalyst compound including: where each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and X are as discussed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donna J. Crowther, C. Jeff Harlan, Jackie Lovell, Haiqing Peng
  • Publication number: 20190322780
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method of polymerizing olefins to produce a polyolefin polymer with a multimodal composition distribution, includes contacting ethylene and a comonomer with a catalyst system. The catalyst system includes a first catalyst compound and a second catalyst compound that are co-supported to form a commonly supported catalyst system. The first catalyst compound includes a compound with the general formula (C5HaR1b)(C5HcR2d)HfX2. The second catalyst compound includes at least one of the following general formulas: In both catalyst systems, the R groups can be independently selected from any number of substituents, including, for example, H, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a heteroatom group, among others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Francis C. Rix, Ching-Tai Lue, C. Jeff Harlan, Laughlin G. McCullough
  • Patent number: 10421829
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method of methylating a catalyst composition while substantially normalizing the entiomeric distribution is provided. The method includes slurrying the organometallic compound in dimethoxyethane (DME), and adding a solution of RMgBr in DME, wherein R is a methyl group or a benzyl group, and wherein the RMgBr is greater than about 2.3 equivalents relative to the organometallic compound. After the addition of the RMgBr, the slurry is mixed for at least about four hours. An alkylated organometallic is isolated, wherein the methylated species has a meso/rac ratio that is between about 0.9 and about 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Francis C. Rix, Alexander D. Todd, C. Jeff Harlan
  • Patent number: 10392456
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method of methylating a catalyst composition while substantially normalizing the entiomeric distribution is provided. The method includes slurrying the organometallic compound in dimethoxyethane (DME), and adding a solution of RMgBr in DME, wherein R is a methyl group or a benzyl group, and wherein the RMgBr is greater than about 2.3 equivalents relative to the organometallic compound. After the addition of the RMgBr, the slurry is mixed for at least about four hours. An alkylated organometallic is isolated, wherein the methylated species has a meso/rac ratio that is between about 0.9 and about 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Francis C. Rix, Alexander D. Todd, C. Jeff Harlan
  • Publication number: 20190194238
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. In an example, a method of synthesizing a monocyclopentadienyl compound is provided. The method includes melting a dicyclopentadienyl compound including the following structure: As used herein, M is hafnium or zirconium. Each R is independently an H, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom group. Each X is a leaving group selected from a halogen or a heteroatom group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: C. Jeff Harlan
  • Publication number: 20190177452
    Abstract: A system and method of producing polyethylene, including: polymerizing ethylene in presence of a catalyst system in a reactor to form polyethylene, wherein the catalyst system includes a first catalyst and a second catalyst; and adjusting reactor conditions and an amount of the second catalyst fed to the reactor to control melt index (MI), density, and melt flow ratio (MFR) of the polyethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy M. Boller, Ching-Tai Lue, Francis C. Rix, Daniel P. Zilker, JR., C. Jeff Harlan, James M. Farley, Fathi David Hussein, Dongming Li, Steven A. Best
  • Publication number: 20190169333
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are described. A method includes selecting a catalyst blend using a blend polydispersity index (bPDI) map. The polydispersity map is generated by generating a number of polymers for at least two catalysts. Each polymer is generated at a different hydrogen to ethylene ratio. At least one catalyst generates a higher molecular weight polymer and another catalyst generates a lower molecular weight polymer. A molecular weight for each polymer is measured. The relationship between the molecular weight of the polymers generated by each of the catalysts and the ratio of hydrogen to ethylene is determined. A family of bPDI curves for polymers that would be made using a number of ratios of a blend of the at least two catalysts for each of a number of ratios of hydrogen to ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Francis C. Rix, Ching-Tai Lue, Timothy M. Boller, Garth R. Giesbrecht, C. Jeff Harlan
  • Publication number: 20190144570
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards metal complexes that can be utilized to form polymers. As an example, the present disclosure provides a metal complex of Formula (I) wherein M is Zr, Hf, or Ti; each Het is independently a heterocyclic; each L is independently a bridging group; each X is independently Cl, Br, I, or alkyl; each R1 is independently selected from the group including hydrogen, alkyls, alkenyls, alkynyls, cycloalkyls, aryls, acyls, aroyls, alkoxys, aryloxys, alkylthiols, dialkylamines, alkylamidos, alkoxycarbonyls, aryloxycarbonyls, carbomoyls, alkyl- and dialkyl-carbamoyls, acyloxys, acylaminos, aroylaminos, aromatic rings, fused aromatic rings, and combinations thereof; and each n is independently an integer having a value of one to five.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahsa Heydari, Roger L. Kuhlman, C. Jeff Harlan