Patents by Inventor Daniel P. Zilker, Jr.
Daniel P. Zilker, Jr. 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).
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Patent number: 11708438Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 26, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20210284770Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: 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
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Patent number: 11034783Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: 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
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Patent number: 11028191Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Roger L. Kuhlman, Mahsa McDougal, Timothy M. Boller, C. Jeff Harlan, Timothy R. Lynn, Cliff R. Mure, John F. Szul, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr.
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Publication number: 20200031958Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2017Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Roger L. KUHLMAN, Mahsa McDOUGAL, Timothy M. BOLLER, C. Jeff HARLAN, Timothy R. LYNN, Cliff R. MURE, John F. SZUL, Daniel P. ZILKER, JR.
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Patent number: 10399052Abstract: The use of induced condensing agent (ICA) in fluidized bed gas phase reactor systems enables higher production rates but can affect the resulting polyolefins melt index. The effect the increased ICA concentration may have on a melt index may be counteracted, if necessary, by altering the concentration of olefin monomer within the reactor system.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Natarajan Muruganandam, Timothy R. Lynn, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., Fathi David Hussein
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Publication number: 20190177452Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: 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
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Patent number: 10308742Abstract: Polymers, and systems and methods for making and using the same are described herein. A polymer includes ethylene and at least one alpha olefin having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms. The polymer is formed by a trimmed catalyst system including a supported catalyst including bis(n-propylcyclopentadienyl) hafnium (R1)(R2) and a trim catalyst comprising meso-O(SiMe2Ind)2Zr(R1)(R2), wherein R1 and R2 are each, independently, methyl, chloro, fluoro, or a hydrocarbyl group.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Ching-Tai Lue, Francis C. Rix, Timothy M. Boller, Garth R. Giesbrecht, Mark G. Goode, Sun-Chueh Kao, Dongming Li, R. Eric Pequeno, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr.
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Patent number: 10253121Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy M. Boller, Ching-Tai Lue, Francis C. Rix, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., C. Jeff Harlan, James M. Farley, Fathi D. Hussein, Dongming Li, Steven A. Best
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Patent number: 10167350Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are provided. The catalyst systems can include a plurality of silica particles and a metallocene catalyst and an activator supported on the plurality of silica particles. The polymerization catalysts have a particle size distribution in which about 10% of the particles have a size less than about 17 to about 23 micrometers, about 50% of the particles have a size less than about 40 to about 45 micrometers, and about 90% of the particles have a size less than about 72 to about 77 micrometers.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: C. Dale Lester, Kevin J. Cann, Phuong A. Cao, Abarajith S. Hari, F. David Hussein, Wesley R. Mariott, John H. Moorhouse, Richard B. Pannell, Bruce J. Savatsky, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., Mark G. Goode
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Patent number: 10167351Abstract: The catalyst productivity of a polyolefin catalyst in the methods disclosed herein may be increased by increasing the concentration of an induced condensing agent (ICA) in the reactor system. The effect the increased ICA concentration may have on a melt index may be counteracted, if necessary, in various ways.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Natarajan Muruganandam, Timothy R. Lynn, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., Fathi David Hussein
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Patent number: 10113019Abstract: The number of small gels that form in polyolefin thin films may be reduced by altering certain production parameters of the polyolefin. In some instances, the number of small gels may be influenced by the melt index of the polyolefin. However, in many instances, melt index is a critical part of the polyolefin product specification and, therefore, is not manipulated. Two parameters that may be manipulated to mitigate small gel count while maintaining the melt index are polyolefin residence time in the reactor and ICA concentration in the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr.
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Patent number: 9938361Abstract: Methods for producing catalyst systems with increased productivity are disclosed. The methods may comprise providing a catalyst composition comprising a solvent and a single-site catalyst component, heating an inert gas to a temperature in a range of from about 100° C. to about 150° C., and spray drying the catalyst composition in the presence of the inert gas to form a spray-dried catalyst system. Additionally, the methods may comprise providing a catalyst composition comprising a solvent, an activator, a filler material, a metallocene catalyst, and a Group 15-containing catalyst; heating an inert gas to a temperature in a range of from about 100° C. to about 150° C.; and spray drying the catalyst composition in the presence of the inert gas to form a spray-dried catalyst system.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2013Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy R. Lynn, F. David Hussein, R. Eric Pequeno, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., Bruce J. Savatsky, Michael D. Awe
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Patent number: 9902790Abstract: A method of polymerizing olefins is disclosed. The method comprises contacting ethylene and at least one comonomer with a catalyst system to produce a polyolefin polymer that is multimodal. The catalyst system comprises a first catalyst that promotes polymerization of the ethylene into a low molecular weight (LMW) portion of the polyolefin polymer and a second catalyst that promotes polymerization of the ethylene into a high molecular weight (HMW) portion of the polyolefin polymer. The first catalyst and at least a portion of the second catalyst are co-supported to form a commonly-supported catalyst system and at least a portion of the second catalyst is added as a catalyst trim feed to the catalyst system.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel D. Vanderlende, C. Jeff Harlan, Haiqing Peng, Michael D. Awe, Roger L. Kuhlman, Ching-Tai Lue, Timothy R. Lynn, Wesley R. Mariott, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr.
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Patent number: 9850332Abstract: Polymers, and systems and methods for making and using the same are described herein. A polymer includes ethylene and at least one alpha olefin having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms. The polymer has a melt index ratio (MIR) greater than about 40. The polymer also has a value for Mw1/Mw2 of at least about 2.0, wherein Mw1/Mw2 is a ratio of a weight average molecular weight (Mw) for a first half of a temperature rising elution (TREF) curve from a cross-fractionation (CFC) analysis to an Mw for a second half of the TREF curve. The polymer also has a value for Tw1?Tw2 of less than about ?15° C., wherein Tw1?Tw2 is a difference of a weight average elution temperature (Tw) for the first half of the TREF curve to a Tw for the second half of the TREF curve.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Ching-Tai Lue, Francis C. Rix, Timothy M. Boller, Garth R. Giesbrecht, Mark G. Goode, Sun-Chueh Kao, Dongming Li, R. Eric Pequeno, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr.
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Publication number: 20170362353Abstract: The catalyst productivity of a polyolefin catalyst in the methods disclosed herein may be increased by increasing the concentration of an induced condensing agent (ICA) in the reactor system. The effect the increased ICA concentration may have on a melt index may be counteracted, if necessary, in various ways.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2015Publication date: December 21, 2017Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Natarajan Muruganandam, Timothy R. Lynn, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., Fathi David Hussein
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Publication number: 20170355790Abstract: The number of small gels that form in polyolefin thin films may be reduced by altering certain production parameters of the polyolefin. In some instances, the number of small gels may be influenced by the melt index of the polyolefin. However, in many instances, melt index is a critical part of the polyolefin product specification and, therefore, is not manipulated. Two parameters that may be manipulated to mitigate small gel count while maintaining the melt index are polyolefin residence time in the reactor and ICA concentration in the reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2015Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr.
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Publication number: 20170259236Abstract: The use of induced condensing agent (ICA) in fluidized bed gas phase reactor systems enables higher production rates but can affect the resulting polyolefins melt index. The effect the increased ICA concentration may have on a melt index may be counteracted, if necessary, by altering the concentration of olefin monomer within the reactor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2015Publication date: September 14, 2017Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Bruce J. Savatsky, Natarajan Muruganandam, Timothy R. Lynn, James M. Farley, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., Fathi David Hussein
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Patent number: 9637567Abstract: Spray-dried catalyst compositions comprising a transition metal complex and polymerization processes employing the same are disclosed herein. An embodiment provides a spray-dried catalyst composition comprising a transition metal catalyst component represented by the following formula: (I) and polymerization process employing the same.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: Wesley R. Mariott, Phuong A. Cao, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., John H. Oskam, Cliff R. Mure
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Publication number: 20170081432Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are provided. The catalyst systems can include a plurality of silica particles and a metallocene catalyst and an activator supported on the plurality of silica particles. The polymerization catalysts have a particle size distribution in which about 10% of the particles have a size less than about 17 to about 23 micrometers, about 50% of the particles have a size less than about 40 to about 45 micrometers, and about 90% of the particles have a size less than about 72 to about 77 micrometers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLCInventors: C. Dale Lester, Kevin J. Cann, Phuong A. Cao, Abarajith S. Hari, F. David Hussein, Wesley R. Mariott, John H. Moorhouse, Richard B. Pannell, Bruce J. Savatsky, Daniel P. Zilker, JR., Mark G. Goode