Patents by Inventor David Knoeppel

David Knoeppel 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: 10294311
    Abstract: A process may include contacting ethylene monomer with Ziegler-Natta catalyst to form polyethylene. The Ziegler-Natta catalyst may be formed by contacting an alkyl magnesium compound with an alcohol and a metal reagent to form a blend, and contacting the blend with a first agent to form a solution of reaction product “A”. The solution of reaction product “A” may be contacted with a second agent to form a solid reaction product “B”, and the solid reaction product “B” may be contacted with a third agent to form a solid reaction product “C”. The solid reaction product “C” may be contacted with a fourth agent to form a solid reaction product “D”, and the solid reaction product “D” may be contacted with a fifth agent to form a catalyst component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, David Knoeppel
  • Publication number: 20180265603
    Abstract: A process may include contacting ethylene monomer with Ziegler-Natta catalyst to form polyethylene. The Ziegler-Natta catalyst may be formed by contacting an alkyl magnesium compound with an alcohol and a metal reagent to form a blend, and contacting the blend with a first agent to form a solution of reaction product “A”. The solution of reaction product “A” may be contacted with a second agent to form a solid reaction product “B”, and the solid reaction product “B” may be contacted with a third agent to form a solid reaction product “C”. The solid reaction product “C” may be contacted with a fourth agent to form a solid reaction product “D”, and the solid reaction product “D” may be contacted with a fifth agent to form a catalyst component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, David Knoeppel
  • Patent number: 9944724
    Abstract: A process may include contacting ethylene monomer with Ziegler-Natta catalyst to form polyethylene. The Ziegler-Natta catalyst may be formed by contacting an alkyl magnesium compound with an alcohol and a metal reagent to form a blend, and contacting the blend with a first agent to form a solution of reaction product “A”. The solution of reaction product “A” may be contacted with a second agent to form a solid reaction product “B”, and the solid reaction product “B” may be contacted with a third agent to form a solid reaction product “C”. The solid reaction product “C” may be contacted with a fourth agent to form a solid reaction product “D”, and the solid reaction product “D” may be contacted with a fifth agent to form a catalyst component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, David Knoeppel
  • Patent number: 9593186
    Abstract: The method includes providing a high impact polystyrene (HIPS) reaction system, wherein the HIPS reaction system has a devolitalizer downstream of a reactor and injecting a retarding agent into the HIPS reaction system prior to the devolitalizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Wang, David Knoeppel, Madison Bluhm
  • Patent number: 9527945
    Abstract: A process for producing rubber modified polymers having an increased rubber phase volume, including feeding a vinyl aromatic monomer and an elastomer to a polymerization reactor to form a reaction mixture, polymerizing the reaction mixture, combining a copolymer to the polymerized reaction mixture to form a combined mixture, subjecting the combined mixture to further polymerization, and obtaining a rubber modified polymer product from the further polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Carlos DeAnda, Graciela Morales, Jose M. Sosa, David Knoeppel
  • Publication number: 20160272732
    Abstract: A process may include contacting ethylene monomer with Ziegler-Natta catalyst to form polyethylene. The Ziegler-Natta catalyst may be formed by contacting an alkyl magnesium compound with an alcohol and a metal reagent to form a blend, and contacting the blend with a first agent to form a solution of reaction product “A”. The solution of reaction product “A” may be contacted with a second agent to form a solid reaction product “B”, and the solid reaction product “B” may be contacted with a third agent to form a solid reaction product “C”. The solid reaction product “C” may be contacted with a fourth agent to form a solid reaction product “D”, and the solid reaction product “D” may be contacted with a fifth agent to form a catalyst component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Lei ZHANG, David Knoeppel
  • Patent number: 9416202
    Abstract: Processes of forming catalyst systems, catalyst systems and polymers formed therefrom are described herein. The processes generally include providing a first compound including a magnesium dialkoxide, contacting the first compound with a second compound to form a solution of reaction product “A”, wherein the second compound is generally represented by the formula: Ti(OR1)4; wherein R1 is selected from C1 to C10 linear to branched alkyls, contacting the solution of reaction product “A” with a first metal halide to form a solid reaction product “B”, contacting solid reaction product “B” with a second metal halide, to form reaction product “C” and contacting reaction product “C” with reducing agent to form a catalyst component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: TINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kayo Vizzini, David Knoeppel, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9382347
    Abstract: Ziegler-Natta catalysts, processes of forming the same and using the same are described herein. The process generally includes contacting a metal component with a magnesium dihalide support material to form a Ziegler-Natta catalyst precursor; contacting the support material with a dopant including a non-Group IV metal halide to form a doped catalyst precursor; and activating the doped catalyst precursor by contact with an organoaluminum compound to form a Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY INC
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, David Knoeppel
  • Publication number: 20160032029
    Abstract: The method includes providing a high impact polystyrene (HIPS) reaction system, wherein the HIPS reaction system has a devolitalizer downstream of a reactor and injecting a retarding agent into the HIPS reaction system prior to the devolitalizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Wei Wang, David Knoeppel, Madison Bluhm
  • Patent number: 9193839
    Abstract: The method includes providing a high impact polystyrene (HIPS) reaction system, wherein the HIPS reaction system has a devolitalizer downstream of a reactor and injecting a retarding agent into the HIPS reaction system prior to the devolitalizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Wang, David Knoeppel, Madison Bluhm
  • Publication number: 20150307644
    Abstract: A process for producing rubber modified polymers having an increased rubber phase volume, including feeding a vinyl aromatic monomer and an elastomer to a polymerization reactor to form a reaction mixture, polymerizing the reaction mixture, combining a copolymer to the polymerized reaction mixture to form a combined mixture, subjecting the combined mixture to further polymerization, and obtaining a rubber modified polymer product from the further polymerization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Carlos DeAnda, Graciela Morales, Jose M. Sosa, David Knoeppel
  • Publication number: 20150259481
    Abstract: The method includes providing a high impact polystyrene (HIPS) reaction system, wherein the HIPS reaction system has a devolitalizer downstream of a reactor and injecting a retarding agent into the HIPS reaction system prior to the devolitalizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Wang, David Knoeppel, Madison Bluhm
  • Patent number: 9120889
    Abstract: A process for producing rubber modified polymers having an increased rubber phase volume, including feeding a vinyl aromatic monomer and an elastomer to a polymerization reactor to form a reaction mixture, polymerizing the reaction mixture, combining a copolymer to the polymerized reaction mixture to form a combined mixture, subjecting the combined mixture to further polymerization, and obtaining a rubber modified polymer product from the further polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Carlos DeAnda, Graciela Morales, Jose M. Sosa, David Knoeppel
  • Patent number: 9012568
    Abstract: A method of preparing a reaction mixture comprising a styrene monomer, an antioxidant, and a reaction rate improving additive, contacting the reaction mixture with an antioxidant reactive compound, and placing the reaction mixture under conditions suitable for polymerization of the styrene monomer to a styrenic polymer wherein the polymerization occurs at an overall reaction rate that is increased by equal to or less than 20% when compared to an otherwise similar polymerization process carried out in the absence of the reaction rate improving additive. The reaction rate improving additive can be a sodium or calcium salt of an organic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David Knoeppel
  • Publication number: 20140323654
    Abstract: A process for producing rubber modified polymers having an increased rubber phase volume, including feeding a vinyl aromatic monomer and an elastomer to a polymerization reactor to form a reaction mixture, polymerizing the reaction mixture, combining a copolymer to the polymerized reaction mixture to form a combined mixture, subjecting the combined mixture to further polymerization, and obtaining a rubber modified polymer product from the further polymerization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Carlos DeAnda, Graciela Morales, Jose M. Sosa, David Knoeppel
  • Patent number: 8859703
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bimodal Ziegler-Natta catalyzed polyethylene, having a density of from 0.930 g/cc to 0.960 g/cc, and a molecular weight distribution of from 10 to 25, wherein an article formed therefrom has a PENT of at least 1500. Also disclosed is a method of preparing a tubular article including obtaining a bimodal polyethylene having a density of from 0.930 g/cc to 0.960 g/cc and a molecular weight distribution of from 10 to 25, and processing the polyethylene under conditions where a specific energy input (SEI) is less than 300 kW·h/ton, and wherein the article has a PENT of at least 1500. Further disclosed is a method for controlling the degradation of polyethylene including polymerizing ethylene monomer, recovering polyethylene, extruding the polyethylene, and controlling the degradation of polyethylene by measuring the SEI to the extruder and adjusting throughput and/or gear suction pressure keep SEI less than 300 kW·h/ton, and forming an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Coffy, Steven Gray, David Knoeppel, Cyril Chevillard, David Rauscher, Carlos Corleto, Gerhard Guenther, Brian B. Cole, Stan Biesert, Vincent Barre, Ruby L. Curtis, Son Nguyen, Danielle Childress
  • Patent number: 8822597
    Abstract: A process for producing rubber modified polymers having an increased rubber phase volume, including feeding a vinyl aromatic monomer and an elastomer to a polymerization reactor to form a reaction mixture, polymerizing the reaction mixture, combining a copolymer to the polymerized reaction mixture to form a combined mixture, subjecting the combined mixture to further polymerization, and obtaining a rubber modified polymer product from the further polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos DeAnda, Graciela Morales, Jose M. Sosa, David Knoeppel
  • Patent number: 8592535
    Abstract: Processes of forming catalyst systems, catalyst systems and polymers formed therefrom are described herein. The processes generally include providing a first compound including a magnesium dialkoxide, contacting the first compound with a second compound to form a solution of reaction product “A”, wherein the second compound is generally represented by the formula: Ti(OR1)4; wherein R1 is selected from C1 to C10 linear to branched alkyls, contacting the solution of reaction product “A” with a first metal halide to form a solid reaction product “B”, contacting solid reaction product “B” with a second metal halide to form reaction product “C” and contacting reaction product “C” with reducing agent to form a catalyst component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayo Vizzini, David Knoeppel, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 8501653
    Abstract: Catalyst systems, processes of forming the same and polymers formed therefrom are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, David Knoeppel
  • Patent number: 8383751
    Abstract: A method of making a styrenic composition having a high melt strength including combining a styrenic monomer and a second monomer to form a combined mixture and subjecting the combined mixture to polymerization to obtain a styrenic co-polymer, wherein the second monomer comprises a hydroxyl functional group and wherein the styrenic composition has a greater melt strength than that of general purpose polystyrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Wang, David Knoeppel