Patents by Inventor Earl Edmondson Howell, Jr.

Earl Edmondson Howell, 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).

  • Publication number: 20230026172
    Abstract: A method for manufacture of polyesters with recycle content is described in various aspects. The methods of the present disclosure effectively and cost-efficiently incorporates recycled DMT into existing TPA-based polyester manufacturing systems. Recycle feed compositions for manufacture of polyesters with recycle content and recycled content polyesters are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Earl Edmondson Howell, Jr., Michael Paul Ekart, Travis Wynn Keever, Bob N. Jack, Jonathan Michael Horton, Daniel Lee Martin
  • Publication number: 20220372216
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a catalyst system to produce crystallizable polyester compositions which comprise residues of terephthalic acid, neopentyl glycol (NRG), 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), ethylene glycol (EG), and diethylene glycol (DEG), in certain compositional ranges having certain advantages and improved properties including recyclability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Earl Edmondson Howell, Jr., Aaron Nathaniel Edens, Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Donna Rice Quillen, Carol Julliard Greene, Mark Allen Peters, Jonathan Michael Horton, Travis Wynn Keever, Michael Paul Ekart, Erin G. Ekart
  • Publication number: 20220372217
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a catalyst system to produce crystallizable polyester compositions which comprise residues of terephthalic acid, neopentyl glycol (NRG), 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), ethylene glycol (EG), and diethylene glycol (DEG), in certain compositional ranges having certain advantages and improved properties including recyclability. The present disclosure also relates to a catalyst system to produce crystallizable polyester compositions which comprise residues of recycled terephthalic acid, recycled neopentyl glycol (NRG), recycled 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), recycled ethylene glycol (EG), and/or recycled diethylene glycol (DEG), in certain compositional ranges having certain advantages and improved properties including recyclability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Earl Edmondson Howell, Jr., Aaron Nathaniel Edens, Anne-Martine Sherbeck Jackson, Donna Rice Quillen, Carol Julliard Greene, Mark Allen Peters, Jonathan Michael Horton, Travis Wynn Keever, Michael Paul Ekart, Erin G. Ekart
  • Publication number: 20100069556
    Abstract: Polyester compositions are disclosed that include a melt-phase polyethylene terephthalate polyester having incorporated therein residues of a monomer having two or more fused aromatic rings, and that also include titanium. Also disclosed are articles that include the disclosed polyester compositions, and processes for producing such polyester compositions, that include the steps of forming a mixture comprising ethylene glycol, at least one acid chosen from terephthalic acid and derivatives of terephthalic acid, and a monomer having two or more fused aromatic rings; and reacting the mixture in the presence of titanium to obtain the melt-phase polyethylene terephthalate polyester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Jason Christopher Jenkins, Dennis Edward Brickey, Earl Edmondson Howell, JR., Carol Julliard Greene
  • Publication number: 20100069553
    Abstract: Polyester compositions are disclosed that include a melt-phase polyethylene terephthalate polyester having incorporated therein residues of a monomer having two or more fused aromatic rings, and that also include aluminum, and optionally an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. Also disclosed are articles that include the disclosed polyester compositions, and processes for producing such polyester compositions, that include the steps of forming a mixture comprising ethylene glycol, at least one acid chosen from terephthalic acid and derivatives of terephthalic acid, and a monomer having two or more fused aromatic rings; and reacting the mixture in the presence of aluminum, and optionally an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, to obtain the melt-phase polyethylene terephthalate polyester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Jason Christopher Jenkins, Dennis Edward Brickey, Earl Edmondson Howell, JR., Carol Juilliard Greene
  • Patent number: 7541407
    Abstract: A method for incorporating a UV light absorbing compound into a polyester prepared using direct esterification of reactants selected from a dicarboxylic acid and a diol. The method comprises reacting the reactants in an esterifying reactor under conditions sufficient to form an esterified product including at least one of an ester, an oligomer, or mixture having an ester and a mixture of low molecular weight polyester; polymerizing the esterified product in a polycondensation reactor to form a polyester; and adding the UV absorbing compound to the esterified products when at least 50% of the carboxy groups initially present in the reactants have been esterified to obtain a yield of UV absorbing compound incorporated into the polyester of greater than 25%. Articles utilizing the UV protected polyester prepared by the method of the invention are additionally disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Perry Michael Murdaugh, Sr., Earl Edmondson Howell, Jr., Cory Lee Wells, Max Allen Weaver, Jason Clay Pearson
  • Patent number: 7189777
    Abstract: A polyester composition, a preform, and a bottle, containing a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate and activated carbon to enhance the rate for reheating the composition is provided. Activated carbon may be added in the presence of active phosphorus containing compounds, or at any stage in the melt phase after prepolymerization and after the polyester polymer is solidified. Polyester concentrates containing activated carbon may be added to bulk polyesters to make preforms suitable for blowing into bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Donna Rice Quillen, Earl Edmondson Howell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6777048
    Abstract: A polyester pellet composition, a preform, and a bottle, each comprising a polyester polymer and silicon carbide. A polyester, and in particular a polyethylene terephthalate polyester, bottle containing silicon carbide has a low coefficient of static friction and a low bottle sidewall haze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Donna Rice Quillen, Earl Edmondson Howell, Jr., Steven Lee Stafford
  • Patent number: 6429278
    Abstract: In a process for producing a polyester containing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) as one of its glycol components, an aqueous or a methanolic slurry comprising CHDM and a dicarboxylic acid is prepared. The slurry is maintained at a temperature below the melting point of CHDM. The slurry is then fed into a reactor. The slurry is esterified at sufficient temperatures and pressures, and optionally in the presence of a suitable catalyst, to effect esterification. A prepolymer is formed. The prepolymer is then polycondensed at sufficient temperatures and pressures in the presence of a suitable catalyst to effect polycondensation to form a polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Earl Edmondson Howell, Jr., Donna Rice Quillen, Aaron Nathaniel Edens
  • Patent number: 5663290
    Abstract: A novel process has been developed for the crystallization of poly(ethylenenaphthalenedicarboxylate) (PEN) and its copolymers. The process comprises the step of maintaining the amount of water in said poly(ethylenenaphthalenedicarboxylate) below a critical moisture content ceiling throughout processing such that a separate drying step is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: William Herbert Heise, Joseph Franklin Knight, Michael Alan Williams, Earl Edmondson Howell, Jr.