Patents by Inventor Hugo A. A. Berghmans

Hugo A. A. Berghmans 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: 7456227
    Abstract: Process for preparing polymer, e.g. polystyrene, particles that may not or may contain a water-retaining agent and that require only a one-step process for incorporating the water-retaining agent. The polymer particles may be prepared via an extrusion process, or a bulk polymerization process wherein a water-retaining agent is blended into the polymer melt. Water is incorporated into the particles by soaking them in hot or cold water or treating the particles with steam for a predetermined time depending on the desired water content in the particles. The water-retaining agent may be starch, zeolite, silica dioxide or poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide) ranging from 0.1% to 10.0% by weight. The particles can be expanded via appropriate means to form pre-expanded or expanded particles in a conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals Inc.
    Inventors: Karel Cornelis Bleijenberg, Michel F. J. Berghmans, Hugo A. A. Berghmans
  • Publication number: 20080064772
    Abstract: Process for preparing polymer, e.g. polystyrene, particles that may not or may contain a water-retaining agent and that require only a one-step process for incorporating the water-retaining agent. The polymer particles may be prepared via an extrusion process, or a bulk polymerization process wherein a water-retaining agent is blended into the polymer melt. Water is incorporated into the particles by soaking them in hot or cold water or treating the particles with steam for a predetermined time depending on the desired water content in the particles. The water-retaining agent may be starch, zeolite, silica dioxide or poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide) ranging from 0.1% to 10.0% by weight. The particles can be expanded via appropriate means to form pre-expanded or expanded particles in a conventional manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals Inc.
    Inventors: Karel Cornelis Bleijenberg, Michel F.J. Berghmans, Hugo A.A. Berghmans
  • Patent number: 5084513
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of stable interpenetrating polymer blend networks is provided, comprising the preparation of a gel of a poly(alkylene) polymer by dissolving it in a mixture of one or more organic solvents and one or more vinyl aromatic monomers, optionally mixed with a compatible monomer, cooling this solution to a temperature of at most 80.degree. C., adding of a radical forming initiator for the polymerization of the vinyl aromatic monomer(s), homogenizig the solution, cooling the solution to a temperature to obtain gelation of the polyalkylene polymer in the solvent mixture, followed by heating the obtained gel to a temperature of at least 80.degree. C. and subsequently polymerization of the vinyl aromatic monomer(s) in bulk or suspending the heated solution in a vigorously stirred aqueous medium of a lower temperature to obtain gelation and polymerizing the suspended gel into polymer blend beads, stable interpenetrating polymer blend networks and intermediate gel used therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes M. Zijderveld, Philippe M. Scheerlinck, Hugo A. A. Berghmans