Patents by Inventor Karen L. Neal-Hawkins

Karen L. Neal-Hawkins 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: 20130023634
    Abstract: A catalyst system obtainable with a process comprising the following steps: i) contacting a group 4 metal compound of formula (I) MX4??(I) wherein M is a metal of group 4 of the periodic table of the element, and X is a halogen atom or an organic radical; with a compound of formula (II) ii) adding to the reaction mixture of step i) one or more boron compounds having Lewis acidity wherein the molar ratio between the boron compound and the compound of formula (I) ranges from 0.9 to 100; iii) adding the reaction mixture obtained in step ii) to a silica support. with the proviso that the catalyst system is not treated with alumoxanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Sandor NAGY, Llya E. Nifantev, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins, Shahram Mihan
  • Publication number: 20130023632
    Abstract: A catalyst system obtainable with a process comprising the following steps: i) contacting a Zirconium compound of formula (I) ZrX4??(I) wherein X, equal to or different from each other, is a halogen atom, a R, OR, SR, NR2 or PR2 group wherein R is a linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, C1-C40-alkyl, C2-C40 alkenyl, C2-C40 alkynyl, C6-C40-aryl, C7-C40-alkylaryl or C7-C40-arylalkyl radical; or two X groups can be joined together to form a divalent R? group wherein R? is a C1-C20-alkylidene, C6-C20-arylidene, C7-C20-alkylarylidene, or C7-C20-arylalkylidene divalent radical optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; with one or more boron compounds having Lewis acidity wherein the molar ratio between the boron compound and the compound of formula (I) ranges from 0.9 to 100; ii) adding the reaction mixture obtained in step i) to a support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Sandor NAGY, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8153544
    Abstract: A method of preparing supported catalysts useful for olefin polymerization is described. The catalysts comprise a Group 4 metal complex that incorporates a tridentate dianionic ligand. An activator mixture is first made from a boron compound having Lewis acidity and an excess of an alumoxane. The activator mixture is then combined with a support and the Group 4 metal complex to give a supported catalyst. The method provides an active, supported catalyst capable of making high-molecular-weight polyolefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Linda N. Winslow, Shahram Mihan, Reynald Chevalier, Lenka Lukesova, Ilya E. Nifant'ev, Pavel V. Ivchenko, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20110213107
    Abstract: A method for preparing a supported catalyst suitable for use in slurry and gas-phase olefin polymerizations is disclosed. An alumoxane-treated silica is combined with a monocyclopentadienyl Group 6 metal complex that comprises a chelating Cp moiety to give the supported catalyst. The method is simple to practice and provides catalysts having high activity. Polyolefins made using the catalysts have high molecular weight that is readily controlled by adding hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Linda N. Winslow, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins, Shahram Mihan, Lenka Lukesova
  • Publication number: 20110021344
    Abstract: A method of preparing supported catalysts useful for olefin polymerization is described. The catalysts comprise a Group 4 metal complex that incorporates a tridentate dianionic ligand. An activator mixture is first made from a boron compound having Lewis acidity and an excess of an alumoxane. The activator mixture is then combined with a support and the Group 4 metal complex to give a supported catalyst. The method provides an active, supported catalyst capable of making high-molecular-weight polyolefins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Linda N. Winslow, Shahram Mihan, Reynald Chevalier, Lenka Lukesova, Ilya E. Nifant'ev, Pavel V. Ivchenko, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins
  • Patent number: 6933354
    Abstract: Single-site catalyst systems useful for polymerizing olefins are disclosed. The catalyst systems comprise an organometallic complex and an activator. The complex includes a Group 3-10 transition metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is pi-bonded to M. The activator is a reaction product of an alkylaluminum compound and an organoboronic acid. Catalyst systems of the invention significantly outperform known catalyst systems that employ a metallocene complex and similar aluminoboronate activators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Michael W. Lynch, Craig C. Meverden, Sandor Nagy, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins
  • Patent number: 6908972
    Abstract: A method for making ethylene polymers and copolymers is disclosed. The method uses a catalyst system comprising a low level of an aluminum-containing activator, a bridged indenoindolyl transition metal complex, and a treated silica support. The method enables economical preparation of ethylene copolymers having very low density. The silica-supported, bridged complexes incorporate comonomers efficiently and are valuable for a commercial slurry loop process. Use of a bridged indeno[2,1-b]indolyl complex provides exceptionally efficient comonomer incorporation, and gives polymers with a substantial and controlled level of long-chain branching. The method facilitates the production of a wide variety of polyolefins, from HDPE to plastomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Barbara M. Tsuie, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins, Sandor Nagy, Michael W. Lynch, Mark P. Mack, Shaotian Wang, Jean A Merrick-Mack, Clifford C. Lee, Joel A. Mutchler, Kenneth W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6884749
    Abstract: Olefin polymerization in the presence of heterogeneous supported catalysts is improved by incorporating into the supported catalyst a unifunctional hydrophobic tether comprising a hydrophobic portion containing no basic nitrogen and a univalent reactive group. The unifunctional hydrophobic tether reduces fouling and sheeting in gas phase polymerization processes and improves polymer morphology and bulk density in slurry polymerization processes, while substantially maintaining or enhancing catalyst polymerization activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals L.P.
    Inventors: Karen L. Neal-Hawkins, Sandor M. Nagy, William J. Sartain, Kiran Gupte, Kenneth W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040181017
    Abstract: Single-site catalyst systems useful for polymerizing olefins are disclosed. The catalyst systems comprise an organometallic complex and an activator. The complex includes a Group 3-10 transition metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is pi-bonded to M. The activator is a reaction product of an alkylaluminum compound and an organoboronic acid. Catalyst systems of the invention significantly outperform known catalyst-systems that employ a metallocene complex and similar aluminoboronate activators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
    Inventors: Michael W. Lynch, Craig C. Meverden, Sandor Nagy, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins
  • Patent number: 6759361
    Abstract: Single-site catalyst systems useful for polymerizing olefins are disclosed. The catalyst systems comprise an organometallic complex and an activator. The complex includes a Group 3-10 transition metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is pi-bonded to M. The activator is a reaction product of an alkylaluminum compound and an organoboronic acid. Catalyst systems of the invention significantly outperform known catalyst systems that employ a metallocene complex and similar aluminoboronate activators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Michael W. Lynch, Craig C. Meverden, Sandor Nagy, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20040077807
    Abstract: Olefin polymerization in the presence of heterogeneous supported catalysts is improved by incorporating into the supported catalyst a unifunctional hydrophobic tether comprising a hydrophobic portion containing no basic nitrogen and a univalent reactive group. The unifunctional hydrophobic tether reduces fouling and sheeting in gas phase polymerization processes and improves polymer morphology and bulk density in slurry polymerization processes, while substantially maintaining or enhancing catalyst polymerization activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Equistar Chemicals L.P.
    Inventors: Karen L. Neal-Hawkins, Sandor M. Nagy, William J. Sartain, Kiran M. Gupte, Kenneth W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6689848
    Abstract: A single-site olefin polymerization catalyst is described. The catalyst comprises an activator and an inorganic compound comprising iron and a tridentate N-(2-ethylamino)-2-pyridylmethanimino or N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino ligand. The late transition metal catalyst is active in olefin polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20030195306
    Abstract: A method for making ethylene polymers and copolymers is disclosed. The method uses a catalyst system comprising a low level of an aluminum-containing activator, a bridged indenoindolyl transition metal complex, and a treated silica support. The method enables economical preparation of ethylene copolymers having very low density. The silica-supported, bridged complexes incorporate comonomers efficiently and are valuable for a commercial slurry loop process. Use of a bridged indeno[2,1-b]indolyl complex provides exceptionally efficient comonomer incorporation, and gives polymers with a substantial and controlled level of long-chain branching. The method facilitates the production of a wide variety of polyolefins, from HDPE to plastomers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Barbara M. Tsuie, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins, Sandor Nagy, Michael W. Lynch, Mark P. Mack, Shaotian Wang, Jean A. Merrick-Mack, Clifford C. Lee, Joel A. Mutchler, Kenneth W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20030166806
    Abstract: A single-site olefin polymerization catalyst is described. The catalyst comprises an activator and an inorganic compound comprising iron and a tridentate N-(2-ethylamino)-2-pyridylmethanimino or N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino ligand. The late transition metal catalyst is active in olefin polymerization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins
  • Patent number: 6544918
    Abstract: A catalyst system useful for polymerizing olefins is disclosed. The catalyst system comprises an activator and a complex that incorporates a Group 3 to 10 transition metal and at least one chelating dianionic bis(allyl) or bis(benzyl) ligand. The ligands are often easy to make, and they are readily incorporated into transition metal complexes. By modifying the structure of the dianionic ligand, polyolefin makers can control comonomer incorporation, catalyst activity, and polymer properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins, Jonathan L. Schuchardt
  • Publication number: 20030055276
    Abstract: A catalyst system useful for polymerizing olefins is disclosed. The catalyst system comprises an activator and a complex that incorporates a Group 3 to 10 transition metal and at least one chelating dianionic bis(allyl) or bis(benzyl) ligand. The ligands are often easy to make, and they are readily incorporated into transition metal complexes. By modifying the structure of the dianionic ligand, polyolefin makers can control comonomer incorporation, catalyst activity, and polymer properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins, Jonathan L. Schuchardt
  • Publication number: 20030004052
    Abstract: Single-site catalyst systems useful for polymerizing olefins are disclosed. The catalyst systems comprise an organometallic complex and an activator. The complex includes a Group 3-10 transition metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is pi-bonded to M. The activator is a reaction product of an alkylaluminum compound and an organoboronic acid. Catalyst systems of the invention significantly outperform known catalyst systems that employ a metallocene complex and similar aluminoboronate activators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Michael W. Lynch, Craig C. Meverden, Sandor Nagy, Karen L. Neal-Hawkins