Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Klug

Kenneth J. Klug 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: 8697808
    Abstract: A high-temperature solution process for making an ethylene polymer blend having a controlled degree of long-chain branching is disclosed. Ethylene is polymerized in the presence of a first Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising titanium, magnesium, and aluminum in the absence of hydrogen to produce a first ethylene polymer component having substantial long-chain branching. A second ethylene polymer component having little or no long-chain branching is also prepared. Both polymerizations are performed at a temperature from 140° C. to 250° C. The first and second ethylene polymer components are combined to give a polymer blend. The degree of long-chain branching in the blend is controlled by adjusting the relative amounts of the first and second ethylene polymer components. The invention enables the preparation of valuable products having a pre-determined degree of long-chain branching using readily available Zeigler-Natta catalysts, commercially practiced techniques, and conventional equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Michael W. Lynch, Kenneth J. Klug
  • Publication number: 20130172499
    Abstract: A process for the polymerization of olefin carried out in the presence of a Cr-oxide supported catalyst and a cocatalyst the improvement comprising polymerizing in the presence of an effective amount of hydrogen thereby obtaining an increased catalyst activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Michael W. Lynch, Kenneth J. Klug
  • Patent number: 8475898
    Abstract: Resin blends useful for pipe and blow-molded articles are disclosed. The blends comprise a low-molecular-weight, high-density polyethylene and a high-molecular-weight, low-density ethylene copolymer. The high-molecular-weight component is made with a bridged indenoindolyl Group 4 metal complex having open architecture. Blends of the invention uniquely have high molecular weight (Mw>200,000) and low levels of long-chain branching. A quick, convenient approach for estimating levels of long-chain branching in polyethylenes from gel permeation chromatography and dynamic oscillatory rheometry (“viscosity enhancement factor”) is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Shaotian Wang, Gregory G. Hlatky, Sebastian Joseph, Jean A. Merrick-Mack, Kenneth J. Klug, Wallace W. Yau
  • Publication number: 20120116022
    Abstract: A high-temperature solution process for making an ethylene polymer blend having a controlled degree of long-chain branching is disclosed. Ethylene is polymerized in the presence of a first Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising titanium, magnesium, and aluminum in the absence of hydrogen to produce a first ethylene polymer component having substantial long-chain branching. A second ethylene polymer component having little or no long-chain branching is also prepared. Both polymerizations are performed at a temperature from 140° C. to 250° C. The first and second ethylene polymer components are combined to give a polymer blend. The degree of long-chain branching in the blend is controlled by adjusting the relative amounts of the first and second ethylene polymer components. The invention enables the preparation of valuable products having a pre-determined degree of long-chain branching using readily available Zeigler-Natta catalysts, commercially practiced techniques, and conventional equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Michael W. Lynch, Kenneth J. Klug
  • Patent number: 7638586
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in a slurry reaction in the presence of a catalyst system which comprises an activator and an indenoindolyl transition metal complex on a support material. The catalyst system is slurried with an inert solvent prior to addition to the reactor. The process provides polyethylene with good bulk density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Shaotian Wang, Kenneth J. Klug
  • Publication number: 20090061135
    Abstract: Resin blends useful for pipe and blow-molded articles are disclosed. The blends comprise a low-molecular-weight, high-density polyethylene and a high-molecular-weight, low-density ethylene copolymer. The high-molecular-weight component is made with a bridged indenoindolyl Group 4 metal complex having open architecture. Blends of the invention uniquely have high molecular weight (Mw>200,000) and low levels of long-chain branching. A quick, convenient approach for estimating levels of long-chain branching in polyethylenes from gel permeation chromatography and dynamic oscillatory rheometry (“viscosity enhancement factor”) is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Shaotian Wang, Gregory G. Hlatky, Sebastian Joseph, Jean A. Merrick-Mack, Kenneth J. Klug, Wallace W. Yau
  • Publication number: 20080076891
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in a slurry reaction in the presence of a catalyst system which comprises an activator and an indenoindolyl transition metal complex on a support material. The catalyst system is slurried with an inert solvent prior to addition to the reactor. The process provides polyethylene with good bulk density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Shaotian Wang, Kenneth J. Klug
  • Patent number: 7196147
    Abstract: Ethylene and optional comonomers are polymerized in the presence of an organozinc compound and a catalyst system to produce an ethylene polymer. The catalyst system comprises a bridged indenoindolyl Group 3-10 transition metal complex and an activator. The organozinc compound is used in an amount effective to increase the polymer bulk density compared with that observed in the absence of the organozinc compound. The organozinc compound can also narrow the particle size distribution of the polymer and the wt. % of polyolefin chunks produced. The operability of processes utilizing bridged indenoindolyl metal complexes is enhanced while maintaining desirably high polyolefin molecular weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Shaotian Wang, Kenneth J. Klug