Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Cann

Kevin J. Cann 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: 20190248937
    Abstract: Catalyst activators and methods for their preparation and their use in processes for polymerizing olefins are described. In particular, catalyst activators derived from aluminum alkyls and their use with metallocene type catalyst systems and/or conventional-type transition metal catalyst systems are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ian M. Munro, Kevin J. Cann
  • Publication number: 20190218364
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are provided. The catalyst system can include a catalyst support, wherein the catalyst support has an average particle size of about 2 microns to about 200 microns. Nanoparticles are adhered to the catalyst support, wherein the nanoparticles have an average particle size of about 2 to about 200 nanometers. A catalyst is supported on the catalyst support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuanqiao Rao, Ping Cai, Kevin J. Cann, F. David Hussein, Wesley R. Mariott, Phuong A. Cao
  • Publication number: 20190211181
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are provided. The catalyst system can include a catalyst support, wherein the catalyst support has an average particle size of about 2 microns to about 200 microns. Nanoparticles are adhered to the catalyst support, wherein the nanoparticles have an average particle size of about 2 to about 200 nanometers. A catalyst is supported on the catalyst support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuanqiao Rao, Ping Cai, Kevin J. Cann, F. David Hussein, Wesley R. Mariott, Phuong A. Cao
  • Publication number: 20190211180
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are provided. The catalyst system can include a catalyst support, wherein the catalyst support has an average particle size of about 2 microns to about 200 microns. Nanoparticles are adhered to the catalyst support, wherein the nanoparticles have an average particle size of about 2 to about 200 nanometers. A catalyst is supported on the catalyst support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuanqiao Rao, Ping Cai, Kevin J. Cann, F. David Hussein, Wesley R. Mariott, Phuong A. Cao
  • Publication number: 20190161568
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of controlling polymer properties in polymerization processes that use a chromium-based catalyst. An embodiment discloses a method of producing a polyolefin comprising: contacting a reaction mixture and a reduced chromium oxide catalyst in a gas-phase reactor to produce the polyolefin, wherein the reaction mixture comprises a monomer and a co-monomer; and changing a reaction temperature in the gas-phase reactor by about 1° C. or more whereby a gas molar ratio of the co-monomer to the monomer is changed by about 2% or more and a co-monomer content of the polyolefin at substantially constant density is changed by about 2% or more. Additional methods and compositions are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark G. Goode, Francois Alexandre, Kevin J. Cann, Barbara J. Kopp, William A. Matthews, John H. Moorhouse, Cliff R. Mure
  • Patent number: 10280283
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are provided. The catalyst system can include a catalyst support, wherein the catalyst support has an average particle size of about 2 microns to about 200 microns. Nanoparticles are adhered to the catalyst support, wherein the nanoparticles have an average particle size of about 2 to about 200 nanometers. A catalyst is supported on the catalyst support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuanqiao Rao, Ping Cai, Kevin J. Cann, F. David Hussein, Wesley R. Mariott, Phuong A. Cao
  • Publication number: 20190119416
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards method for modifying a polymer flow index. As an example, a method for modifying a polymer flow index can include providing monomers to a polymerization reactor, providing a chromium catalyst to the polymerization reactor, and providing an active amount of a flow index modifier to the polymerization reactor, wherein the flow index modifier is selected from carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, 2,4-hexadiene, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles D. Lester, Mark G. Goode, Timothy R. Lynn, Kevin J. Cann, John H. Moorhouse, William Albert Matthews, Kefu Sun, Francois Alexandre
  • Patent number: 10266618
    Abstract: Modified chromium-based catalyst compositions for olefin polymerization are disclosed. The modifiers prevent or reduce catalyst particle aggregation providing improved catalyst particle dispersion and consistent flow index response of the compositions in olefin polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Cann, John H. Moorhouse, Parul A. Khokhani, Tomas T. Tamargo, Kevin R. Gross, Mark G. Goode
  • Patent number: 10233270
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method for making a catalyst support includes forming a mixture of a support material and a fluoride donor. The mixture is added to a fluidized bed reactor. The mixture is fluidized to form a fluidized bed while maintaining a flow rate of a fluidizing gas of about 0.1 ft./sec at less than about 370° C. and greater than about 0.35 ft./sec at temperatures greater than about 370° C. The mixture is calcined to decompose the fluoride donor, forming a fluorinated support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John H. Moorhouse, Kevin J. Cann, Phuong A. Cao, Mark G. Goode, C. Jeff Harlan, Wesley R. Mariott
  • Patent number: 10227428
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of controlling polymer properties in polymerization processes that use a chromium-based catalyst. An embodiment discloses a method of producing a polyolefin comprising: contacting a reaction mixture and a reduced chromium oxide catalyst in a gas-phase reactor to produce the polyolefin, wherein the reaction mixture comprises a monomer and a co-monomer; and changing a reaction temperature in the gas-phase reactor by about 1° C. or more whereby a gas molar ratio of the co-monomer to the monomer is changed by about 2% or more and a co-monomer content of the polyolefin at substantially constant density is changed by about 2% or more. Additional methods and compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark G. Goode, Francois Alexandre, Kevin J. Cann, Barbara J. Kopp, William A. Matthews, John H. Moorehouse, Cliff R. Mure
  • Patent number: 10221263
    Abstract: A catalyst system for polymerizing olefin-based polymers and interpolymers is disclosed. The catalyst system may include a supported chromium catalyst and a Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising a bulking agent, Mg, and Ti. The Ziegler-Natta catalysts in catalyst systems disclosed herein run exceptionally well without addition of excessive amounts of co-catalyst, thus allowing for use of chromium based supported catalysts that would otherwise be overwhelmed by aluminum alkyl. Further, embodiments disclosed herein may be run without an internal electron donor, and the lack of an internal electron donor in the system also prevents poisoning of the chromium catalysts by the internal electron donor. By including or co-feeding a chromium based catalyst with these Ziegler-Natta catalysts, it has been found that the molecular architecture of the resulting polyolefins, such as polyethylenes, may provide for resins with excellent processing properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Cann, Robert J. Jorgensen, Wesley R. Mariott, Mark G. Goode, John H. Moorhouse
  • Publication number: 20190062475
    Abstract: A system and method for feeding a chromium-based catalyst to a polymerization reactor; adding a reducing agent to the chromium-based catalyst, and polymerizing an olefin into a polyolefin in the polymerization reactor in the presence of the chromium-based catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Gross, Kevin J. Cann, Mark G. Goode, John H. Moorhouse
  • Patent number: 10208139
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method for making a catalyst support includes forming a mixture of a support material and a fluoride donor. The mixture is added to a fluidized bed reactor. The mixture is fluidized to form a fluidized bed while maintaining a ratio of a pressure drop across a distributor plate to a pressure drop across the fluidized bed of greater than about 7%. The mixture is calcined to decompose the fluoride donor, forming a fluorinated support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John H. Moorhouse, Kevin J. Cann, Phuong A. Cao, Mark G. Goode, C. Jeff Harlan, Wesley R. Mariott
  • Patent number: 10196466
    Abstract: A system and method for feeding a chromium-based catalyst to a polymerization reactor; adding a reducing agent to the chromium-based catalyst, and polymerizing an olefin into a polyolefin in the polymerization reactor in the presence of the chromium-based catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Gross, Kevin J. Cann, Mark G. Goode, John H. Moorhouse
  • Patent number: 10189917
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method for making a catalyst support includes forming a mixture of a support material and a fluoride donor. The mixture is added to a fluidized bed reactor. The mixture is fluidized to form a fluidized bed with a height to diameter ratio of at least about 2.3. The mixture is calcined to decompose the fluoride donor, forming a fluorinated support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John H. Moorhouse, Kevin J. Cann, Phuong A. Cao, Mark G. Goode, C. Jeff Harlan, Wesley R. Mariott
  • Publication number: 20190016835
    Abstract: Polymerization process control methods for making polyethylene are provided. The process control methods include performing a polymerization reaction in a polymerization reactor to produce the polyethylene, where ethylene, and optionally one or more comonomers, in the polymerization reaction is catalyzed by an electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst and an alkyl aluminum co-catalyst. A melt flow ratio (I21/I2) of the polyethylene removed from the polymerization reactor is measured and an amount of long chain branching (LCB) of the polyethylene from the polymerization reactor is controlled by adjusting a weight concentration of the alkyl aluminum co-catalyst present in the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley R. Mariott, Kevin J. Cann, John H. Moorhouse, Mark G. Goode, Thomas Oswald
  • Patent number: 10167350
    Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are provided. The catalyst systems can include a plurality of silica particles and a metallocene catalyst and an activator supported on the plurality of silica particles. The polymerization catalysts have a particle size distribution in which about 10% of the particles have a size less than about 17 to about 23 micrometers, about 50% of the particles have a size less than about 40 to about 45 micrometers, and about 90% of the particles have a size less than about 72 to about 77 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: C. Dale Lester, Kevin J. Cann, Phuong A. Cao, Abarajith S. Hari, F. David Hussein, Wesley R. Mariott, John H. Moorhouse, Richard B. Pannell, Bruce J. Savatsky, Daniel P. Zilker, Jr., Mark G. Goode
  • Patent number: 10155831
    Abstract: Polymerization process control methods for making polyethylene are provided. The process control methods include performing a polymerization reaction in a polymerization reactor to produce the polyethylene, where ethylene, and optionally one or more comonomers, in the polymerization reaction is catalyzed by an electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst and an alkyl aluminum co-catalyst. A melt flow ratio (I21/I2) of the polyethylene removed from the polymerization reactor is measured and an amount of long chain branching (LCB) of the polyethylene from the polymerization reactor is controlled by adjusting a weight concentration of the alkyl aluminum co-catalyst present in the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley R. Mariott, Kevin J. Cann, John H. Moorhouse, Mark G. Goode, Thomas Oswald
  • Publication number: 20180327521
    Abstract: Modified chromium-based catalyst compositions for olefin polymerization are disclosed. The modifiers prevent or reduce catalyst particle aggregation providing improved catalyst particle dispersion and consistent flow index response of the compositions in olefin polymerization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Cann, John H. Moorhouse, Parul A. Khokhani, Tomas T. Tamargo, Kevin R. Gross, Mark G. Goode
  • Publication number: 20180223021
    Abstract: A system and method for feeding a chromium-based catalyst to a polymerization reactor; adding a reducing agent to the chromium-based catalyst, and polymerizing an olefin into a polyolefin in the polymerization reactor in the presence of the chromium-based catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Gross, Kevin J. Cann, Mark G. Goode, John H. Moorhouse