Patents by Inventor Mengkui Luo

Mengkui Luo 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: 20040206463
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, lyocell products can be made with unbleached pulps resulting in products with high amounts of hemicellulose and high amounts of lignin as compared to conventional lyocell products. The lyocell products of the present invention are advantageously less expensive to produce but retain the desirable strength of conventional lyocell products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Amar Neogi
  • Publication number: 20040209078
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, lyocell products can be made with unbleached pulps resulting in products with high amounts of hemicellulose and high amounts of lignin as compared to conventional lyocell products. The lyocell products of the present invention are advantageously less expensive to produce but retain the desirable strength of conventional lyocell products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Amar Neogi
  • Patent number: 6797113
    Abstract: The use of low specific gravity wood from thinning operations, for example, will produce a lower brownstock viscosity for a given kappa number target. A differential of 200-cP falling ball pulp viscosity has been detected from Kraft cooks of low and high specific gravity wood. Using low specific gravity wood can reduce the bleach stage temperature and the chemical dose needed in the bleach plant to produce lyocell pulp specifications. Low specific gravity wood also increases the ability to reduce pulp viscosity to very low levels without increasing the copper number of the pulp or the concentration of carbonyl in the pulp above acceptable levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, II, W. Harvey Persinger, Jr., Kent Robarge, Mengkui Luo
  • Patent number: 6790527
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, lyocell products can be made with unbleached pulps resulting in products with high amounts of hemicellulose and high amounts of lignin as compared to conventional lyocell products. The lyocell products of the present invention are advantageously less expensive to produce but retain the desirable strength of conventional lyocell products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Amar Neogi
  • Patent number: 6773648
    Abstract: Cellulose containing dope is extruded through orifices and into a stream of gas moving in a direction generally parallel to the direction that the filaments are formed with varying degrees of mechanical attenuation provided to the filaments using a take-up device, such as a winder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Vincent A. Roscelli, Senen Camarena, Amar N. Neogi, John S. Selby
  • Patent number: 6706876
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pulp useful for making lyocell fibers. The pulp has a degree of polymerization from about 300 to about 1000; an alpha cellulose content of less than about 90% and in one instance can be made in a roll form. The degree of polymerization can be modified by acid hydrolysis, steam explosion; or alkaline enzymate degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Vincent A. Roscelli, Amar N. Neogi
  • Patent number: 6706237
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of making lyocell fibers. In particular, the process includes reducing the average degree of polymerization of a pulp to about 200 to 1100 without substantially reducing the hemicellulose content of the pulp, and reducing the copper number to less than 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Vincent A. Roscelli, Amar N. Neogi, James E. Sealey, II, Richard A. Jewell
  • Patent number: 6692827
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lyocell fiber having a high hemicellulose content. The fibers are readily cut into staple lengths and can be spun into yarns with excellent knitting and weaving characteristics which dye exceptionally well. The fibers have a cotton-like denier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Vincent A. Roscelli, Senén Camarena, Amar N. Neogi, Michael J. Yancey, Paul G. Gaddis
  • Patent number: 6685856
    Abstract: The use of low specific gravity wood from thinning operations, for example, will produce a lower brownstock viscosity for a given kappa number target. A differential of 200-cP falling ball pulp viscosity has been detected from Kraft cooks of low and high specific gravity wood. Using low specific gravity wood can reduce the bleach stage temperature and the chemical dose needed in the bleach plant to produce lyocell pulp specifications. Low specific gravity wood also increases the ability to reduce pulp viscosity to very low levels without increasing the copper number of the pulp or the concentration of carbonyl in the pulp above acceptable levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, II, W. Harvey Persinger, Jr., Kent Robarge, Mengkui Luo
  • Patent number: 6686039
    Abstract: The use of low specific gravity wood from thinning operations, for example, will produce a lower brownstock viscosity for a given kappa number target. A differential of 200-cP falling ball pulp viscosity has been detected from Kraft cooks of low and high specific gravity wood. Using low specific gravity wood can reduce the bleach stage temperature and the chemical dose needed in the bleach plant to produce lyocell pulp specifications. Low specific gravity wood also increases the ability to reduce pulp viscosity to very low levels without increasing the copper number of the pulp or the concentration of carbonyl in the pulp above acceptable levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, II, W. Harvey Persinger, Jr., Kent Robarge, Mengkui Luo
  • Patent number: 6686040
    Abstract: The use of low specific gravity wood from thinning operations, for example, will produce a lower brownstock viscosity for a given kappa number target. A differential of 200-cP falling ball pulp viscosity has been detected from Kraft cooks of low and high specific gravity wood. Using low specific gravity wood can reduce the bleach stage temperature and the chemical dose needed in the bleach plant to produce lyocell pulp specifications. Low specific gravity wood also increases the ability to reduce pulp viscosity to very low levels without increasing the copper number of the pulp or the concentration of carbonyl in the pulp above acceptable levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, II, W. Harvey Persinger, Jr., Kent Robarge, Mengkui Luo
  • Publication number: 20030186053
    Abstract: The use of low specific gravity wood from thinning operations, for example, will produce a lower brownstock viscosity for a given kappa number target. A differential of 200-cP falling ball pulp viscosity has been detected from Kraft cooks of low and high specific gravity wood. Using low specific gravity wood can reduce the bleach stage temperature and the chemical dose needed in the bleach plant to produce lyocell pulp specifications. Low specific gravity wood also increases the ability to reduce pulp viscosity to very low levels without increasing the copper number of the pulp or the concentration of carbonyl in the pulp above acceptable levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, W. Harvey Persinger, Kent Robarge, Mengkui Luo
  • Publication number: 20030186055
    Abstract: The use of low specific gravity wood from thinning operations, for example, will produce a lower brownstock viscosity for a given kappa number target. A differential of 200-cP falling ball pulp viscosity has been detected from Kraft cooks of low and high specific gravity wood. Using low specific gravity wood can reduce the bleach stage temperature and the chemical dose needed in the bleach plant to produce lyocell pulp specifications. Low specific gravity wood also increases the ability to reduce pulp viscosity to very low levels without increasing the copper number of the pulp or the concentration of carbonyl in the pulp above acceptable levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, W. Harvey Persinger, Kent Robarge, Mengkui Luo
  • Publication number: 20030183351
    Abstract: The use of low specific gravity wood from thinning operations, for example, will produce a lower brownstock viscosity for a given kappa number target. A differential of 200-cP falling ball pulp viscosity has been detected from Kraft cooks of low and high specific gravity wood. Using low specific gravity wood can reduce the bleach stage temperature and the chemical dose needed in the bleach plant to produce lyocell pulp specifications. Low specific gravity wood also increases the ability to reduce pulp viscosity to very low levels without increasing the copper number of the pulp or the concentration of carbonyl in the pulp above acceptable levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, W. Harvey Persinger, Kent Robarge, Mengkui Luo
  • Publication number: 20030186054
    Abstract: The use of low specific gravity wood from thinning operations, for example, will produce a lower brownstock viscosity for a given kappa number target. A differential of 200-cP falling ball pulp viscosity has been detected from Kraft cooks of low and high specific gravity wood. Using low specific gravity wood can reduce the bleach stage temperature and the chemical dose needed in the bleach plant to produce lyocell pulp specifications. Low specific gravity wood also increases the ability to reduce pulp viscosity to very low levels without increasing the copper number of the pulp or the concentration of carbonyl in the pulp above acceptable levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, W. Harvey Persinger, Kent Robarge, Mengkui Luo
  • Patent number: 6605350
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions, useful for making lyocell fibers, having a high hemicellulose content, a low copper number and including cellulose that has a low average degree of polymerization (D.P.), wherein greater than 4% of pulp fibers have a length-weighted fiber length of less than 2.0 mm. Further, the present invention provides processes for making compositions, useful for making lyocell fibers, having a high hemicellulose content, a low copper number and including cellulose that has a low average degree of polymerization and short fibers. The present invention also provides lyocell fibers and molded bodies made from the compositions. An advantage of the compositions are their quick dissolving nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, II, W. Harvey Persinger, Jr., Mengkui Luo, Brian Wester
  • Patent number: 6596033
    Abstract: The invention is lyocell fiber characterized by a pebbled surface as seen at high magnification and having a variable cross section and diameter along and between fibers. The fiber is produced by centrifugal spinning, melt blowing or its spunbonding variation. The fibers can be made in the microdenier range with average weights as low as one denier or less. The fibers have inherently low gloss and can be formed into tight yarns for making fabrics of very soft hand. Alternatively, the fibers can be formed into self bonded nonwoven fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Vincent A. Roscelli, Amar N. Neogi, Richard A. Jewell
  • Patent number: 6531593
    Abstract: Cellulose derivatives are formed by first crosslinking cellulose and subsequently reacting the crosslinked cellulose with a reagent capable of forming a cellulose ether or ester. Many crosslinking agents are suitable but those forming ether linkages between cellulose chains are preferred. The crosslinking, in effect, increases the D.P of the cellulose so that wood celluloses are then suitable for forming compositions that previously could only be formed very high D.P celluloses; e.g., those derived from cotton linters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Richard A. Jewell, Amar N. Neogi
  • Patent number: 6528163
    Abstract: The present invention provides lyocell fibers made from pulp, in particular a pulp having a high hemicellulose content of at least 5%, includes cellulose that has a low average degree of polymerization of from about 200 to about 1100, a kappa number of less than 2.0, and wherein greater than 4% of pulp fibers have a length-weighted fiber length of less than 2.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, II, W. Harvey Persinger, Jr., Mengkui Luo, Brian Wester
  • Publication number: 20030025251
    Abstract: A process for making a composition for conversion to lyocell fiber where the process comprises pulping a raw material in a digester to provide an alkaline pulp, wherein the raw material comprises sawdust in an amount greater than 0% up to 100%; and contacting the alkaline pulp comprising cellulose and at least about 7% hemicellulose under alkaline conditions with an amount of an oxidant sufficient to reduce the average degree of polymerization of the cellulose to within the range of from about 200 to about 1100, without substantially reducing the hemicellulose content of the pulp or substantially increasing the copper number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, W. Harvey Persinger, Mengkui Luo, Brian Wester