Patents by Inventor Michael A. McLeod

Michael A. McLeod 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: 20240124672
    Abstract: A composition including a first polypropylene having at least 90 wt. % propylene by weight of the first polypropylene, an alpha nucleation inhibitor, and a beta nucleation additive is provided. Also provided is a method of preparing a foamable polypropylene composition. The method includes the steps: a) compounding a first polypropylene including at least 90 wt. % propylene by weight of the first polypropylene with an alpha nucleation inhibitor to form a polypropylene blend; b) compounding the polypropylene blend with a blowing agent to form a pre-annealed polypropylene composition; and c) annealing the pre-annealed polypropylene composition at an annealing temperature Ta for an annealing time ta to form the foamable polypropylene composition. The foamable polypropylene composition has a first melting peak T1 and a second melting peak T2 as measured by differential scanning calorimetry at a heating rate of 20° C. per minute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. McLeod, Ngoc Niikky Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20090155614
    Abstract: A polypropylene material may be prepared from a blend of heterophasic propylene copolymers and propylene homopolymers. The material may be prepared by blending the polymers while they are in a molten state, and forming a film or sheet from the polymer blend. The materials may also be formed as coextruded materials or as ternary blends with a polyethylene or a single phase random propylene copolymer. The blends and neat polymers have particular application to forming slit film tapes and similar materials. The resultant materials may exhibit increased tenacity, elongation and toughness and greater surface roughness as compared to those materials prepared solely from propylene homopolymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. McLeod, John Ashbaugh, Michael Musgrave
  • Publication number: 20080061468
    Abstract: A method of processing a high ethylene random copolymer comprising nucleating a high ethylene random copolymer to form a high ethylene polymeric composition, melting and extruding a high ethylene polymeric composition, spinning a high ethylene polymeric composition to form a fiber, cooling the fiber, guiding the fiber with an aspirator, and recovering the fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Frank Li, John Ashbaugh, Wyman Stephens, Michael A. McLeod
  • Patent number: 7094856
    Abstract: Process for the production of an oriented polyolefin film using multi-component polymer compositions. One polymer component comprises an isotactic propylene homopolymer produced by the polymerization of propylene with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst. A secondary component is a Ziegler-Natta polymerized ethylene-propylene random copolymer or a metallocene-polymerized ethylene-propylene random copolymer produced by the polymerization of propylene and ethylene in the presence of a metallocene polymerization catalyst. The Ziegler-Natta polymerized copolymer is produced by the polymerization of ethylene and propylene in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst and contains no more than 0.5 wt. % ethylene and has a xylene solubles content of at least 2 wt. %. The primary and secondary polymer components are mixed together to provide a blend in which, when the secondary component is a Ziegler-Natta polypropylene, is present in an amount within the range of 5–25 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. McLeod, David Smith
  • Patent number: 6984698
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of modifying polyethylene to increase its ability to resist the transmission of water vapor. The polyethylene is modified to increase long chain branching resulting in lower water vapor transmission rates in films prepared with the modified polyethylene. The polyethylene can be modified using peroxides, air and even by admixture with high long chain branching content polyethylene. The polyethylene, particularly when in the form of films, can be used for preparing packaging where sorption of flavor, aroma, or colorant compounds must be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. McLeod, Gerhard K. Guenther
  • Publication number: 20040082722
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of modifying polyethylene to increase its ability to resist the transmission of water vapor. The polyethylene is modified to increase long chain branching resulting in lower water vapor transmission rates in films prepared with the modified polyethylene. The polyethylene can be modified using peroxides, air and even by admixture with high long chain branching content polyethylene. The polyethylene, particularly when in the form of films, can be used for preparing packaging where sorption of flavor, aroma, or colorant compounds must be minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. McLeod, Gerhard K. Guenther