Patents by Inventor Michael J. Zogg, JR.

Michael J. Zogg, JR. 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: 20250129230
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards methods for purifying a reclaimed polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Yi Ye, Shrikant Dhodapkar, Joshua B. Gaubert, Matthew C. Simons, Michael J. Zogg, JR., Michael D. Turner, Alec Y. Wang
  • Publication number: 20250115730
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards methods for purifying a reclaimed polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Yi Ye, Shrikant Dhodapkar, Joshua B. Gaubert, Matthew C. Simons, Michael J. Zogg, JR., Michael D. Turner, Alec Y. Wang
  • Patent number: 12162965
    Abstract: Disclosed herein too is a method comprising charging to a reactor system a feed stream comprising a catalyst, a monomer and a solvent; reacting the monomer to form a polymer; where the polymer is contained in a single phase polymer solution; transporting the polymer solution to a pre-heater to increase the temperature of the polymer solution; charging the polymer solution to a liquid-liquid separator; reducing a pressure of the polymer solution in the liquid-liquid separator and separating a polymer-rich phase from a solvent-rich phase in the liquid-liquid separator; transporting the polymer-rich phase to a plurality of devolatilization vessels located downstream of the liquid-liquid separator, where each devolatilization vessel operates at a lower pressure than the preceding devolatilization vessel; and separating the polymer from volatiles present in the polymer rich phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Alec Y. Wang, Jorge Rubalcaba, Michael D. Turner, Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Pradeep Jain
  • Patent number: 12070876
    Abstract: An apparatus to batch or continuously form solid polymer particles, the apparatus comprising the following components: A) at least one pastillation unit comprising a pastillation head, said unit used to form discrete molten polymer particles from a polymer melt; B) a moving belt to receive and transfer the discrete molten polymer particles from the pastillation head; C) a means to transfer water onto the moving belt, such that the water comes into contact with the discrete molten polymer particles on the moving belt to form the solid polymer particles; and wherein the water of component C is sprayed onto the discrete molten polymer particles, such that the ratio of “the rate of water spray” to “the discharge rate” is ?3.0; and wherein the belt residence time is ?50 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Santosh S. Bawiskar, Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Guang Ming Li, Yi Jin, Lonnie Schilhab
  • Publication number: 20240199775
    Abstract: Methods of propylene polymerization incorporate bis biphenyl-phenoxy procatalysts favoring polypropylene isotacticity at elevated reactor temperatures. The methods include polymerizing propylene in the presence of a catalyst system to produce a propylene-based polymer. The catalyst system includes a metal-ligand complex selected from bis-biphenyl-phenoxy procatalysts. Polymerization reactions result in polypropylenes having greater than 90% isotacticity, as measured by percentages of isotactic triads, at reaction temperatures from 110° C. to 190 ° C. or from 160 ° C. to 190 ° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Carl N. Iverson, Thomas Wesley Karjala, JR., Yi Jin, Michael J. Zogg, JR.
  • Patent number: 11814456
    Abstract: A method of producing bimodal ethylene-based polymer includes reacting ethylene monomer and C3-C12 ?-olefin comonomer in the presence of a first catalyst in an agitated reactor to produce a first polymer fraction, and outputting effluent from the agitated reactor. A second catalyst is added to the effluent downstream of the agitated reactor and upstream from a non-agitated reactor, the second catalyst facilitates production of a second polymer fraction having a density and melt index (I2) different from the first polymer fraction. The second catalyst and effluent are mixed in at least one mixer. The second catalyst, second polymer fraction, and the first polymer fraction are passed to the non-agitated reactor; and additional ethylene monomer, additional C3-C12 ?-olefin comonomer, and solvent are passed to the non-agitated reactor to produce more second polymer fraction and thereby the bimodal ethylene-based polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Timothy W. Gambrel, Curvel Hypolite, Daniel S. Rynearson, Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Kyle E. Hart, Michael D. Turner, Jorge Rubalcaba, Pradeep Jain, Mehmet Demirors
  • Publication number: 20230312787
    Abstract: Polyethylene compositions are disclosed that may have a density of 0.910 g/cm3 to 0.924 g/cm3 and a melt index (I2) In of 0.1 g/10 minutes to 0.5 g/10 minutes and include a first polyethylene fraction area in the temperature range from 45° C. to 80° C. of an elution profile via improved comonomer composition distribution (iCCD) analysis method; a second polyethylene fraction area in the temperature range from 80° C. to 95° C. of the elution profile, and a third polyethylene fraction area in the temperature range from 95° C. to 110° C. of the elution profile. The second polyethylene fraction area may include at least 5% of the total area of the elution profile. The third polyethylene fraction area may include at least 25% of the total area of the elution profile. A ratio of the first polyethylene fraction area to the second polyethylene fraction area may be from 6 to 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Peter Hermann Roland Sandkuehler, Sanjib Biswas, David T. Gillespie, Mehmet Demirors, Michael J. Zogg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11608390
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for solution polymerization comprising a reactor system that is operative to receive a monomer and to react the monomer to form a polymer; a plurality of devolatilization vessels located downstream of the reactor system, where each devolatilization vessel operates at a lower pressure than the preceding devolatilization vessel; and a heat exchanger disposed between two devolatilization vessels and in fluid communication with them, where the heat exchanger has an inlet port temperature of 100° C. to 230° C., an outlet port temperature of 200° C. to 300° C., an inlet port pressure of 35 to 250 kgf/cm2 and an outlet port pressure of 20 to 200 kgf/cm2; and wherein the polymer solution remains in a single phase during its residence in the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Maria Pollard, Robert D. Swindoll, Pradeep Jain, Alec Y. Wang, Jorge Rubalcaba, Shrikant Dhodapkar, Sean W. Ewart, Bradley K. Blanchard, George W. Haun, Jr., Michael J. Zogg, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220049027
    Abstract: Disclosed herein too is a method comprising charging to a reactor system a feed stream comprising a catalyst, a monomer and a solvent; reacting the monomer to form a polymer; where the polymer is contained in a single phase polymer solution; transporting the polymer solution to a pre-heater to increase the temperature of the polymer solution; charging the polymer solution to a liquid-liquid separator; reducing a pressure of the polymer solution in the liquid-liquid separator and separating a polymer-rich phase from a solvent-rich phase in the liquid-liquid separator; transporting the polymer-rich phase to a plurality of devolatilization vessels located downstream of the liquid-liquid separator, where each devolatilization vessel operates at a lower pressure than the preceding devolatilization vessel; and separating the polymer from volatiles present in the polymer rich phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Alec Y. Wang, Jorge Rubalcaba, Michael D. Turner, Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Pradeep Jain
  • Publication number: 20220017653
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for solution polymerization comprising a reactor system that is operative to receive an anti-solvent, a monomer, and a solvent, and to react the monomer to form a polymer; where the anti-solvent is not a solvent for the polymer and is operative to reduce the lower critical solution temperature; a plurality of devolatilization vessels located downstream of the reactor system, where each devolatilization vessel operates at a lower pressure than the preceding devolatilization vessel and wherein the plurality of devolatilization vessels receives a polymer solution from the reactor system; and a liquid-liquid separator that is operative to receive a polymer solution from the reactor system and to facilitate a separation between the polymer and volatiles by reducing the pressure and temperature of the polymer solution in the liquid-liquid separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Alec Y. Wang, Jorge Rubalcaba, Michael D. Turner, Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Pradeep Jain
  • Publication number: 20210253757
    Abstract: A method of producing bimodal ethylene-based polymer includes reacting ethylene monomer and C3-C12 ?-olefin comonomer in the presence of a first catalyst in an agitated reactor to produce a first polymer fraction, and outputting effluent from the agitated reactor. A second catalyst is added to the effluent downstream of the agitated reactor and upstream from a non-agitated reactor, the second catalyst facilitates production of a second polymer fraction having a density and melt index (I2) different from the first polymer fraction. The second catalyst and effluent are mixed in at least one mixer. The second catalyst, second polymer fraction, and the first polymer fraction are passed to the non-agitated reactor; and additional ethylene monomer, additional C3-C12 ?-olefin comonomer, and solvent are passed to the non-agitated reactor to produce more second polymer fraction and thereby the bimodal ethylene-based polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Timothy W. Gambel, Curvel Hypolite, Daniel S. Rynearson, Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Kyle E. Hart, Michael D. Turner, Jorge Rubalcaba, Pradeep Jain, Mehmet Demirors
  • Patent number: 11077585
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system comprising a first pump; a pelletization system that comprises an underwater pelletizer; where the pelletization system is located downstream of the first pump and is in fluid communication with it; a direct line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the direct line does not contain a pump or a heat exchanger; and a bypass line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the bypass line comprises a second pump; where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the direct line when the polymer has a melt viscosity greater than 105 centipoise; and where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the bypass line when the polymer has a melt viscosity less than 105 centipoise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Timothy W. Gambrel, Johan Van Leeuwen
  • Publication number: 20210214470
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for solution polymerization comprising a reactor system that is operative to receive a monomer and to react the monomer to form a polymer; a plurality of devolatilization vessels located downstream of the reactor system, where each devolatilization vessel operates at a lower pressure than the preceding devolatilization vessel; and a heat exchanger disposed between two devolatilization vessels and in fluid communication with them, where the heat exchanger has an inlet port temperature of 100° C. to 230° C., an outlet port temperature of 200° C. to 300° C., an inlet port pressure of 35 to 250 kgf/cm2 and an outlet port pressure of 20 to 200 kgf/cm2; and wherein the polymer solution remains in a single phase during its residence in the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Maria Pollard, Robert D. Swindoll, Pradeep Jain, Alec Y. Wang, Jorge Rubalcaba, Shrikant Dhodapkar, Sean W. Ewart, Bradley K. Blanchard, George W. Haun, Jr., Michael J. Zogg, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11059913
    Abstract: A process to form an olefin-based polymer, said process comprising at least the following steps: a) polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising an olefin, in at least one reactor, in a solution polymerization, to form a polymer solution; b) feeding at least a portion of the polymer solution through at least one devolatilizer, to form the olefin-based polymer, in melt form; c) feeding at least a portion of the olefin-based polymer, in melt, form through a heat exchanger, and then into a pastillation apparatus to form polymer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Santosh S. Bawiskar, Yi Jin, Daniel S. Rynearson, Harold W. Boone, Kate R. Brown, Barry D. Kluge, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11002653
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, and apparatus, for determining the degree of separation (DOS) of a polymer solution into a polymer-rich stream and a solvent-rich stream, said method comprising the following: adding to a liquid-liquid separation vessel the polymer solution, which comprises a polymer, a solvent and an anti-solvent; separating the polymer solution into a polymer-rich stream and a solvent-rich stream; removing at least some the polymer-rich stream from at least one outlet P on the vessel, and measuring the actual solution density of this polymer-rich stream using at least one flow meter; removing at least some of the solvent-rich stream from at least one other outlet S on the vessel, and measuring the actual density of the solvent-rich stream using at least one flow meter; and wherein the degree of separation (DOS) is determined by the following equation (Eqn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Alec Y. Wang, Curvel Hypolite, Jorge Rubalcaba, Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Job D. Guzman
  • Patent number: 10858463
    Abstract: The instant invention provides an improved process for producing pelletized polymer compositions, and pelletized polymer compositions. The process for producing a pelletized polymer composition according to the present invention comprises: (1) polymerizing one or more alpha-olefins in one or more solution reactors thereby producing a molten polymer composition comprising one or more solvents; (2) removing at least a portion of said one or more solvents thereby forming a polymer composition having a low solvent content (typically less than 1,000 parts of solvent per million of polymer on a weight basis); (3) removing heat from said polymer composition having low solvent content to a temperature in the range of equal to or greater than the crystallization point of the polymer composition having low solvent content to less than or equal to a temperature in the range of from (the crystallization point of the polymer composition having low solvent content+20° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Brian W. Kolthammer, Michael J. Zogg, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200131282
    Abstract: A process to form an olefin-based polymer, said process comprising at least the following steps: a) polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising an olefin, in at least one reactor, in a solution polymerization, to form a polymer solution; b) feeding at least a portion of the polymer solution through at least one devolatilizer, to form the olefin-based polymer, in melt form; c) feeding at least a portion of the olefin-based polymer, in melt, form through a heat exchanger, and then into a pastillation apparatus to form polymer particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Michael J. Zogg, JR., Santosh S. Bawiskar, Yi Jin, Daniel S. Rynearson, Harold W. Boone, Kate R. Brown, Barry D. Kluge, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190368991
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, and apparatus, for determining the degree of separation (DOS) of a polymer solution into a polymer-rich stream and a solvent-rich stream, said method comprising the following: adding to a liquid-liquid separation vessel the polymer solution, which comprises a polymer, a solvent and an anti-solvent; separating the polymer solution into a polymer-rich stream and a solvent-rich stream; removing at least some the polymer-rich stream from at least one outlet P on the vessel, and measuring the actual solution density of this polymer-rich stream using at least one flow meter; removing at least some of the solvent-rich stream from at least one other outlet S on the vessel, and measuring the actual density of the solvent-rich stream using at least one flow meter; and wherein the degree of separation (DOS) is determined by the following equation (Eqn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Alec Y. Wang, Curvel Hypolite, Jorge Rubalcaba, Michael J. Zogg, JR., Job D. Guzman
  • Patent number: 10365195
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, and apparatus, for determining the degree of separation (DOS) of a polymer solution into a polymer-rich stream and a solvent-rich stream, said method comprising the following: adding to a liquid-liquid separation vessel the polymer solution, which comprises a polymer, a solvent and an anti-solvent; separating the polymer solution into a polymer-rich stream and a solvent-rich stream; removing at least some the polymer-rich stream from at least one outlet P on the vessel, and measuring the actual solution density of this polymer-rich stream using at least one flow meter; removing at least some of the solvent-rich stream from at least one other outlet S on the vessel, and measuring the actual density of the solvent-rich stream using at least one flow meter; and wherein the degree of separation (DOS) is determined by the following equation (Eqn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Alec Y. Wang, Curvel Hypolite, Jorge Rubalcaba, Michael J. Zogg, Jr., Job D. Guzman
  • Publication number: 20170368716
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system comprising a first pump; a pelletization system that comprises an underwater pelletizer; where the pelletization system is located downstream of the first pump and is in fluid communication with it; a direct line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the direct line does not contain a pump or a heat exchanger; and a bypass line that is located downstream of the first pump and upstream of the pelletization system; where the bypass line comprises a second pump; where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the direct line when the polymer has a melt viscosity greater than 105 centipoise; and where the first pump is operative to discharge the polymer to the pelletization system via the bypass line when the polymer has a melt viscosity less than 105 centipoise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Michael J. ZOGG, Jr., Timothy W. GAMBREL, Johan VAN LEEUWEN