Patents by Inventor Michael K. Laughner

Michael K. Laughner 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: 7750104
    Abstract: Shear-thinning ethylene/?-olefin and ethylene/?-olefin/diene monomer interpolymers that do not include a traditional branch-inducing monomer such as norbornadiene are prepared at an elevated temperature in an atmosphere that has little or no hydrogen using a constrained geometry complex catalyst and an activating cocatalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologie Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. Cady, Morgan M. Hughes, Michael K. Laughner, Larry A. Meiske, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 7384994
    Abstract: Olefinic interpolymer compositions comprising the olefinic interpolymer, residuals from a transition metal catalyst and boron containing activator package, and a charge dissipation modifier and methods for making them. The compositions have dissipation factors that are at least 50% less than the corresponding olefinic interpolymer compositions which have not been treated with charge dissipation modifiers. The compositions are useful in wire and cable applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Gilberto Ortiz, Peter Anthony Fox, Raymond L. Laakso, Jr., Gary R. Marchand, Steven R. Oriani, Walter Werner Schmiegel, Michael K. Laughner, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 7235624
    Abstract: Olefinic interpolymer compositions comprising the olefinic interpolymer, residuals from a transition metal catalyst and boron containing activator package, and a charge dissipation modifier and methods for making them. The compositions have dissipation factors that are at least 50% less than the corresponding olefinic interpolymer compositions which have not been treated with charge dissipation modifiers. The compositions are useful in wire and cable applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Gilberto Ortiz, Peter Anthony Fox, Raymond L. Laakso, Jr., Gary R. Marchand, Steven R. Oriani, Walter Werner Schmiegel, Michael K. Laughner, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 7144934
    Abstract: Olefinic interpolymer compositions comprising the olefinic interpolymer, residuals from a transition metal catalyst and boron containing activator package, and a charge dissipation modifier and methods for making them. The compositions have dissipation factors that are at least 50% less than the corresponding olefinic interpolymer compositions which have not been treated with charge dissipation modifiers. The compositions are useful in wire and cable applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Gilberto Ortiz, Peter Anthony Fox, Raymond L. Laakso, Gary Robert Marchand, Steven R. Oriani, Walter Werner Schmiegel, Michael K. Laughner, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Publication number: 20040147700
    Abstract: Olefinic interpolymer compositions comprising the olefinic interpolymer, residuals from a transition metal catalyst and boron containing activator package, and a charge dissipation modifier and methods for making them. The compositions have dissipation factors that are at least 50% less than the corresponding olefinic interpolymer compositions which have not been treated with charge dissipation modifiers. The compositions are useful in wire and cable applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Carlos Gilberto Ortiz, Peter Anthony Fox, Raymond L. Laakso, Gary Robert Marchand, Steven R. Oriani, Walter Werner Schmiegel, Michael K. Laughner, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 6610800
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymer blends having an MWD of at least about 2 are made in a single reactor using a mixed constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) system. The process comprises the steps of contacting under polymerization conditions and in a single reaction vessel (i) ethylene, (ii) at least one C3-C20 &agr;-olefin, (iii) optionally, at least one polyene, and (iv) a mixed CGC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Debra J. Mangold, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 6610408
    Abstract: Thermoplastic polyolefin blends having improved resistance to fluids such as petroleum fuels after being painted with flexible coatings such as polyurethanes paints and the like are disclosed. These blends include a crystalline or semi-crystalline polyolefin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or a copolymer of ethylene and a C3 to C10 olefin, and a multimodal elastomer of sequentially polymerized ethylene-&agr;-olefin monomers. The substantially crystalline polyolefin is present in an amount of 30 to 98 weight percent, while the multimodal elastomer, which is substantially amorphous, is present in an amount of about 2 to 70 weight percent. The blends may contain additional polymeric components, fillers and the like. In addition to increased paint adherence, higher weld-line strength, low temperature ductility and processability can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignees: Solvay Engineered Polymers, Dupont Dow Elastomers L.L.C., The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Satchit Srinivasan, Edward Szczepaniak, Jhy-Yuan Her, Michael K Laughner, Teresa Plumley Karjala
  • Patent number: 6498214
    Abstract: Thermoplastic polyolefin compositions useful for soft touch applications comprise, in weight percent based upon the weight of components A and B, about: A. 99 to about 1 percent of at least one polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer; and B. 99 to about 1 percent of at least one homogeneously branched ethylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer in which the &agr;-olefin contains at least 4 carbon atoms and the homogeneously branched copolymer has a crystallinity of less than about 3 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: DuPont Dow Elastomers L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Publication number: 20020151647
    Abstract: Thermoplastic polymer blend compositions that include a thermoplastic matrix resin phase that is substantially free of crosslinking and a dispersed, silane-grafted elastomer phase are prepared by a multi-step process that begins with melt mixing a thermoplastic resin and an elastomer that have similar viscosities at temperatures used for melt mixing. A catalyst that promotes silane crosslinking, branching or both is preferably, but not necessarily, added to the melt mixed phases either while they are in a melt state or after they have been recovered in a solid state. The melt mixed phases and the optional catalyst are then subjected to moisture, either before or after the melt mixed phases are converted to a shaped article, to effect branching and crosslinking within domains of the dispersed elastomer phase. The crosslinking and branching build elastomer molecular weight and stabilize dispersed domain shapes. The elastomer phase may contain a non-elastomeric polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Jeffery E. Brann
  • Publication number: 20020143122
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymer blends having an MWD of at least about 2 are made in a single reactor using a mixed constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) system. The process comprises the steps of contacting under polymerization conditions and in a single reaction vessel (i) ethylene, (ii) at least one C3-C20 &agr;-olefin, (iii) optionally, at least one polyene, and (iv) a mixed CGC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Debra J. Mangold, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 6455638
    Abstract: An ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer blend is described comprising first and second ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer components in which the ethylene content of the first component is at least 10 weight percent different than the ethylene content of the second component. These blends exhibit an improved combination of low temperature, pellet flow, compression set, melt strength and/or shape retention properties as compared to either component, or an ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer blend of similar composition but in which the ethylene content of each component is substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: DuPont Dow Elastomers L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Deepak R. Parikh, Christian Daniel, M. Stephen Edmondson
  • Patent number: 6451894
    Abstract: Molded articles of thermoplastic polyolefin blends having improved resistance to fluids such as petroleum fuels after being painted with flexible coatings such as polyurethane paints and the like are disclosed. These blends include a crystalline or semi-crystalline polyolefin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or a copolymer of ethylene and a C3 to C10 olefin, and a multimodal elastomer of sequentially polymerized ethylene-&agr;-olefin monomers. The substantially crystalline polyolefin is present in an amount of 30 to 98 weight percent, while the multimodal elastomer, which is substantially amorphous, is present in an amount of about 2 to 70 weight percent. The blends may contain additional polymeric components, fillers and the like. In addition to increased paint adherence, higher weld line strength, low temperature ductility, and processability can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignees: Solvay Engineered Polymers, Dupont Dow Elastomers L.L.C., The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Satchit Srinivasan, Edward Szczepaniak, Jhy-Yuan Her, Michael K Laughner, Teresa Plumley Karjala
  • Publication number: 20020107328
    Abstract: Thermoplastic polyolefin compositions useful for soft touch applications comprise, in weight percent based upon the weight of components A and B, about:
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 6369176
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymer blends having an MWD of at least about 2 are made in a single reactor using a mixed constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) system. The process comprises the steps of contacting under polymerization conditions and in a single reaction vessel (i) ethylene, (ii) at least one C3-C20 (&agr;-olefin, (iii) optionally, at least one polyene, and (iv) a mixed CGC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Debra J. Mangold, Deepak R. Parikh
  • Publication number: 20020016415
    Abstract: An ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer blend is described comprising first and second ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer components in which the ethylene content of the first component is at least 10 weight percent different than the ethylene content of the second component. These blends exhibit an improved combination of low temperature, pellet flow, compression set, melt strength and/or shape retention properties as compared to either component, or an ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer blend of similar composition but in which the ethylene content of each component is substantially the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Deepak R. Parikh, Christian Daniel, M. Stephen Edmondson
  • Patent number: 5714537
    Abstract: Blends of (a) a carbonate polymer component and (b) a monovinylidene aromatic copolymer component not containing a grafted rubber polymer component and (c) an inorganic filler component are prepared having improved combinations of processability, resistance to linear thermal expansion and low temperature toughness. Specifically shaped, small particle size fillers (c) are preferably employed which provide the resistance to linear thermal expansion and maintain the impact resistance of the filled blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Robert C. Miller
  • Patent number: 5674943
    Abstract: A blended composition containing polycarbonate, polyester, an olefinic epoxide-containing copolymer and a polyamine compound, which composition possesses a desirable balance of impact resistance, solvent resistance, and resistance to thermal deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Hani Farah, Leo Novak, Michael K. Laughner, Ralph D. Priester, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5552224
    Abstract: Novel carbonate polymer blend compositions and processes for their preparation are disclosed where an amount of a high molecular weight branched carbonate polymer component (HMWB PC) is combined with a second, lower molecular weight polycarbonate. A HMWB PC component is selected which is homogeneously dispersible in a blend with the second component. A preferred aspect of the invention is directed to intermediate compositions and processes for their use where the second PC is combined with a HMWB PC precursor having latent themally reactive moieties which can be activated to produce a desired and controlled level of high molecular weight, branched carbonate polymer component. Arylcyclobutene moleties are found to be preferred latent thermally reactive moleties. The carbonate polymer blends according to the present invention have surprisingly improved combinations of physical properties, thermal stability, color, melt strength, transparency and processability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Michael K. Laughner, Maurice J. Marks
  • Patent number: 5543448
    Abstract: Blends of polycarbonate and polyester are admixed in compositions with poly(phenylene ether), and/or with a poly(phenylene ether) concentrate containing poly(phenylene ether), polystyrene, a vinyl aromatic copolymer, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester, poly(alkyl acrylate), and/or poly(alkyl methacrylate).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Michael K. Laughner
  • Patent number: 5539030
    Abstract: Polycarbonate is admixed in compositions with poly(phenylene ether), and/or with a poly(phenylene ether) concentrate containing poly(phenylene ether), polystyrene, a vinyl aromatic copolymer, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester, poly(alkyl acrylate), and/or poly(alkyl methacrylate). The blended compositions may also optionally contain additional vinyl aromatic copolymer as a separate component, impact modifiers, thermoplastic molding materials including polystyrene, polyolefin, polyamide, poly(vinyl chloride), polyurethane, polyacetal, and conventional additives such as dyes and pigments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Michael K. Laughner