Patents by Inventor Robert Charles Bening
Robert Charles Bening 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).
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Patent number: 6492466Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2002Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Kraton Polymers U.S. LLCInventors: Carl Lesley Willis, Robert Charles Bening, Peter Taylor Murany, Steven Jon Weddle, Dale Lee Handlin, Jr.
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Patent number: 6492469Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2002Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Kraton Polymers U.S. LLCInventors: Carl Lesley Willis, Robert Charles Bening, Peter Taylor Murany, Steven Jon Weddle, Dale Lee Handlin, Jr.
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Publication number: 20020151658Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC.Inventors: Carl Lesley Willis, Robert Charles Bening, Peter Taylor Murany, Steven Jon Weddle, Dale Lee Handlin
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Patent number: 6462143Abstract: This invention relates to a gel-free process for making functionalized polymers. When multi-alkali metal initiators are used to make these polymers anionically, the process comprises anionically polymerizing at least one monomer with a multi-alkali metal initiator in a hydrocarbon solvent, capping the polymer by adding to the polymer a capping agent that reacts with the ends of the polymer chains such that strongly associating chain ends are formed wherein a strongly associating gel is formed, and, finally, adding a trialkyl aluminum compound to the gel. The important characteristic of the capping agent herein is that it will cap the living polymer and will add a functional group to the polymer chain end which will be strongly associating in the hydrocarbon solvent.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1999Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: KRATON Polymers US LLCInventors: Carl Lesley Willis, Daniel Earl Goodwin, Robert Charles Bening, Dale Lee Handlin, Jr., John David Wilkey
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Publication number: 20020143115Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2002Publication date: October 3, 2002Applicant: Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC.Inventors: Carl Lesley Willis, Robert Charles Bening, Peter Taylor Murany, Steven Jon Weddle, Dale Lee Handlin
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Patent number: 6391981Abstract: The present invention is an improvement upon the known method of anionically polymerizing monomers by contacting the monomers with an anionic polymerization initiator which is an organo-substituted alkali metal compound. The improvement comprises decreasing the viscosity of the polymer cement by adding at least 0.01 equivalent of a metal alkyl compound per equivalent of alkali metal initiator if the metal alkyl is added before or at the beginning of polymerization. If the metal alkyl is added during the polymerization or after but before the living polymer is terminated, then at least 0.01 equivalent of the metal alkyl compound per equivalent of living polymer chain ends is should be used. The alkyl groups of the metal alkyl are chosen such that they do not exchange with the organo substituents of the alkali metal, which can be the living polymer chain ends or the organo substituents of the initiator.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2000Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: KRATON Polymers US LLCInventors: Carl Lesley Willis, Robert Charles Bening, Peter Taylor Murany, Steven Jon Weddle, Dale Lee Handlin, Jr.
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Patent number: 6242537Abstract: This invention relates to a gel-free process for making hydrogenated functionalized polymers that mitigates the problem of ionic gel.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1999Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Robert Charles Bening, Carl Lesley Willis, Charles Roy Donaho, Daniel Earl Goodwin, Zaida Diaz, John David Wilkey
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Patent number: 6242538Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making gel-free functionalized polymers. When multi-lithium initiators are used to make these polymers anionically, the process comprises anionically polymerizing at least one monomer with a multi-lithium initiator in a hydrocarbon solvent, functionalizing the polymer by adding to the polymer a capping agent that reacts with the ends of the polymer chains such that strongly-associating chain ends are formed wherein a polymer gel is formed, adding a trialkyl aluminum compound to the polymer gel, whereby the gel dissipates, adding a sufficient amount of a proton source to provide at least 1 mole of protons per mole of lithium ions and at least 2 moles of protons per mole of aluminum wherein the proton source is an organic acid with a pKa of 11 or less or a mixture of the organic acid and an alkanol, provided that sufficient organic acid is added to provide at least 0.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1999Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Robert Charles Bening, Carl Lesley Willis, John David Wilkey, Zaida Diaz
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Patent number: 6218478Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making functionalized polymers comprising the steps of (a) initiating polymerization of an unsaturated monomer with a lithium initiator having the structure R1R2R3Si—O—A—Li wherein A is a branched or straight chain bridging group having at least two carbon atoms, R1,R2, and R3 are alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, or alkaryl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, thus producing a functionalized polymer which has a protecting silyl group at one end thereof; and (b) contacting the protected polymer with aqueous acid to remove residual lithium, and (c) contacting the protected polymer with from 1 to 10 equivalents of an organic or inorganic hydride; and (d) contacting the resulting solution with aqueous acid, and (e) recovering a linear or branched deprotected polymer having one or more terminal functional groups.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1999Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Robert Charles Bening, Carl Lesley Willis
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Patent number: 6103846Abstract: The preparation of di- or polyfunctional polymers by anionic polymerization using functionalized initiators having the structure R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 Si--A--B, wherein each R is methyl and A is a hydrocarbon bridging group containing from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, and B is an alkali metal, is improved when polymerization occurs in the presence of a polymerization termination inhibitor which is a metal alkyl which has been added at a concentration to afford a molar ratio of the termination inhibitor to living polymer chain ends of about 0.1:1 to about 10:1.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1999Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Carl Lesley Willis, Robert Charles Bening, Michael Wayne Potter, Grant Wesley Haddix, David Karl Schisla, Thomas Carl Semple, Daniel Earl Goodwin
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Patent number: 6075097Abstract: A process for making hydrogenated polymers is presenting. Polymerization is initiated with a lithium initiator and one or more unsaturated monomers are polymerized to a polymer cement. The polymerization process is terminated and dry carbon dioxide is introduced to the polymer cement to make a CO.sub.2 -treated polymer cement. The CO.sub.2 -treated polymer cement is hydrogenated in the presence of a Ni/Al catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1998Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Robert Charles Bening, John David Wilkey
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Patent number: 5681895Abstract: A high yield of three armed radial anionic polymers is produced by the process of coupling metal terminated anionic polymers with a trialkoxysilane having a silicon-hydrogen bond, preferably trimethoxysilane. The metal terminated anionic polymer is preferably produced by initiating polymerization with a protected functional initiator which is readily converted to terminal hydroxyl groups or derivatives thereof for use in adhesives, sealants, and coatings.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1996Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Robert Charles Bening, Ronald James Hoxmeier
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Patent number: 5641823Abstract: A laminating adhesive comprising an adhesive composition which comprises(a) An epoxidized block copolymer of the formula(A--B--A.sub.p).sub.n --Y.sub.r --(A.sub.q --B).sub.mwherein Y is a coupling agent or coupling monomers, andwherein A and B are polymer blocks which may be homopolymer blocks of conjugated diolefin monomers, copolymer blocks of conjugated diolefin monomers or copolymer blocks of conjugated diolefin monomers and monoalkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomers, andwherein the A blocks have a higher number of aliphatic double bonds between a tertiary carbon atom and either a primary, secondary, or tertiary carbon atom per unit of block mass than do the B blocks, andwherein the A blocks have a molecular weight from about 100 to about 3000 and the B blocks have a molecular weight from about 1000 to about 15,000, andwherein p and q are 0 or 1 and n>0, r is 0 or 1, m.gtoreq.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 1996Date of Patent: June 24, 1997Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Michael Alan Masse, Paul Andrew Mancinelli, James Robert Erickson, Steven Howard Dillman, Robert Charles Bening, David Romme Hansen