Patents by Inventor Ron WALKER

Ron WALKER 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: 11859032
    Abstract: A process to produce a branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer comprising combining a catalyst precursor and an activator with a feed comprising ethylene, C3 to C12 ?-olefins, and a dual-polymerizable diene to obtain a branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer; where the catalyst precursor is selected from pyridyldiamide and quinolinyldiamido transition metal complexes. The branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer may comprise within a range from 40 to 80 wt % of ethylene-derived units by weight of the branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer, and 0.1 to 2 wt % of singly-polymerizable diene derived units, 0.1 to 2 wt % of singly-polymerizable diene derived units, and the remainder comprising C3 to C12 ?-olefin derived units, wherein the branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) within a range from 100 kg/mole to 300 kg/mole, an average branching index (g?avg) of 0.9 or more, and a branching index at very high Mw (g?1000) of less than 0.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Crisita Carmen H. Atienza, Rhutesh K. Shah, Ron Walker, John R. Hagadorn, Sudhin Datta
  • Publication number: 20220325086
    Abstract: Thermoplastic vulcanizate compositions and articles exhibiting superior elastomeric performance and adhesive properties, and methods of making same are characterized by comprising a thermoplastic phase and a rubber phase. The thermoplastic phase comprises a thermoplastic polyolefin, and the rubber phase comprises an amorphous propylene-ethylene copolymer having: a Mn of from 20 kg/mol to 3,000 kg/mol, a Mw/Mn of 10.0 or lower, an ethylene percentage by weight of from about 2 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, a diene percentage by weight of from about 0 wt. % to about 21 wt. % and a heat of fusion of less than 5 J/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Antonios K. Doufas, Krishnan Anantha Narayana Iyer, Edward J. Blok, Narayanaswami Dharmarajan, Zhifeng Bai, Keishla R. Rivera Dones, Ron Walker, Sudhin Datta
  • Patent number: 11466149
    Abstract: Pellet-stable olefinic copolymer bimodal rubber is made using parallel reactors, with one reactor synthesizing higher molecular weight (MW) rubber with dual catalysts, with an improved molecular weight split ratio and an improved composition distribution of the moderate and ultra-high MW components, while another reactor synthesizes random isotactic polypropylene copolymer (RCP). The effluents are reactor-blended and result in pellet-stable bimodal rubber (P-SBR), which may be pelletized. When making thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) with P-SBR, the need to granulate rubber bales and subsequently use talc, clay, or other anti-agglomeration agents to prevent granulated rubber crumbs from agglomerating are eliminated. TPVs made with P-SBR have vulcanized rubber particles that are smaller and more uniform in size, resulting in TPVs with higher particle counts and more thermoplastic “ligaments” between the particles, with such ligaments being made stronger by the added RCP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Andy H. Tsou, John R. Hagadorn, Jian Yang, Ron Walker, Sudhin Datta
  • Publication number: 20210386636
    Abstract: Described herein is a hair care composition including from about 0.01% to about 20% of a lipid being one or more unsaturated fatty materials chosen from unsaturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof. The unsaturated fatty material has a Log P of less than 8. The hair care composition also includes from about 0.01% to about 10% of a fatty acid monoester of a polyol, a saturated fatty alcohol, an ester of a saturated fatty alcohol, and mixtures thereof. The molecule of the fatty acid component of the fatty acid monoester includes a linear or a branched carbon chain with 10 to 22 carbon atoms. The fatty acid monoester of a polyol has a log P of less than 8. The molecule of the fatty alcohol includes a linear or branched carbon chain with 8 to 22 carbon atoms. The hair care composition also includes a non-aqueous volatile solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Jose Antonio CARBALLADA, Lauren Elizabeth BALLHAUS, Ron Walker, Jennifer Mary Marsh, Supriya Punyani, Qing Stella, Curtis Bobby Motley, Bernd Findeis, Ingo Peter Herkert
  • Patent number: 11174332
    Abstract: This invention relates to a thermoplastic vulcanizate having excellent elongation comprising an isotactic polypropylene matrix phase in which a cross-linked ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) is dispersed, the vulcanizate comprising the reaction product of: a) 35 to 55 wt % of an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM); b) 10 to 40 wt % of isotactic polypropylene (iPP); c) 0.5 to 25 wt % of a propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer (PEDM) compatibilizer, said compatibilizer having a heat of fusion of less than 2 J/g; and d) 0.015 to 0.03 wt % of curatives; wherein the percentages of components (a) to (d) are based on the total weight of the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Andy H. Tsou, Ron Walker, Krishnan Anantha Narayana Iyer, Hamidreza Khakdaman, Kimari T. M. Slaughter, Sebastian Vasquez, Antonios K. Doufas
  • Patent number: 11142605
    Abstract: Disclosed is the preparation of compatibilized thermoplastic vulcanizates with reduced crosslinked rubber dispersion sizes and dispersity. A cross-linkable ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer with majority propylene (PEDM) is used to compatibilize a plastic and rubber blend of a polypropylene (PP) and an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber, where the propylene content is less than 50 wt % (EPDM), in dynamic vulcanization and preparation of PP/EPDM thermoplastic vulcanizates. The resulting PP/EPDM thermoplastic vulcanizates typically exhibit a weight average equivalent dispersion diameter of less than 3 microns and a particle size polydispersity index (PSDI), or weight average over number average dispersion diameter, of less than 5. This reduction in crosslinked rubber dispersion size in a PP/EPDM TPV by using PEDM compatibilizers enhances the toughness of the vulcanizate product by raising both elongation to break and break stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Andy H. Tsou, Ron Walker, Hillary L. Passino
  • Patent number: 11129780
    Abstract: Described herein is a hair care composition including from about 0.01% to about 20% of a lipid being one or more unsaturated fatty materials chosen from unsaturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof. The unsaturated fatty material has a Log P of less than 8. The hair care composition also includes from about 0.01% to about 10% of a fatty acid monoester of a polyol, a saturated fatty alcohol, an ester of a saturated fatty alcohol, and mixtures thereof. The molecule of the fatty acid component of the fatty acid monoester includes a linear or a branched carbon chain with 10 to 22 carbon atoms. The fatty acid monoester of a polyol has a log P of less than 8. The molecule of the fatty alcohol includes a linear or branched carbon chain with 8 to 22 carbon atoms. The hair care composition also includes a non-aqueous volatile solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jose Antonio Carballada, Lauren Elizabeth Ballhaus, Ron Walker, Jennifer Mary Marsh, Supriya Punyani, Qing Stella, Curtis Bobby Motley, Bernd Findeis, Ingo Peter Herkert
  • Publication number: 20210269567
    Abstract: A process to produce a branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer comprising combining a catalyst precursor and an activator with a feed comprising ethylene, C3 to C12 ?-olefins, and a dual-polymerizable diene to obtain a branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer; where the catalyst precursor is selected from pyridyldiamide and quinolinyldiamido transition metal complexes. The branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer may comprise within a range from 40 to 80 wt % of ethylene-derived units by weight of the branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer, and 0.1 to 2 wt % of singly-polymerizable diene derived units, 0.1 to 2 wt % of singly-polymerizable diene derived units, and the remainder comprising C3 to C12 ?-olefin derived units, wherein the branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) within a range from 100 kg/mole to 300 kg/mole, an average branching index (g?avgg) of 0.9 or more, and a branching index at very high Mw (g?1000) of less than 0.9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Crisita Carmen H. Atienza, Rhutesh K. Shah, Ron Walker, John R. Hagadorn, Sudhin Datta
  • Patent number: 11053381
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a composition comprising from 5 phr to 30 phr of a PEDM terpolymer having 1 to 10 wt % diene, 13 to 40 wt % ethylene, and 15 to 85 wt % propylene, based on the weight of the PEDM terpolymer. The composition further comprises from 70 phr to 95 phr of an ethylene-based copolymer comprising an ethylene content different than the first polymer, a C3 to C12 ?-olefin, and, optionally, one or more dienes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Narayanaswami Dharmarajan, Ron Walker, Scott H. Loyd
  • Patent number: 11041034
    Abstract: A process to produce a branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer comprising combining a catalyst precursor and an activator with a feed comprising ethylene, C3 to C12 ?-olefins, and a dual-polymerizable diene to obtain a branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer; where the catalyst precursor is selected from pyridyldiamide and quinolinyldiamido transition metal complexes. The branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer may comprise within a range from 40 to 80 wt % of ethylene-derived units by weight of the branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer, and 0.1 to 2 wt % of singly-polymerizable diene derived units, 0.1 to 2 wt % of singly-polymerizable diene derived units, and the remainder comprising C3 to C12 ?-olefin derived units, wherein the branched ethylene-?-olefin diene elastomer has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) within a range from 100 kg/mole to 300 kg/mole, an average branching index (g?avg) of 0.9 or more, and a branching index at very high Mw (g?1000) of less than 0.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Crisita Carmen H. Atienza, Rhutesh K. Shah, Ron Walker, John R. Hagadorn, Sudhin Datta
  • Patent number: 11015008
    Abstract: Disclosed is the preparation of thermoplastic vulcanizates with reduced crosslinked rubber dispersion sizes and dispersity. The thermoplastic vulcanizates include a polypropylene matrix phase in which cross-linked rubber particles are dispersed. The thermoplastic vulcanizates include the reaction product of a mixture that includes at least 10 wt % of isotactic polypropylene at least 30 wt % of an amorphous propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer containing at least 60 wt % propylene-derived units and less than or equal to 25 wt % of ethylene-derived units; at least 10 wt % of a diluent and at least 0.015 wt % of at least one curative. The mixture is preferably formed without adding an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Andy H. Tsou, Ron Walker, Krishnan Anantha Narayana Iyer, Rhutesh K. Shah, Hamidreza Khakdaman, Sebastian Vasquez, Feng Li
  • Patent number: 10975234
    Abstract: Use of twin screw extrusion to further enhance the uniformity of crosslinked rubber dispersion in thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) to improve elastic properties of TPVs is disclosed. Most specifically, this invention employs intermeshing twin screw extruders to further homogenize dynamically vulcanized rubber dispersions in TPVs so that their particle size dispersion index (PSDI), or the ratio of weight average equivalent dispersion particle diameter to number average equivalent dispersion particle diameter, can be lowered to less than 1.6 or 1.57 with corresponding elastic property improvements by having lower hysteresis, higher elongation to break, and higher retractive force. TPV products having lower PSDI and improved elastic properties, and apparatus for conducting the disclosed method, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Andy H. Tsou, Ron Walker, Bethany M. Welke
  • Publication number: 20210102052
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a composition comprising from 5 phr to 30 phr of a PEDM terpolymer having 1 to 10 wt % diene, 13 to 40 wt % ethylene, and 15 to 85 wt % propylene, based on the weight of the PEDM terpolymer. The composition further comprises from 70 phr to 95 phr of an ethylene-based copolymer comprising an ethylene content different than the first polymer, a C3 to C12 ?-olefin, and, optionally, one or more dienes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Narayanaswami Dharmarajan, Ron Walker, Scott H. Loyd
  • Patent number: 10927207
    Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprises an isotactic polypropylene matrix phase in which cross-linked rubber particles are dispersed, the rubber particles comprising an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) containing at least 40 wt % of ethylene-derived units. A propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer (PEDM) containing at least 60 wt % propylene-derived units and less than or equal to 25 wt % of ethylene-derived units and having a heat of fusion (Hf) of 2 to 10 J/g is added to compatibilize the propylene/EPDM blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Walker, Sudhin Datta, Andy H. Tsou, Brian J. Rohde, Tamara L. Blanton
  • Patent number: 10603261
    Abstract: A hair conditioning composition comprising from about 0.1% to about 20% of a lipid being one or more unsaturated fatty material selected from a group consisting of an unsaturated fatty acid; an unsaturated fatty alcohol; an unsaturated amine; an unsaturated amide; and an unsaturated phospholipid; wherein the molecule of said unsaturated fatty material comprises a linear or branched carbon chain with 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and one carbon-carbon double bond in a position of the said carbon chain between position C3 and position omega for the unsaturated fatty acid or unsaturated amide and between position C2 and position omega for the unsaturated fatty alcohol, unsaturated amine or unsaturated phospholipid and wherein the LogP of said unsaturated fatty material is less than 7; and 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ron Walker, Supriya Punyani, Jennifer Mary Marsh, Qing Stella, Curtis Bobby Motley, Bernd Andreas Findeis, Ingo Peter Herkert
  • Publication number: 20200024436
    Abstract: Pellet-stable olefinic copolymer bimodal rubber is made using parallel reactors, with one reactor synthesizing higher molecular weight (MW) rubber with dual catalysts, with an improved molecular weight split ratio and an improved composition distribution of the moderate and ultra-high MW components, while another reactor synthesizes random isotactic polypropylene copolymer (RCP). The effluents are reactor-blended and result in pellet-stable bimodal rubber (P-SBR), which may be pelletized. When making thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) with P-SBR, the need to granulate rubber bales and subsequently use talc, clay, or other anti-agglomeration agents to prevent granulated rubber crumbs from agglomerating are eliminated. TPVs made with P-SBR have vulcanized rubber particles that are smaller and more uniform in size, resulting in TPVs with higher particle counts and more thermoplastic “ligaments” between the particles, with such ligaments being made stronger by the added RCP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Andy H. Tsou, John R. Hagadorn, Jian Yang, Ron Walker, Sudhin Datta
  • Publication number: 20190309154
    Abstract: Use of twin screw extrusion to further enhance the uniformity of crosslinked rubber dispersion in thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) to improve elastic properties of TPVs is disclosed. Most specifically, this invention employs intermeshing twin screw extruders to further homogenize dynamically vulcanized rubber dispersions in TPVs so that their particle size dispersion index (PSDI), or the ratio of weight average equivalent dispersion particle diameter to number average equivalent dispersion particle diameter, can be lowered to less than 1.6 or 1.57 with corresponding elastic property improvements by having lower hysteresis, higher elongation to break, and higher retractive force. TPV products having lower PSDI and improved elastic properties, and apparatus for conducting the disclosed method, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Andy H. Tsou, Ron Walker, Bethany M. Welke
  • Publication number: 20190309115
    Abstract: Disclosed is the preparation of thermoplastic vulcanizates with reduced crosslinked rubber dispersion sizes and dispersity. The thermoplastic vulcanizates include a polypropylene matrix phase in which cross-linked rubber particles are dispersed. The thermoplastic vulcanizates include the reaction product of a mixture that includes at least 10 wt % of isotactic polypropylene at least 30 wt % of an amorphous propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer containing at least 60 wt % propylene-derived units and less than or equal to 25 wt % of ethylene-derived units; at least 10 wt % of a diluent and at least 0.015 wt % of at least one curative. The mixture is preferably formed without adding an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Andy H. Tsou, Ron Walker, Krishnan Anantha Narayana Iyer, Rhutesh K. Shah, Hamidreza Khakdaman, Sebastian Vasquez, Feng Li
  • Publication number: 20190309153
    Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprises an isotactic polypropylene matrix phase in which cross-linked rubber particles are dispersed, the rubber particles comprising an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) containing at least 40 wt % of ethylene-derived units. A propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer (PEDM) containing at least 60 wt % propylene-derived units and less than or equal to 25 wt % of ethylene-derived units and having a heat of fusion (Hf) of 2 to 10 J/g is added to compatibilize the propylene/EPDM blend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Ron Walker, Sudhin Datta, Andy H. Tsou, Brian J. Rohde, Tamara L. Blanton
  • Publication number: 20190309152
    Abstract: This invention relates to a thermoplastic vulcanizate having excellent elongation comprising an isotactic polypropylene matrix phase in which a cross-linked ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) is dispersed, the vulcanizate comprising the reaction product of: a) 35 to 55 wt % of an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM); b) 10 to 40 wt % of isotactic polypropylene (iPP); c) 0.5 to 25 wt % of a propylene-ethylene-diene terpolymer (PEDM) compatibilizer, said compatibilizer having a heat of fusion of less than 2 J/g; and d) 0.015 to 0.03 wt % of curatives; wherein the percentages of components (a) to (d) are based on the total weight of the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Sudhin Datta, Andy H. Tsou, Ron Walker, Krishnan Anantha Narayana Iyer, Hamidreza Khakdaman, Kimari T.M. Slaughter, Sebastian Vasquez