Patents by Inventor Rudiger Funk

Rudiger Funk 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: 20110034655
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein a polymer gel is removed from a polymerization reactor, stored intermediately as a particulate polymer gel in a delay vessel, removed by means of a first conveying device at the lower end of the delay vessel and dried, the intermediately stored particulate polymer gel being conveyed within the delay vessel by means of at least one second conveying device above the first conveying device in the direction of the first conveying device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Ann Becker, Leo Van Miert
  • Publication number: 20110015362
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles with a low centrifuge retention capacity by polymerizing in a continuous kneading reactor under an inert gas volume flow of at most 10 m3/h per m3 of reactor volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Ronny De Kaey, Karl J. Possemiers
  • Publication number: 20100324212
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a water-absorbing resin by polymerization of a reaction mixture comprising at least one hydrophilic monomer and, if appropriate, at least one crosslinker in a reactor, which comprises admixing the reaction mixture with at least one first portion of a particulate additive before the reaction mixture has reached a residence time of 40% of the overall residence time in the reactor and with at least one second portion of a particulate additive when the reaction mixture has reached a residence time of 45% or more of the overall residence time in the reactor, the additive being selected from water-absorbing resin powders, fillers and mixtures thereof, the total solids content of monomer and additive being in the range from 30% to 60% by weight, the amount of additive being in the range from 5% to 50% by weight, based on the monomers, and the weight ratio of the first portion to the second portion of the additive being in the range from 10:1 to 1:5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Uwe Stueven, Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel, Thomas Daniel, Annemarie Hillebrecht, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Karl J. Possemiers
  • Publication number: 20100294988
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution in a gas phase surrounding the droplets, wherein the particle surface is coated at least partly with at least one polymer and/or wax.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Uwe Stueven, Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel, Wilfried Heide, Marco Krüger
  • Patent number: 7838567
    Abstract: Foams composed of water-absorbing basic polymers, obtainable by (I) foaming a crosslinkable aqueous mixture including (a) at least one basic polymer whose basic groups have optionally been neutralized, (b) at least one crosslinker, (c) at least one surfactant, (d) optionally at least one solubilizer, (e) optionally thickeners, foam stabilizers, fillers, fibers and/or cell nucleators, and (f) optionally particulate water-absorbing acidic polymers, by dissolving a gas which is inert toward free radicals in the crosslinkable aqueous mixture under a pressure from 2 to 400 bar and subsequently decompressing the crosslinkable aqueous mixture to atmospheric or by dispersing fine bubbles of a gas which is inert toward free radicals, and (II) crosslinking the foamed mixture to form a hydrogel foam and if applicable adjusting the water content of the polymer foam to 1-60% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Basf Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Samantha Champ, Hans-Joachim Hähnle, Martin Beck, Rüdiger Funk
  • Publication number: 20100272998
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein a product stream comprising water-absorbing polymer particles is tested for nonferritic metallic impurities by means of an eddy current detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE a German corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Dominicus van Esbroeck
  • Publication number: 20100273942
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising the addition of a solid additive to a polymer gel by means of a conveying screw (1), wherein the solid additive and a gas volume flow are fed to the conveying screw (1) by means of an addition channel (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Filip Mees
  • Publication number: 20100240793
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing water-absorbent polymer particles by radiation-induced polymerization on a continuously revolving belt, electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of greater than 400 nm being shielded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Leigh R. Blair, Kevin D. Heitzhaus
  • Patent number: 7790823
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel hydrophilic swellable addition polymers comprising improved odor control, a process for their preparation and their use for absorbing aqueous fluids and a process for screening superabsorbents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rüdiger Funk, Norbert Herfert, Mariola Wanior, Uwe Stüven, Martin Beck
  • Patent number: 7786211
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a water-absorbing resin by polymerization of a reaction mixture comprising at least one hydrophilic monomer and, if appropriate, at least one crosslinker in a reactor, which comprises admixing the reaction mixture with at least one first portion of a particulate additive before the reaction mixture has reached a residence time of 40% of the overall residence time in the reactor and with at least one second portion of a particulate additive when the reaction mixture has reached a residence time of 45% or more of the overall residence time in the reactor, the additive being selected from water-absorbing resin powders, fillers and mixtures thereof, the total solids content of monomer and additive being in the range from 30% to 60% by weight, the amount of additive being in the range from 5% to 50% by weight, based on the monomers, and the weight ratio of the first portion to the second portion of the additive being in the range from 10:1 to 1:5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Uwe Stueven, Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel, Thomas Daniel, Annemarie Hillebrecht, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Karl J. Possemiers
  • Publication number: 20100197877
    Abstract: What is described is a process for producing water-absorbing resins, in which a) acrylic acid is prepared at an acrylic acid production site, b) the acrylic acid prepared is dissolved in water at the acrylic acid production site to obtain an aqueous acrylic acid solution, c) the aqueous acrylic acid solution is fed into a pipeline at the acrylic acid production site and passed through the pipeline to an acrylic acid processing site and d) the aqueous acrylic acid solution is subjected to a free-radical polymerization at the acrylic acid processing site. The process ensures safe transport of the highly reactive acrylic acid. Endangerment as a result of premature polymerization, as in the case of glacial acrylic acid, is ruled out, since the acrylic acid is “diluted” by the aqueous solvent and the specific heat capacity and the evaporation enthalpy of the water limit the maximum temperature rise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Rüdiger Funk, Wilfried Heide, Matthias Weismantel, Ulrich Hammon, Andrea Karen Bennett
  • Publication number: 20100121003
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymeric particles by a suspension polymerization with recycling of the hydrophobic solvent, the hydrophobic solvent comprising branched saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventor: Rüdiger Funk
  • Publication number: 20100099791
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of superabsorbent polymers comprising polymerizing a monomer solution on a continuous belt reactor, wherein the consistency of the formed polymer gel at the end of the continuous belt reactor is controlled by adjusting the intensity of energy-rich radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Sylvia Bertha, Leigh R. Blair, Kevin D. Heitzhaus, Bruce Storey
  • Publication number: 20100083802
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of superabsorbent polymers on a continuous belt reactor, comprising at least one rotating knife that cuts the formed polymer gel at the end of the continuous belt reactor, wherein the length of the cutting edge is at least 1 cm and the cutting edge is non-parallel to the rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Leigh R. Blair, Kevin D. Heitzhaus, Bruce Storey
  • Publication number: 20100069235
    Abstract: In a process for producing water-absorbing polymeric particles by suspension polymerization, a monomer solution is metered into a stirred reactor via at least one feed line, the stirred reactor has a volume of at least 1 m3 and the at least one feed line ends in the stirred reactor at a point less than 25 cm above the liquid surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Rüdiger Funk
  • Publication number: 20100056739
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the transportation of a monomer composition in which a composition comprising an aqueous solution of partially or entirely neutralized acrylic acid or overneutralized acrylic acid is placed in a transport means or sent through a pipe. The method according to the invention is characterized in that it has an increased level of safety during the transportation of acrylic acid monomers, an improved quality of the resulting product, and a high degree of efficiency. The method ensures safe transport of the highly reactive acrylic acid. The amount of polymerization inhibitors added to said acrylic acid may be reduced. An additional advantage is the minimization of the formation of dimeric acrylic acid. Tempering of containers, pipes, and pipelines may be omitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Rüdiger Funk, Wilfried Heide, Matthias Weismantel, Ulrich Hammon, Andrea Karen Bennett
  • Publication number: 20100041549
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of superabsorbent polymers comprising conveying a polymer gel having acid groups on an oscillating conveyor belt to a continuous through-circulation belt dryer, wherein the belt speed of the conveyor belt is at least 0.4 m/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE a German corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Leigh R. Blair, Kevin D. Heitzhaus, Bruce Storey
  • Publication number: 20100041847
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for production of superabsorbent polymers on a continuous belt reactor, wherein a continuous polymerization belt rests at least partly upon the upper surface of at least one continuous support belt and the at least one continuous support belt slides at least partly on a fixed surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE a German corporation
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Leigh R. Blair, Kevin D. Heitzhaus, Bruce Storey
  • Publication number: 20100019198
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution in a gas phase surrounding the droplets and postcrosslinking the polymer particles, wherein the postcrosslinked polymer particles are at least partly coated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Uwe Stueven, Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel, Wilfried Heide, Marco Krüger
  • Publication number: 20100016522
    Abstract: A process for continuously preparing water-absorbing polymer beads, comprising the drying of a polymer gel on a forced-air belt dryer, the water content of the polymer gel being used to control the forced-air belt dryer during or after the drying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Uwe Stueven, Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel, Karl J. Possemiers, Koen Deboel