Patents by Inventor Stefan Hinrichs

Stefan Hinrichs 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: 11136419
    Abstract: A high pressure, free radical polymerization process to form an ethylene-based polymer, the process comprising at least the following step: polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising ethylene, using a polymerization system comprising the following: (A) a reactor configuration comprising at least one reactor that comprises at least two reaction zones, a first reaction zone (reaction zone 1) and an ith reaction zone (where i?2); wherein the ith reaction zone is the last reaction zone, and wherein i is the total number of reaction zones; (B) at least two ethylene-based feed streams, a first ethylene-based feed stream and an nth ethylene-based feed stream, wherein the first ethylene-based feed stream is sent to the first reaction zone, and the nth ethylene-based feed stream is the last ethylene based feed stream sent to the reactor configuration; wherein n?i; and RZn/RZ1 does not equal 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Stefan Hinrichs, Bharat I. Chaudhary, Teresa P. Karjala, John O. Osby, Jose Ortega
  • Patent number: 10975179
    Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising a first ethylene-based polymer, formed by a high pressure, free-radical polymerization process, and comprising the following properties: a) a Mw(abs) versus I2 relationship: Mw(abs)<A×[(I2)B], where A=5.00×102 (g/mole)/(dg/min)B, and B=?0.40; and b) a MS versus I2 relationship: MS?C×[(I2)D], where C=13.5 cN/(dg/min)D, and D=?0.55.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Cornelis F. J. Den Doelder, Teresa P. Karjala, Karl Zuercher, Jian Wang, Stefan Hinrichs
  • Patent number: 10941220
    Abstract: A high pressure polymerization process to form an ethylene-based polymer, the process comprising at least the following step: polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising ethylene and at least one comonomer, using a reactor system comprising a reactor configuration, and the following: (A) at least two reaction zones, a zone (reaction zone 1) and an ith zone (reaction zone i where i?2), (B) at least two ethylene-based feed streams, each comprising a percentage of the total make-up ethylene fed to the polymerization process, and wherein a first stream is sent to reaction zone 1 and a second stream is sent to reaction zone i; (C) a control system to control the percentage of the total make-up ethylene in the stream sent to reaction zone 1, and the percentage of the total make-up ethylene in the stream sent to reaction zone i, and wherein the ratio (Q) of the molar concentration of the at least one comonomer fed to the first reaction zone, to the molar concentration of comonomer in the sum of all ethylene-based fee
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Stefan Hinrichs, Hayley A. Brown, Bharat I. Chaudhary, John O. Osby, Teresa P. Karjala
  • Patent number: 10815321
    Abstract: A process for producing an ethylene-based polymer comprises polymerizing, by the presence of at least one free-radical initiator and using a high pressure tubular polymerization process, a reaction mixture containing ethylene and at least one CTA system comprising one or more CTA components to produce the ethylene-based polymer. The free-radical initiator is dissolved in a solvent comprising a saturated hydrocarbon to form an initiator solution which is added to the polymerization using an initiator feed line to an initiator injection pump. At least 50 wt % of the solvent has i) a dry point of less than or equal to 160° C. and ii) an initial boiling point of greater than or equal to 100° C. The polymerization process has a ratio of inlet pressure to first peak temperature of less than or equal to 9 Bar/° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Cornelis F J Den Doelder, Stefan Hinrichs, Eva-Maria Kupsch, Otto J. Berbee, Rajesh P. Paradkar, Bernard A. Fehr, Carmelo Declet Perez
  • Patent number: 10730973
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers comprising the following properties: (A) a density less than 0.9190 g/cc; (B) a hexane extractable level that meets the following equation: hexane extractable level ?A+B [log(12)], where A=2.65 wt %, and B—0.25 wt %[log (dg/min)]; based on total weight of the ethylene-based polymer; (C) a G? (at G?=500 Pa, 1 70° C.) that meets the following equation: G??C+D [log(12)], where C=150 Pa, and D=?60 Pa/[log(dg/min)]; and (D) a melt index (12) from 0.7 to 20 dg/min; are made in high pressure tubular process that comprises at least three reaction zones with the peak polymerization temperature of the first reaction zone ?320° C. and the peak polymerization temperature of the last reaction zone ?290° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Cornelis F. J. Den Doelder, Stefan Hinrichs, Teresa P. Karjala, John O. Osby
  • Patent number: 10730977
    Abstract: A process to form an ethylene-based polymer comprises polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising ethylene, at least one symmetrical polyene and at least one chain transfer agent system comprising at least one chain transfer agent (CTA) in the presence of at least one free-radical initiator and in a reactor configuration comprising at least two reaction zones, reaction zone 1 and reaction zone i (i?2), wherein reaction zone i is downstream from reaction zone 1. The ratio of “the activity of the CTA system of the feed to the first reaction zone” to the “activity of the CTA system of the cumulative feed to the reaction zone i,” (Z1/Zi), is less than or equal to (0.8?0.2*log(Cs)), wherein Cs is from 0.0001 to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Stefan Hinrichs, Sean W. Ewart, John O. Osby
  • Publication number: 20200231712
    Abstract: A high pressure, free radical polymerization process to form an ethylene-based polymer, the process comprising at least the following step: polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising ethylene, using a polymerization system comprising the following: (A) a reactor configuration comprising at least one reactor that comprises at least two reaction zones, a first reaction zone (reaction zone 1) and an ith reaction zone (where i?2); wherein the ith reaction zone is the last reaction zone, and wherein i is the total number of reaction zones; (B) at least two ethylene-based feed streams, a first ethylene-based feed stream and an nth ethylene-based feed stream, wherein the first ethylene-based feed stream is sent to the first reaction zone, and the nth ethylene-based feed stream is the last ethylene based feed stream sent to the reactor configuration; wherein n?i; and RZn/RZ1 does not equal 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Stefan Hinrichs, Bharat I. Chaudhary, Teresa P. Karjala, John O. Osby, Jose Ortega
  • Patent number: 10501561
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymer, LDPE, is made in a high pressure polymerization process to comprising at least the step of polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising ethylene, using a reactor configuration comprising (A) at least two reaction zones, a first reaction zone (reaction zone 1) and an i reaction zone (reaction zone i where i>2), (B) at least two ethylene feed streams, each feed stream comprising a percentage of the total make-up ethylene fed to the polymerization process, in which a first ethylene feed stream is sent to reaction zone 1 and a second ethylene feed stream is sent to reaction zone i, and (C) a control system to control the percentage of the total make-up ethylene in the ethylene feed stream sent to reaction zone 1 and the percentage of the total make-up ethylene in the ethylene feed stream sent to reaction zone i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Cornelis J F Hosman, Sergio E. Goncalves, Stefan Hinrichs
  • Patent number: 10494460
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers comprising the following properties: (A) a density from 0.9190 g/cc to 0.9240 g/cc; (B) a hexane extractable level that is less than or equal to the lower of: (1) (A+(B*density (g/cc))+(C*log(MI) dg/min)) based on total weight of the ethylene-based polymer; where A=250.5 wt %, B=?270 wt %/(g/cc), C=0.25 wt %/[log(dg/min)], or (2) 2.0 wt %; (C) a G? (at G?=500 Pa, 170° C.) that meets the following equation: G??D+E[log (12)], where D=150 Pa and E=?60 Pa/[log(dg/min)]; and (D) a melt index (12) from 1.0 to 20 dg/min; are made in process comprising the step of contacting in a reaction configuration, comprising a first tubular reaction zone 1 and a last tubular reaction zone i, in which i is greater than or equal to (?) 3, under high pressure polymerization conditions, and in which the first reaction zone 1 has a peak polymerization temperature greater than the peak temperature of the ith reaction zone, and wherein the difference in these two peak temperatures is ?30° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Cornelis F. J. Den Doelder, Stefan Hinrichs, Teresa P. Karjala, John O. Osby
  • Patent number: 10465024
    Abstract: A process to form an ethylene-based polymer comprises polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising ethylene, at least one monomeric chain transfer agent, and at least one chain transfer agent system comprising at least one chain transfer agent (CTA) in the presence of at least one free-radical initiator and in a reactor configuration comprising at least two reaction zones, reaction zone 1 and reaction zone i (i?2), wherein the reaction zone i is downstream from reaction zone 1. The ratio of “the activity of the CTA system of the feed to the first reaction zone” to the “activity of the CTA system of the cumulative feed to the reaction zone i,” (Z1/Zi), is less than or equal to (0.8?0.2*log(Cs)), wherein Cs is from 0.0001 to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Stefan Hinrichs, Sean W. Ewart, John O. Osby
  • Patent number: 10435489
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymer is made by a process comprising polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising ethylene and at least one chain transfer agent system; wherein the polymerization takes place in the presence of at least one free-radical initiator; and wherein the polymerization takes place in a reactor configuration comprising at least one tubular reactor with at least three reaction zones; and wherein at least two reaction zones receive an ethylene feed; and wherein the degree of polymerization in the first reaction zone is less than, or equal to, (5/LCBf)*3150; and wherein the ethylene-based polymer formed by the process comprises the following properties: (A) LCBf?(4.7+0.5*log(I2)); and (B) I2 from 0.2 to 25 dg/min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto Berbee, Stefan Hinrichs, Nhi Dang, Juergen Siebdrat, Cornelis F. J. Den Doelder
  • Patent number: 10358512
    Abstract: The invention provides an ethylene homopolymer formed from a free-radical, high pressure polymerization process in a tubular reactor system, said homopolymer comprising the following properties: (A) a density from 0.9190 to 0.9250 g/cc; (B) a hexane extractable level that is less than, or equal to, 2.6 wt %, based on the total weight of the polymer; (C) a G (at G?=500 Pa, 170C) that meets the following equation: G>D+E[log(12)], where D=150 Pa and E=?60 Pa/[log(dg/min)]; and (D) a melt index (12) from 1.0 to 20 dg/min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Hinrichs, Cornelis F. J. Den Doelder, Nhi T. Y. Dang, Otto J. Berbee
  • Publication number: 20190194361
    Abstract: A high pressure polymerization process to form an ethylene-based polymer, the process comprising at least the following step: polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising ethylene and at least one comonomer, using a reactor system comprising a reactor configuration, and the following: (A) at least two reaction zones, a zone (reaction zone 1) and an ith zone (reaction zone i where i?2), (B) at least two ethylene-based feed streams, each comprising a percentage of the total make-up ethylene fed to the polymerization process, and wherein a first stream is sent to reaction zone 1 and a second stream is sent to reaction zone i; (C) a control system to control the percentage of the total make-up ethylene in the stream sent to reaction zone 1, and the percentage of the total make-up ethylene in the stream sent to reaction zone i, and wherein the ratio (Q) of the molar concentration of the at least one comonomer fed to the first reaction zone, to the molar concentration of comonomer in the sum of all ethylene-based fee
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Stefan Hinrichs, Hayley A. Brown, Bharat I. Chaudhary, John O. Osby, Teresa P. Karjala
  • Patent number: 10301403
    Abstract: The invention provides an ethylene-based polymer comprising the following properties: a) a melt index (I2)?2.0 dg/min; b) a Mw(abs) versus I2 relationship: Mw(abs)<A+B(I2), where A=2.40×105 g/mole, and B=?8.00×103 (g/mole)/(dg/min); and c) a G? versus I2 relationship: G??C+D(I2), where C=127.5 Pa, and D=?1.25 Pa/(dg/min). The invention also provides an ethylene-based polymer comprising the following properties: a) a melt index (I2)?2.0 dg/min; b) a G? versus I2 relationship: G??C+D(I2), where C=127.5 Pa, and D=?1.25 Pa/(dg/min) c) a chloroform extractable (Clext) versus G? relationship: Clext.?E+FG?, where E=0.20 wt %, and F=0.060 wt %/Pa; and d) a “weight fraction (w) of molecular weight greater than 106 g/mole, based on the total weight of polymer, and as determined by GPC(abs),” that meets the following relationship: w<I+J(I2), where I=0.080, and J=?4.00×10?3 min/dg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Cornelis F. J. Den Doelder, Stefan Hinrichs, Teresa P. Karjala
  • Publication number: 20190135956
    Abstract: A process for producing an ethylene-based polymer comprises polymerizing, by the presence of at least one free-radical initiator and using a high pressure tubular polymerization process, a reaction mixture containing ethylene and at least one CTA system comprising one or more CTA components to produce the ethylene-based polymer. The free-radical initiator is dissolved in a solvent comprising a saturated hydrocarbon to form an initiator solution which is added to the polymerization using an initiator feed line to an initiator injection pump. At least 50 wt % of the solvent has i) a dry point of less than or equal to 160° C. and ii) an initial boiling point of greater than or equal to 100° C. The polymerization process has a ratio of inlet pressure to first peak temperature of less than or equal to 9 Bar/° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Cornelis FJ DEN DOELDER, Stefan HINRICHS, Eva-Maria KUPSCH, Otto J. BERBEE, Rajesh P. PARADKAR, Bernard A. FEHR, Carmelo Declet PEREZ
  • Publication number: 20190002606
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers comprising the following properties: (A) a density less than 0.9190 g/cc; (B) a hexane extractable level that meets the following equation: hexane extractable level ?A+B [log(12)], where A=2.65 wt %. and B—0.25 wt %[log (dg/min)]; based on total weight of the ethylene-based polymer; (C) a G? (at G?=500 Pa, 1 70° C.) that meets the following equation: G??C+D [log(12)], where C=150 Pa, and D=?60 Pa/[log(dg/min)]; and (D) a melt index (12) from 0.7 to 20 dg/min; are made in high pressure tubular process that comprises at least three reaction zones with the peak polymerization temperature of the first reaction zone ?320° C. and the peak polymerization temperature of the last reaction zone ?290° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Cornelis F.J. Den Doelder, Stefan Hinrichs, Teresa P. Karjala, John O. Osby
  • Publication number: 20180319910
    Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising a first ethylene-based polymer, formed by a high pressure, free-radical polymerization process, and comprising the following properties: a) a Mw(abs) versus I2 relationship: Mw(abs)<A×[(I2)B], where A=5.00×102 (g/mole)/(dg/min)B, and B=?0.40; and b) a MS versus I2 relationship: MS?C×[(I2)D], where C=13.5 cN/(dg/min)D, and D=?0.55.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Cornelis F. J. Den Doelder, Teresa P. Karjala, Karl Zuercher, Jian Wang, Stefan Hinrichs
  • Publication number: 20180265611
    Abstract: Ethylene-based polymer is made by a process comprising polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising ethylene and at least one chain transfer agent system; wherein the polymerization takes place in the presence of at least one free-radical initiator; and wherein the polymerization takes place in a reactor configuration comprising at least one tubular reactor with at least three reaction zones; and wherein at least two reaction zones receive an ethylene feed; and wherein the degree of polymerization in the first reaction zone is less than, or equal to, (5/LCBf)*3150; and wherein the ethylene-based polymer formed by the process comprises the following properties: (A) LCBf?(4.7+0.5*log(I2)); and (B) I2 from 0.2 to 25 dg/min.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Otto Berbee, Stefan Hinrichs, Nhi Dang, Juergen Siebdrat, Cornelis F.J. Den Doelder
  • Patent number: 10017589
    Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising a first ethylene-based polymer, formed by a high pressure, free-radical polymerization process, and comprising the following properties: a) a Mw(abs) versus I2 relationship: Mw(abs)<A×[(I2)B], where A=5.00×102 (g/mole)/(dg/min)B, and B=?0.40; and b) a MS versus I2 relationship: MS?C×[(I2)D], where C=13.5 cN/(dg/min)D, and D=?0.55.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Cornelis F. J. Den Doelder, Teresa P. Karjala, Karl Zuercher, Jian Wang, Stefan Hinrichs
  • Patent number: 10005863
    Abstract: A process to form an ethylene-based polymer including polymerizing ethylene and at least one asymmetrical polyene comprising an “alpha, beta unsaturated-carbonyl end” (“?,? unsaturated-carbonyl end”) and a “C—C double bond end,” wherein the polymerization takes place in the presence of at least one free-radical initiator; and wherein the polymerization takes place in a reactor configuration comprising at least two reaction zones, reaction zone 1 and reaction zone i (i?2), wherein reaction zone i is downstream from reaction zone 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Otto J. Berbee, Stefan Hinrichs, Christopher R. Eddy, Sarat Munjal, John O. Osby, Sean W. Ewart