Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Antkowiak

Thomas A. Antkowiak 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: 7671139
    Abstract: A functionalized polymer defined by the formula where ? is a polymer chain, R10 is a divalent organic group, and ? is a hydroxyl group, an alkoxyl group, or an amine group, where the amine group can be represented by the formula —NR2, where at least one R is a monovalent organic group and where the second R is hydrogen or a monovalent organic group, and where the alkoxyl group can be represented by the formula —OR?, where R? is a monovalent organic group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: James Oziomek, James Hall, Thomas Antkowiak
  • Patent number: 7405262
    Abstract: A process for preparing a functionalized polymerization initiator, the process comprising combining a functionalized styryl compound and an organolithium compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Antkowiak, Christine Rademacher, Anthony Ramic, David F. Lawson
  • Patent number: 7105613
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a baleable lithium carboxylate polymer. The process includes polymerizing at least one conjudated diene in the presence of an organolithium initiator to a substantial completion. Thereafter, the polymerization process is terminated by the addition of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Firestone Polymers, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel F. Graves, David J. Dougherty, Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Publication number: 20060036050
    Abstract: A process for preparing a functionalized polymerization initiator, the process comprising combining a functionalized styryl compound and an organolithium compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Antkowiak, Christine Rademacher, Anthony Ramic, David Lawson
  • Publication number: 20050131153
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a baleable lithium carboxylate polymer. The process includes polymerizing at least one conjudated diene in the presence of an organolithium initiator to a substantial completion. Thereafter, the polymerization process is terminated by the addition of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel Graves, David Dougherty, Thomas Antkowiak
  • Patent number: 6897270
    Abstract: A continuous process for producing conjugated diene polymers comprising the steps of contacting, within an hydrocarbon solvent and within a continuous reactor, conjugated diene monomer and a catalyst composition prepared by combining: (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a halogen-containing compound, and maintaining a non-ideal flow pattern within the continuous reactor so that 10% of the reagents entering the reactor at a reference time t0 are still present within the continuous reactor at a time t0+xtrt, where trt is the residence time corresponding to ideal flow within the continuous reactor and x is a numeral greater than 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Ozawa, David M. Roggeman, H. Jerrold Miller, Koji Masaki, Steven Luo, Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Patent number: 6881795
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a baleable lithium carboxylate polymer. The process includes polymerizing at least one conjudated diene in the presence of an organolithium initiator to a substantial completion. Thereafter, the polymerization process is terminated by the addition of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Firestone Polymers, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel F. Graves, David J. Dougherty, Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Publication number: 20040116638
    Abstract: A continuous process for producing conjugated diene polymers comprising the steps of contacting, within an hydrocarbon solvent and within a continuous reactor, conjugated diene monomer and a catalyst composition prepared by combining: (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a halogen-containing compound, and maintaining a non-ideal flow pattern within the continuous reactor so that 10% of the reagents entering the reactor at a reference time t0 are still present within the continuous reactor at a time t0+xtrt, where trt is the residence time corresponding to ideal flow within the continuous reactor and x is a numeral greater than 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Yoichi Ozawa, David M. Roggeman, H. Jerrold Miller, Koji Masaki, Steven Luo, Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Publication number: 20020183468
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a baleable lithium carboxylate polymer. The process includes polymerizing at least one conjudated diene in the presence of an organolithium initiator to a substantial completion. Thereafter, the polymerization process is terminated by the addition of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Daniel F. Graves, David J. Dougherty, Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Patent number: 6476143
    Abstract: A method of preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of initiating the formation and propagation of an anionically-polymerized living polymer, and terminating the propagation of the living polymer by reacting the polymer with a terminating agent selected from the group of agents defined by the formulas (III), (IV), and (V) where C is a carbon atom, S is a sulfur atom, X is a halogen atom, R2 and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen and carbon-based moieties, and where the phenyl groups are selected from unsubstituted and substituted phenyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Lawson, Mark L. Stayer, Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Patent number: 6451935
    Abstract: A process for preparing highly functionalized polymers comprising the steps of admixing anionically-polymerizable monomers and at least one anionic-polymerization initiator to form an admixture of living polymers, adding at least one lithium alkoxide stabilizer to the admixture of living polymers to form a stabilized admixture, and adding a functionalizing agent to the stabilized admixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Schreffler, Mark L. Stayer, Jr., Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Publication number: 20020128426
    Abstract: A process for preparing highly functionalized polymers comprising the steps of admixing anionically-polymerizable monomers and at least one anionic-polymerization initiator to form an admixture of living polymers, adding at least one lithium alkoxide stabilizer to the admixture of living polymers to form a stabilized admixture, and adding a functionalizing agent to the stabilized admixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: John R. Schreffler, Mark L. Stayer, Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Patent number: 6349753
    Abstract: A tire component comprising a plurality of elastomers, where at least one of said elastomers has a functional group defined by the formula where R1 is selected from the group consisting of a divalent alkylene group, an oxy-alkylene group, an amino alkylene group, and a substituted alkylene group, each group having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, and R2 is covalently bonded to the elastomer and is selected from the group consisting of a linear-alkylene group, a branched-alkylene group, and a cyclo-alkylene group, each group having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Lawson, Thomas A. Antkowiak, James E. Hall, Mark L. Stayer, Jr., John R. Schreffler
  • Publication number: 20020022701
    Abstract: A method of preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of initiating the formation and propagation of an anionically-polymerized living polymer, and terminating the propagation of the living polymer by reacting the polymer with a terminating agent selected from the group of agents defined by the formulas (III), (IV), and (V) 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: David F. Lawson, Mark L. Stayer, Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Patent number: 6274680
    Abstract: A method of preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of initiating the formation and propagation of an anionically-polymerized living polymer, and terminating the propagation of the living polymer by reacting the polymer with a terminating agent selected from the group of agents defined by the formulas (III), (IV), and (V) where C is a carbon atom, S is a sulfur atom, X is a halogen atom, R2 and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen and carbon-based moieties, and where the phenyl groups are selected from unsubstituted and substituted phenyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone Research, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Lawson, Mark L. Stayer, Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Patent number: 6080835
    Abstract: A functionialized polymer according to the invention includes a polymer molecule having the general formula AYLi where A is a cyclic amine-containing radical having the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a divalent alkylene, an oxy- or amino-alkylene, or substituted alkylene having from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is a linear-, branched-, or cyclo-alkylene having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms; and Y is a divalent polymer radical and Li is a lithium atom bonded to a carbon atom of Y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Lawson, Thomas A. Antkowiak, James E. Hall, Mark L. Stayer, Jr., John R. Schreffler
  • Patent number: 6025450
    Abstract: A functionalized polymer includes a polymer chain carrying at least one functional group selected from alkyl, dialkyl and cycloalkyl amine radicals having the general formula ##STR1## and cyclic amine radicals having the general formula ##STR2## where R.sub.1 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aralkyl having from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 is an alkylene, substituted alkylene, oxy- or N-alkylamino-alkylene group having from about 3 to about 16 methylene groups. The invention also provides products based upon such polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Lawson, Mark L. Stayer, Jr., David Saffles, Koichi Morita, Yoichi Ozawa, Ryota Fujio, Thomas A. Antkowiak
  • Patent number: 5955553
    Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the regulation of the molecular weight of high cis polybutadiene prepared by polymerizing butadiene under solution polymerization conditions employing as the catalyst system a mixture of (a) organoaluminum compounds; (b) organonickel compounds; and (c) fluorine containing compounds; said polymerization being conducted in the presence of alkali or alkaline earth metal salts of organic carboxylic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: James Oziomek, Thomas A. Antkowiak, Tristram W. Bethea
  • Patent number: 5932662
    Abstract: A functionalized polymer according to the invention includes a polymer molecule having the general formula AYLi where A is a cyclic amine-containing radical having the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a divalent alkylene, an oxy- or amino-alkylene, or substituted alkylene having from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is a linear-, branched-, or cyclo-alkylene having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms; and Y is a divalent polymer radical and Li is a lithium atom bonded to a carbon atom of Y.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Lawson, Thomas A. Antkowiak, James E. Hall, Mark L. Stayer, Jr., John R. Schreffler
  • Patent number: 5792820
    Abstract: An organolithium compound according to the present invention containing a cyclic amino group, has the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a divalent alkylene, an oxy- or amino-alkylene, or substituted alkylene having from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is a linear-, branched-, or cyclo-alkylene having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms; and the lithium, Li, is bonded directly to a carbon atom of R.sub.2. A method of preparing an organolithium compound containing a cyclic amino group, comprising reacting a cyclic amino organo halide having the general formula ##STR2## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are as above, and X is bromine or chlorine bonded directly to a carbon atom of R.sub.2, with a lithium reactant selected from lithium metal or an organolithium compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Lawson, Thomas A. Antkowiak, James E. Hall, Mark L. Stayer, Jr., John R. Schreffler