Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Knauf

Thomas F. Knauf 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: 5453473
    Abstract: A process for producing EP and EPDM polymers with a reduction in fouling is provided, which process comprises polyemrizing ethylene, an alpha-olefin and a nonconjugated diolefin (if utilized) in a polymerization medium comprising a hydrocarbon diluent at a temperature of from about -50.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (a) a vanadium compound, (b) diethyl aluminum chloride, ethyl aluminum sesquichloride or ethyl aluminum dichloride and (c) an organo aluminum compound of the formula R.sub.3 Al wherein R is an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and, optionally, triethyl aluminum, the molar ratio of chloride in diethyl aluminum chloride to the total aluminum content in (b) and (c) being from about 0.7:1 to about 0.95:1, the molar ratio of the chloride in ethyl aluminum sesquichloride to the total aluminum content in (b) and (c) being from about 0.7:1 to about 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Bayer Rubber Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Knauf, Akhtar Osman, Dilipkumar Padliya
  • Patent number: 5428119
    Abstract: A process for producing high cis-1,4-polybutadienes using a catalyst system based on a rare earth compound that exhibits improved catalytic activity is provided which process comprises polymerizing 1,3-butadiene in a polymerization medium comprising a hydrocarbon solvent at a temperature of from about 0.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst system which is a mixture of (1) a rare earth carboxylate selected from the group of neodymium carboxylates wherein the carboxylate has from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, (2) an alkyl aluminum chloride selected from the group of compounds represented by the formulae R.sup.2 AlCl.sub.2, R.sup.2.sub.3 Al.sub.2 Cl.sub.3 and R.sup.2.sub.2 AlCl wherein R.sup.2 is a hydrocarbon residue having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and (3) an organo aluminum compound of the formula R.sup.3.sub.2 AlH wherein R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Polysar Rubber Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Knauf, Akhtar Osman
  • Patent number: 5412045
    Abstract: There is provided a process for the preparation of a high cis-1,4-polybutadiene with a reduced microgel content wherein a novel catalyst system consisting of (1) a nickel salt of a carboxylic acid, (2) a mixture of triethyl aluminum and an organoaluminum compound having the formula R.sub.3 Al, said mixture having an average composition Et.sub.3-x R.sub.x Al wherein Et is an ethyl group, x is a numeral from 0.1 to 2.9 and R is an alkyl group having 8 to 12 carbon atoms, and (3) a boron trifluoride etherate is used to polymerize 1,3-butadiene in an inert hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Polysar Rubber Corporation
    Inventors: Akhtar Osman, Thomas F. Knauf
  • Patent number: 5397851
    Abstract: A process for producing high cis-1,4-polybutadienes wherein there is reduced gel formation is provided which process comprises: polymerizing 1,3-butadiene in a polymerization medium comprising an inert hydrocarbon solvent and water at a temperature of from about -30.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst system which is a mixture of (1) a substantially anhydrous divalent cobalt salt, (2) diethyl aluminum chloride or ethyl aluminum sesquichloride and (3) an organo aluminum compound of the formula R.sub.3 Al wherein R is an alkyl group having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and, optionally triethylaluminum, the molar ratio of chloride in the diethyl aluminum chloride plus (3) being from about 0.7:1 to about 1 and the molar ratio of chloride in the ethyl aluminum sesquichloride plus (3) being from about 0.7:1 to about 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Polysar Rubber Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Knauf, Akhtar Osman