Patents by Inventor William R. Van Volkenburgh

William R. Van Volkenburgh 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: 6939919
    Abstract: The present invention includes a blend composition comprising at least one coupled propylene polymer and at least 55 weight percent of at least one ethylene polymer, based on the total weight of the coupled propylene polymer and the ethylene polymer. The invention also includes methods for making the coupled propylene polymer and methods for making the blend composition. The present invention further includes films made from the blend composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Li-Min Tau, William R. Van Volkenburgh, Wendy D. Hoenig, Pak-Wing S. Chum
  • Publication number: 20020165330
    Abstract: This invention relates to a polyolefin copolymer composition produced with a catalyst having a metallocene complex in a single reactor in a process for the polymerization of an &agr;olefin monomer with one or more olefin comonomers, and a molecular weight maximum which occurs in that 50 percent by weight of the composition which has the highest weight percent comonomer content. Preferably, the composition has a comonomer partitioning factor C pf which is equal to or greater than 1.10 or molecular weight partitioning factor M pf which is equal to or greater than 1.15. Preferred composition also have at least 0.01 long chain branches per 1000 carbon atoms along the polymer backbone. These compositions with reverse molecular engineering have superior properties and are easily processable due to the simultaneous presence of the association of high molecular weight with high comonomer content and of long chain branching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: LARRY D. CADY, CHRISTOPHER J. FRYE, PHILIP HOWARD, TERESA P. KARJALA, PETER J. MADDOX, IAN M. MUNRO, DEEPAK R. PARIKH, S. ROY PARTINGTON, KEVIN P. PEIL, LEE SPENCER, WILLIAM R. VAN VOLKENBURGH, PETER S. WILLIAMS, DAVID R. WILSON, J. MARK WINTER
  • Patent number: 6462161
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polyolefin copolymer composition produced with a catalyst having a metallocene, complex in a single reactor for the polymer of an &agr;-olefin monomer with one or more olefin comonomers, and a molecule weight maximum which occurs in that 50 percent by weight of the composition which has the highest weight percent comonomer content. Preferably, the composition has a comonomer partitioning fact Cpf which is equal to or greater than 1.10 or molecule weight partitioning fact Mpf which is equal to or greater than 1.15. Preferred composition also have at least 0.01 long chain branches per 1000 carbon atoms along the polymer backbone. These compositions with reverse molecular engineering have. superior properties and are easily processable due to the simultaneous presence of the association of high molecular weight with high comonomer content and of long chain branching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Larry D. Cady, Christopher J. Frye, Philip Howard, Teresa P. Karjala, Peter J. Maddox, Ian M. Munro, Deepak R. Parikh, S. Roy Partington, Kevin P. Peil, Lee Spencer, William R. Van Volkenburgh, Peter S. Williams, David R. Wilson, J. Mark Winter
  • Publication number: 20020136916
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to elastic films having at least one layer comprising a substantially random interpolymer or a blend thereof. The interpolymer comprises polymer units derived from at least C2-20 &agr;-olefin and (i) at least one vinyl aromatic monomer, or (ii) at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, or (iii) a combination of at least one aromatic vinyl monomer and at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer. The interpolymer may also comprise one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers other than those previously mentioned. The elastic films have a recovery in the cross direction of greater than or equal to about 80% and has a recovery in the machine direction of greater than or equal to about 60%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Yunwa W. Cheung, Martin J. Guest, William R. Van Volkenburgh
  • Patent number: 6417276
    Abstract: Thermoformable films that contain a blend and/or composite structure containing an ethylene/vinyl or vinylidene aromatic polymer or an alpha-olefin/vinyl or vinylidene aromatic polymer, such as an ethylene/styrene interpolymer, a vinyl or vinylidene aromatic homo- or copolymer, such as polystyrene, and, optionally, an alpha-olefin homo- or copolymer serve as effective carrier layers for heat transfer foils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Ellen M. Dubensky, William R. Van Volkenburgh, Michael D. Read, Robert L. McGee, Susan E. Dollinger
  • Patent number: 6376095
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to elastic films having at least one layer comprising a substantially random interpolymer or a blend thereof. The interpolymer comprises polymer units derived from at least C2-20 &agr;-olefin and (i) at least one vinyl aromatic monomer, or (ii) at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, or (iii) a combination of at least one aromatic vinyl monomer and at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer. The interpolymer may also comprise one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers other than those previously mentioned. The elastic films have a recovery in the cross direction of greater than or equal to about 80% and has a recovery in the machine direction of greater than or equal to about 60%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Yunwa W. Cheung, Martin J. Guest, William R. Van Volkenburgh
  • Publication number: 20020019486
    Abstract: Thermoformable films that contain a blend and/or composite structure containing an ethylene/vinyl or vinylidene aromatic polymer or an alpha-olefin/vinyl or vinylidene aromatic polymer, such as an ethylene/styrene interpolymer, a vinyl or vinylidene aromatic homo- or copolymer, such as polystyrene, and, optionally, an alpha-olefin homo- or copolymer serve as effective carrier layers for heat transfer foils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Ellen M. Dubensky, William R. Van Volkenburgh, Michael D. Read, Robert L. McGee, Susan E. Dollinger
  • Publication number: 20020006482
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a multilayer blown film structure having a blended polypropylene layer and at least one polyethylene sealant layer. In particular, the invention relates to a multilayer blown film comprising a non-sealant layer made from a propylene-rich polypropylene polymer blended with at least one ethylene-rich ethylene interpolymer and a sealant layer made from at least one ethylene interpolymer, wherein the ethylene-rich ethylene interpolymer comprises ethylene interpolymerized with at least one other comonomer other than propylene. The novel multilayer film structure exhibits excellent interlayer adhesion (especially at the blended non-sealant/sealant interface when adjacent to one another) and toughness (e.g. excellent trouser tear) with acceptable optical properties and surprising sealing properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Daniel J. Falla, Tomas A. Fernandez, Jose V. Saavedra, Li-Min Tau, William R. Van Volkenburgh
  • Patent number: 6262161
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions having enhanced ignition resistance, comprising: (A) from about 5 to about 90 percent by weight of at least one substantially random interpolymer; (B) from about 10 to about 94.9 percent by weight of at least one filler selected from ammonium polyphosphate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, and aluminum trihydrate; and (C) at least one component selected from; (1) about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of at least one filler; or (2) about 0.5 to about 20 percent by weight of at least one metal borate, and, optionally, about 0.5 to about 10 percent by weight of at least one processing aid; or (3) about 0.1 to about 15 percent by weight of at least one initiator or at least one coupling agent; or (4) about 0.1 to about 20 percent by weight of at least one hindered amine stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Stephen R. Betso, Martin J. Guest, Richard M. Remenar, Jerker B. I. Kjellqvist, Yunwa W. Cheung, David C. Kelley, William R. Van Volkenburgh, Ronald Wevers, Fiona E. Keen, Arnold W. Field, Ian Reynolds
  • Patent number: 5210142
    Abstract: Polymer blends of at least one ethylene interpolymer product and at least one linear polyethylene are disclosed. The blends have a shear rate at the point of onset of melt fracture at least about 2 percent higher than that obtained for the linear polyethylene alone. The polymer blends are particularly useful for forming films and tapes wherein the melt fracture of the polymer blend is substantially reduced or eliminated, thereby improving extrudability and fabricated article appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Kale, Lionel H. Dagenais, Shih-Yaw Lai, William R. Van Volkenburgh, John O. Bieser