Patents by Inventor Yuta Taoka

Yuta Taoka 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: 20230340172
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vinyl alcohol polymer having properties comparable to the properties of vinyl alcohol polymers of solely petroleum origin, and, in using the vinyl alcohol polymer (PVA), saves petroleum resources, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions in production processes. The present invention relates to a vinyl alcohol polymer (X) obtained through saponification after polymerization of a plant-derived vinyl ester monomer (A) and a petroleum-derived vinyl ester monomer (B), and having a mole ratio (A)/(B) of 5/95 to 100/0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Kato, Yuta Taoka, Yoriko Imaoka, Ayumu Yamamoto, Yasuhiro Tajima
  • Publication number: 20230142880
    Abstract: A coating agent for paper comprises: an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, wherein the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer has a content of ethylene units of 1 mol % or more and less than 20 mol % and a block character of the ethylene units from 0.90 to 0.99. Coated paper is obtained by coating paper with such a coating agent. The coating agent of the present invention is excellent in viscosity stability and also causes the resulting coated paper to be excellent in barrier properties and water resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuta Taoka
  • Publication number: 20230118744
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous dispersion that enables production of a film having improved water resistance, tensile elastic modulus, and stress at break, and with which a decrease of strain at break can be reduced in the film. The present invention relates to an aqueous dispersion comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) and a cellulose nanofiber, the ethylene unit content of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) being 1 mol % or more and less than 20 mol %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taeko Kaharu, Yoriko Imaoka, Yuta Taoka, Ayumu Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20220259467
    Abstract: A water-based adhesive for a paper straw, comprising: an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A); and water, wherein the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) has a content of ethylene units of 1 mol % or more and less than 20 mol % and a block character of the ethylene units from 0.90 to 0.99. The water-based adhesive contains the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) having a specific structure, and is thus excellent in balance between the rapid coatability, the film strength, the initial adhesiveness, the dynamic water resistance, and the acid resistance, and particularly excellent in the rapid coatability, the film strength, and the acid resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta TAOKA, Yoriko IMAOKA, Tatsuya TANIDA, Masato NAKAMAE
  • Publication number: 20210009842
    Abstract: The present invention provides a coating agent having a reduced methanol content, an adhesive including the coating agent and excellent in coating performance and adhesiveness, and a coated product including the coating agent and excellent in water resistance and alcohol resistance. The present invention relates to a coating agent comprising a modified vinyl alcohol polymer (A), the modified vinyl alcohol polymer (A) comprising a structural unit derived from a derivative (a) of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid in a content (X) of 0.05 mol % or more and 10 mol % or less, having a degree of saponification of 80.0 mol % or more and 99.9 mol % or less, having a methanol content of less than 3.0 mass % as measured by headspace gas chromatography, and having an amount of 0.1 ppm or more and less than 2,000 ppm of a component insoluble in a 90° C., 5 mass % aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke MORIKAWA, Tatsuya TANIDA, Yuta TAOKA
  • Patent number: 10858457
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a highly-hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol composition having increased cold-water solubility, a process for making such a polyvinyl alcohol composition, and various end uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ghebrehiwet Ghebremeskel, Masaki Kato, Yuta Taoka
  • Publication number: 20190055326
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a highly-hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol composition having increased cold-water solubility, a process for making such a polyvinyl alcohol composition, and various end uses thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Kuraray America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ghebrehiwet GHEBREMESKEL, Masaki KATO, Yuta TAOKA
  • Patent number: 9309431
    Abstract: Provided is a vinyl alcohol polymer that provides a coating film having superior water resistance and binder performances, and has sufficient solubility in water and viscosity stability even in a neutral pH region. Further provided are an aqueous solution, a coating agent, an ink jet recording material, a thermal recording material and a base paper for a release paper that comprise the vinyl alcohol polymer, and a method for producing same, and the like. The vinyl alcohol polymer includes a monomer unit represented by the following formula (1), with the following inequality (I) being satisfied. Preferably, the following inequalities (II) and (III) are further satisfied according to the PVA: wherein, P represents the viscosity average degree of polymerization; and S represents the content (mol %) of the monomer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Taoka, Shinsuke Nii, Masato Nakamae
  • Patent number: 9303146
    Abstract: An alkyl-modified PVA solution is provided which has low viscosity at high temperatures leading to superior handleability, accompanied by rapidly increased viscosity upon lowering of the temperature, even in the case in which the concentration of the alkyl-modified PVA in a solution is increased. An alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer solution containing an alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer, a surfactant and water. The alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer has a monomer unit that includes an alkyl group having 5 to 29 carbon atoms. The percentage content of the monomer unit is no less than 0.05 mol % and no greater than 5 mol %. The degree of saponification of the alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer is no less than 20 mol % and no greater than 99.99 mol %. The surfactant is a compound represented by the following formula (I) having hydrophilic groups X1 and X2, and an alkyleneoxy group having 3 to 5 carbon atoms (—R1—O—).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Taoka, Shinsuke Nii, Masato Nakamae
  • Patent number: 9243161
    Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising: a vinyl alcohol polymer (A) comprising a monomer unit having a group represented by a formula (1); and a compound (B) comprising a silicon atom, a titanium atom, a zirconium atom or a combination thereof, at a content of 0.01 parts by mass or greater and 900 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl alcohol polymer (A), wherein an inequality (I) is satisfied: 370?P×S?6,000??(I) wherein, P represents a viscosity average degree of polymerization; and S represents a percentage content (mol %) of the monomer unit. Also provided are a coating agent containing the composition, and a coated article, a thermal recording material, an ink jet recording material and a base paper for a release paper that are produced using the coating agent, and a method for producing a coated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Taoka, Shinsuke Nii, Masato Nakamae
  • Patent number: 9156928
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a novel alkyl-modified PVA capable of exerting superior thickening properties while maintaining high water solubility, and also capable of having high water resistance in a state being hardened without using an especial crosslinking agent. In addition, another object is to provide a composition, a thickener, a coating material for papers, a coated paper, an adhesive and a film containing the alkyl-modified PVA. Provided is an alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer containing (a) a monomer unit represented by the following general formula (I): wherein, R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 8 to 29 carbon atoms; and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and has a viscosity average degree of polymerization of no less than 200 and no greater than 5,000, a degree of saponification of no less than 20 mol % and no greater than 99.99 mol %, and a content of the monomer unit (a) of no less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Nii, Masato Nakamae, Yuta Taoka, Yasutomo Saito
  • Publication number: 20140243462
    Abstract: An alkyl-modified PVA solution is provided which has low viscosity at high temperatures leading to superior handleability, accompanied by rapidly increased viscosity upon lowering of the temperature, even in the case in which the concentration of the alkyl-modified PVA in a solution is increased. An alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer solution containing an alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer, a surfactant and water. The alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer has a monomer unit that includes an alkyl group having 5 to 29 carbon atoms. The percentage content of the monomer unit is no less than 0.05 mol % and no greater than 5 mol %. The degree of saponification of the alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer is no less than 20 mol % and no greater than 99.99 mol %. The surfactant is a compound represented by the following formula (I) having hydrophilic groups X1 and X2, and an alkyleneoxy group having 3 to 5 carbon atoms (—R1—O—).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Taoka, Shinsuke Nii, Masato Nakamae
  • Publication number: 20140235778
    Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising: a vinyl alcohol polymer (A) comprising a monomer unit having a group represented by a formula (1); and a compound (B) comprising a silicon atom, a titanium atom, a zirconium atom or a combination thereof, at a content of 0.01 parts by mass or greater and 900 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the vinyl alcohol polymer (A), wherein an inequality (I) is satisfied: 370?P×S?6,000??(I) wherein, P represents a viscosity average degree of polymerization; and S represents a percentage content (mol %) of the monomer unit. Also provided are a coating agent containing the composition, and a coated article, a thermal recording material, an ink jet recording material and a base paper for a release paper that are produced using the coating agent, and a method for producing a coated article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yuta Taoka, Shinsuke Nii, Masato Nakamae
  • Publication number: 20140121099
    Abstract: Provided is a vinyl alcohol polymer that provides a coating film having superior water resistance and binder performances, and has sufficient solubility in water and viscosity stability even in a neutral pH region. Further provided are an aqueous solution, a coating agent, an ink jet recording material, a thermal recording material and a base paper for a release paper that comprise the vinyl alcohol polymer, and a method for producing same, and the like. The vinyl alcohol polymer includes a monomer unit represented by the following formula (1), with the following inequality (I) being satisfied. Preferably, the following inequalities (II) and (III) are further satisfied according to the PVA: wherein, P represents the viscosity average degree of polymerization; and S represents the content (mol %) of the monomer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Taoka, Shinsuke Nii, Masato Nakamae
  • Publication number: 20140005326
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a modified PVA solution that enables physical properties such as viscosity to be adjusted even when a concentration of the modified PVA having high hydrophobicity is increased, and to provide a method for producing the modified PVA solution. The modified vinyl alcohol polymer solution of the present invention comprises: a modified vinyl alcohol polymer; an organic solvent; and water, the modified vinyl alcohol polymer: comprising a monomer unit having an alkyl group having a carbon number of 2 or greater and 29 or less;, and having a percentage content of the monomer unit being no less than 0.05 mol % and no greater than 5 mol %, and a degree of saponification of the modified vinyl alcohol polymer being no less than 20 mol % and no greater than 99.99 mol %, and in terms of Hansen solubility parameters of the organic solvent, ?d being no less than 13 MPa0.5 and no greater than 18 MPa0.5, ?p being no less than 4 MPa0.5 and no greater than 9 MPa0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Nii, Masato Nakamae, Yuta Taoka
  • Patent number: 8524831
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polyvinyl alcohol polymer having excellent water solubility, compared to conventional polyvinyl alcohol polymers, and having a high cloud point even when the polyvinyl alcohol polymer is partially saponified. The present invention is a polyvinyl alcohol polymer having, at its end, a group represented by the general formula (I) and/or having, in its main chain, a group represented by the general formula (II). In the formulae, R denotes a hydrogen atom or an OM group, and M denotes a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom, a 1/2 alkaline earth metal atom, or an ammonium group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kato, Masato Nakamae, Yuta Taoka
  • Publication number: 20130209817
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a novel alkyl-modified PVA capable of exerting superior thickening properties while maintaining high water solubility, and also capable of having high water resistance in a state being hardened without using an especial crosslinking agent. In addition, another object is to provide a composition, a thickener, a coating material for papers, a coated paper, an adhesive and a film containing the alkyl-modified PVA. Provided is an alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer containing (a) a monomer unit represented by the following general formula (I): wherein, R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 8 to 29 carbon atoms; and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and has a viscosity average degree of polymerization of no less than 200 and no greater than 5,000, a degree of saponification of no less than 20 mol % and no greater than 99.99 mol %, and a content of the monomer unit (a) of no less than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Nii, Masato Nakamae, Yuta Taoka, Yasutomo Saito
  • Publication number: 20110313105
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polyvinyl alcohol polymer having excellent water solubility, compared to conventional polyvinyl alcohol polymers, and having a high cloud point even when the polyvinyl alcohol polymer is partially saponified. The present invention is a polyvinyl alcohol polymer having, at its end, a group represented by the general formula (I) and/or having, in its main chain, a group represented by the general formula (II). In the formulae, R denotes a hydrogen atom or an OM group, and M denotes a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom, a 1/2 alkaline earth metal atom, or an ammonium group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Kato, Masato Nakamae, Yuta Taoka