Adding Expanding Agent Subsequent To Solid Polymer Formation Patents (Class 521/60)
  • Patent number: 6797733
    Abstract: A process of producing expandable styrene resin particles, wherein in suspension polymerization of styrene monomers, the concentration of oxygen in a reaction vessel is kept low at least in a late stage of the polymerization, and the resulting styrene resin particles are impregnated with an expanding agent before or after completion of the polymerization. Preferably, at a polymerization rate of 60% or higher, the concentration of oxygen in the reaction vessel is kept at 7 vol % or lower. When additional styrene monomers are added during the polymerization, they are added and adsorbed to styrene resin particles in the course of polymerization while the concentration of oxygen is kept low. By this method, the particles whose internal portion has a low molecular weight and surface portion has a high molecular weight are obtained. A foamed article produced from the particles has high strength and a good appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kunimi, Tetsuya Katou, Makoto Saitou, Hiroshi Nakaguki, Toshio Akima
  • Patent number: 6787580
    Abstract: Prepare a multimodal thermoplastic polymer foam having a distribution of large and small cells in a substantial absence of water by using a blowing agent stabilizer. Multimodal foams of the present invention have blowing agent stabilizer predominantly located proximate to large cells. The resulting multimodal foams have particular utility as thermal insulating materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Yohannes Chonde, Daniel Imeokparia, John B. Horstman, Robert A. Kirchhoff, Kyung W. Suh
  • Patent number: 6770681
    Abstract: The application relates to a foamable copolymer resin and a process for preparing the same, which comprises firstly adding an organic peroxide initiator, a modifying aid and a foaming agent to a mixed monomers of methyl methacrylate and styrene so as to constitute a homogenous mixture; at the same tine charging a deionized water into a polymerization reactor and adding a dispersant hydroxy ethyl cellulose or hydroxylpropyl cellulose ether with stirring to produce a homogenous mixture, then sealing the reactor and introducing N2 gas to purge the reactor before the above homogenous monomer mixture is added; after the completion of the reaction the residue is washed with water and dewatered and dried, obtaining foamable pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hangzhou Yuhang Yatai Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suoyun Tang, Guohua Lu, Xiaohong Han, Jingwu Hong
  • Patent number: 6767931
    Abstract: A foamable polymer composition is described which comprises: a1) a substantially random interpolymer produced from: i) one or more &agr;-olefin monomers; and ii) one or more vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomers and/or one or more sterically hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphiatic vinyl or vinylidene monomers; and optionally iii) other polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s); or a2) an interpolymer comprising polymerized units of ethylene and vinyl acetate; or a3) a combination of the polymers a1) and a2); and b) a polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity of at least one million centistoke at 25° C.; and c) a foaming agent. The polydiorganosiloxane is useful for improving the abrasion resistance of foams comprising the substantially random interpolymer a1) and/or the ethylene/vinyl acetate interpolymer a2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Felipe Martinez, Antonio Batistini, Jerker B. L. Kjellqvist, Ronald Wevers
  • Patent number: 6759445
    Abstract: The present invention relates to form materials comprising polymeric material wherein the structure of the polymeric material contains elastic amorphous areas of nano-scale-size reinforced with self arranged crystalline domains of nano-crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Valery Alexandrovich Dyatlov, Bernhard Hanke, Bernhard Rieger, Judith Preuschen
  • Patent number: 6743846
    Abstract: A non-halogenated, fire retardant, expandable poly (arylene ether)/polystyrene blends is produced by the method comprising, in a first step, forming a fire retardant mixture comprising a non-halogenated fire retardant, poly(arylene ether) resin and polystyrene resin by intimately mixing in melt; and in a second step, forming the non-halogenated, fire retardant, expandable poly (arylene ether)/polystyrene blend by intimately mixing in melt the fire retardant mixture with a blowing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adrie Landa, Jan Keulen
  • Patent number: 6727291
    Abstract: A process prepares expandable propylene polymer beads by mixing propylene polymer melt with a volatile organic blowing agent and with a nucleating agent in an extruder, whereupon the extrusion and pelletization of the extruded takes place in a water bath under conditions of temperature and pressure at which practically no foaming of the pellets takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Maletzko, Klaus Hahn, Isidor de Grave, Gerd Ehrmann, Franz-Josef Dietzen
  • Patent number: 6710130
    Abstract: A propylene polymer composition of high melt tension, which is especially favorable for foam moldings of uniform thickness, and foam moldings thereof having a uniform thickness, are obtained by melt-kneading a polymer mixture of a specific ethylene polymer (A) and a specific olefin multi-stage polymer (B) to satisfy the following formula: Log(MS)>0.91−0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignees: Chisso Corporation, Chisso Petrochemical Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamauchi, Yoshitaka Kobayashi, Tadamitu Hamasaki, Shunji Kawazoe, Jun Shinozaki, Hiroyuki Maehara
  • Patent number: 6689465
    Abstract: Disclosed is substantially spherical porous beads of an aromatic polyether ketone resin, which have an average particle diameter of 50 to 5,000 &mgr;m and a porosity of 40 to 99%. Also disclosed is a method for producing porous beads, which comprises: mixing, while heating, an aromatic polyether ketone resin with a sol vent capable of dissolving the resin to thereby obtain a resin solution; dispersing the resin solution in a liquid dispersion medium which is incapable of dissolving the resin and is non-miscible with the solvent, to thereby obtain a dispersion having the resin solution dispersed therein in the form of globules; cooling the dispersion while maintaining the dispersed form of the resin solution in the liquid dispersion medium, to thereby solidify the resin in the resin solution; and separating the solidified resin from a mixture of the solvent and the liquid dispersion medium, thereby obtaining substantially spherical porous beads of the aromatic polyether ketone resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Omori, Yohsuke Koizumi
  • Patent number: 6686400
    Abstract: Foamed and expanded beads including a polyester-based resin containing at least 35 mole % of an aliphatic ester component. The foamed beads have a gel fraction of at least 5 % by weight and comprises at least one gel accelerating agent selected from fatty acids having 12-25 carbon atoms, metal salts of the fatty acids, esters of the fatty acids and amides of the fatty acids in an amount of 0.15-3 % by weight. A foam molding is obtained by heating the foamed and expanded beads in a mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoo Tokiwa, Mitsuru Shinohara, Hidehiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6677040
    Abstract: The invention relates to expanded polypropylene beads having a density of from 5 to 200 g/l and a bead diameter of from 1 to 10 mm which comprise from 0.002 to 20% by weight of graphite particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Braun, Guiscard Glück, Klaus Hahn, Isidoor De Grave, Hermann Tatzel
  • Patent number: 6673451
    Abstract: A process for forming certain aqueous polymeric dispersions including a first emulsion polymer having an average particle diameter of 150 to 3000 nanometers and a second emulsion polymer having an average particle diameter of 40 to 600 nanometers where at least the first emulsion polymer particles, when dry, contain at least one void is provided. Also provided are the aqueous polymeric dispersions made by the process and paper or paperboard coatings and paints including the aqueous polymeric dispersions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Rohn and Haas Company
    Inventors: James Keith Bardman, William Christopher Finch, Robert Mitchell Blankenship
  • Patent number: 6641752
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of compositions which include fluoroethane, 2-fluoropropane or tert-butylfluoride. These compositions are useful as pure components or with at least one of tetrafluoroethane, difluoroethane, hexafluoropropane, a hydrocarbon or dimethylether. These compositions are useful as aerosol propellants, refrigerants, cleaning agents, expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethanes, refrigerants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, power cycle working fluids, polymerization media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents, and displacement drying agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Vinci Martinez Felix, Barbara Haviland Minor, Allen Capron Sievert
  • Patent number: 6638984
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to thermo-expandable microspheres and to the expanded microballoons, microcellular foam or foamed composite material that results upon heating the microspheres. The thermo-expandable microsphere of the present invention is characterized by having a polymeric wall surrounding one or more pockets or particles of blowing agent or propellant within the microsphere. The polymeric wall may have reactive functional groups on its surface to give a fusible microsphere. When the microspheres are heated, they expand to form microballoons comprising polymeric shells surrounding one or more internal gaseous voids, and when the microspheres are expanded while in contact with each other, a microcellular foam may be formed. The foam consists of a plurality of microballoons fused together, optionally aided by functional groups present on the surface of the heated microspheres that act to crosslink the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Nano-Tex, LLC
    Inventors: David S. Soane, Michael R. Houston
  • Patent number: 6617364
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to thermo-expandable microspheres and to the expanded microballoons, microcellular foam or foamed composite material that results upon heating the microspheres. The thermo-expandable microsphere of the present invention is characterized by having a polymeric wall surrounding one or more pockets or particles of blowing agent or propellant within the microsphere. The polymeric wall may have reactive functional groups on its surface to give a fusible microsphere. When the microspheres are heated, they expand to form microballoons comprising polymeric shells surrounding one or more internal gaseous voids, and when the microspheres are expanded while in contact with each other, a microcellular foam may be formed. The foam consists of a plurality of microballoons fused together, optionally aided by functional groups present on the surface of the heated microspheres that act to crosslink the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nano-Tex, LLC
    Inventors: David S. Soane, Michael R. Houston
  • Patent number: 6613810
    Abstract: Foamable microspheres with a foaming agent enclosed in the shell of a polymer, wherein the average particle diameter of the microspheres is within a range of 3 to 100 &mgr;m, and the coefficient of variation of the particle diameter distribution thereof is at most 1.50%, and production process of foamable microspheres by a suspension polymerization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kureha Kagaku K.K.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Ejiri, Genzo Asai, Yoshikatsu Satake
  • Patent number: 6610798
    Abstract: Non-Newtonian fluids, such as partially polymerized monomers or solutions of polymer in monomer may be pressure atomized below the free surface of a continuous liquid phase to produce a dispersed phase. A uniform or customized droplet size distribution can be obtained by imposing a required pressure pulsation on a flowing monomer upstream the atomizer inlet. This initial particle size distribution can be maintained or modified during subsequent polymerization process in a low shear, controlled turbulence flow pattern, created without mechanical agitation within the continuous liquid, by continuously or periodically injecting an inert gas at selected locations within the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Nova Chemical Inc.
    Inventors: Karel Cornelis Bleijenberg, Grazyna Petela
  • Patent number: 6608150
    Abstract: Enhanced conversion rates are realized in a suspension polymerization process for styrene through the use of peroxide initiators having one hour half life temperatures from 101° to 111° C. are disclosed. Also disclosed are suitable initiator combinations which provide polymeric products with low residual monomer content at reduced process temperatures, polymerizable compositions containing such initiators and products produced by such processes and compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome Wicher
  • Patent number: 6602928
    Abstract: A packing material for solid phase extraction, which is a particle having an exclusion limit molecular weight of 1×103 to 1.5×104 in gel permeation chromatography using a standard polystyrene as the sample. A column for solid phase extraction and a cartridge for solid phase extraction, a method of using the packing material; and a process for treating a sample using the column or cartridge are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Showa Denko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuji Takahashi, Kuniko Igarashi, Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6599951
    Abstract: Disclosed are organo polysilica dielectric materials having low dielectric constants useful in electronic component manufacture are disclosed along with methods of preparing the porous organo polysilica dielectric materials. Also disclosed are methods of forming electronic devices containing such porous organo polysilica dielectric materials without the use of antireflective coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Anthony Zampini, Michael K. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 6596782
    Abstract: A water-containing polyolefin resin composition containing a polyolefin resin and a hydrophilic polymer and having a water content of 1 to 50% by weight which is suitable for use in preparation of polyolefin resin pre-expanded particles, and pre-expanded particles of a polyolefin resin prepared by pre-expanding the water-containing polyolefin resin composition the particles having a an apparent expansion ratio of 5 to 60, a closed cell ratio of 80 to 100% and an average cell diameter of 50 to 500 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Mogami, Tsuyoshi Mihayashi, Kyoichi Nakamura, Naruhiko Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 6593383
    Abstract: To provide a process for preparing polyolefin resin pre-expanded particles which enables to prepare pre-expanded particles having lower fluctuation in expansion ratios. Polyolefin resin pre-expanded particles are prepared by a process comprising steps of dispersing polyolefin resin particles into an aqueous dispersion medium in an autoclave; heating the resin particles to temperature of at least the softening point of the polyolefin resin and pressuring the same; releasing said resin particles from the autoclave through a release port into an atmosphere of lower pressure than the inner pressure of the autoclave; thereby pre-expanding the resin particles, wherein at the releasing step, the resulting pre-expanded particles are contacted with gas of at least 60° C. and collided with a collision board or a container wall disposed at a distance of 5 mm<D, D representing the distance from the release port to the collision board or the container wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Yanagihara, Masahide Ebisui, Naruhiko Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 6583188
    Abstract: This invention describes grafted blend compositions, processes for their preparation and fabricated articles, especially foams therefrom. The blends exhibit enhanced melt strength, melt elongation greater than or equal to about 20 mm/s, increased upper service temperature, increased modulus, and increased hardness. The grafted blend compositions have little or no high shear viscosity increase over a corresponding polymer of the same chemical composition absent the coupling agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bharat I. Chaudhary, Thoi H. Ho, Thomas Oswald, Jennifer DellaMea
  • Patent number: 6583205
    Abstract: A non-halogenated, fire retardant, expandable poly (arylene ether)/polystyrene blends is produced by the method comprising, in a first step, forming a fire retardant mixture comprising a non-halogenated fire retardant, poly(arylene ether) resin and polystyrene resin by intimately mixing in melt; and in a second step, forming the non-halogenated, fire retardant, expandable poly (arylene ether)/polystyrene blend by intimately mixing in melt the fire retardant mixture with a blowing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adrie Landa, Jan Keulen
  • Patent number: 6583187
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus combinations and methods for producing a coating powder are provided wherein a stream of a powder coating precursor including at least one resin and at least one additional powder coating ingredient is contacted with a process fluid effective to reduce the viscosity of the powder coating precursor to allow processing of the powder coating precursor at a lower temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventors: Andrew T. Daly, Owen H. Decker, Karl R. Wursthorn, Frank R. Houda, Leo T. Grundowski, Carl W. Ernst
  • Patent number: 6576693
    Abstract: The present invention aims at preparing polypropylene resin pre-expanded particles capable of providing an inmolded expanded article which prevents pollution of a mold by polypropylene powder at molding, packed products from being damaged by friction due to vibration at transport, and powder generation at the same time. Polypropylene resin pre-expanded particles comprising a resin composition containing a fatty acid amide compound is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignees: Kaneka Corporation, Kaneka Texas Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ogita, Takema Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6573306
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of expandable polyvinylarene particles in which compact polyvinylarene particles are impregnated by an inorganic N2- and/or O2-containing gas at a temperature below 95° C. and at a pressure of 100 to 2,000 kPa gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Nova Chemical (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Florentine Jozef Berghmans, Karel Cornelis Bleijenberg, Alphonsus Catharina Gerardus Metsaars
  • Patent number: 6562879
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water-absorbent resin powder and its production process and use, wherein the water-absorbent resin powder has high liquid permeability and high water absorbency. The production process for a water-absorbent resin powder, according to the present invention, comprises the step of obtaining water-absorbent crosslinked polymer particles by an aqueous solution polymerization step, and grinding the resultant crosslinked polymer particles until the bulk density thereof increases to not lower than 0.72 (g/ml). The water-absorbent resin powder is characterized by being arbitrarily pulverized and having a bulk density of not lower than 0.74 (g/ml) and a water absorption capacity of not lower than 20 (g/g) for 0.9 weight % physiological saline under a load of 0.7 psi (4.83 kPa). In addition, the absorbent structure comprises the above water-absorbent resin powder and a fibrous material. The absorbent article comprises an absorbent layer including the above absorbent structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Hatsuda, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Koji Miyake, Yoshio Irie, Kunihiko Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 6538042
    Abstract: Porous polyvinylarene particles having a apparent density do of 600 to 200 kg/m3, which particles contain a nucleating agent and 2.0% by weight or less, based on the amount of polyvinylarene, of a volatile organic blowing agent. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of these particles as well as to the use of these particles in the preparation of expanded particles and foamed articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Florentine Jozef Berghmans, Kurt Ernest Irma Du Mong, Karel Cornelis Bleijenberg, Guy Lode Magda Maria Verbist
  • Patent number: 6509384
    Abstract: The invention relates to thermally expandable microspheres comprising a thermoplastic polymer shell and a propellant entrapped therein, wherein said polymer shell is made of a homo- or co-polymer from ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising more than 85 wt % of nitrile containing monomers and said propellant comprises at least 50 wt % of isooctane. The invention further relates to preparation and use of expandable microspheres, a composition comprising expandable microspheres and articles comprising foamed material containing expanded microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Anna Kron, Peter Sjögren, Odd Bjerke
  • Patent number: 6506807
    Abstract: A process for preparing pre-expanded particles of a thermoplastic resin without washing the prepared pre-expanded particles to remove a dispersing agent remaining thereon and without discharging waste water, which comprises charging particles of a thermoplastic resin and an aqueous dispersion medium containing a dispersing agent into a closed pressure vessel, heating the resulting aqueous dispersion to a temperature of not less than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin, thereby impregnating the particles with water to have a water content of 1 to 50% by weight, releasing the dispersion into a lower pressure atmosphere, thereby expanding the particles, recovering the dispersion medium containing the dispersing agent, and recycling it as a dispersion medium to the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Yanagihara, Kenji Mogami, Naruhiko Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 6502621
    Abstract: Copolymers are formed by suspension polymerization of monomers, including one or more styrenic monomers, and methyl methacrylate. The polymerization can be carried out in the presence of one or more blowing agents, producing polymers that can be expanded. The methods are useful, for example, in forming expandable polymeric particles. The expandable polymer particles are useful in processes such as forming patterns for lost foam molding techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: StyroChem Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Sonnenberg, Vesselin Danailov Miladinov
  • Patent number: 6497269
    Abstract: Copolymers are formed by suspension polymerization of monomers, including one or more styrenic monomers, and one or more acrylic monomers. The monomers can be polymerized in the presence of polymeric seeds. The polymerization can be carried out in the presence of one or more blowing agents, producing polymers that can be expanded. The methods are useful, for example, in forming expandable polymeric particles. The expandable polymer particles are useful in processes such as forming patterns for lost foam molding techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: StyroChem Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Sonnenberg, Richard Anton Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6476088
    Abstract: Polyolefin foam bead having a high-density crust and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The novel polyolefin foam bead having an surface layer (crust) which is higher in density than its inner structure can be manufactured by the method comprised of impregnating a polyolefin resin with a forming agent by stirring the mixture of the polyolefin resin particles, water and the foaming agent in a pressure vessel under heat, followed by diffusing out the foaming agent from the surface layer of the resin particle to decrease the concentration of the foaming agent in the surface layer. Thereafter, the polyolefin resin is foamed by discharging the resin particles to low pressure environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Howtech Corporation Ltd.
    Inventors: Moon Jo Chung, Nak Joong Kim
  • Patent number: 6476089
    Abstract: The invention relates to expandable olefin bead polymers which comprise a blowing agent with a boiling point of from −5 to 150° C., selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkanols, ketones, ethers and esters. The particles are unfoamed and have a bulk density above 500 g/l, and can be foamed to a bulk density below 200 g/l after storage for one hour at room temperature in free contact with the atmosphere. They are prepared by impregnating polyolefin pellets in suspension in a pressure vessel with the blowing agent, cooling the batch below 100° C., reducing the pressure and isolating the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Maletzko, Klaus Hahn, Isidor de Grave, Gerd Ehrmann, Franz-Josef Dietzen
  • Publication number: 20020151609
    Abstract: This invention describes grafted blend compositions, processes for their preparation and fabricated articles, especially foams therefrom. The blends exhibit enhanced melt strength, melt elongation greater than or equal to about 20 mm/s, increased upper service temperature, increased modulus, and increased hardness. The grafted blend compositions have little or no high shear viscosity increase over a corresponding polymer of the same chemical composition absent the coupling agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Bharat I. Chaudhary, Thoi H. Ho, Thomas Oswald, Jennifer DellaMea
  • Patent number: 6458858
    Abstract: In a process for preparing expanded or expandable polymer beads based on biodegradable saturated polyesters made from at least one diol and from at least one dicarboxylic acid, A. polymer pellets are dispersed in a liquid, B. a volatile blowing agent is injected into the dispersion and made to impregnate the pellets at an elevated temperature, C. the pressure on the dispersion is reduced at an elevated temperature, whereupon the pellets comprising blowing agent expand to give foam, and, respectively, D. the pellets are isolated from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Braun, Guiscard Glück, Klaus Hahn, Uwe Witt, Isidoor de Grave
  • Patent number: 6448300
    Abstract: The invention relates to expandable olefin bead polymers which comprise a blowing agent with a boiling point of from −5 to 150° C., selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkanols, ketones, ethers and esters. The particles are unfoamed and have a bulk density above 500 g/l, and can be foamed to a bulk density below 200 g/l after storage for one hour at room temperature in free contact with the atmosphere. They are prepared by impregnating polyolefin pellets in suspension in a pressure vessel with the blowing agent, cooling the batch below 100° C., reducing the pressure and isolating the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Maletzko, Klaus Hahn, Isidor de Grave, Gerd Ehrmann, Franz-Josef Dietzen
  • Patent number: 6444714
    Abstract: A process for preparing expandable particulate styrene polymers wherein from 5 to 50% by weight of expanded graphite and also, if desired, from 2 to 20% by weight of a phosphorus compound, are present as flame retardants, by suspension polymerization of styrene in the presence of the flame retardants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellshaft
    Inventors: Guiscard Glück, Franz-Josef Dietzen, Klaus Hahn, Gerd Ehrmann
  • Publication number: 20020119323
    Abstract: The compressible polyurethane layer having outer and inner surfaces on or for rotation-symmetrical bodies consists of polyurethane and contains expanded and/or non-expanded, but expandable thermoplastic hollow spheres.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Johann Weinert
  • Patent number: 6420519
    Abstract: A method for modifying the surface properties of tissue in vivo is described. The method comprises forming a liquid crystalline matrix on the tissue surface by contacting the surface with a composition comprising a poly(hydroxy substituted amino acid). Compositions comprising a poly(hydroxy substituted amino acid) and synovial fluid are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Julia Hwang, Samuel I. Stupp
  • Patent number: 6416739
    Abstract: Microcapsules having a wall thickness of no more than 500 nm, and a bulk density of no more than 0.2 g.cm−3, are suitable for therapeutic or diagnostic use. They are aerodynamically light, and can be used for delivery to the lung, or diagnosis by ultrasound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Quadrant Healthcare (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Cheryl Vanessa Rogerson, Nicholas David Osborne
  • Patent number: 6414042
    Abstract: A process for finishing a hydrogenated diene polymer by producing porous pellets from a water slurry of the hydrogenated block copolymer. The process comprises adjusting the water content of the slurry to from 9 to 16 percent by weight, moving the slurry through a mechanical two-stage extruder dryer, drying the slurry at a temperature of 100 to 180° C., and recovering porous copolymer pellets having a moisture content of 0.2 to 3.0 percent by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Kraton Polymers US LLC
    Inventors: Eleanor Meyer De Groot, Bing Yang
  • Patent number: 6414041
    Abstract: The invention relates to expandable polystyrene beads which comprise graphite particles with an average particle size of more than 50 &mgr;m, and also to a process for their preparation by free-radical polymerization of styrene in aqueous suspension. The graphite particles, suspended in styrene, are added to the polymerization mixture at a conversion of from 10 to 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Guiscard Glück
  • Patent number: 6403662
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing polyolefin foam beads by a continuous process is disclosed by which the polyolefin foam beads can be produced with increased efficiency and productivity. The method comprises a step of impregnating foaming agent into polyolefin resin by mixing polyolefin resin particles, water and the foaming agent in a impregnation chamber under heat and pressure, followed by a step of storing the polyolefin resin containing the foaming agent in a storing chamber under heat and pressure. Thereafter, the resin particles are subjected to a foaming step by continuously or intermittently discharging the resin particles from the storing chamber to a low pressure expansion chamber by utilizing a discharging device, in the same time period when a next batch of polyolefin resin is added and mixed in the impregnation chamber after being supplied with the resin particles from a resin supply chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Howtech Corporation Ltd.
    Inventors: Moon Jo Chung, Nak Joong Kim
  • Patent number: 6403661
    Abstract: A volume reducing agent for processing expanded polystyrene (EPS), containing 65-97 wt % of a first plasticizer having a solubility parameter less than the solubility parameter of the polystyrene; and 3-35 wt % of a second plasticizer having a solubility parameter higher than the solubility parameter of the polystyrene. The volume reducing agent is in a liquid state, has a Ferdor solubility parameter close to that of the polystyrene to be processed in the mixed state and transfers the resulting materials having reduced volume into gel-type products to be floated and easily separated to yield a high quality output of recycled expanded polystyrene (FPS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Victech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Usui, Jae-Hong Kim, Dong-Hoon Choi, Yoshiharu Kimura, Kenya Motoyoshi
  • Patent number: 6399665
    Abstract: Pre-expansion of expandable polystyrene (EPS) and other expandable polymer beads has long been carried out with heat of condensation from steam, which permeates the beads and deposits water droplets within expanding cells of each bead. Because long conditioning periods (to dry the pre-expanded beads) allow much of the blowing agent (e.g. pentane) to escape, the resultant pre-expanded beads often lack sufficient pentane to permit adequate final expansion when the pre-expanded beads are used to mold coffee cups and other articles. When conditioning periods are too short, excess water droplets often cause variations in bead fusing and even leaks in the molded product. The present invention avoids these long-standing problems by using a heated gas, such as air, to pre-expand the raw EPS beads through conduction only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventors: Algis P. August, Casey P. August
  • Publication number: 20020065331
    Abstract: Disclosed are organo polysilica dielectric materials having low dielectric constants useful in electronic component manufacture are disclosed along with methods of preparing the porous organo polysilica dielectric materials. Also disclosed are methods of forming electronic devices containing such porous organo polysilica dielectric materials without the use of antireflective coatings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Anthony Zampini, Michael K. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 6395791
    Abstract: This invention describes grafted blend compositions, processes for their preparation and fabricated articles, especially foams therefrom. The blends exhibit enhanced melt strength, melt elongation greater than or equal to about 20 mm/s, increased upper service temperature, increased modulus, and increased hardness. The grafted blend compositions have little or no high shear viscosity increase over a corresponding polymer of the same chemical composition absent the coupling agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bharat I. Chaudhary, Thoi H. Ho, Thomas Oswald, Jennifer DellaMea
  • Patent number: RE37780
    Abstract: A method of producing a substantially open-cell, expanded polystyrene sheet, comprising the steps of: forming a mixture comprising from 30 to 95% of polystyrene incorporating an aliphatic hydrocarbon with 4-6 carbon atoms, from 0 to 65% of polystyrene, and from 0.2 to 10% of a nucleating agent, mixing the mixture obtained and melting it by heating inside an extruder, bringing the mixture to a temperature of 130-150° C. in the final portion of the extruder, extruding the mixture in a lower-pressure atmosphere to produce an expanded sheet, which has a low density and a high capacity to absorb aqueous liquids, particularly if a surfactant is added to the starting mixture, and which, when coupled with two films of plastics material gives rise to a laminate suitable for the production, by thermoforming, of trays of foods which may release aqueous liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sirap-Gema S.p.A.
    Inventors: Federico Lanzani, Renato Mauri