From Propylene Only Patents (Class 526/351)
  • Patent number: 7230056
    Abstract: A two-step catalyst preparation method is disclosed. First, a support is combined with an indenoindolyl Group 3-10 metal complex and a first activator comprising an alkyl alumoxane to give a supported complex. The supported complex is subsequently combined with a second activator comprising an ionic borate to produce a borate-treated supported complex. Activating indenoindolyl metal complexes in this sequence surprisingly provides an exceptional activity boost compared with other ways of activating them with either or both types of activators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventor: Shaotian Wang
  • Patent number: 7230128
    Abstract: Fluorenyl-containing metallocenes are disclosed along with methods for making the metallocenes. Also disclosed are methods for using the metallocenes as polymerization catalysts. In addition, polymers resulting from such polymerizations are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Phillips Potroleum Company
    Inventors: Helmut G. Alt, Syriac J. Palackal, Konstantinos Patsidis, M. Bruce Welch, Rolf L. Geerts, Eric T. Hsieh, Max P. McDaniel, Gil R. Hawley, Paul D. Smith
  • Patent number: 7217772
    Abstract: A process for producing propylene homopolymers comprises producing a homopolymer in a reactor train having a first stage and a second stage, wherein the first stage is normally used for homopolymer production and the second stage is normally used only in the production of copolymer blends, and is left idle during homopolymer production. According to the invention, during the production of propylene homopolymer, the polymerization is carried out sequentially in both the first stage and second stage reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Sunoco, Inc. (R&M)
    Inventors: Rubén A. Migone, Sehyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7211537
    Abstract: A modified aluminum oxy compound (A) obtained by reacting an aluminum oxy compound (a), water (b) and a compound having a hydroxyl group (c); a polymerization catalyst component comprising the modified aluminum oxy compound; a polymerization catalyst obtained by contacting said modified aluminum oxy compound (A), a transition metal compound (B) and optionally an organoaluminum compound (C) and a specified boron compound; and a process for producing an olefin polymer or an alkenyl aromatic hydrocarbon polymer with the polymerization catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited
    Inventors: Masayuki Fujita, Tatsuya Miyatake, Yoshinori Seki, Nobuo Oi
  • Patent number: 7205427
    Abstract: A cross-coupling synthesis of 2-alkyl-4-(2,6-dialkylphenyl)indenes is described. A 2-alkylidene is treated with a dialkylboronic acid in the presence of a catalyst. A feature of the invention is the use of a cross-coupling catalyst comprising palladium dichloride (1,5-cyclooctadiene) as a cross-coupling catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Boulder Scientific Company
    Inventor: Hamlin H. Barnes
  • Patent number: 7205371
    Abstract: Polymer blend compositions of a first polymer component comprising an ethylene propylene copolymer and a second polymer component comprising an isotactic polypropylene copolymer. The first polymer component has a uniform distribution of both tacticity and comonomer between copolymer chains. Further, the first polymer component will exhibit a statistically insignificant intramolecular difference of tacticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C. Cozewith, Sudhin Datta, Weiguo Hu
  • Patent number: 7201970
    Abstract: An insulated wire for an automobile coated with an insulating material which is a fire retardant polypropylene-based resin composition, wherein the fire retardant polypropylene-based resin composition comprises a polypropylene-based resin and an inorganic fire retardant at a ratio of from 80 to 20% by weight and from 20 to 80% by weight, respectively, wherein the ratio ?(=?/?a) of the elongation percentage at a yield point ? of the fire retardant polypropylene-based resin in the resin composition to the elongation percentage at a tensile yield point ?a of the polypropylene-based resin alone satisfies the following equation (1): ?=1??W??(1) wherein ? represents a number of 0.6 or less; and W is the weight fraction of the inorganic fire retardant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Kanamori, Norio Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7202191
    Abstract: It has been discovered that using n-butylmethyldimethoxysilane (BMDS) as an external electron donor for Ziegler-Natta catalysts can provide a catalyst system that may prepare polypropylene films with improved properties. The catalyst systems of the invention provide for controlled chain defects/defect distribution and thus a regulated microtacticity. Consequently, the curve of storage modulus (G?) v. temperature is shifted such that the film achieves the same storage modulus at a lower temperature enabling faster throughput of polypropylene film through a high-speed tenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Paul Blackmon, David J. Rauscher, Michael R. Wallace
  • Patent number: 7199202
    Abstract: A propylenic polymer according to the present invention or a composition thereof have an excellent melt flowability and contains a less amount of stickiness-causing components, and also has a low modulus and is pliable, and is capable of providing a transparent molded article, thus being useful as a substitute for a pliable vinyl chloride resin. In addition, a molded article made therefrom exhibits an excellent heat seal performance at a low temperature, and is excellent in terms of transparency and rigidity. Specifically, it has an isotactic pentad fraction (mmmm), which indicates a stereoregulariry, of 30 to 80%, a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 3.5 or less and an intrinsic viscosity [?] of 0.8 to 5 dl/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Minami, Masato Kijima, Takuji Okamoto, Yasushi Seta, Yasuhiro Mogi, Tsuyoshi Ota, Hideo Funabashi, Takashi Kashiwamura, Noriyuki Tani, Masami Kanamaru, Koji Kakigami
  • Patent number: 7199203
    Abstract: Fibers comprising a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene and at least one of ethylene and one or more unsaturated comonomers exhibit desirable properties. The homopolymers are characterized as having 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity. The copolymers are characterized as (A) comprising at least about 60 weight percent (wt %) of units derived from propylene, and (B) having at least one of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about ?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Stevens, Daniel D. Vanderlende, Samuel Ethiopia
  • Patent number: 7196140
    Abstract: The invention relates to highly flowable propylene block copolymers that comprise 50 to 80 wt.-% of a propylene homopolymer and 10 to 70 wt.-% of a propylene copolymer having 5 to 50 wt.-% of a C2–C8 alk-1-ene polymerized into it that is different from propylene, and that are obtainable from the gaseous phase by a two-step polymerization by means of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system. In a first polymerization step, the propylene is polymerized at a pressure of 10 to 50 bar, a temperature of 50 to 100° C. and an average dwelling time of the reaction mixture of 0.3 to 5 hours in the presence of at least 2.0% by volume, based on the total volume, of hydrogen. The propylene homopolymer obtained in said first polymerization step is transferred together with the Ziegler-Natta catalyst system into an intermediate container, expanded for 0.01 to 5 minutes to less than 5 bar and maintained at a temperature of 10 to 80° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ulrich Dahn, Wolfgang Bidell, Hans-Jürgen Zimmermann, Roland Hingmann, Joachim Rösch, Günther Schweier, Jürgen Oelze
  • Patent number: 7193025
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with single layer articles produced by rotomoulding and consisting essentially of metallocene-produced syndiotactic polypropylene or isotactic random copolymer of propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventors: Eric Maziers, Valérie Smits
  • Patent number: 7183332
    Abstract: A process for preparing porous olefin polymers comprising bringing into contact in a polymerization reactor, at a temperature T1, one or more olefins of the formula (I) CH2?CHR1, R1 being hydrogen, a C1–C20-alkyl or a C6–C12-aryl group, with a catalyst obtained by reacting a solid catalyst component in the form of spheroidal particles comprising a compound of Ti or V not containing metal-? bonds and a Mg halide, optionally containing one or more electron donor compounds, with an aluminum-alkyl (Al-alkyl) compound, then raising the temperature up to the polymerization temperature, said process being characterized in that: a) if the temperature T1 is lower than 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Angelo Ferraro, Giovanni Baruzzi, Constantine A. Stewart, Ofelia Fusco
  • Patent number: 7183364
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a polyolefin composition comprising contacting a metallocene pre-catalyst with a substoichiometric amount of a co-catalyst; adding a first olefin monomer; and polymerizing the first monomer for a time sufficient to form the polyolefin. The method allows for the use of a minimum amount of activating co-catalyst, and allows for the production of stereoregular and non-stereoregular polyolefins. The use of configurationally stable metallocene pre-catalysts allows for the production of monomodal isotactic polyolefins having narrow polydispersity. The use of configurationally unstable metallocene pre-catalysts allows for the production of monomodal atactic polyolefins having narrow polydispersity. The method of the present invention optionally further comprises contacting the polyolefin with a second amount of said co-catalyst; adding a second olefin monomer; polymerizing said second olefin monomer to form a block-polyolefin composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Sita
  • Patent number: 7173099
    Abstract: The propylene polymer of the present invention satisfies (1) a 25° C. hexane soluble content (H25) of 0–80 wt %; and (2) either no melting temperature (Tm) measurable by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), or a melting temperature (Tm) satisfying, if measurable by DSC, the following relationship: ?H?3×(Tm?120) wherein ?H is a melting endotherm (J/g). The propylene homopolymer of the present invention satisfies (1) a meso pentad fraction (mmmm) of 30–60 mol %; (2) a racemic pentad fraction (rrrr) satisfying the following relationship: [rrrr/(1?mmmm)]?0.1; (3) a fraction (W25) eluted at a temperatures up to 25° C. by temperature-programmed chromatography, of from 20–100 wt %; and, (4) a pentad fraction (rmrm) of more than 2.5 mol %. The propylene copolymer of the present invention satisfies (1) a stereoregularity index (P) of 55–90 mol % as determined by 13C-NMR measurement; and (2) a fraction (W25) eluted at a temperatures up to 25° C. by temperature-programmed chromatography, of from 20–100 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Minami
  • Patent number: 7169871
    Abstract: The present invention relates to propylene polymers made by using catalyst components for the polymerization of olefins comprising Mg, Ti, halogen and at least two electron donor compounds, said catalyst component being characterized by the fact that at least one of the electron donor compounds, present in an amount from 20 to 50% by mol with respect to the total amount of donors, is selected from esters of succinic acids which are not extractable, under the conditions described below, for more than 25% by mol and at least another electron donor compound which is extractable, under the same conditions, for more than 35%. The said catalyst component are capable to give polymers with high xylene insolubility, high stereoblock content and broad MWD suitable for making the polymers usable in the BOPP sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.
    Inventors: Giampiero Morini, Giulio Balbontin
  • Patent number: 7169855
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for producing a transparent polypropylene sheet, which comprises a sheet formation means (11) for melt-kneading a resin composition comprising (A) 60 to 97 mass % of a polypropylene resin having an iostactic pentad proportion of 0.85 to 0.99 and a melt index of 2 to 10 g/10 min and (B) 40 to 3 mass % of a polypropylene resin having a racemic pentad proportion [rrrr/(1-mmmm)] of 0.15 to 0.50 and a melt index of 2 to 10 g/10 min and extruding it into s sheet, a first cooling means (12) for cooling a sheet (20) into a solid, a preheating means (13) for re-heating the cooled sheet (20), a heat treatment means (14) for heat-treating the sheet (20) into a sheet (21) and a second cooling means (15) for cooling the sheet (21) after heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Idemitsu Unitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Yamaguchi, Masahiro Kubo, Katsumi Uchiyama, Akira Funaki
  • Patent number: 7163905
    Abstract: It has been discovered that using di-sec-butyldialkoxysilanes, such as di-sec-butyldimethoxysilane (DSBDMS), as external electron donors for Ziegler-Natta catalysts can provide a catalyst system that may prepare polypropylene films with improved properties and processing. The catalyst systems of the invention provide high activity, high bulk density, moderate hydrogen response, moderate donor response and high polydispersity (MWD). Suitable di-sec-butyldialkoxysilanes have the formula (sBu)2Si(OR?)2, where R? is independently a straight or branched alkyl group of 1–5 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thorman
  • Patent number: 7141635
    Abstract: A catalyst composition for the polymerization of olefins and process for the use thereof, comprising the combination of one or more Ziegler-Natta catalysts, comprising one or more transition metal compounds, one or more aluminum containing cocatalyts, and a mixture of different selectivity control agents, including in said mixture of selectivity control agents at least one normally dominating selectivity control agent and one normally dominated selectivity control agent, characterized in that the individual selectivity control agents are present in the mixture in relative amounts to each other and relative to the one or more transition metal compounds, such that the effect of the selectivity control agents on the resulting polymer properties is not determined solely or substantially solely by the normally dominating selectivity control agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Tech
    Inventors: Linfeng Chen, Thomas L. Nemzek
  • Patent number: 7141630
    Abstract: A polymerization process is provided. For example, a polymerization process is described, including contacting olefin monomers with a supported metallocene catalyst to polymerize the olefin monomers and form a product mixture that includes polyolefins macromers or polymers, unreacted or partially reacted olefin monomers, alcohols and organohalides. The polymerization process further includes removing a portion of the product mixture to form a recycle stream and passing the recycle stream through a removal device comprising zeolite particles having pore size of from 6 to 16 ? to transfer at least a portion of the alcohols and organohalides from the recycle stream to the removal device providing a purified recycle stream having alcohols and organohalides in an amount of 1 ppm or less. The polymerization process may further include contacting at least a portion of the purified recycle stream with the supported metallocene catalyst to form polyolefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James Charles Vizzini, Ted Alexander Powell, Shiaw Tzuu Ju
  • Patent number: 7138474
    Abstract: Articles of manufacture and a method of making the articles are provided. The articles of manufacture comprise CpFlu metallocene catalyzed polypropylene homopolymers and C2–C3 random copolymers having narrow molecular weight distributions and low xylene solubles (or extractables) contents. Because of a number of desirable properties, the polypropylene homopolymers and C2–C3 random copolymers may be used to prepare a wide variety of useful articles, including but not limited to cast films, such as packaging; fibers suitable for use in fabrics and carpet applications, and injection and blow molded items such as bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike McLeod, David Young, Likuo Sun, Vincent Barre, David Turner, John Bieser
  • Patent number: 7125937
    Abstract: Supported stereospecific catalysts and processes for the stereotactic propagation of a polymer chain derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers such as the polymerization of propylene to produce syndiotactic polypropylene or isotactic polypropylene. The supported catalyst comprises a stereospecific metallocene catalyst component and a co-catalyst component comprising an alkylalumoxane. Both the metallocene catalyst component and the co-catalyst component are supported on a particulate polyorganosilsesquioxane support comprising spheroidal particles of a polyorganosilsesquioxane having an average. diameter with the range of 0.3–20 microns. The polyorganosilsesquioxane support is characterized by relatively low surface area, specifically a surface area less than 100 square meters per gram. The metallocene component can take the form of a single metallocene or two or more metallocenes which are co-supported on the polyorganosilsesquioxane support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Rauscher, William John Gauthier
  • Patent number: 7119154
    Abstract: Bis(salicylaldiminato)titanium complex with optionally substituted phenyl or cyclohexyl on nitrogen catalyzes highly syndiospecific polymerization of propylene. Syndiotactic polypropylene with defects of the type rmr having [rrrr] content greater than 0.70 and block copolymer containing block(s) of the syndiotactic polypropylene and block(s) of poly(ethylene-co-propylene) and/or poly(alpha-olefin-co-propylene) are obtained. Certain of the catalysts provide living polymerization. Living olefin polymers and olefin terminated oligomers and polymers are also products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Coates, Jun Tian
  • Patent number: 7115694
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel propylene-based polymer capable of providing a propylene-based polymer with a good adhesion and coatability. The present invention lies in a propylene-based polymer having a propylene component with several characteristics including a weight-average molecular weight Mw from not smaller than 5,000 to less than 1,000,000 as measured by GPC, and Regio irregular units based on 2,1-inserted propylene monomer and/or 1,3-inserted propylene monomer present in its main chain and the sum of the ratio of regio irregular units based on 2,1-insertion and 1,3-insertion to all propylene insertions not smaller than 0.05%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiko Shimizu, Naomasa Sato, Akira Kuwahara, Fumiyoshi Yamada, Akio Tanna
  • Patent number: 7115689
    Abstract: A supported catalyst composition and process for preparing high molecular weight polymers of one or more addition polymerizable monomers, especially propylene, said composition comprising: 1) a substrate comprising the reaction product of a solid, particulated, high surface area, metal oxide, metalloid oxide, or a mixture thereof and an organoaluminum compound, 2) a Group 4 metal complex of a polyvalent, Lewis base ligand; and optionally, 3) an activating cocatalyst for the metal complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Coalter, III, Jan W. Van Egmond, Lewis J. Fouts, Jr., Roger B. Painter, Paul C. Vosejpka
  • Patent number: 7112638
    Abstract: A metallocene compound of general formula (I): LGZMXp, wherein L is a divalent group, Z is a moiety of formula (II), wherein R3 and R4 are selected from hydrogen and hydrocarbon groups; A and B are selected from S, O or CR5, wherein R5 is selected from hydrogen and hydrocarbon groups, either A or B being different from CR5; G is a moiety of formula (III), wherein R6, R7, R8 and R9 are selected from hydrogen and hydrocarbon groups, M is an atom of a transition metal, X is selected from a halogen atom, a R10, OR10, OSO2CF3, OCOR10, SR10, NR102 or PR102 group, wherein the substituents R10 is hydrogen and a hydrocarbon group; p is an integer from 0 to 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Ilya E. Nifant'ev, Simona Guidotti, Luigi Resconi, Ilya P. Laishevtsev
  • Patent number: 7112642
    Abstract: Propylene polymers having a content of isotactic pentads (mmmm) higher than 97%, molecular weight distribution, expressed by the formula (a) ratio, equal to or higher than 6 and a value of formula (b) ratio equal to or lower than 5.5. The said polymers are prepared in the presence of a particular combination of Ziegler-Natta solid catalyst components and highly stereoregulating electron-donor compounds. Laminated articles, in particular bi-axially oriented films and sheets, can be prepared with the said polymers {overscore (M)}w/{overscore (M)}n ??(a) {overscore (M)}z/{overscore (M)}w.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Els Meesters, Jean News, Alessandro Guidicini
  • Patent number: 7109143
    Abstract: It has been discovered that using n-butylmethyldimethoxysilane (BMDS) as an external electron donor for Ziegler-Natta catalysts can provide a catalyst system that may prepare polypropylene films with improved properties. The catalyst systems of the invention provide for controlled chain defects/defect distribution and thus a regulated microtacticity. Consequently, the curve of storage modulus (G?) v. temperature is shifted such that the film achieves the same storage modulus at a lower temperature enabling faster throughput of polypropylene film through a high-speed tenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Paul Blackmon, David J. Rauscher, Michael Ray Wallace
  • Patent number: 7105608
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new copolymer of propylene and a conjugated diene having a carbon-carbon double bond in a side chain, wherein a molar ratio of a total of 1,2-adducts and 3,4-adducts to 1,4-adducts, derived from the conjugated diene, is 100:0. The copolymer is prepared in a process, characterized in that propylene and the conjugated diene are copolymerized in the presence of hydrogen, an organometallic compound comprising a transition metal selected from the group 4 of the periodic table, and at least one Lewis acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignees: Tonen Chemical Corporation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishihara, Ban The Hoang, Hideaki Hagihara, Kenji Tsuchihara, Takeshi Shiono
  • Patent number: 7105604
    Abstract: Soft propylene-based resin compositions, which comprise substantially the following block (I) and block (II): Block (I): propylene-based polymer having propylene unit chain segments that bond in a mode of head-to-tail bonding, in which the chain segment has an isotactic block-containing stereoblock structure; Block (II): copolymer containing at least propylene and ethylene, exhibit good flexibility, transparency, and heat resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiko Shimizu, Kenjirou Takayanagi, Naomasa Sato, Fumiyoshi Yamada, Shixuan Xin
  • Patent number: 7098277
    Abstract: The present invention provides isotactic polypropylene compositions suitable for cast film applications, cast polypropylene films made therefrom, and processes for forming such films. The novel polypropylene films are formed from film resins having a melt flow ratio of from 6–15 dg/min, with a narrow molecular weight distribution, narrow composition distribution, low level of solvent extractables, and increased film clarity (i.e., decreased haze %) compared to prior art Ziegler-Natta polypropylene film resins. The polypropylene films can be cast from an extruded polypropylene polymer, the extruded isotactic polypropylene polymer being formed by polymerization with a fluorided silica supported catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Chon-Yie Lin, Michael C-C Chen, Aspy K. Mehta
  • Patent number: 7094847
    Abstract: A class of bridged or unbridged metallocene compounds is disclosed, wherein the cyclopentadienyl ligands have two or four adjacent substituents forming one or two alkylenic cycles of from 4 to 8 carbon atoms. These metallocenes are useful as catalyst components for the polymerization of olefins, particularly for the (co)polymerization of ethylene and for the polymerization of propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Basell Technology Company B.V.
    Inventors: Clyde E. Bishop, Robert L. Jones, Jr., Krishna Raman, Vu Anh Dang, Lin-Chen Yu, Luigi Resconi, Tiziano Dall'Occo, Maurizio Galimberti
  • Patent number: 7087680
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a polypropylene resin which has a Mw/Mn of less than 5, a melt flow rate of less than 7 g/10 min., a 1% secant flexural modulus of greater than 300,000 psi and less than 2 wt. % xylene solubles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Peter E. Pierini, Marie L. Hare, Clive P. Bosnyak
  • Patent number: 7087690
    Abstract: New ligands, compositions, metal-ligand complexes and arrays with pyridyl-amine ligands are disclosed that catalyze the polymerization of monomers into polymers. Certain of these catalysts with hafnium metal centers have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, isobutylene or styrene. Certain of the catalysts are particularly effective at polymerizing propylene to high molecular weight isotactic polypropylene in a solution process at a variety of polymerization conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Boussie, Gary M. Diamond, Christopher Goh, Keith A. Hall, Anne M. Lapointe, Margarete K. Leclerc, Cheryl Lund, Vince Murphy
  • Patent number: 7078468
    Abstract: It has been discovered that using di-sec-butyldialkoxysilanes, such as di-sec-butyldimethoxysilane (DSBDMS), as external electron donors for Ziegler-Natta catalysts can provide a catalyst system that may prepare polypropylene films with improved properties and processing. The catalyst systems of the invention provide high activity, high bulk density, moderate hydrogen response, moderate donor response and high polydispersity (MWD). Suitable di-sec-butyldialkoxysilanes have the formula (SBu)2Si(OR?)2, where R? is independently a straight or branched alkyl group of 1–5 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thorman
  • Patent number: 7078363
    Abstract: The invention concerns a catalyst for olefin polymerisation, of formula (I) wherein: E is an oxygen or sulphur atom; X is a phosphorus, arsenic or antimony atom; M is a nickel, palladium or platinum atom comprising a non-attributed valency; a is 1 or 2; R1, R2, R3, identical or different can be selected among hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl radicals, the hydroxyl radical, the alkoxide radicals (with 1 to 20 carbon atoms), the groups —C(O)OR?—, —SO3Y; and Z represents a hydrocarbon radical comprising 2 to 3 carbon atoms; R represents a hydrocarbon radical of valency a, provided that at least one of the radicals Z or R bears at least an electroattractive substituent
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Arkema
    Inventors: Jerôme Claverie, Rémi Soula, Roger Spitz
  • Patent number: 7078463
    Abstract: A biaxially oriented polyolefin multilayer film containing: (a) a core layer containing (i) greater than about 0% by weight to about 50% by weight of an isotactic polypropylene-containing impact copolymer, (ii) about 10% by weight to 70% by weight of an alpha olefin/polypropylene copolymer-containing thermoplastic olefin and (iii) about 10% by weight to 70% by weight of an isotactic propylene homopolymer; and (b) at least one polyolefin skin layer adjacent to the core layer is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventors: Tien-Kuei Su, Keunsuk P. Chang
  • Patent number: 7077977
    Abstract: A discrete polyolefin catalyst activator is disclosed. A salient feature of invention borate-based activators is that at least one of the ligands on the borate non-coordinating anion (NCA) comprises a fluorinated aryl group linked to the boron atom through an acetylenic group appropriate pairing of invention activators with olefin polymerization. Catalyst precursors yield increased catalytic activity. Polymerization results are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: George Rodriguez, Francis C. Rix, Matthew C. Kuchta, John F. Walzer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7074871
    Abstract: Crystalline polymers and copolymers of propylene having total MIL values>2 g/10 minutes, total [?] values in tetrahydronaphthalene at 135° C.?2/8 dl/g, Mw/Mn values>20, a fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C.?94, and including from 10 to 60% by weight of a fraction (A) having [?]?2.6, are prepared by way of sequential polymerization in at least two stages, in the presence of particular Ziegler-Natta catalysts supported on magnesium halides. These polymers have high melt strength, high mechanical properties, and are particularly adequate for the manufacture of articles by using various conversion technologies, such as for example extrusion in thin sheets to be subjected to thermoforming, as well as for injection molding, and blow molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuliano Cecchin, Anteo Pelliconi, Antonio Ciarrocchi, Paolo Ferrari
  • Patent number: 7067587
    Abstract: A novel graft polymer useful in various uses that has a polyolefin backbone having polyolefin segments excellent in moldability can be obtained by homopolymerizing a novel polyolefin macromonomer or polymerizing the novel polyolefin macromonomer in the coexistence of other olefins depending on need, wherein the macromonomer has at the terminal of its polyolefin chain a vinyl group whose ?-position may be substituted, and the macromonomer can be efficiently obtained by a method, for example, successively carrying out i) a step of producing a polyolefin having a hydroxyl group at the terminal of the polyolefin chain and ii) a step of converting the terminal hydroxyl group of the polyolefin in chain into an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group or a styryl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kaneko, Shin-ichi Kojoh, Nobuo Kawahara, Shingo Matsuo, Tomoaki Matsugi, Junji Saito, Sadahiko Matsuura, Kazuhisa Miyazaki, Norio Kashiwa
  • Patent number: 7056991
    Abstract: The present invention relates to propylene polymerization process in a bulk loop reactor, and particularly to propylene polymerization process for polymerizing commercial quantities of polypropylene in a bulk loop reactor by sequentially introducing Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalyst systems into the bulk loop reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Tharappel, Renaud Oreins, William Gauthier, David Attoe, Kevin McGovern, Michel Messiaen, David Rauscher, Kai Hortmann, Michel Daumerie
  • Patent number: 7038000
    Abstract: There is provided a process for the copolymerisation of propylene with at least one C4-20 ?-olefin or C4-20 diene in a reaction medium in the presence of a catalyst system at a temperature of greater that 80° C. or at a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of the reaction medium. Under such conditions, comonmer incorporation is higher than under standard conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Borealis Technology OY
    Inventors: Torvald Vestberg, Pirjo Jaaskelainen, Paivi Pitkanen, Kauno Alastalo
  • Patent number: 7022797
    Abstract: A monomer stream containing propylene is supplied to a polymerization reactor which is operated under temperature and pressure conditions effective for the production of a stereoregular propylene polymer fluff. A titanium-based supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst having a titanium content of at least 1.7 wt. % and incorporating an internal electron donor is incorporated into the monomer stream. A trialkylaluminum co-catalyst is supplied to the monomer stream in an amount to provide an aluminum/titanium molar ratio within the range of 50–500. A silicon-based external electron donor is also supplied to the monomer stream in an amount to provide an aluminum/silicon molar ratio within the range of 10–500. Polymer fluff recovered from the polymerization reactor has a melt flow rate of at least 200 grams/10 minutes, and a xylene soluble content of no more than 4 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Blackmon, Shabbir Ahmedbhai Malbari
  • Patent number: 7022796
    Abstract: A method of preparing ultra high melt flow polypropylene having reduced xylene solubles is provided. The method utilizes a diether internal donor-containing Ziegler-Natta catalyst system to polymerize propylene. The polypropylene produced is characterized by having a melt flow of at least about 300 g/10 min and a xylene solubles of not more than about 3.5% and no peroxide residue. The catalyst system may also include an internal phthalate donor. The method of the invention allows the amount of external donors to be reduced, or even eliminated, without significant increases in xylene solubles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Paul Blackmon, Luis Paulo Barthel-Rosa, Shabbir Ahmedbhai Malbari, David J. Rauscher, Michel M. Daumerie
  • Patent number: 7022795
    Abstract: Propylene homopolymers, wherein, in their separation according to tacticity by first dissolving the polymers in boiling xylene, then cooling the solution to 25° C. at a cooling rate of 10° C./h and then, with ascending temperature, separating the propylene homopolymers into fractions of different tacticity, either one or more of the conditions that i) the fraction of propylene homopolymers which remains undissolved on heating the cooled propylene homopolymer solution to 112° C. is greater than 20% by weight or ii) the fraction of propylene homopolymers which remains undissolved on heating the cooled propylene homopolymer solution to 117° C. is greater than 8% by weight or iii) the fraction of propylene homopolymers which remains undissolved on heating the cooled propylene homopolymer solution to 122° C. is greater than 1% by weight, are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Novolen Technology Holdings, C.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Hüffer, Joachim Rösch, Stefan Seelert, Franz Langhauser, Dieter Lilge, Roland Hingmann, Günther Schweier
  • Patent number: 6967232
    Abstract: A high-molecular gelling agent precursor for an electrolyte comprises a copolymer formed of (A) a hydrophobic monomer having a hydrophobic group, which forms a carboxyl group upon saponification, and (B) a hydrophobic polyfunctional monomer. The saponification product of the copolymer has property to gel the electrolyte. A high-molecular gelling agent for the electrolyte is produced by saponifying the precursor with a saponifying agent selected from the group consisting of acids and alkalis while using a reaction medium selected from the group consisting of water and hydrophobic organic solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg., Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Takizawa, Seiji Doi, Chiaki Iwakura, Hiroshi Inoue, Naoji Furukawa, Shinji Nohara, Yoshifumi Sugito, Naomi Oguma, Sachio Yoshikawa, Michiei Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6960635
    Abstract: Unique copolymers comprising propylene, ethylene and/or one or more unsaturated comonomers are characterized as having: at least one, preferably more than one, of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about ?1.20, (iv) a DSC curve with a Tme that remains essentially the same and a Tmax that decreases as the amount of comonomer in the copolymer is increased, and (v) an X-ray diffraction pattern that reports more gamma-form crystals than a comparable copolymer prepared with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst. These polypropylene polymers are made using a nonmetallocene, metal-centered, heteroaryl ligand catalyst. These polymers can be blended with other polymers, and are useful in the manufacture of films, sheets, foams, fibers and molded articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Stevens, Daniel D. Vanderlende
  • Patent number: 6958377
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing olefins is disclosed. The process uses an organometallic complex with at least one non-bridged indenoindolyl ligand bonded to M. The substituent on the indole nitrogen contains an atom selected from the group consisting of S, O, P, and N. Polyolefins from the process have unexpectedly high molecular weight compared with polyolefins made using similar supported indenoindolyl complexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Barbara M. Tsuie
  • Patent number: 6956094
    Abstract: The invention provides for polymerization catalyst compositions, and for methods for introducing the catalyst compositions into a polymerization reactor. More particularly, the method combines a catalyst component containing slurry and a catalyst component containing solution to form the completed catalyst composition for introduction into the polymerization reactor. The invention is also directed to methods of preparing the catalyst component slurry, the catalyst component solution and the catalyst compositions, to methods of controlling the properties of polymer products utilizing the catalyst compositions, and to polymers produced therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Simon Mawson, Sun-Chueh Kao, Tae Hoon Kwalk, Timothy Roger Lynn, David H. McConville, Matthew Gary McKee, John Francis Szul, Kersten Anne Terry, Timothy T. Wenzel, Mark Gregory Goode, John Henry Oskam, Robert J. Jorgensen, Robert Harold Vogel
  • Patent number: 6946535
    Abstract: Films with excellent machine direction (MD) tear properties comprise at least one layer made from a polymer comprising: (A) at least 50 weight percent (wt %) propylene; and (B) at least 5 wt % ethylene and/or one or more unsaturated comonomers. Representative of component (B) unsatuarated comonomers are the C4-20 ?-olefins, C4-20 dienes, styrenic compounds, and the like. Preferably, the film has at least one of a (i) haze value of less than about 10, (ii) 45 degree gloss of greater than about 65, and (iii) dart value of greater than about 100 g/mil. In one preferred embodiment, the layer comprises a compolymer characterized as having at least one of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Li-Min Tau, Pak-Wing S. Chum, Seema Karande, Clive Bosnyak