Adding Material To Polymerization Zone In An Incremental Or Sequential Manner Patents (Class 526/66)
  • Patent number: 7211634
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of high molecular weight polyesters by reacting one or more dicarboxylic acids directly with 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and, optionally, one or more diols. The process uses an overall diol to dicarboxylic acid molar ratio of about 0.97 to about 1.2 and an incremental addition of either the diacid or diol components. The process provides a shorter total reaction time and, thus, lessens the thermal degradation of polyester which may result in high color and reduced molecular weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Martin, Joseph Franklin Knight, Benjamin Fredrick Barton, Damon Bryan Shackelford
  • Patent number: 7204962
    Abstract: Polybutylene terephthalate having good heat stability and excellent hydrolysis resistance is continuously produced in a series of a first reactor for reacting an aromatic dicarboxylic acid comprising terephthalic acid as a main ingredient or a derivative thereof with a glycol comprising 1,4-butanediol as a main ingredient, thereby producing an oligomer with an average degree of polymerization of 2.2 to 5, a second reactor for polycondensating the oligomer from the first reactor, thereby preparing a low polymerization product with an average degree of polymerization of 25 to 40, and a third reactor for further polycondensating the low polymerization product from the second reactor, thereby producing a high molecular weight polyester with an average degree of polymerization of 70 to 130, or followed by a fourth reactor for further polycondensing the polyester from the third reactor to an average degree of polymerization of 150 to 200, thereby producing a high molecular weight polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Nakamoto, Susumu Harada, Norifumi Maeda, Shuji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7135544
    Abstract: Processes for the living polymerization of olefin monomers with terminal carbon-carbon double bonds are disclosed. The processes employ initiators that include a metal atom and a ligand having two group 15 atoms and a group 16 atom or three group 15 atoms. The ligand is bonded to the metal atom through two anionic or covalent bonds and a dative bond. The initiators are particularly stable under reaction conditions in the absence of olefin monomer. The processes provide polymers having low polydispersities, especially block copolymers having low polydispersities. It is an additional advantage of these processes that, during block copolymer synthesis, a relatively small amount of homopolymer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Richard R. Schrock, Robert Bauman
  • Patent number: 7132484
    Abstract: A continuous process for the production of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) is disclosed. According to the process, a liquid feed mixture comprising bis-3-hydroxypropyl terephthalate and/or low molecular weight polyesters of 1,3-propanediol and terephthalic acid, the liquid feed mixture having a mole ratio of propylene groups to terephthalate groups of 1.1 to 2.2 is fed to a flasher. A first stream of gaseous by-products is continuously vaporized and removed from the flasher, and a liquid flasher reaction product having a mole ratio of propylene groups to terephthalate groups of less than about 1.5 is continuously withdrawn from the flasher. The liquid flasher reaction product is continuously fed to a prepolymerizer where it is continuously polymerized to form a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) prepolymer and a second stream of gaseous by-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Carl J. Giardino, David B. Griffith, Chungfah Howard Ho, James M. Howell, Michelle Hoyt Watkins
  • Patent number: 7034091
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Symyx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Schultz, Xiao-Dong Xiang, Isy Goldwasser, Gabriel Briceno, Xiao-Dong Sun, Kai-An Wang
  • Patent number: 6998463
    Abstract: A polyester resin characterized in that the content of the copolymerized components other than the terephthalic acid component and the ethylene glycol component, is not more than 4 mol % based on the total discarboxylic acid component, and when polyester resin is formed into a molded product, the molded product has a specific absorbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fujimori, Masahiro Nukui, Yutaka Yatsugi, Kenichi Matsui
  • Patent number: 6995232
    Abstract: Processes for the preparation of polyol fatty acid polyesters comprise heating a mixture of polyol, fatty acid ester, emulsifying agent and catalyst. In one embodiment, the fatty acid chains of the fatty acid ester have from about 6 to about 14 total carbon atoms and the emulsifying agent comprises a fatty acid soap having fatty acid chains of from about 16 to about 22 total carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Procter & Gamble
    Inventors: John Keeney Howie, Jared John Schaefer, James Earl Trout
  • Patent number: 6995216
    Abstract: A dual olefin polymerization process is disclosed. The process uses a bridged indenoindolyl ligand-containing Group 4 transition metal complex and an activator. It is carried out in multiple stages or in multiple reactors. The same complex and the same activator are used in all stages or reactors. Different polyolefins are made in different stages or reactors by varying the monomer compositions, hydrogen concentrations, or both. The process of the invention produces polyolefins which have broad molecular weight distributions, composition distributions, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Linda N. Winslow, Sandor Nagy
  • Patent number: 6982236
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method to prepare a supported catalyst system comprising preparing a combination comprising 1) a first supported catalyst system comprising a support, an activator and a metal catalyst compound, and 2) a second supported catalyst system comprising a support, an activator and a metal catalyst compound and thereafter spray-drying the combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy T. Wenzel, David James Schreck
  • Patent number: 6979752
    Abstract: A continuous process for converting by transesterification the diester of polytetramethylene ether (PTMEA) to the corresponding polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG). The process is characterized by the fact that the feed, consisting of PTMEA along with an alkanol (preferably methanol) and with an alkali metal oxide, hydroxide or alkoxide catalyst (preferably sodium methaoxide) is made to react in two multistaged reactions in series. In the first reactant, including stages of retention in association with distillation trays of high efficiency, the bulk of conversion is achieved by stripping the alkanol ester formed in the transesterification with vapors of hot alkanol having a reduced content of alkanol ester. The transesterification is completed in the second reaction by stripping the effluent from the first reactor with vapors of hot alkanol almost free of alkanol ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Aldo Bertola, Salvatore Cassarino, Myriam Hobe
  • Patent number: 6969746
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of ethylene copolymers, and their use as additives to mineral oil and mineral oil distillates. The invention relates to a process for the preparation of terpolymers of ethylene and at least 2 further olefinically unsaturated compounds by polymerization in a tubular reactor fitted with at least one side branch, wherein the fresh monomer components, which are introduced into the tubular reactor via the reactor inlet (the primary stream) or via the side branch or side branches (secondary stream or secondary streams), in each of the streams contain ethylene and at most one further olefinically unsaturated compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Clariant GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Krull, Werner Reimann, Wilhelm Zoller, Di Heinz Dieter Bühnen, Gerhard Bettermann
  • Patent number: 6914104
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a polyolefin polymerization method which prevents fine particles of polymer from scattering from a fluidized bed in a gas phase polymerization reactor. This object is achieved by a process for polymerization of ?-olefin in multi-stage polymerization process and in at least two serially arranged polymerization reactors including a gas phase polymerization reactor, the process comprising; drawing out polyolefin particles from a polymerization reactor, and transferring the polyolefin particles into the interior of fluidized bed of a gas phase polymerization reactor of the next stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Kougo
  • Patent number: 6887953
    Abstract: A process that can be used for direct esterification of a dicarboxylic acid such as terephthalic acid with a glycol such as 1,3-propanediol. The process comprises (1) contacting, at an elevated temperature, optionally in the presence of a preformed oligomer, the acid with the glycol to produce a product mixture comprising (i) a water-glycol vapor mixture, which or a portion of which exits the product mixture at the temperature to form a water-glycol vapor mixture and (ii) a liquid product mixture comprising an oligomer having a degree of polymerization of from about 1.9 to about 3.5 and comprising repeat units derived from the acid; (2) separating the glycol from the water-glycol mixture to produce a recovered glycol; and (3) returning the recovered glycol to the product mixture such that the liquid product mixture comprises an excess free glycol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: John Harvey Eng
  • Patent number: 6875826
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a high melt strength propylene polymer or copolymer suitable for manufacturing foams and thermoformed product exhibiting a melt strength of at least 3 g and comprising a high molar mass portion and a low or medium molar mass portion. The polymers are produced by subjecting propylene and optionally other olefins to polymerization in a plurality of polymerization reactors connected in series, employing different amounts of hydrogen as a molar mass modifier in at least two of the reactors, and carrying out the polymerization reaction in the presence of a catalyst system capable of catalyzing the formation of a high molar mass polymerization product having a MFR2 of less than 0.1 g/l0 min and a low or medium molar mass polymerization product having a MFR2 of more than 0.5 g/10 min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Borealis A/S
    Inventors: Päivi Huovinen, Ali Harlin, Pirjo Jääskeläinen, Amir Karbasi, Nina Manner
  • Patent number: 6800718
    Abstract: Process of producing polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) by esterification of terephthalic acid (TPA) with trimethylene glycol (TMG) in the presence of a catalytic, titanium compound, precondensation and polycondensation. The esterification is effected in at least two stages, where in the first stage a molar ratio of TMG to TPA of 1.25 to 2.5, a content of titanium of 0 to 40 ppm, a temperature of 245 to 260° C. as well as a pressure of 1 to 3.5 bar are adjusted. In the at least one subsequent stage a content of titanium is adjusted which is higher than in the initial stage by 35 to 110 ppm. For generating the vacuum in the polycondensation and in the precondensation, there are used vapor jet pumps operated with TMG vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignees: Zimmer Aktiengesellschaft, Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Fritz Wilhelm, Eckhard Seidel, Hans Reitz, Ulrich Thiele, Klaus Mackensen, Donald Ross Kelsey, Robert Lawrence Blackbourn, Robert Stephen Tomaskovic
  • Publication number: 20040152849
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of terpolymers of ethylene and at least 2 further olefinically unsaturated compounds by polymerization in a tubular reactor fitted with at least one side branch, wherein the fresh monomer components, which are introduced into the tubular reactor via the reactor inlet (the primary stream) or via the side branch or side branches (secondary stream or secondary streams), in each of the streams contain ethylene and at most one further olefinically unsaturated compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Matthias Krull, Werner Reimann, Wilhelm Zoller, Heinz Dieter Buhnen, Gerhard Bettermann
  • Patent number: 6762253
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of terpolymers of ethylene and at least 2 further olefinically unsaturated compounds by polymerization in a tubular reactor fitted with at least one side branch, wherein the fresh monomer components, which are introduced into the tubular reactor via the reactor inlet (the primary stream) or via the side branch or side branches (secondary stream or secondary streams), in each of the streams contain ethylene and at most one further olefinically unsaturated compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Clariant GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Krull, Werner Reimann, Wilhelm Zoller, Heinz Dieter Bühnen, Gerhard Bettermann
  • Patent number: 6762254
    Abstract: Copolymers of ethylene have from 1 to 30 mol % of alkyl(meth)acrylates and, if desired, other comonomers, and have a residual comonomer content of less than 0.5% by weight in the copolymer. A process for preparing copolymers of this type in a combination of stirred autoclave and tubular reactor is described, as is the use of the copolymers for preparing polyamide molding compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Deckers, Wilhelm Weber
  • Patent number: 6670443
    Abstract: A process for preparing linear, alternating carbon monoxide copolymers, in which at least one olefinically unsaturated compound having from two to twenty carbon atoms (component K1) and carbon monoxide are copolymerized in the presence of a) metal complexes, b) if desired, a protonic or Lewis acid, and c) if desired, a hydroxyl compound, comprises metering into the copolymerization, as it proceeds, at least one olefinically unsaturated compound having from two to twenty carbon atoms (component K2≠component K1) in the form of pulses, i.e. as a regular or irregular sequence of feed, for which the term pulse is used, and non-feed. Carbon monoxide copolymers obtainable from said process are used for producing fibers, films or moldings, and the fibers, films and moldings produced from these polymers are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Queisser, Michael Geprägs, Bernhard Rieger, Wolfgang Huhn
  • Patent number: 6632907
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of methacrylic polymers which comprises the steps of, in one perfect mixing type reactor, effecting continuous bulk polymerization at a polymerization temperature of 110 to 160° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Mizota, Shigeaki Sasaki, Tomonari Murakami, Kouzi Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 6610797
    Abstract: In a process for preparing ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers in which a mixture of ethylene and vinyl acetate is polymerized continuously in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiators and, if desired, molecular weight regulators in a cooled tube reactor at a pressure in the range from 1000 to 3500 bar, and the poly-merization initiator is added at the beginning and at two or more points along the tube reactor, and temperature changes in the reaction mixture along the tube reactor, between the first temperature maximum and the last addition of the polymerization initiator, are within a range of not more than 20° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Deckers, Bernd Wenderoth, Peter Wedel, Wilhelm Weber
  • Patent number: 6610806
    Abstract: Processes for the living polymerization of olefin monomers with terminal carbon-carbon double bonds are disclosed. The processes employ initiators that include a metal atom and a ligand having two group 15 atoms and a group 16 atom or three group 15 atoms. The ligand is bonded to the metal atom through two anionic or covalent bonds and a dative bond. The initiators are particularly stable under reaction conditions in the absence of olefin monomer. The processes provide polymers having low polydispersities, especially block copolymers having low polydispersities. It is an additional advantage of these processes that, during block copolymer synthesis, a relatively small amount of homopolymer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Richard R. Schrock, Robert Baumann
  • Patent number: 6592913
    Abstract: A gum base comprising a crosslinked branched polyester gel prepared from the process comprising: a) providing a first pre-gel composition having carboxyl end groups; b) providing a second pre-gel composition having hydroxyl end groups; c) removing either or both of the first and second pre-gel compositions from their respective reactors; d) combining the first and second pre-gel compositions to form a mixture; and e) processing the mixture in an extruder, a continuous processor, or a container thereby providing a crosslinked branched polyester gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Phillip M. Cook, Michael D. Hamlin, Lanny C. Treece, George G. Mayfield, Charles R. Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 6590069
    Abstract: The invention is a novel method for the late introduction of additives into condensation polymers. The method employs a reactive carrier that functions as a delivery vehicle for one or more additives. The reactive carrier reacts with the condensation polymers, thereby binding the reactive carrier in the polymer resin and preventing the emergence of the reactive carrier from the polymer resin during subsequent thermal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Robert Joseph Schiavone, Walter Lee Edwards
  • Patent number: 6573343
    Abstract: Olefin polymers are prepared in a plurality of polymerization stages, optionally in a plurality of polymerization reactors, in the presence of hydrogen and an olefin polymerization multisite catalyst, preferably a dualsite catalyst, having at least catalytic sites A and B, site A capable of yielding polymers of different molecular weights and differing MFR2 or MFR21 depending on the concentration of hydrogen in the polymerization reactor and site B capable of yielding polymers of certain molecular weight and MFR2 or MFR21 depending on the concentration of hydrogen in the polymerization reactor where the ratio between MFR2 or MFR21 of polymers produced by site B at two different selected hydrogen concentrations is less than ten and the ratio between MFR2 or MFR21 of polymers produced by site A at the same hydrogen concentrations is more than 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventor: Arild Follestad
  • Patent number: 6573359
    Abstract: The invention is a novel method for the late introduction of additives into a process for making condensation polymers. The method employs a reactive carrier that functions as a delivery vehicle for one or more additives. The reactive carrier reacts with the condensation polymers, thereby binding the reactive carrier in the polymer resin and preventing the emergence of the reactive carrier from the polymer resin during subsequent thermal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Steven Nichols, Tony Clifford Moore, Robert Joseph Schiavone, Walter Lee Edwards
  • Patent number: 6566486
    Abstract: A process for the production of polyamides is disclosed. In a first reaction step, suitable monomers such as caprolactam or an aliphatic aminocarboxylic acid are reacted with polyfunctional amines, which contain at least one secondary amino group, and/or with salts containing such amines and dicarboxylic acids. The reaction product is in a further process step undergoes solid phase post-condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Detlev Joachimi, Hans-Jürgen Dietrich, Heinrich Morhenn, Cliff Scherer, Andreas Gittinger, Friedrich-Karl Bruder
  • Patent number: 6534094
    Abstract: A process for the manufacturing of microcapsules for sustained release of water soluble peptides, with adjustable release periods of between 1 to 18 weeks. The microcapsule wall are made of a biodegradable polymer. The process is based on the formation of an intermediate complex water/oil/water emulsion. By evaporating the solvent in the emulsion by pressure reduction the microcapsules consolidate, retaining the active peptides in the polymeric matrix. The process produces the complex emulsion in a two mixer, continuous operation. In the first mixer a water/oil emulsion is formed and it is used to form the complex emulsion in the second mixer. By operating in a continuous manner, the process overcome the problems found in existing processes regarding particle size distribution, material losses and process control, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Eriochem S.A.
    Inventors: Nora Moyano, Jose Iturraspe, Jose Lucio Nunez
  • Patent number: 6509424
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of terpolymers of ethylene and at least 2 further olefinically unsaturated compounds by polymerization in a tubular reactor fitted with at least one side branch, wherein the fresh monomer components, which are introduced into the tubular reactor via the reactor inlet (the primary stream) or via the side branch or side branches (secondary stream or secondary streams), in each of the streams contain ethylene and at most one further olefinically unsaturated compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Clariant GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Krull, Werner Reimann, Wilhelm Zoller, Heinz Dieter Bühnen, Gerhard Bettermann
  • Publication number: 20020173599
    Abstract: The present invention teaches the use of particular soluble metallocene catalysts to produce stereoregular polymers in gas phase polymerizations wherein the catalysts are fed into a particle lean zone in the reactor. The metallocenes catalysts are bridged bis-(substituted indenyl) compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Gregory Goode, Clark Curtis Williams, Timothy Roger Lynn, Robert Converse Brady, Jody Michael Moffett
  • Patent number: 6469129
    Abstract: A process for making a crosslinked branched polyester gel from at least two pregel compositions comprising: a) reacting precursor repeat units formed from (1) at least one polyol having three or more hydroxyl groups or esters thereof, (2) at least one aliphatic or aromatic polyfunctional acid or ester thereof, or a mixture thereof; and (3) optionally at least one long chain aliphatic carboxylic acid or ester thereof, or aromatic monocarboxylic acid or ester thereof, or mixture thereof, to substantial completion in separate reactors to produce in a first reactor a first composition comprising a pre-gel having carboxyl end groups and to produce in a second reactor a second composition comprising a pre-gel having hydroxyl end groups, b) combining the first and second compositions to form a mixture; and c) processing the mixture in an extruder, a continuous processor, or a container to convert the mixture into a crosslinked branched polyester gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Phillip M. Cook, Michael D. Hamlin, Lanny C. Treece, George G. Mayfield, Charles R. Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 6458896
    Abstract: Certain mixtures of two superabsorbent powders having very different capillary suctions exhibit a resulting capillary suction which approaches the higher value. The resulting mixtures simultaneously exhibit a high capillary suction and a high intrinsic absorption capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Elf Atochem, S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Collette, Manuel Hidalgo, Andre Kowalik, Fabienne Lebendenko, Emmanuel Puchois
  • Patent number: 6395870
    Abstract: A process for preparing biodegradable polymers having repeating succinyl units, characterized in that an optionally substituted 1,4-butanedicarboxylic acid, or a 1,4-butanedicarboxylic acid derivative is reacted with an acid anhydride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ruediger Schubart
  • Patent number: 6391984
    Abstract: A staged method of forming vinyl (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Solutia Inc.
    Inventors: Marilyn Grolitzer, Jun Lu, Ming Zhao
  • Patent number: 6384153
    Abstract: In a process for the high-pressure polymerization of ethylene in a high-pressure autoclave or in a high-pressure tube reactor having one or more metering points for one or more peroxides, no peroxide or a reduced amount of peroxide is metered in during the time interval in which the pressure is lowered by opening a pressure maintenance valve and the original amount of peroxide per unit time is metered in again as soon as the pressure after closure of the pressure maintenance valve has built up again so that it exceeds 90% of the pressure difference between nominal pressure and lowered pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Hammer, Georg Groos, Michael Stenger, Wilhelm Weber, Andreas Deckers
  • Patent number: 6369158
    Abstract: Mercaptans are normally used as chain transfer agents in emulsion polymerizations. The mercaptans used in commercial applications are typically complex mixtures of hundreds of similar compounds having boiling points within a narrow range. The chain transfer activity of different mercaptans with such mixtures can vary substantially. To further complicate the situation, the distribution of various mercaptans can also vary substantially between lots of material obtained from commercial sources. Thus, consistent molecular weight control is typically difficult to attain in free radical emulsion polymerizations. This invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that dibenzyltrithiocarbonate will act as a pure compound to effectively and consistently control molecular weight in free radical emulsion polymerizations. The polydispersity of polymers made using dibenzyltrithiocarbonate as a molecular weight regulator is similar to that obtained using conventional mercaptan systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Michael Leslie Senyek, Joseph John Kulig, Dane Kenton Parker
  • Patent number: 6362305
    Abstract: In a process for preparing formaldehyde from methanol by dehydrogenation in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature in the range from 300 to 1000° C., a circulating gas stream comprising by-products of the dehydrogenation is passed through the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Ticona GmbH
    Inventors: Elke Schweers, Thomas Kaiser, Christine Meister, Michael Rosenberg, Rolf Schulz
  • Patent number: 6335411
    Abstract: Ethylene polymer having a blow-up ratio (RB) of at least 1.4, a resistance to crazing under stress (ESCR) of at least 55 h and a melt index (MI5) of at least 0.2 g/10 min. Processes for obtaining this ethylene polymer using different catalytic systems, the first based on titanium and zirconium used in a polymerization in two reactors; the second consisting of a mixture of a titanium catalyst and a titanium and zirconium catalyst, used in a polymerization in two reactors; the third based on chromium on a support comprising at least two constituents chosen from silica, alumina and aluminium phosphates, used in a polymerization in a single or in two reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Solvay Polyolefins Europe -Belgium
    Inventors: Benoît Koch, Michel Promel, Jiang Bian
  • Patent number: 6329477
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making polymer compositions, e.g. EPDM compositions, in a multistage reactor with monomers chosen from ethylene, C3-C8 alpha olefins, and a non conjugated diene. In particular, the invention relates to a process for improving diene conversion during the manufacture of the aforementioned polymer compositions by use of a multistage reactor and a metallocene catalyst system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Harrington, Charles C. Cozewith, Sudhin Datta, Bernard J. Folie, John F. Walzer, Jr., Donna J. Crowther
  • Patent number: 6326442
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for substantially continuously polymerizing olefins comprising: introducing into a first reaction zone a fresh olefin polymerization catalyst; contacting said fresh olefin polymerization catalyst in said first reaction zone with a first vent mixture at a first feed rate and under conditions sufficient to form and avoid melting a polyolefin, wherein first vent mixture comprises unreacted olefins and a diluent vented from a second reaction zone; withdrawing a vent product of unreacted olefins and diluent from said first reaction zone; withdrawing from said first reaction zone a first product mixture comprising said catalyst and said polyolefin; passing said first product mixture to said second reaction zone; contacting said first product mixture in said second reaction zone with a second vent mixture at a second feed rate and under conditions sufficient to form and avoid melting said polyolefin, wherein said second vent mixture comprises a material selected from the group
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Exxon Mobil Chemical, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell John Koveal, James John McAlpin, Jeffrey Lawrence Brinen
  • Patent number: 6316555
    Abstract: Processes for the living polymerization of olefin monomers with terminal carbon-carbon double bonds are disclosed. The processes employ initiators that include a metal atom and a ligand having two group 15 atoms and a group 16 atom or three group 15 atoms. The ligand is bonded to the metal atom through two anionic or covalent bonds and a dative bond. The initiators are particularly stable under reaction conditions in the absence of olefin monomer. The processes provide polymers having low polydispersities, especially block copolymers having low polydispersities. It is an additional advantage of these processes that, during block copolymer synthesis, a relatively small amount of homopolymer is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Richard R. Schrock, Robert Baumann
  • Patent number: 6300430
    Abstract: A process is described for copolymerizing ethylene with vinyl esters and, if desired, with further vinylic comonomers in a tube reactor at pressures of from 500 to 4000 bar and at not more than 220° C., which comprises initiating the free-radical polymerization at at least two locations of the tube reactor by adding a catalyst/initiator and adjusting the temperature profile within the reactor such that the temperature maxima downstream of the initiation locations are from 150 to 220° C. and differ by less than ±10° C. from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Deckers, Wilhelm Weber, Ulrich Annen
  • Patent number: 6291602
    Abstract: Ethylene polymer having a blow-up ratio (RB) of at least 1.4, a resistance to crazing under stress (ESCR) of at least 55 h and a melt index (MI5) of at least 0.2 g/10 min. Processes for obtaining this ethylene polymer using different catalytic systems, the first based on titanium and zirconium used in a polymerization in two reactors; the second consisting of a mixture of a titanium catalyst and a titanium and zirconium catalyst, used in a polymerization in two reactors; the third based on chromium on a support comprising at least two constituents chosen from silica, alumina and aluminium phosphates, used in a polymerization in a single or in two reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Solvay Polyolefins Europe - Belgium
    Inventors: Benoît Koch, Olivier Lhost
  • Patent number: 6245879
    Abstract: A process for preparing polytrimethylene terephthalate in which a carbonyl-containing 1,3-propanediol stream is purified for reuse of the 1,3-propanediol. The process involves reacting, under condensation polymerization conditions, terephthalic acid and a molar excess of 1,3-propanediol, with vacuum distillation and condensation of a major portion of the unreacted 1,3-propanediol. To this condensed stream is added a sufficient amount of base to raise the pH to a value greater than 7, and from this base-containing condensate the 1,3-propanediol is distilled and recycled to the polymerization reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Donald Ross Kelsey, Betty Marrou Scardino, Steven Charles Zronek
  • Patent number: 6225420
    Abstract: A procatalyst and a process for the preparation of a multimodal ethylene homopolymer or copolymer by gas-phase polymerisation is described. The procatalyst used in the process is prepared by: a) contacting the support, preferably silica with a halogenating agent, preferably ethyl aluminium dichloride to obtain a first reaction product, b) contacting the first reaction product with a compound or mixture containing hydrocarbyl and one or more of hydrocarbyloxy, monoalkylamido, dialkylamido, carboxylato and alkoxymethoxy groups linked to magnesium, thereby to obtain a second reaction product (the procatalyst precursor), and c) contacting the second reaction product with a titanium compound, preferably TiCl4. In step a) the molar ratio of the alkyl metal chloride to the surface hydroxyls of the inorganic oxide is preferably between 1:1 and 10:1. In step b) the atomic ratio of the magnesium to the chlorine of the alkyl metal chloride of step a) preferably is between 1:1.5 to 1:2.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Boreallis A/S
    Inventors: Ulf Palmqvist, Solveig Johansson, Lars Thorn, Peter Idelmann, Anders Wahlström, Daniel Lindgren
  • Patent number: 6174970
    Abstract: A process for working up residues containing dihydroxy compounds resulting from the preparation of polyesters, where (1) in a first stage there is esterification or transesterification of a dicarboxylic acid or esters thereof or ester-forming derivatives with a molar excess of a dihydroxy compound, (2) in at least one second stage there is polycondensation of the esterification product obtained in (1), (3) the vapors (a) and (b) resulting from the reactions in (1) and (2) respectively are subjected to a treatment to recover the starting materials, wherein the treatment to recover the starting materials is carried out in the presence of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound in an amount of from 0.5 to 10% by weight, calculated as alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, based on the solids content of the vapors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Braune
  • Patent number: 6130262
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of producing polyester and charging apparatus therefor capable of producing a high quality polyethylene naphthalate usable for photographic purpose from recovered polyethylene naphthalate which comprises subjecting an ester-forming derivative consisting essentially of naphthalene dicarboxylic acid or its lower alkyl ester and a diol compound consisting essentially of ethylene glycol to ester exchange reaction or esterification to produce polyethylene naphthalate, wherein recovered polyethylene naphthalate resin is charged before beginning of effusion of alcohol or water which is a by-product of the ester exchange reaction or esterification, and a charging apparatus comprising a slidable inner pipe capable of penetrating through a supply valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Suzuki, Tohru Ogura, Yukio Shirokura
  • Patent number: 6103859
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for making copolyesters of terephthalic acid and a diol component including ethylene glycol and includes the steps of adding terephthalic acid and diol to a first esterification reactor and then late addition of supplemental ethylene glycol subsequent to the first esterification reactor but prior to a point where the ethylene glycol partial pressure is reduced below about 300 torr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Mary Therese Jernigan, Carol Juilliard Greene, Larry Cates Windes
  • Patent number: 6100369
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a polyester by continuously melt-polymerizing a raw material consisting of a dicarboxylic acid component composed of mainly an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and containing an alicyclic dicarboxylic acid or an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, or their ester-forming derivatives with a diol component, characterized in that said diol component as a distillate in the polycondensation reaction, including an adhering material, is condensed, said adhering material is separated centrifugally, and then the residual diol component, after distillation, is supplied to an esterification reaction or an ester interchange reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Kazumoto Miyajima, Hideshi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 6096838
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously producing polyester comprises three single reactors, i.e. a single esterification reactor (first reactor), a single initial polymerization reactor (second reactor) and a single final polymerization reactor (third reactor or final polymerizer), where at least one of the first reactor and the second reactor is free from an external stirring power source, or the third reactor is a horizontal, one-shaft-type, low speed rotation type reactor. Necessary number of reactors for the esterification and polycondensation reactions can be a minimum and necessary stirring power consumption for the reaction can be a miminum, and thus polyester polymers of good quality can be efficiently produced at a minimum energy cost in a necessary minimum reactor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Nakamoto, Susumu Harada, Chikao Oda, Yasunari Sase, Michio Suzuki