Shearing To Change Polymer Particle Size Or To Change Polymer Properties Patents (Class 528/502F)
  • Patent number: 6166118
    Abstract: A process for emulsifying a functionalized polyolefin is described. A functionalized polyolefin having a weight average molecular weight greater than 10,000, a fatty acid, a base in an amount sufficient to neutralize the functionalized polyolefin and the fatty acid, a surfactant and water are mixed in a pressure reactor vessel to form a pre-emulsion concentrate having a solids concentrate ranging from about 55 to 90% by weight. The pre-emulsion concentrate is then heated with agitation in the reaction vessel to an emulsification temperature, preferably at or above the melting point of the highest melting polymer in the formulation, for a time sufficient to form an emulsion concentrate. Water is then added to the emulsion concentrate within the pressure reactor vessel, diluting the solids content to about 5 to 50% by weight, and heated with agitation to the emulsification temperature for a time sufficient to form a functionalized polyolefin emulsion. Preferably, the resulting emulsion is rapidly cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Hyche, Terry Lynn Cutshall, Wallace Neville Cox, Stephen Louis Poteat
  • Patent number: 6156875
    Abstract: Graft copolymer particles comprising an elastomeric base polymer such as polybutadiene and grafted chains of a thermoplastic, non-elastomeric polymer such as styrene-acrylonitrile are coagulated for isolation from aqueous emulsion by subjecting the emulsion to mechanical shear in the absence of chemical coagulants at a temperature greater than or equal to the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic, non-elastomeric portion of the copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sadhan Chandra Jana, Irene Dris, Gary Stephen Balch
  • Patent number: 6060584
    Abstract: A novel process for the production of degraded polyolefin is described. The process involves introducing polyolefin into one end of a vented multi-screw extruder, in the substantial absence of free radical initiator and oxidizing agent, and removing degraded polyolefin from the opposite end of the extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Brenda Linette Neely, James Houston Scott
  • Patent number: 5994499
    Abstract: To provide a polytetrafluoroethylene granular powder for molding and a process for preparing the granular powder, in which the granular powder contains only a small number of coarse particles, is obtained with good tumbling efficiency and further no organic liquid is required to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Asano, Shingo Tanigawa, Tetsuo Shimizu, Shoji Kawachi
  • Patent number: 5990272
    Abstract: A method of treating polyolefin comprises (i) a ligand-decomposition step of contacting polyolefin, which is obtained by the use of a transition metal compound containing ligands having cyclopentadienyl skeleton, with a ligand decomposer, such as water, oxygen, alcohol, alkylene oxide or peroxide, to decompose the ligands contained in the polyolefin, and (ii) a ligand-removal step of heating the polyolefin contacted with the ligand decomposer to remove the decomposed ligands from the polyolefin. According to this method, the residual ligands having cyclopentadienyl skeleton, which are contained in the polyolefin produced by the use of a transition metal compound containing ligands having cyclopentadienyl skeleton, are decomposed and removed from the polyolefin, whereby polyolefin diminished in odor development in the molding process can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Yamamoto, Satoru Ohtani, Hiroshi Nishikawa, Teruhisa Kojima
  • Patent number: 5981653
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of aqueous dispersions which form powder coatings at room temperature, have an average particle size of 0.1 to 10 .mu.m, contain polyols and blocked polyisocyanate crosslinking agents, and, after stoving, yield coatings with improved water and solvent resistance, in particular on metallic substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Oswald Wilmes, Lothar Kahl, Bernd Klinksiek, Christian Wamprecht, Manfred Bock, Klaus Nachtkamp
  • Patent number: 5952460
    Abstract: A process of recovering PHA from a suspension which comprises particles of PHA in a liquid which comprises maintaining the suspension at a temperature at which the PHA melts and substantial coalescence of PHA particles occurs thereby at least partly forming a layer of molten PHA and separating the layer of PHA optionally after it cooling to form a solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: John MacDonald Liddell, Neil George, Alan Hall
  • Patent number: 5929162
    Abstract: A composition comprising the hydrosilylation addition product of a linear alkenyl functionalized polyorganosiloxane and an M.sup.H Q resin and a low molecular weight silicone when subjected to a new particle size reduction process that includes flow induced shearing provides for components in personal care formulations that have improved spreadability and substance as a consequence of a unique particle size distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adam J. Horne, Donald S. Johnson, John A. Kilgour, Richard D. Wang
  • Patent number: 5929164
    Abstract: A method of thickening solvents involves reacting (A) an .tbd.Si--H containing polysiloxane with (B) an alpha, omegadiene; conducting the reaction in the presence of a platinum catalyst and (C) a solvent; continuing the reaction until a gel is formed by crosslinking and addition of .tbd.Si--H across double bonds in the alpha, omega-diene; adding additional solvent and a post cure quenching agent to the gel; and subjecting the solvent, the post cure quenching agent, and the gel to shear force until a paste is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventor: Shizhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 5880210
    Abstract: Silicone gels are made by reacting an .tbd.Si--H containing polysiloxane with an alpha-olefin and an alpha, omega-diene. The reaction is conducted in the presence of a platinum catalyst and in the presence of a low molecular weight silicone oil. First, an .tbd.Si--H containing polysiloxane is grafted by long chain alkyl groups from the alpha-olefin onto the .tbd.Si--H containing polysiloxane, and then crosslinked with double bonds in the alpha, omega-diene, in the presence of the low molecular weight silicone oil. The formed silicone gel can then be crumbled into a silicone powder using mechanical force. When additional amounts of the low molecular weight silicone oil are added to the gel, and the silicone oil and the gel are subjected to shear force, a silicone paste can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: William James Schulz, Jr., Shizhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 5872205
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method enabling segregation of the various ingredients making up the polymer based products into component product streams and collection of these component streams so as to form individual product streams. Thus, according to this invention there is provided a process for purposefully segregating polymer-polymer and polymer-additive mixtures. The process for segregating the various combinations of components may be advantageously used on the one hand for the production of separate product streams from a mixture of polymers or polymer-additives in, for example, recycling of waste plastic based products, or on the other hand, in the production of polymer-polymer or polymer-additive layered structures exhibiting preselected spatial segregation of the various components. In its simplest form, the polymer segregation part of the process consists of a tube added to an extruder. During segregation, polymer layers containing different blend compositions are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas Balke, Sibichen Joseph, Askar Karami, Dennis Pao-Chang Lo, Mohammad Hadi Sayad
  • Patent number: 5872172
    Abstract: A liquid silicone rubber base is prepared by mixing an organopolysiloxane containing at least two alkenyl groups, reinforcing silica having a BET specific surface area of at least 50 m.sup.2 /g, and optionally, a mixing assistant. The mixing step includes a first stage of mixing under a first shear stress of at least 1.times.10.sup.6 N/m.sup.2 for 1-5 minutes and a second stage of mixing under a second shear stress which is up to 1/2 of the first shear stress for at least 2 minutes. The silicone rubber base is sufficiently shelf stable to minimize a viscosity rise with time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kimura, Mutsuo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5858150
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises an elastomer having a partially oriented and partially crystallized elastomer component. Articles comprising the pressure-sensitive adhesive on a backing or substrate are also disclosed, as are methods of preparing the adhesive and the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David J. Yarusso, Patrick D. Hyde
  • Patent number: 5856381
    Abstract: A process for compounding polymer dispersions, which comprises circulating the polymer dispersion from a vessel (7) having a stirring device (6) through a line (3) having a mixing device (2) by means of a pump (4) which is located in the line (3), and, before the entry of the circulated polymer dispersion into the mixing device (2), metering at least one solution or dispersion of at least one compounding material from at least one stock container (5) via a supply line (9) into the circulated polymer dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerd Rehmer, Walter Holtrup, Karlheinz Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5854336
    Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a silicone elastomer composition for cosmetic products which includes the steps of feeding the silicone elastomer composition comprising a silicone rubber in a carrier fluid into a reactor, mixing the composition in the reactor, delivering the composition from the reactor into a high pressure pump, pumping the fluid into a device for reducing particles of rubber into smaller sizes and recirculating the resultant size reduced particles back to the reactor. The device for reducing particle size is preferably a high pressure fed homogenizer, most advantageously a sonolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Chesebrough-Pond's USA Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Anthony Divone, Sr., Brian John Dobkowski, Michael Charles Cheney, Salvador Pliego, Walter Anthony Biercevicz, Kenneth Paul Manzari
  • Patent number: 5760148
    Abstract: The polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene in aqueous suspension can be carried out with high conversion if the medium is thoroughly mixed using an axially conveying stirrer element in such a manner that a cone forms at least as far as the vicinity of the stirrer element. In the region of this stirrer element there are expediently arranged baffles which extend only over a part of the filling height of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Dyneon GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd Muller, Thomas Schottle
  • Patent number: 5750645
    Abstract: A process which combines a calender with a stretching system and a set of heating rolls is provided in this invention to produce films of polypropylene resin of wide thickness range. The polypropylene films which have cavities distributed in the film and on the surfaces are suitable for writing or printing and have a low density. The films have surface qualities of each side of surface within .+-.2.times.10.sup.-6 inch of the average depth of the cavities, .+-.2% of the average of the gloss at 45.degree. angle and .+-.0.02 of the average of coefficient of friction. Such a film is obtained by passing the molded film from the calender through a set of heating rolls at temperatures revealed in this invention before entering the stretching system. The obtained polypropylene film has superior printability, low density and high stiffness, and thus is suitable for use as a paper substitute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Inteplast Corporation
    Inventor: Hwang-Wen Huang
  • Patent number: 5747640
    Abstract: A process for continuously preparing a wet powder of PTFE, comprising the step of continuously slurrying a PTFE aqueous dispersion with a high shear machine, and the step of continuously granulating the slurry by using vertical agitator. The process can be carried out for a long time without trouble, and can continuously provide a dry powder having good powder properties. The powder properties can be controlled by regulating operation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Daikin Industries
    Inventors: Tetsuya Higuchi, Shunichi Nomura, Shigeru Ichiba, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Masaomi Goromaru, Akira Watanabe, Kazuhiro Takeda, Mikio Morita, Kazuhisa Fujita, Yasuyuki Moriyama
  • Patent number: 5723518
    Abstract: A method is described for the preparation of aqueous coating compositions based on resin binders containing isocyanate-reactive hydrogen atoms and polyisocyanates, by mixing the components with water, wherein the mixture is forced at a pressure of from 1 to 30 MPa through a nozzle of small size in at least one dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lothar Kahl, Bernd Klinksiek, Dieter Schleenstein, Manfred Bock, Nusret Yuva
  • Patent number: 5684125
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying liquid polysiloxane containing impurities as a low-molecular-weight fraction, by evaporating the low-molecular-weight fraction, in which method a liquid stream of impure liquid material in the form of a bundle of a multiplicity of streams or jets is brought into contact with a flowing gas phase, after which the gas stream, which contains the impurities, is removed and purified liquid material is collected; a device for performing this method and also the use of purified liquid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franciscus Petrus Marie Nooren
  • Patent number: 5672679
    Abstract: In a process for producing an amorphous thermoplastic resin composition comprising melt-kneading at least one amorphous thermoplastic resin, an improvement comprising melt-kneading the amorphous thermoplastic resin in the presence of not less than 1% by weight, based on the amorphous thermoplastic resin, of an organic solvent in a kneader having a vent hole(s) while maintaining at least one vent hole of the kneader under reduced pressure by means of an evacuator to remove the organic solvent so as to reduce the organic solvent content in the final composition to less than 1% by weight. Thermal deterioration of the resin during melt-kneading can be inhibited to provide a resin composition having well-balanced impact resistance and heat resistance and excellent hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoji Takagi, Koji Nishida, Megumi Kojima
  • Patent number: 5631346
    Abstract: Polyolefins are thermomechanically degraded in a twin-screw extruder without a downstream degradation apparatus, at from 300.degree. to 550.degree. C. and from 1 to 100 bar and in average residence times of the reaction mixture of from 0.5 to 10 minutes, by a process in which the pressure in the twin-screw extruder is changed periodically or aperiodically with a fluctuation of from 0.5 to 30 bar. The novel process is particularly suitable for the degradation of polypropylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Deckers, Albin Berger, J urgen Hofmann, Roger Klimesch, Karl-Peter Farwerck, Hilmar Ohlig
  • Patent number: 5569740
    Abstract: There are provided a deproteinized natural rubber latex which comprises a purified product of proteolytically treated natural rubber latex and contains fine particles of natural rubber latex, a deproteinized natural rubber which comprises a dehydrated product of the deproteinized natural rubber latex, and a process for the production of deproteinized natural rubber latex which comprises subjecting a latex solution prepared by (1) adding water and/or a surfactant to a natural rubber latex and then proteolytically treating the resulting latex solution or (2) proteolytically treating a natural rubber latex and then adding water and/or a surfactant to the treated natural rubber latex, to purification using a rotary plate membrane separation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignees: Nitto Denko Corporation, Kao Corporation, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Tanaka, Kazuhiko Shibata, Kenichi Ikeda, Yuji Nishida, Masaharu Hayashi, Shinichi Nakade, Akihito Kuga, Eiji Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 5550186
    Abstract: The volume average diameter of relatively large rubber-like composite particles dispersed through out a continuous resin phase may be reduced by subjecting the syrup to a shear field. The application of a uniform shear field generator to the relatively large rubber-like composite particle syrup is particularly desirable since it gives a high degree of control over the size and distribution of the dispersed rubber-like composite phase. As a result it is possible to optimize the particle size distribution in an impact modified thermoplastic and obtain better or a better balance of properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Novacor Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: James E. Cantrill, Thomas R. Doyle
  • Patent number: 5541285
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method to process narrow molecular weight distribution polyolefins, particularly thermoplastics, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, and polyacrylates, whether they are homopolymers or copolymers. The process may be used in any extruder and is typically implemented along the extruder screw and/or barrel by heating the first zone the screw/barrel to place the polyolefin into a molten, flowable state. Thereafter, the polymer is cooled in the second heating zone to a point 50.degree. C. above or 10.degree. C. below the crystalline melting temperature of the polymer and thereafter is reheated in the final heating zone to a molten, flowable state and finally extruding it within 5 seconds or less through the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: Pawan K. Agarwal