US4340076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dissolving polymers in compatible liquids and uses thereof
Assignee: General Technology Applications Inc
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Filing: 1980-01-31
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Granted: 1982-07-20
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Expires: 2000-01-31
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a technique for extremely rapid dissolution, or dispersion on essentially the molecular level, of certain polymeric materials in compatible liquid vehicles. The polymeric materials are comminuted at cryogenic temperatures and are then introduced into a liquid vehicle preferably while still at or near cryogenic temperature. At low concentrations, the resulting blend or system displays reduced friction to flow while high concentrations may be used to immobilize the liquid vehicle and/or reduce its vapor pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 William Weitzen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:32
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/16; B; B29; B29B; B29B13/00; B29B13/10; B29B7/00; B29B7/80; B29B7/82; C; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/02; C08J3/09; C08J3/11; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S422/00; Y10S422/901; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
Process for dissolving a high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymer in liquid hydrocarbons which comprises chilling to cryogenic temperature said polymer, comminuting the chilled polymer at cryogenic temperature to form discrete particles displaying a high surface energy state and contacting the so-formed particles at or near cryogenic temperature and while in said high surface energy state with liquid hydrocarbons whereby the polymer particles are dissolved therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
Process for dissolving a high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymer in liquid hydrocarbons which comprises chilling to cryogenic temperature said polymer, comminuting the chilled polymer at cryogenic temperature to form discrete particles displaying a high surface energy state and contacting the so-formed particles at or near cryogenic temperature and while in said high surface energy state with liquid hydrocarbons whereby the polymer particles are dissolved therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein the particles contacted with liquid hydrocarbon are so contacted as discrete particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein the high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymer is polyisobutylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 1 wherein liquid nitrogen is used as a cryogenic refrigerant to chill said polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
Process of reducing friction caused by flowing hydrocarbons through a conduit which comprises cryogenically comminuting a long chain rubbery hydrocarbon polymer to form particles thereof, said particles having high surface energy, dissolving the so-formed particles while at or near cryogenic temperature and in said high surface energy state in liquid hydrocarbon and flowing the resulting solution through a conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
Process of reducing friction caused by flowing hydrocarbons through a conduit which comprises cryogenically comminuting a long chain rubbery hydrocarbon polymer to form particles thereof, said particles having high surface energy, dissolving the so-formed particles while at or near cryogenic temperature and in said high surface energy state in liquid hydrocarbon and flowing the resulting solution through a conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said particles are maintained below the polymer embrittlement temperature until introduced into said liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process according to claim 6 wherein said long chain rubbery hydrocarbon polymer is polyisobutylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 6 wherein said long chain rubbery hydrocarbon polymer is a block copolymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process according to claim 8 wherein said long chain rubbery hydrocarbon polymer is polystyrene-polyisoprene-polystyrene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
Process according to claim 8 wherein said long chain rubbery hydrocarbon polymer is polybutadiene-polyisoprene-polybutadiene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Process according to claim 6 wherein said long chain rubbery hydrocarbon polymer is natural rubber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said hydrocarbon polymer is dissolved in a mixing tank continuously filled with a drag stream from a main hydrocarbon stream and wherein said drag stream, now containing polymer, is merged with said main stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said hydrocarbon polymer is dissolved in fixed batches of said liquid hydrocarbon at a concentration up to about 10% and wherein said batches are metered into a main hydrocarbon stream flowing through a conduit to thereby reduce pressure drop in or increase flow through said conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 5 wherein liquid nitrogen is used as a cryogenic refrigerant for the comminution step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
Process of reducing friction caused by flowing hydrocarbons through a conduit which comprises cryogenically comminuting polyisobutylene having a molecular weight of from about 1,000,000 to about 10,000,000 to form discrete particles of enhanced surface energy and of a size to pass through a No. 10 U.S. Standard screen scale, contacting the so-formed particles of polyisobutylene at or near cryogenic temperature and while in said enhanced surface energy state as discrete particles with liquid hydrocarbon whereby said particles are rapidly dissolved in the liquid hydrocarbons, and flowing the liquid hydrocarbons containing dissolved polyisobutylene through a conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
Process of reducing friction caused by flowing hydrocarbons through a conduit which comprises cryogenically comminuting polyisobutylene having a molecular weight of from about 1,000,000 to about 10,000,000 to form discrete particles of enhanced surface energy and of a size to pass through a No. 10 U.S. Standard screen scale, contacting the so-formed particles of polyisobutylene at or near cryogenic temperature and while in said enhanced surface energy state as discrete particles with liquid hydrocarbon whereby said particles are rapidly dissolved in the liquid hydrocarbons, and flowing the liquid hydrocarbons containing dissolved polyisobutylene through a conduit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
A process for dissolving a thermoplastic polymer in a compatible liquid vehicle which comprises cryogenically comminuting said polymer to form discrete particles of enhanced surface energy and admixing said particles with the liquid vehicle while while maintaining said particles in a high surface energy state and at or near cryogenic temperature until introduced into said liquid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
A process for dissolving a thermoplastic polymer in a compatible liquid vehicle which comprises cryogenically comminuting said polymer to form discrete particles of enhanced surface energy and admixing said particles with the liquid vehicle while while maintaining said particles in a high surface energy state and at or near cryogenic temperature until introduced into said liquid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 16 wherein liquid nitrogen is used as the cryogenic refrigerant.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said thermoplastic polymer is linear and is essentially non-crosslinked.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said liquid vehicle is at ambient to slightly elevated temperature upon admixing with said particles.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said particles are sized such that they will pass through a 10 U.S. standard screen.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process for dissolving a thermoplastic polymer in a compatible liquid vehicle which comprises chilling to cryogenic temperature said polymer, comminuting the chilled polymer at cryogenic temperature to form discrete particles having free radicals thereon and contacting the so-formed, free radical-containing particles while at or near cryogenic temperature with the liquid vehicle whereby the particles are dissolved therein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process for dissolving a thermoplastic polymer in a compatible liquid vehicle which comprises chilling to cryogenic temperature said polymer, comminuting the chilled polymer at cryogenic temperature to form discrete particles having free radicals thereon and contacting the so-formed, free radical-containing particles while at or near cryogenic temperature with the liquid vehicle whereby the particles are dissolved therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3215154A
Cited
US3771729A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-07-19 | 1986-01-18 | 1986-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-07-19 | 1990-01-18 | 1990-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-07-19 | 1994-01-18 | 1994-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |