Intellectual Property Office
Non-Confidential Disclosures
"Metal Catalyzed Synthesis of Novel Hyperbranched Hydrocarbon Polymers From Ethylene and a-Olefins"
PSU Inv. Disc. No. 97-1709
Field of the Invention:
Synthesis of hyperbranched hydrocarbon polymers to provide higher weight, more liquid olefins useful as lubricants and detergents.
Inventors:
A, Sen et al.
Background:
The polymerization of ethylene and a-olefins by transition metal catalysts almost invariably lead to the formation of linear polymers which are solids and thus not suitable as lubricants for most applications. For a hydrocarbon polymer with molecular weight >350 to remain a liquid, the presence of significant branching is required. Until now, it has not been possible to obtain relatively high molecular weight hyperbranched hydrocarbon polymers that are liquids from simple, inexpensive, olefins such as ethylene and propylene. Then only exception has been a catalytic system disclosed in a recent international patent application filed jointly by DuPont and the University of North Carolina [PCT International Application WO 96/23010 (1996)]. Our procedure could potentially be competitive with this technology.
Invention description:
Dr. Sen et al. have discovered a novel method for synthesizing hyperbranched hydrocarbon polymers through nickel and palladium catalyzed polymerization of ethylene and a-olefins. Additionally, a modified procedure allows the grafting of the hyperbranched polymer onto aromatic rings in organic molecules and polymers. The resultant materials embody unique properties having commercial potential as lubricants and detergents among many other things. The catalytic systems discovered by Penn State researchers are substantially different from and produce hydrocarbon polymers with a greater degree of branching than those claimed in the above mentioned patent application. The degree of branching can be estimated from the ratio of methyl hydrogens to total alkyl hydrogens in the polymer, with a higher ratio indicating greater branching. For the polymers that we have obtained from ethylene, this ratio varies from 0.4-0.6.
Invention status:
U.S. Issued Patent No. 6,303,717
Contact:
Mr. Matthew Smith
Sr. Technology Licensing Officer
Intellectual Property Office
113 Technology Center
The Pennsylvania State Univ.
University Park, PA 16802-7000
Phone: (814) 863-1122
Fax: (814) 865-3591
E-mail: mds126@psu.edu
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