Lei C Zhang

US Patent:

7632481, Dec 15, 2009

Filed:

Jun 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/560351

Inventors:

Valery N. Khabashesku - Houston TX, US
Lei Zhang - Houston TX, US
John L. Margrave - Bellaire TX, US

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

B82B 3/00
D01F 9/12
D06M 13/11

US Classification:

4234471, 4234472, 977748, 977847

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to methods of forming sidewall-functionalized carbon nanotubes, wherein such functionalized carbon nanotubes have hydroxyl-terminated moieties covalently attached to their sidewalls. Generally, such methods involve chemistry on carbon nanotubes that have first been fluorinated. In some embodiments, fluorinated carbon nanotubes (“fluoronanotubes”) are reacted with mono-metal salts of a dialcohol, MO—R—OH, where M is a metal and R is hydrocarbon or other organic chain and/or ring structural unit. In such embodiments, —O—R—OH displaces —F on the nanotube, the fluorine leaving as MF. Generally, such mono-metal salts are formed in situ by the addition of MOH to one or more dialcohols in which the fluoronanotubes have been dispersed. In some embodiments, fluoronanotubes are reacted with amino alcohols, such as being of the type HN—R—OH, wherein —N(H)—R—OH displaces —F on the nanotube, the fluorine leaving as HF.

US Patent:

8501653, Aug 6, 2013

Filed:

Feb 16, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/028390

Inventors:

Lei Zhang - Seabrook TX, US
David Knoeppel - League City TX, US

Assignee:

Fina Technology, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B01J 3/00
B01J 37/00
C08F 4/02
C08F 4/60

US Classification:

502107, 502132, 502113, 502133

Abstract:

Catalyst systems, processes of forming the same and polymers formed therefrom are described herein. The processes of forming the catalyst systems generally include contacting a blend of an alkyl magnesium compound and an organoaluminum compound with an alcohol to form a magnesium dialkoxide compound; contacting the magnesium dialkoxide compound with a first agent to form a solution of reaction product “A”, the first agent including a halogenating/titanating agent; contacting the solution of reaction product “A” with a second agent to form a solid reaction product “B”, the second agent including a blend of a first metal halide and a metal alkoxide; contacting the solid reaction product “B” with a third agent to form a solid reaction product “C”, the third agent including a second metal halide; contacting the solid reaction product “C” with a fourth agent to form a solid reaction product “D”, the fourth agent including a third metal halide; contacting the solid reaction product “D” with a fifth agent to form a catalyst component, the fifth agent including a reducing agent; and heating an intermediate selected from reaction product “A”, reaction product “B”, reaction product “C”, reaction product “D” and combinations thereof to form a heat-treated catalyst that results in a shear response and a molecular weight distribution for a polymer produced by the heat-treated catalyst that are greater than a shear response and a molecular weight distribution for a polymer produced by an identical non-heat-treated catalyst.

US Patent:

8541322, Sep 24, 2013

Filed:

Jul 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/576134

Inventors:

Enrique V. Barrera - Houston TX, US
Jiang Zhu - Houston TX, US
Lei Zhang - Houston TX, US
Valery N. Khabashesku - Houston TX, US
Jong Dae Kim - Seoul, KR
Mary Lou Margrave - Bellaire TX, US

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

B32B 17/02

US Classification:

442180, 442172, 442175, 442198

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to methods of functionalizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs), particularly single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), with organosilane species, wherein such functionalization enables fabrication of advanced polymer composites. The present invention is also directed toward the functionalized CNTs, advanced CNT-polymer composites made with such functionalized CNTs, and methods of making such advanced CNT-polymer composites.

US Patent:

8592535, Nov 26, 2013

Filed:

Jan 11, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/685198

Inventors:

Kayo Vizzini - Pasadena TX, US
David Knoeppel - League City TX, US
Lei Zhang - Seabrook TX, US

Assignee:

Fina Technology, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

C08F 4/46
C08F 4/18

US Classification:

5261231, 526107

Abstract:

Processes of forming catalyst systems, catalyst systems and polymers formed therefrom are described herein. The processes generally include providing a first compound including a magnesium dialkoxide, contacting the first compound with a second compound to form a solution of reaction product “A”, wherein the second compound is generally represented by the formula:Ti(OR);wherein Ris selected from Cto Clinear to branched alkyls, contacting the solution of reaction product “A” with a first metal halide to form a solid reaction product “B”, contacting solid reaction product “B” with a second metal halide to form reaction product “C” and contacting reaction product “C” with reducing agent to form a catalyst component.

US Patent:

20110263802, Oct 27, 2011

Filed:

Apr 22, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/765454

Inventors:

Lei Zhang - Seabrook TX, US
William Gauthier - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Fina Technology, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

C08F 4/44
C08F 110/02
C08F 4/76

US Classification:

5261242, 502103, 502115, 526352

Abstract:

Methods of forming a catalyst, catalysts, polymerization processes and polymers formed therefrom are described herein. The method of forming a catalyst generally includes contacting an alkyl magnesium compound with an alcohol to form a magnesium alkoxide compound; contacting the magnesium alkoxide compound with a first titanium alkoxide and a first agent to form a reaction product “A”, wherein the titanium alkoxide and the first agent are nonblended individual components prior to contacting the magnesium alkoxide; and sequentially contacting the reaction product “A” with a second agent, followed by a third agent, and subsequently a first reducing agent to form a catalyst component.

US Patent:

20120046429, Feb 23, 2012

Filed:

Aug 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/861349

Inventors:

Lei Zhang - Seabrook TX, US
Kenneth Blackmon - Houston TX, US
David Rauscher - League City TX, US

Assignee:

Fina Technology, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

C08F 4/654
C08F 110/02
B01J 31/38

US Classification:

526151, 502110, 502133

Abstract:

Catalyst compositions, methods of forming the same and polymers formed therefrom are described herein. The methods of forming the catalysts generally include contacting an alkyl magnesium compound with a viscosity modifier prior to contact with an alcohol to form a magnesium dialkoxide compound; contacting the magnesium dialkoxide compound with a first titanium alkoxide and a first agent to form a first solution reaction product “A”, wherein the titanium alkoxide and the first agent are non-blended individual components prior to contacting the magnesium dialkoxide; contacting the first solution reaction product “A” with a second titanium alkoxide to form a second solution reaction product “B”; contacting the second solution reaction product “B” with a second agent to form a first solid reaction product “C”; contacting the first solid reaction product “C” with a third agent to form a second solid reaction product “D”; and contacting the second solid reaction product “D” with a reducing agent to limn a catalyst component.

US Patent:

20120083405, Apr 5, 2012

Filed:

Dec 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/316662

Inventors:

Kayo Vizzini - Pasadena TX, US
David Knoeppel - League City TX, US
Lei Zhang - Seabrook TX, US

Assignee:

FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

C08F 10/02
C08F 4/654

US Classification:

502104, 502118, 5261258

Abstract:

Processes of forming catalyst systems, catalyst systems and polymers formed therefrom are described herein. The processes generally include providing a first compound including a magnesium dialkoxide, contacting the first compound with a second compound to form a solution of reaction product “A”, wherein the second compound is generally represented by the formula:wherein Ris selected from Cto Clinear to branched alkyls, contacting the solution of reaction product “A” with a first metal halide to form a solid reaction product “B”, contacting solid reaction product “B” with a second metal halide, to form reaction product “C” and contacting reaction product “C” with reducing agent to form a catalyst component.

US Patent:

20120202955, Aug 9, 2012

Filed:

Feb 7, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/022021

Inventors:

LEI ZHANG - Seabrook TX, US
Kenneth Blackmon - Houston TX, US
David Rauscher - Angleton TX, US

Assignee:

Fina Technology, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

C08F 4/60

US Classification:

526119, 502104, 502115

Abstract:

Catalyst Systems, processes of forming the same and polymers and polymerization processes are described herein. The process of forming the catalyst system generally includes providing a first compound including a magnesium dialkoxide and aluminum alkoxide: contacting the first compound with a first agent and a second agent to form a solution of reaction product “A”, the first agent including a titanating agent and the second agent including a first metal halide; contacting the solution of reaction product “A” with a third agent to form a solid reaction product “B”, the third agent including a second metal halide: contacting the solid reaction product “B” with a fourth agent to form a solid reaction product “C”, the fourth agent including a third metal halide: optionally contacting the solid reaction product “C” with a fifth agent to form a solid reaction product “D”, the fifth agent including a fourth metal halide; and contacting the solid reaction product “C” or “D” with a sixth agent to form a catalyst component, the sixth agent including a first organoaluminum compound.