Appeal No. 1996-3306
Application No. 08/145,380
virgin polyethylene with a density from about 0.93 to 0.945 grams per cubic centimeter and
a melt index from about 0.01 to about 0.16 grams per ten minutes.
Anzini teaches a process of making a polyethylene blend "comprised of at least two
polyethylene components having at least one dissimilar rheological property" (Abstract).
Before the two components are blended, at least one rheological parameter, such as melt
index, is determined for each component (column 5, lines 4-9). The two components are
then "matched," whereby one of the components is treated with a free radical generator,
such as benzoyl peroxide (col. 5, line 26), until its rheological property is substantially
similar to that of the other component (col. 6, lines 20-36). Thereafter, the components are
blended together in melt form (column. 9, lines 1-13). In one place in the Anzini reference
(column 4, line 44 to column 5, line 3), a wide variety of polyethylenes of various densities
and melt indexes are disclosed as acceptable candidates. This disclosure broadly
encompasses the densities and melt indexes specified for the claimed polyethylenes but
there is no suggestion or indication to employ the particular polyethylenes claimed.
In another place (col. 7, lines 44-53), Anzini discloses the possibility of applying a
free radical treatment to a recycled polyethylene component and blending that with a virgin
component. This is similar to what the claims describe: contacting post-consumer
polyethylene with organic peroxide and blending the result with virgin polyethylene. Here
too the disclosure does not indicate or suggest employing post-consumer and virgin
components of polyethylenes with the melt indices and densities in the ranges claimed.
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