Nova Chemicals (international) S.a.

Nova Chemicals Inc.

Charles Carter

Brian Molloy

XiaoChuan Wang

Qinyan Wang

Kenneth Edward Taylor

Hamidreza Khakdaman

Stephen Salomons

Niousha Kazemi

Mehdi Keshtkar

Christopher Dobbin

Xiaoliang Gao

Stephen John Brown

Fazle Sibtain

Peter Zoricak

Lawrence VanAsseldonk

Monika Kleczek

Zengrong Zhang

Cheng Fan

Darryl Morrison

Janelle Smiley-Wiens

James T Goettel

Frederick Chiu

P Scott Chisholm

Daisy Cruz-milette

Chia Yun Chang

Alva Woo

James Goettel

Holly Severin

Provided in this disclosure are zirconium and hafnium complexes that contain 1) a cyclopentadienyl ligand; 2) an adamantyl-phosphinimine ligand; and 3) at least one other ligand. The use of such a complex, in combination with an activator, as an olefin polymerization catalyst is demonstrated. The catalysts are effective for the copolymerization of ethylene with an alpha olefin (such as 1-butene, 1-hexene, or 1-octene).

Cyclopentadienyl/adamantyl phosphinimine zirconium and hafnium complexes

A one pot synthetic method for making a bridged cyclopentadienyl/fluorenyl type ligand and the corresponding ansa metallocene polymerization catalyst. In a key step, a cyclopentadienide/fluorenide dianion is prepared by combining a fluorene compound, a fulvene compound, and at least 2 molar equivalents of KN(SiMe)in any order in the presence of an ether solvent under ambient conditions. Reaction of the cyclopentadienide/fluorenide dianion with a Group IV transition metal chloride, followed by alkylation gives a metallocene polymerization catalyst in good yields.

Synthesis of metallocene polymerization catalyst

Provided in this disclosure are titanium complexes that contain 1) a cyclopentadienyl ligand; 2) an adamantyl-phosphinimine ligand; and 3) at least one activatable ligand. The use of such a complex, in combination with an activator, as an olefin polymerization catalyst is demonstrated. The catalysts are effective for the copolymerization of ethylene with an alpha olefin (such as 1-butene, 1-hexene or 1-octene) and enable the production of high molecular weight copolymers (Mw greater than 25,000) at high productivity under solution polymerization conditions.

Cyclopentadienyl/adamantyl phosphinimine titanium complexes

Organometallic complexes are described which are useful as pre-polymerization catalysts which may form part of olefin polymerization catalyst systems. The catalyst systems find use in the polymerization of ethylene, optionally with one or more Calpha-olefin comonomers. The organometallic complexes are broadly represented by formula I: wherein L is a bridging group containing a contiguous chain of atoms connecting P with Cy, wherein the contiguous chain contains 2 or 3 atoms and wherein Cy is a cyclopentadienyl-type ligand. The olefin polymerization catalyst system is effective at polymerizing ethylene with alpha-olefins in a solution phase polymerization process at high temperatures and produces ethylene copolymers with high molecular weight and high degrees of alpha-olefin incorporation. Pre-metallation compounds, metallation processes and synthetic methods to make the organometallic complexes as well as polymerization processes are also described.

Organometallic complex, olefin polymerization catalyst system and polymerization process

A continuous solution polymerization process is disclosed wherein at least two catalyst formulations are employed. A first homogeneous catalyst formulation is employed in a first reactor to produce a first ethylene interpolymer and a first heterogeneous catalyst formulation is employed in a second reactor to produce a second ethylene interpolymer. Optionally a third ethylene interpolymer is formed in a third reactor. The resulting ethylene interpolymer products possess desirable properties in a variety of end use applications, for example in film applications. A means for increasing the molecular weight of the first ethylene interpolymer is disclosed and/or a means for increasing the temperature of the first reactor, relative to a third homogeneous catalyst formulation. A means for reducing the (&#x3b1;-olefin/ethylene) weight ratio in the first reactor is disclosed and/or reducing the density of the first ethylene interpolymer, relative to a third homogeneous catalyst formulation.

Means for increasing the molecular weight and decreasing the density of ethylene interpolymers employing homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst formulations

A continuous solution polymerization process is disclosed wherein at least two homogeneous catalyst formulations are employed. A first homogeneous catalyst formulation is employed in a first reactor to produce a first ethylene interpolymer and a second homogeneous catalyst formulation is employed in a second reactor to produce a second ethylene interpolymer. Optionally a third ethylene interpolymer is formed in a third reactor. The resulting ethylene interpolymer products possess desirable properties in a variety of end use applications, for example in film applications. A means for increasing the molecular weight of the first ethylene interpolymer is disclosed and/or a means for increasing the temperature of the first reactor, relative to the third homogeneous catalyst formulation. A means for reducing the (&#x3b1;-olefin/ethylene) weight ratio in the first reactor is disclosed and/or reducing the density of the first ethylene interpolymer, relative to the third homogeneous catalyst formulation.

Means for increasing the molecular weight and decreasing the density of ethylene interpolymers employing mixed homogeneous catalyst formulations

Means for increasing the molecular weight and decreasing the density employing mixed homogeneous catalyst formulations

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Calgary, Canada

Charles Carter