Sabic Global Technologies B.v.

Franciscus Petrus Hermanus Schreurs

Jan Nicolaas Eddy Duchateau

Diego Mauricio Castaneda Zuniga

Peter Neuteboom

Carolina De Los Angeles Toloza Porras

Jerome Vachon

Maria Soliman

Priya Garg

Jacobus Christinus Josephus Franciscus Tacx

Ana Luisa Vaz

M Priya Garg

The present invention relates to a process for the production of modified polyethylene comprising adding a free radical initiator composition and a polar monomer in extrusion of polyethylene materials with a melt mass flow rate (MFR) as determined in accordance with ISO 1133-1 (2011) at 190&#xb0; C. under a load of 2.16 kg of between 0.5 and 75 g/10 min characterized in that the free radical initiator composition is added in quantities between 0.01 wt % to 5 wt % compared to the total weight of the polyethylene material wherein the extrusion is performed at a temperature between 230&#xb0; C. and 350&#xb0; C. Such process allows for the production of modified polyethylenes, such as having an amount of grafted polar monomer, such as maleic anhydride, of &#x3e;3 wt %, with low amount of free, unreacted monomer whilst maintaining or not significantly modifying melt properties such as melt mass flow rate.

Process for the production of modified polyethylene materials

The present invention relates to an ethylene copolymer obtained by radical polymerisation through a high-pressure process comprising (i) &#x2265;78.0 and &#x2264;99.99 mole % of recurring units derived from ethylene; (it) &#x2265;0.01 and &#x2264;22.0 mole % of recurring units derived from comonomer A according to Formula (I), wherein R1 is composed of a saturated aliphatic moiety comprising 5-40 carbon atoms or R1 is composed of a saturated aliphatic moiety and consists of hydrogen atoms and 5-40 carbon atoms; R2 is selected from &#x2014;H or &#x2014;CH; R3 is selected from &#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;(CO)&#x2014;(NH)&#x2014; or &#x2014;(CO)&#x2014;O&#x2014;; n=0 or 1 The ethylene copolymers have a reduced peak melting temperature and reduced enthalpy of fusion, indicating that these ethylene copolymers have a reduced degree of crystallinity and improved clarity, combined with a desired melt mass-flow rate. 

Ethylene copolymers and process for the production thereof

The present invention relates to an ethylene copolymer comprising: (iv) &#x2265;78.0 and &#x2264;99.9 mol % of recurring units derived from ethylene; (v) &#x2265;0.10 and &#x2264;20.0 mol % of a recurring units derived from a comonomer A according to formula (I) wherein R1 is a moiety comprising 1-30 carbon atoms; R2 is selected from &#x2014;H or &#x2014;CH; R3 is selected from &#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;(CO)&#x2014;(NH)&#x2014; or &#x2014;(CO)&#x2014;O&#x2014;; n=0 or 1; and m&#x2265;1 and &#x2264;10; and (vi) &#x2265;0.01 and &#x2264;2.00 mol % of a recurring units derived from a comonomer B according to formula (II) wherein R1 is a moiety comprising 1-30 carbon atoms; each R2 may individually be selected from &#x2014;H or &#x2014;CH; each of R3 is individually selected from &#x2014;O&#x2014;, &#x2014;(CO)&#x2014;(NH)&#x2014; or &#x2014;(CO)&#x2014;O&#x2014;; n=0 or 1; p=0 or 1; and m&#x2265;1 and &#x2264;10; the mol % of each of (i), (ii) and (iii) being related to the sum of the mol % of (i), (ii) and (iii), the sum of the mol % of (i), (ii) and (iii) adding up to 100 mol %. Such ethylene copolymers have a reduced peak melting temperature and reduced enthalpy of fusion, indicating that these ethylene copolymers have a reduced degree of crystallinity and improved clarity and contact angle, combined with a desired melt mass-flow rate. 

The present invention relates to a use or process for the reduction of gels in polyethylene materials comprising at least one ethylene copolymer with a density &#x2265;850 kg/m3 and &#x3c;905 kg/m3 wherein a polyethylene material is subjected to melt processing in the presence of a free radical initiator composition characterized in that the free radical initiator composition may for example be added in quantities &#x2264;0.050 wt. % compared to the total weight of the polyethylene material, wherein further the melt processing is performed in a melt processing unit, wherein the free radical initiator composition is dosed to the melt processing unit in a stage where the polyethylene material is in a molten condition and melt processing is conducted at a temperature of &#x2265;160&#xb0; C. and &#x2264;240&#xb0; C.

Use of a free radical initiator composition for the production of polyethylene materials having a reduced gel content

The present invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene polymers in a tubular reactor comprising reacting in said tubular reactor a feed composition comprising ethylene and one or more composition comprising one or more cyclic olefin wherein the cyclic olefin is a compound having the structure of Formula (I): wherein R may be a moiety comprising &#x2265;1 and &#x2264;10 carbon atoms; wherein Rand Rmay each individually be hydrogen or a moiety comprising &#x2265;1 and &#x2264;5 carbon atoms, Rand Rmay be the same or different; wherein &#x22c5; the tubular reactor may be operated at a pressure of &#x2265;200 and &#x2264;280 MPa; &#x22c5; the average reaction peak temperature may be &#x2265;220&#xb0; C. and &#x2264;300&#xb0; C.; &#x22c5; the composition comprising one or more cyclic olefin may be fed to the reactor in one or more feed inlet of said tubular reactor; and &#x22c5; said cyclic olefin may be fed to the tubular reactor in quantities of &#x2264;1.0 mol %, with regards to the total feed composition. Such process allows for the production of ethylene polymers having a high density and a high purity. 

Process for the production of ethylene polymers

The invention relates to a high-pressure polymerisation process for the preparation of polyethylene. A polymer is added to the extruder via a side feed dosage unit wherein the MFIof the polymer added via the side feed dosage unit has a higher value than the melt flow index (MFL) of the polyethylene end product and wherein the Mw/Mn of the end product increases at least 15% compared to the product wherein no polymer is dosed via the side feed.

High-pressure polymerisation process for the preparation of polyethylene

The present invention relates to an ethylene polymer comprising moieties according to Formula (IB): wherein R is a moiety comprising &#x2265;1 and &#x2264;10 carbon atoms; wherein Rand Rare each individually hydrogen or a moiety comprising &#x2265;1 and &#x2264;5 carbon atoms, Rand Rmay be the same or different; wherein the ethylene polymer has a molecular weight distribution of &#x2265;3.0 and &#x2264;40.0; the ethylene polymer has a melting temperature of &#x2265;115&#xb0; C.; the ethylene polymer has a density &#x2265;935 and &#x2264;960 kg/m3; the ethylene polymer is essentially free from chromium, hafnium, zirconium and tetrahydrofuran; for the fraction of the ethylene polymer having a molecular weight &#x3e;100 kg/mol, the intrinsic viscosity of the ethylene polymer is related to the molecular weight according to the inequality: log I.V.&#x3c;0.65*log M&#x2212;3.10 Such polymers have high density, high purity and good processability, whilst maintaining barrier properties for oxygen and water vapour at a level similar to high-density polyethylenes produced via catalytic processes. 

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Maastricht, Netherlands

Franciscus Petrus Hermanus Schreurs