Standard Oil Company (indiana)

Harold Grams

Nicholas M Karayannis

John S Skryantz

Catalyst and process for polymerization of alpha-olefins to predominantly atactic products, such catalyst comprising (A) an organoaluminum component and (B) a solid reaction product of (1) a titanium (IV) component and (2) a hydrocarbon-soluble organomagnesium-organoaluminum complex.

Catalyst and process for polymerization of alpha-olefins

A process is described herein for improving the crystalline olefin polymerization yield and soluble polymer production of a high surface area, large porosity, brown catalyst component comprising beta titanium trichloride and some of at least one organic electron pair donor compound, which component is prepared by organoaluminum compound reduction of titanium tetrachloride followed by incorporation of the reduced solid with said donor compound and thereafter treatment with an electron pair acceptor compound. The improved process employs in the reduction a dialkylaluminum compound and a second material, which second material is subsequently substantially extracted prior to use of said component for polymerization.

Process for forming high performance titanium trichloride olefin

A process is described herein for improving the soluble polymer production of, while maintaining substantially the same crystalline polymer yield of, a high surface area, large porosity, brown catalyst component comprising beta titanium trichloride and some of at least one organic electron pair donor compound, which component is prepared by (a) organoaluminum compound reduction of titanium tetrachloride followed by (b) incorporation of the reduced solid with said donor compound and thereafter (c) treatment with titanium tetrachloride. The improved process comprises treatment at ambient temperature or somewhat above with an additional organic electron pair donor compound such as an ester, an amine, an organic borate or a coordinating, cyclic hydrocarbon containing at least one double bond, etc., after (b) or (c) above and prior to use of said component in polymerization.

A new catalyst component and its use with an organoaluminum compound, which component is a brown solid of high surface area and large pore volume comprising beta titanium trichloride and a small amount of an organic electron pair donor compound. This solid when used in conjunction with an organoaluminum compound to polymerize alpha-olefins produces product polymer at substantially increased rates and yields compared to present commercial, purple titanium trichloride while coproducing reduced amounts of low-molecular-weight and, particularly, amorphous polymer. Combinations of this new catalyst component and an organoaluminum compound can be further improved in their catalytic properties by addition of small amounts of modifiers, alone and in combination. Such combinations with or without modifiers show good sensitivity to hydrogen used as a molecular weight controlling agent. The combinations are useful for slurry, bulk and vapor phase polymerization of alpha-olefins such as propylene.

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Harold Grams