Eastman Chemical Company

Huntsman Polypropylene Corporation

Horst K Seeger

Robert E Holliday

Jeffrey James Vanderbilt

Luis A Pagan

William A Ames

James H Scott

Yao-Ching Liu

Max Statman

Timothy J McKeon

Gregory T Slemons

Kimberly R Payne

LeVoy G Haight

The present invention relates to a continuous high molecular weight, amorphous polymer-producing process which includes a reactor design, an unreacted monomer and solvent recycling and purification system, a catalyst deactivation and polymer stabilization system, and a polymer isolation process. The present invention relates to the discovery of a continuous process for the production of polymers. The discovery relates particularly to Ziegler-Natta synthesis of amorphous polymers from .alpha.-olefins. In the inventive method, it was discovered that reconfiguration of process streams for the purposes of the product stabilization and catalyst deactivation led to elimination of the need for an elaborate absorption bed train to purify recycled components. Additionally, reconfiguration of process streams resulted in an improvement of process yield where recycled solvent and unreacted monomer previously caused process yield to be marginal in comparison to using entirely new feedstocks. The present invention also comprises a preferred embodiment of the synthesis of polyoctene, the separation of polyoctene from unreacted octene monomer and unreactive hydrocarbon solvent, and the deactivation of polymerization catalyst.

Process for the synthesis of high molecular weight predominantly

A process for the production of elastomeric polypropylene is disclosed. The process entails contacting the propylene monomer neat or in an unreactive hydrocarbon solvent, with a catalyst in a recirculated, stirred reactor at a temperature of about 60.degree. to 80.degree. C. thereby producing elastomeric polypropylene. The reactor contents are in the slurry/solution phase and are essentially free of catalyst poisons. The reactor is capable of recirculating contents that are very viscous such that the reactor contents are well mixed while a portion of the contents of the reactor containing propylene, any solvent, and elastomeric polypropylene are continually removed by the use of a high viscosity pump to recover the elastomeric polypropylene.

Process for the synthesis of elastomeric polypropylene

A process for the production of amorphous polyolefins is disclosed. The process entails contacting the olefin monomer, in an unreactive hydrocarbon solvent, with a catalyst in a recirculated, stirred reactor thereby producing amorphous polyolefin. The reactor is capable of recirculating contents that are very viscous.

Catalysts and synthesis of high molecular weight amorphous polyolefins

A process control scheme for temporarily slowing or killing the production of polypropylene while idling the reactor using a fourth generation catalyst system containing a solid magnesium chloride supported titanium tetrachloride catalyst component containing an internal strong electron donor in combination with a silicon compound, and an organoaluminum compound (cocatalyst) is disclosed. This process entails the introduction of an amount of an external strong electron donor to the ongoing polymerization reaction. The polymerization reaction can be restarted by introducing an additional amount of the organoaluminum compound.

Process for the production of polypropylene

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Longview, TX, United States of America

Horst K Seeger