Bp Chemicals Limited

Joelle Collomb-Ceccarini

Pierre Crouzet

The present invention relates to a gas phase process for the (co-)polymerization of alpha-olefins in a fluidized bed, by means of a catalyst system of the Ziegler-Natta type consisting of a catalyst (a) comprising magnesium, halogen and transition metal atoms and a cocatalyst (b) consisting of an organometallic compound. The catalyst system is (i) prepared in a granular form, either fixed on a granular support or converted into a prepolymer, (ii) then subjected to a treatment by a polymerization inhibiting agent in the absence of alpha-olefins, and then (iii) brought into contact with alpha-olefins under (co-)polymerization conditions in the fluidized bed, in the presence of a cocatalyst (c) consisting of an organometallic compound, identical or different from the cocatalyst (b).

Process for the polymerization or copolymerization of alpha-olefins in a

The invention relates to a process for preparing supported catalysts for the copolymerization of ethylene with higher alpha-olefins, characterized in that a compound of a transition metal of Groups IV, V and VI of the Periodic Table of Elements, used at its maximum valency, is precipitated on to a support of magnesium chloride and possibly aluminum chloride by a reduction reaction in two stages, employing reducing agents selected for the first stage from among alkylaluminum dihalides, and for the second stage from among organo-metallic compounds with a higher reducing power than that of the alkylaluminum dihalides. These catalysts are particularly well suited to the copolymerization in the gas phase of ethylene and higher alpha-olefins.

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Marseille, France

Joelle Collomb-Ceccarini