Univation Technologies, LLC

Other

John H Moorhouse

Kevin Joseph Cann

Mark Gregory Goode

Wesley R Mariott

Maria A Apecetche

Daniel Paul Zilker, Jr

Kevin R Gross

Phuong Anh Cao

Thomas Oswald

Ronald Steven Eisinger

Minghui Zhang

C Jeff Harlan

Jose Fernando Cevallos-Candau

Kurt K Larsen

Michael A Bodin

Kevin J Cann

Mark G Goode

F David Hussein

Cliff Robert Mure

William Albert Matthews

Francois Alexandre

Timothy R Lynn

Bruce Jon Savatsky

Richard B Pannell

Stephen Paul Jaker

Kefu Sun

C Dale Lester

Abarajith S Hari

Barbara J Kopp

Charles D Lester

Robert J Jorgensen

Lixin Sun

Maria Pollard

Daniel P Zilker

Parul A Khokhani

Tomas T Tamargo

Donald P Stauffenecker

Phuong A Cao

Jr Zilker Daniel P

Stephen P Jaker

William A Matthews

Marke G Goode

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards method for modifying a polymer flow index. As an example, a method for modifying a polymer flow index can include providing monomers to a polymerization reactor, providing a chromium catalyst to the polymerization reactor, and providing an active amount of a flow index modifier to the polymerization reactor, wherein the flow index modifier is selected from carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, 2,4-hexadiene, and combinations thereof.

Polymer flow index modifier

Polymerization process control methods for making polyethylene are provided. The process control methods include performing a polymerization reaction in a polymerization reactor to produce the polyethylene, where ethylene, and optionally one or more comonomers, in the polymerization reaction is catalyzed by an electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst and an alkyl aluminum co-catalyst. A melt flow ratio (I/I) of the polyethylene removed from the polymerization reactor is measured and an amount of long chain branching (LCB) of the polyethylene from the polymerization reactor is controlled by adjusting a weight concentration of the alkyl aluminum co-catalyst present in the polymerization reactor. In addition, an electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst productivity of the polyethylene being produced in the polymerization reactor is measured from which the amount of LCB of the polyethylene from the polymerization reactor is determined using the measured electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst productivity and a predetermined relationship between the electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst productivity and the LCB.

Process control for long chain branching control in polyethylene production

A system and method for charging a chromium-based catalyst to a mix vessel; introducing a reducing agent through an entrance arrangement into the mix vessel, and agitating a mixture of the chromium-based catalyst, the reducing agent, and a solvent in the mix vessel to promote contact of the reducing agent with the chromium-based catalyst to give a reduced chromium-based catalyst.

Polyolefin production with chromium-based catalysts

Disclosed herein are methods of controlling polymer properties in polymerization processes that use a chromium-based catalyst. An embodiment discloses a method of producing a polyolefin comprising: contacting a reaction mixture and a reduced chromium oxide catalyst in a gas-phase reactor to produce the polyolefin, wherein the reaction mixture comprises a monomer and a co-monomer; and changing a reaction temperature in the gas-phase reactor by about 1&#xb0; C. or more whereby a gas molar ratio of the co-monomer to the monomer is changed by about 2% or more and a co-monomer content of the polyolefin at substantially constant density is changed by about 2% or more. Additional methods and compositions are also provided.

Methods for controlling polymer properties

A method including contacting a chromium-based catalyst with a reducing agent in a solvent to lower an oxidation state of at least some chromium in the chromium-based catalyst to give a reduced chromium-based catalyst, drying the reduced chromium-based catalyst at a temperature, and adjusting the temperature to affect the flow index response of the reduced chromium-based catalyst.

A system and method for feeding a chromium-based catalyst to a polymerization reactor; adding a reducing agent to the chromium-based catalyst, and polymerizing an olefin into a polyolefin in the polymerization reactor in the presence of the chromium-based catalyst.

Polymerization process control methods for making polyethylene are provided. The process control methods include performing a polymerization reaction in a polymerization reactor to produce the polyethylene, where ethylene, and optionally one or more comonomers, in the polymerization reaction is catalyzed by an electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst and an alkyl aluminum co-catalyst. A melt flow ratio (I/I) of the polyethylene removed from the polymerization reactor is measured and an amount of long chain branching (LCB) of the polyethylene from the polymerization reactor is controlled by adjusting a weight concentration of the alkyl aluminum co-catalyst present in the polymerization reactor. In addition, an electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst productivity of the polyethylene being produced in the polymerization reactor is measured from which the amount of LCB of the polyethylene from the polymerization reactor is determined using the measured electron donor-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst productivity and a predetermined relationship between the electron donor-free Ziegler-Nana catalyst productivity and the LCB.

Modified chromium-based catalyst compositions for olefin polymerization are disclosed. The modifiers prevent or reduce catalyst particle aggregation providing improved catalyst particle dispersion and consistent flow index response of the compositions in olefin polymerization.

Chromium-based catalyst compositions for olefin polymerization

Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method for making a catalyst support includes forming a mixture of a support material and a fluoride donor. The mixture is added to a fluidized bed reactor. The mixture is fluidized to form a fluidized bed while maintaining a flow rate of a fluidizing gas of about 0.1 ft./sec at less than about 370&#xb0; C. and greater than about 0.35 ft./sec at temperatures greater than about 370&#xb0; C. The mixture is calcined to decompose the fluoride donor, forming a fluorinated support.

Fluorinated catalyst supports and catalyst systems

A catalyst system for polymerizing olefin-based polymers and interpolymers is disclosed. The catalyst system may include a supported chromium catalyst and a Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising a bulking agent, Mg, and Ti. The Ziegler-Natta catalysts in catalyst systems disclosed herein run exceptionally well without addition of excessive amounts of co-catalyst, thus allowing for use of chromium based supported catalysts that would otherwise be overwhelmed by aluminum alkyl. Further, embodiments disclosed herein may be run without an internal electron donor, and the lack of an internal electron donor in the system also prevents poisoning of the chromium catalysts by the internal electron donor. By including or co-feeding a chromium based catalyst with these Ziegler-Natta catalysts, it has been found that the molecular architecture of the resulting polyolefins, such as polyethylenes, may provide for resins with excellent processing properties.

Mixed compatible Ziegler-Natta / chromium catalysts for improved polymer products

Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method for making a catalyst support includes forming a mixture of a support material and a fluoride donor. The mixture is added to a fluidized bed reactor. The mixture is fluidized to form a fluidized bed while maintaining a ratio of a pressure drop across a distributor plate to a pressure drop across the fluidized bed of greater than about 7%. The mixture is calcined to decompose the fluoride donor, forming a fluorinated support.

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Middlesex, NJ, United States of America

John H Moorhouse