Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy

Total Research & Technology Feluy

Fina Research, S.a.

Philippe Marechal

Eric Damme

Philippe J Bodart

Louis Fouarge

Daniel Siraux

Olivier Miserque

Renaud Oreins

Hugo Vandaele

Etienne Laurent

Marc Moers

Marc Van Der Auwera

Giacomo Conti

Pascal Folie

Carl Van Camp

Mark Verleysen

Frans Van Den Brande

Marjan Sillis

Kai Hortman

Leopold D'Hooghe

Andre Lewalle

André Lewalle

Philippe Le Coz

Christian Daffe

The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for polymerizing olefins. One embodiment comprises polymerizing at least one monomer in a first loop reactor in the presence of a catalyst to produce a first polyolefin fraction. A portion of the first polyolefin fraction is transferred to a second loop reactor, connected in series with the first loop reactor. The process further comprises polymerizing in the second loop reactor at least one monomer in the presence of a catalyst to produce a second polyolefin fraction in addition to the first polyolefin fraction. The combination of the first and second polyolefin fractions can produce a polymer resin fluff having bimodal molecular weight distribution.

Double loop technology

A method for the copolymerization of ethylene and a Colefin in a loop reactor and polymers formed therefrom are described herein. The method generally includes introducing an ethylene monomer, a Colefin and a diluent carrier liquid into a loop reactor. A catalyst system can be supplied to said loop reactor. The diluent liquid, ethylene monomer, and Colefin can be circulated through said loop reactor, while copolymerizing said ethylene and Colefin in the presence of said catalyst system to produce a slurry. The slurry can be diverted into a settling leg, and sequentially discharged therefrom and withdrawn from said loop reactor. An ethylene monomer co-feed can be introduced into said loop reactor at spaced locations downstream of the ethylene and diluent. The ethylene co-feed can be introduced in an amount effective to reduce the variation in the ratio of ethylene and Colefin.

A method for the copolymerization of ethylene and a C+ olefin copolymer in a loop reactor system and polymers formed therefrom are described herein. The method generally includes introducing an ethylene monomer, a C+ alpha olefin comonomer and a diluent carrier liquid into a reactor system comprising at least one loop reactor; supplying at least one polymerization catalyst system to said reactor system; circulating said diluent liquid, ethylene monomer, and alpha olefin copolymer through said loop reactor while copolymerizing said ethylene and said alpha olefin monomer in the presence of said catalyst system to produce a slurry of polymer fluff particles in said diluent carrier liquid; diverting the flow of said slurry through said loop reactor into at least one settling leg connected to the loop reactor and sequentially discharging the settled polymer slurry from said at least one settling leg to withdraw said polymer slurry from said reactor system; and introducing an ethylene monomer co-feed into said loop reactor at least two spaced locations downstream of the point of introduction of ethylene comonomer and diluent in subparagraph a), said ethylene co-feed being introduced in an amount effective to reduce the variation in the ratio of ethylene monomer and comonomer within said loop reactor.

This invention provides a multi-layer film or sheet prepared by coextruding or laminating polypropylene with one or more polyethylene(s), characterised in that the adhesion between a polypropylene layer and a polyethylene layer is provided by a metallocene-produced polyethylene.

Adhesion of polyethylene on polypropylene

The present invention discloses the use of a chromium-based catalyst system in two serially connected loop reactors for copolymerising ethylene and a comonomer, at reduced productivity, the final polyethylene having a reduced amount of gel.

Low gel chromium catalysis

A homogeneous blend of a low density polyethylene with a metallocene-catalysed polyethylene having a density of from 0.906 g/cmand a Dow Rheology Index of at least 5/MI,MIbeing the melt index measured according to ASTMD-1238 condition 190&#xb0; C./2.16 kg and the Dow Rheology Index being determined by a dynamic rheological analysis performed at 190&#xb0;.

High shrink polyethylene films

A process for producing bimodal polyethylene resins in two reactors in series, the process comprising producing a first polyethylene resin fraction in a first slurry loop reactor in a diluent in the presence of a catalyst and producing a second polyethylene resin fraction in a second slurry loop reactor, serially connected to the first reactor, in the diluent in the presence of the catalyst, the first polyethylene resin fraction being passed from the first reactor to the second reactor together with the catalyst, one of the first and second reactors producing a resin fraction of higher molecular than the resin fraction produced by the other of the first and second reactors, characterised in that the first reactor is fed with a feed of ethylene and diluent having an ethylene content of at least 70 wt % based on the weight of the diluent and in that in the first reactor the slurry of polyethylene in the diluent has a solids content of at least 30 wt % based on the weight of the diluent.

Process for producing bimodal polyethylene resins

A process for producing polyolefins having a bimodal molecular weight distribution, the process comprising producing a first polyolefin fraction in the presence of a catalyst in a first loop reactor, and producing a second polyolefin fraction in the presence of the catalyst in a second loop reactor which is serially connected to and downstream of the first loop reactor, the first and second polyolefin fractions being blended in the second loop reactor to form a polyolefin having a bimodal molecular weight distribution, at least the first loop reactor containing a diluent under supercritical conditions which is circulated around the loop of the reactor, and wherein at least the first loop reactor is provided with a fluff concentrating device communicating with the loop and in which polyolefin fluff of the first fraction is concentrated in the supercritical diluent, and polyolefin fluff of the first polyolefin fraction is transferred together with an amount of supercritical diluent from the fluff concentrating device of the first loop reactor into the second loop reactor.

Process for producing polyolefins

Growing community of inventors

Nivelles, Belgium

Philippe Marechal