Sabic Global Technologies B.v.

Robert Lap Key Chan

Nicolaas Hendrika Friederichs

Eric Johannes Cornelia Janssen

Geert Johannes Marinus Meppelder

Johannes Julian Matthias Kruck

Remy Peter Theresia Smeets

The invention relates to a process for the production of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene in the presence of a catalyst system that comprises (I) the solid reaction product obtained from the reaction of a) a hydrocarbon solution containing 1) an organic oxygen containing magnesium compound or a halogen containing magnesium compound and 2) an organic oxygen containing titanium compound and b) an aluminium compound of the formula AlRXwhere R is a hydrocarbylgroup containing (3-10) carbon atoms, X is an halogenide and 0&#x3c;a&#x3c;3 and (I!) an aluminium compound having the formula AlRin which R is a wherein the molar ratio of aluminium from (b): titanium from (a) is higher than 3:1 and the average particle size of the catalyst ranges between 0.1 &#x3bc;m and 1.0 &#x3bc;m and The obtained polymer is in the form of spheroidal particles with an average particle size of less than 50 &#x3bc;m or is in the form of loosely bound agglomerates consisting of spheroidal sub-particles with an average particle size of less than 50 &#x3bc;m.

Process for the production of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

The present invention relates to a catalyst system for the production of polyethylene comprising: I) the reaction product obtained by reacting a) a hydrocarbon solution comprising: i. a magnesium-containing compound selected from an organic oxygen-containing magnesium compound and/or a halogen-containing magnesium compound; and ii. an organic oxygen-containing titanium compound wherein the molar ratio of magnesium:titanium is lower than 3:1; and b) an organo aluminium halide having the formula AlRXin which R is a hydrocarbon moiety containing 1-10 carbon atoms, X is a halogen and 0&#x3c;n&#x3c;3; II) an aluminium compound having the formula AlR', in which R&#x2032; is a hydrocarbon moiety containing 1-10 carbon atoms; and III) one or more of an electron donor selected from the group of 1,2-dialkoxy hydrocarbon compounds wherein the molar ratio of supplied organo aluminium halide I)b) to supplied titanium in I)a) in the preparation of I) is between 5.0 and 7.0; and the molar ratio of the electron donor III) to the titanium present in the reaction product I) is between 0.05 and 0.40 The production of polyethylene using said catalyst system results in a reduction of formation of ethane and a reduction of the hexane-extractable content of the polyethylene.

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Geleen, Netherlands

Robert Lap Key Chan