Fina Technology, Inc.

Ronald Tharappel

David J Rauscher

William John Gauthier

Michel Daumerie

Renaud Oreins

Kai Hortmann

Kevin P McGovern

Michel Messiaen

David Attoe

Tim J Coffy

Gerhard Guenther

Ben Hicks

Lea Ann Nairn

Curt D Clark

Jun Tian

Mark C Douglass

Nelson Black

Polymerization processes in a bulk loop reactor are described herein. In particular, a method of contacting a flow of metallocene with a flow of propylene is provided. This method includes directing the flow of metallocene towards a junction, directing the flow of propylene towards the junction and maintaining a portion of the flow of metallocene separate from a portion of the flow propylene within a portion of the junction downstream of the flow of propylene into the junction. In another embodiment, a method of introducing a quantity of antifouling agent into a catalyst mixing system is provided. In this embodiment a portion of the antifouling agent is introduced at or downstream of a point of contact of a stream of propylene with a stream of catalyst. The antifouling agent may be a member, alone or in combination with other members, selected from Stadis 450 Conductivity Improver, Synperonic antifouling agent, and Pluronic antifouling agent.

Method for transitioning between Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalysts in a bulk loop reactor for the production of polypropylene

Method for transitioning between ziegler-natta and metalocene catalysts in a bulk loop reactor for the production of polypropylene

The present invention relates to propylene polymerization process in a bulk loop reactor, and particularly to propylene polymerization process for polymerizing commercial quantities of polypropylene in a bulk loop reactor by sequentially introducing Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalyst systems into the bulk loop reactor.

The tendency of copolymer fluff grains of propylene and ethylene to agglomerate is reduced by injecting at least one olefin comonomer, such as ethylene monomer, into more than one point along the length of the reactor, rather than injecting all of the ethylene at one point. This process reduces the tendency of copolymer fluff grains to agglomerate and cause processing problems as compared with injecting the comonomer at only one point. Copolymer made by this process is expected to have lower substantially amorphous polypropylene content and better organoleptics than copolymer made where the ethylene is injected at only one point. In one non-limiting embodiment the copolymerization reactor is a loop-type reactor.

Controlled comonomer distribution along a reactor for copolymer production

The present invention relates to propylene polymerization process in a bulk loop reactor, and particularly to propylene polymerization process for polymerizing commercial quantities of polypropylene in a bulk loop reactor by sequentially introducing Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalyst systems into the bulk loop reactor. In one embodiment, separate catalyst mixing systems are used to introduce a quantity of metallocene catalyst and Ziegler-Natta catalyst into the bulk loop reactor. The frequency rate at which the quantity of metallocene catalyst is introduced into the bulk loop reactor may be higher than the frequency rate at which the quantity of Ziegler-Natta catalyst is introduced. In another embodiment, a method of polymerizing propylene in a bulk loop reactor is provided which includes contacting a quantity of supported metallocene catalyst with a first quantity of scavenger, such as TEAL and or TIBAL, prior to injecting the supported metallocene catalyst into the bulk loop reactor and contacting a quantity of Ziegler-Natta catalyst system with a second quantity of scavenger prior to injecting the Ziegler-Natta catalyst system into the bulk loop reactor, wherein the second quantity of scavenger is greater that the first quantity of scavenger. In another embodiment, a method of contacting a flow of metallocene with a flow of propylene is provided. This method includes directing the flow of metallocene towards a junction, directing the flow of propylene towards the junction and maintaining a portion of the flow of metallocene separate from a portion of the flow propylene within a portion of the junction downstream of the flow of propylene into the junction. In another embodiment, a method of introducing a quantity of antifouling agent into a catalyst mixing system is provided. In this embodiment a portion of the antifouling agent is introduced at or downstream of a point of contact of a stream of propylene with a stream of catalyst. The antifouling agent may be a member, alone or in combination with other members, selected from the group consisting of Stadis 450 Conductivity Improver, Synperonic antifouling agent, and Pluronic antifouling agent.

A method of processing polyethylene for use as an extruded blow molding resin to improve the properties and processability thereof is accomplished by modifying a polyethylene resin having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of less than about 10. The modification is carried out by the addition of a free radical initiator to the resin during extrusion of the resin to increase the rheological breadth of the polyethylene from about 10% to about 60% compared to unmodified polyethylene resin extruded under similar conditions. In another aspect of the invention, a polyethylene resin having higher melt index is processed to provide a desired final melt index by the addition of a free radical initiator where it would otherwise be necessary to utilize a resin having lower melt flow, and which is more difficult to process. Improvements in color can also be obtained.

Method of producing polyethylene resins for use in blow molding

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Missouri City, TX, United States of America

Ronald Tharappel