Equistar Chemicals, LP

William J Sartain

Sandor M Nagy

Shaotian Wang

Michael W Lynch

Barbara M Tsuie

Douglas D Klendworth

Richard W Fries

Albert P Masino

Karen L Neal-Hawkins

Kenneth W Johnson

Kiran M Gupte

Debra L Beran

Keta M Lindstrom

Norma J Maraschin

Therese A Pastrick

Patricia A Hooks

Stella L Ellis

Olefin polymerization in the presence of heterogeneous supported catalysts is improved by incorporating into the supported catalyst a unifunctional hydrophobic tether comprising a hydrophobic portion containing no basic nitrogen and a univalent reactive group. The unifunctional hydrophobic tether reduces fouling and sheeting in gas phase polymerization processes and improves polymer morphology and bulk density in slurry polymerization processes, while substantially maintaining or enhancing catalyst polymerization activity.

Supported catalysts which reduce sheeting in olefin polymerization, process for the preparation and the use thereof

Catalyst systems useful for olefin polymerization are disclosed. The catalysts include a bimetallic complex that incorporates two linked indenoindolyl groups, each of which is pi-bonded through its cyclopentadienyl ring to one of the metals. Compared with conventional indenoindolyl complexes, the bimetallic complexes of the invention have enhanced ability to give polyolefins with desirably low melt indices. Certain bimetallic indenoindolyl complexes also provide a way to broaden polymer molecular weight distribution and thereby improve processability simply by regulating the amounts of comonomer and activator used in the polymerization.

Bimetallic indenoindolyl catalysts

An olefin polymerization process is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing olefins in the presence of a supported indenoindolyl catalyst system and an organoboron or organoaluminum-treated solid. The supported indenoindolyl catalyst system comprises a support, an organometallic complex comprising a Group 3 to 10 transition or lanthanide metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is &pgr;-bonded to M, and an activator. Performing the process in the presence of the organoboron or organoaluminum-treated solid surprisingly leads to an increased activity compared to polymerization processes performed without the treated solid.

Olefin polymerization process

A process for polymerizing an olefin is disclosed. The olefin is polymerized with a catalyst precursor in the presence of an activator and an organosilane modifier. Use of the organosilane increases polyolefin molecular weight. The process is easy to practice and affords polyolefins with conventional polymerization methods such as slurry polymerizations or gas-phase polymerizations.

Use of silanes to control molecular weight in olefin polymerizations

A supported olefin polymerization catalyst system and a method of making it are disclosed. The catalyst system comprises: (a) a support having mean particle size less than about 30 microns chemically treated with alumoxane; (b) an organometallic complex comprising a Group 3 to 10 transition or lanthanide metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is &pgr;-bonded to M; and (c) an activator. Chemical treatment with alumoxane and support mean particle size less than 30 microns are key to making supported indenoindolyl containing catalysts having high activity.

Supported olefin polymerization catalysts

A catalyst component formed by the steps of contacting a transition metal-containing metallocene of a transition metal of Group 4, 5 or 6 of the Periodic Table of the Elements with silica or an organic support. This product is contacted with an organomagnesium compound or complex followed by contact with an alcohol and a silane. Finally, the so-contacted product is contacted with a Group 4, 5 or. 6 transition metal-containing non-metallocene compound. The component is preferably combined with an aluminum-containing cocatalyst to form a catalyst system.

Catalyst component and system

An ethylene polymerization catalyst and a catalyst system which provides an ethylene copolymer which, when formed into a film, is characterized by the combination of high stiffness and impact strength. The ethylene polymerization catalyst is formed by contacting a support with an organosilicon compound. The so-treated support is thereupon contacted, in a second step, with a dialkylmagnesium compound or complex. In a third step, the product of the second step is contacted with an alcohol or silane compound. This product, in turn, in a fourth step, is contacted with a transition metal compound. Finally, in a fifth and concluding step, the product of the fourth step is contacted with a Group 13 metal-containing compound. The second and third, as well as the third and fourth contacting steps may be reversed.

Ethylene polymerization catalyst and catalyst system

An ethylene polymerization catalyst and catalyst system which produces ethylene copolymers having unique melt elastic properties at high catalytic activity. The catalyst is produced by the steps which include contacting silica having a surface area of between above about 500 m,/g and about 800 m,/g, a particle size in the range of between about 10 microns and about 200 microns and a pore volume of between about 0.5 cc/g and about 3.0 cc/g with an organosilicon compound. This product is contacted with a dialkylmagnesium compound or complex. The product of this step, in turn, is contacted with an alcohol or silane compound. Finally, the thus formed product is contacted with a transition metal compound.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, OH, United States of America

William J Sartain