Cyclo-olefinic random copolymer, olefinic random copolymer, and process for producing cyclo-olefinic random copolymers

Claim 2

A copolymer according to claim 1 which consists of 15 to 95 mole% of units derived from said alpha-olefin component and 85 to 5 mole% of units derived from said cyclo-olefin component.

Claim 3

A copolymer according to claim 1 which consists of 30 to 90 mole% of units derived from said alpha-olefin component and 70 to 10 mole% of units derived from said cyclo-olefin component.

Claim 4

A copolymer according to claim 1, 2 or 3 which consists of units derived from (A) propylene or 4-methyl-1-pentene, and (B) tetracyclododecene, 2-methyl-1,4,5,8-dimethano-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene, norbornene or 5-methyl-2-norbornene.

Claim 5

A copolymer according to claim 1 which consists of at least 15 mole% of units derived from the alpha-olefin component, at least 5 mole% of units derived from the cyclic polyene component, and 2 to 80 mole% of units derived from the cyclo-olefin component.

Claim 6

A copolymer according to claim 5 which consists of at least 30 mole% of units derived from the alpha-olefin component (A), at least 10 mole% of units derived from the cyclic polyene component, and at least 5 mole% of units derived from the cyclo-olefin component.

Claim 7

A copolymer according to claim 1, 5 or 6 wherein the alpha-olefin component (A) is propylene, the cyclic polyene component (B) is 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene or 5-vinyl-2-norbornene, and the cyclo-olefin component (C) is tetracyclodecene or norbornene.

Claim 8

A copolymer according to any one of the preceding claims which has an intrinsic viscosity [η], measured in decalin at 135°C, of 0.5 to 7 dl/g.

Claim 9

A copolymer according to claim 8 which has an intrinsic viscosity [η], measured in decalin at 135°C, of 0.5 to 5 dl/g.

Claim 10

A process for producing a cyclo-olefinic random copolymer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which comprises copolymerizing the alpha-olefin, the cyclo-olefin and optionally also the cyclic polyene in the presence of a catalyst formed from (A) a compound of a transition metal of Group IVB of the periodic table having as a ligand a multi-dentate coordination compound in which at least two conjugated cycloalkadienyl groups or substituted products thereof are bonded via a lower alkylene group, and (B) an aluminoxane, subject to the proviso that when the cyclic polyene is present the transition metal compound (A) is a zirconium compound containing as ligand at least two indenyl groups or substituted indenyl groups or partially hydrogenated groups thereof which are bonded via an alkylene group.

Claim 11

A process according to claim 10 wherein when only the alpha-olefin and the cyclo-olefin are copolymerized the transition metal compound is a zirconium compound containing as a ligand at least two indenyl groups or substituted indenyl groups or partially hydrogenated groups thereof which are bonded via an alkylene group.

Claim 12

A process according to claims 10 or 11 wherein the transition metal compound is ethylenebis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride.

Claim 13

A process according to claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein the aluminoxane is represented by the general formula wherein R represents a hydrocarbon group, and m represents an integer of at least 2.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 13 wherein R is a methyl, ethyl or isobutyl group, and m is an integer of at least 5.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 13 wherein R is a methyl group and m is an integer of 5 to 50.

Claim 16

A process according to any one of claims 10 to 15 wherein only the alpha-olefin and the cyclo-olefin are polymerized and the alpha-olefin is selected from propylene and 4-methyl-1-pentene, and the cyclo-olefin is selected from tetracyclododecene, 2-methyl-1,4,5,8-dimethano-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene,2,3-dimethyl-1,4,5,8-dimethano-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8, 8a-octahydronaphthalene, 5-methyl-2-norbornene, norbornene and 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene.