Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A process for the preparation of polyolefins having a bi- or
multimodal molecular weight distribution which comprises: (i) contacting olefin monomer and a first co-reactant with a
catalyst system in a first reaction zone under first
polymerisation conditions to produce a product comprising a first
polyolefin having a first molecular weight and distribution; and (ii) contacting olefin monomer and a second co-reactant with a
catalyst system in a second reaction zone under second
polymerisation conditions to produce a second polyolefin having
a second molecular weight distribution different from the first
molecular weight distribution; wherein the first and second polyolefins are mixed together,
wherein one of the co-reactants is hydrogen and the other is a
comonomer selected from butene, methylpentene, hexene or octene,
and wherein each catalyst system comprises (a) a metallocene
catalyst component comprising a bis tetrahydroindenyl compound
of the general formula (IndH 4 ) 2 R''MQ 2 in which each Ind is the
same or different and is indenyl or substituted indenyl, R'' is
a bridge which comprises a C 1 -C 4 alkylene radical, a dialkyl
germanium or silicon or siloxane, or an alkyl phosphine or amine
radical, which bridge is substituted or unsubstitued, M is a
Group IV metal or vanadium and each Q is hydrocarbyl having 1 to
20 carbon atoms or halogen; and (b) a cocatalyst which activates
the catalyst component.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein R'' is an ethylene
bridge which is substituted or unsubstituted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the
cyclopentadienyl ring of at least one of the indenyls is
unsubstituted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process according to claim 3, wherein both indenyls are
unsubstituted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the
cyclohexenyl ring of one or both indenyls is substituted with an
electron-withdrawing substituent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein M is Zr or Ti.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein Q is halogen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the bis
tetrahydroindenyl compound is ethylenebis(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl)
zirconium dichloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the cocatalyst which activates the catalyst component
comprises an aluminium-containing cocatalyst or a boron-containing
cocatalyst.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 9, wherein the cocatalyst
comprises an aluminium-containing cocatalyst comprising an
alumoxane, an alkyl aluminium and/or a Lewis acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the catalyst system further comprises an inert support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the olefin monomer is ethylene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the second co-reactant is hydrogen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the comonomer is hexene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 14, wherein the hexene is
supplied to its reaction zone at a rate of no more than 1200
cc/h.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein hydrogen is supplied to its reaction zone at a rate of
no more than 30 NL/h.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the temperature of each reaction zone is in the range
of from 60°C to 100°C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the product of step (i), including the olefin monomer,
is contacted with the second co-reactant and the catalyst system
in step (ii) to produce and mix the second polyolefin with the
first polyolefin in the second reaction zone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 18, wherein the first and
second reaction zones are interconnected loop reactors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 18, wherein the first and
second reaction zones are interconnected loop and continuously
stirred reactors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to any one of the claims 1 to 17,
wherein each polyolefin is produced individually in a reactor and
mixed together by extrusion.