Fibrous polyethylene, useful as synthetic pulp - by polymerising ethylene using an oxygenated titanium tetrachloride-organoaluminium cpd. as one catalyst component

Abstract

Abstract Fibrous polyethylene is made by polymerising ethylene in a polymsn. medium in the presence of a catalyst comprising (A) a solid reaction prod. obtd. by (1) reacting TiCl4 with R'3Al or R22AlH (where R' and R2 = 1-8C alkyl) in a mol. ratio TiCl4:organoaluminium cpd. of 1:1 - 1:10, (2) isolating the solid prod. and (3) reacting the prod. with O2 in a ratio of reacted O2:Ti of 1:2 - 1:30 and the amt. Ti(IV) in the prod., based on total Ti, of 15-50 mol. %; and (B) R'3Al, R22AlX' or R3AlX2X3 (where R', R2 and R3 = 1-8C alkyl and X',X2 and X3 = H, Cl, Br, I, phenoxy, 1-8C alkoxy or -OSiR4R5R6 where R4, R5 and R6 = H, phenyl or 1-4C alkyl) using a mol. ratio (A):(B) of 10:1 to 1:100. Catalyst system allows prodn. of fibrous polyethylene on an industrial scale which is 0.5-100 mm long and 20-1000 u diameter, and with a length/diameter ratio of at least 10. Prods. are esp. useful in the prodn. of synthetic pulps.

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