Two-step polymerization process and product thereof

Claim 2

A product of a process comprising (A) polymerizing ethylene monomer in the presence of a catalyst comprising (1) at least one organoaluminum compound and (2) at least one titanium tetrahalide and (B) thereafter polymerizing isoprene monomer in the presence of the step (A) reaction mixture, there being no substantial amount of unreacted ethylene present in the reaction mixture when isoprene is added thereto, said organoaluminum compound having the formula ##STR2## wherein R 1 is an alkyl group containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, or an aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, R 2 and R 3 are hydrogen, halogen or the same as R 1 , the molar ratio of said organoaluminum compound to said titanium tetrahalide is from about 0.6/1 to about 2/1, from about 0.1 millimole to about 50 millimoles of said catalyst is used per mole of total monomer, and said product contains polymerized therein about 0.05 to about 2.2 weight percent ethylene.

Claim 3

A product of a process of claim 1 wherein said organoaluminum compound is a trialkylaluminum compound wherein each alkyl group contains from 2 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 4

A product of a process of claim 2 wherein said titanium tetrahalide is titanium tetrachloride or titanium tetrabromide.

Claim 5

A product of a process of claim 3 wherein said titanium tetrahalide is titanium tetrachloride, and said trialkylaluminum compound is triisobutylaluminum.

Claim 6

A product of a process of claim 1 wherein the polymerization is carried out in an inert solvent.

Claim 7

A product of a process of claim 1 wherein said catalyst contains an ether or an amine as a third catalyst component.

Claim 8

A process comprising (A) polymerizing ethylene monomer in the presence of a catalyst comprising (1) at least one organoaluminum compound and (2) at least one titanium tetrahalide and (B) thereafter polymerizing isoprene monomer in the presence of the step (A) reaction mixture, there being no substantial amount of unreacted ethylene present in the reaction mixture when isoprene is added thereto, said organoaluminum compound having the formula ##STR3## wherein R 1 is an alkyl group containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, or an aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, R 2 and R 3 are hydrogen, halogen or the same as R 1 , the molar ratio of said organoaluminum compound to said titanium tetrahalide is from about 0.6/1 to about 2/1, from about 0.1 millimole to about 50 millimoles of said catalyst is used per mole of total monomer, and the product of said process contains polymerized therein about 0.05 to about 2.2 weight percent ethylene.

Claim 9

A process comprising (A) polymerizing ethylene monomer in the presence of a catalyst comprising (1) at least one organoaluminum compound and (2) at least one titanium tetrahalide and (B) thereafter polymerizing isoprene monomer in the presence of the step (A) reaction mixture, there being no substantial amount of unreacted ethylene present in the reaction mixture when isoprene is added thereto, said organoaluminum compound having the formula ##STR3## wherein R 1 is an alkyl group containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, or an aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, R 2 and R 3 are hydrogen, halogen or the same as R 1 , the molar ratio of said organoaluminum compound to said titanium tetrahalide is from about 0.6/1 to about 2/1, from about 0.1 millimole to about 50 millimoles of said catalyst is used per mole of total monomer, and the product of said process contains polymerized therein about 0.05 to about 2.2 weight percent ethylene.

Claim 10

A process of claim 7 wherein said organoaluminum compound is a trialkylaluminum compound wherein each alkyl group contains from 2 to 8 carbon atoms.

Claim 11

A process of claim 8 wherein said titanium tetrahalide is titanium tetrachloride or titanium tetrabromide.

Claim 12

A process of claim 9 wherein said titanium tetrahalide is titanium tetrachloride, and said trialkylaluminum compound is triisobutylaluminum.

Claim 13

A process of claim 7 wherein the polymerization is carried out in an inert solvent.

Claim 14

A process of claim 7 wherein said catalyst contains an ether or an amine as a third catalyst component.