Process for the production of polyethylene having molecular weights above 500,000

Claim 1

A process for preparing polyethylene having a viscosimetrically determined molecular weight greater than about 500,000, said process comprising the steps of: A. reducing a titanium (IV) halide with an aluminum alkyl compound of the formula AlR 3 or AlXR 2 , wherein R is an alkyl radical having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and X is halogen whereby an activated titanium (III) halide is formed, and B. polymerizing ethylene having an oxygen content of less than 1 ppm. in the presence of a. a hydrocarbon solvent having a boiling point in the range of 80° C. - 200° C., said solvent having been pre-purified by hydrogenation, b. a catalyst comprising said activated titanium (III) halide and an aluminum alkyl compound, in a respective molar ratio of 1:0.2 to 1:5, said aluminum compound being of the formula AlR 3 or AlXR 2 , wherein R is an alkyl radical having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and X is halogen, and c. a mono - or polyhydric alcohol having 2 - 5 carbon atoms in an amount of 2 to 10 moles per kg. of catalyst; said polymerizing being conducted at a pressure of 1 to 100 atmospheres at a temperature of 30° C. to 100° C.