Polymerization of olefins and catalysts therefor

Claim 2

A catalyst composition for use in the polymerization or copolymerization of olefins which essentially comprises a solid carrier and a transition metal compound carried thereon, said transition metal compound being selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by the general formula Ti(OR) n X 4-n wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl and aralkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X is a halogen atom and n is a whole number of 0 to 4, vanadium tetrahalide and a compound represented by the general formula VOX 3 wherein X is a halogen atom, said carrier resulting from the reaction of (a) anhydrous magnesium chloride (b) silicon tetrachloride, and (c) a compound represented by the general formula ROH wherein R is a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, aryl and aralkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, the molar ratio of the compound ROH to silicon tetrachloride being in the range from 1 : 0.1 to 1 : 100, and the molar ratio of said anhydrous magnesium chloride to said silicon tetrachloride being 1 : 0.1 to 1 : 100, the reaction being carried out at a temperature of from 0° to 300° C.

Claim 3

A catalyst composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said anhydrous magnesium halide is anhydrous magnesium chloride.

Claim 4

A catalyst composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said compound ROH is selected from the group consisting of methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, t-butyl alcohol, n-amyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, t-amyl alcohol, n-hexyl alcohol, n-heptyl alcohol, n-octyl alcohol, n-decyl alcohol, allyl alcohol benzyl alcohol, cyclohexanol and phenol.

Claim 5

A process for the preparation of a catalyst for use in the polymerization or copolymerization of olefins which essentially comprises; admixing (a) anhydrous magnesium halide (b) silicon tetrachloride, and (c) a compound having the general formula ROH wherein R is a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, aryl and aralkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, the molar ratio of the compound ROH to silicon tetrachloride being in the range from 1 : 0.1 to 1 : 100, and the molar ratio of said anhydrous magnesium halide to said silicon tetrachloride being 1 : 0.01 to 1 : 100; heating the admixture at temperatures ranging between 10° and 300° C, in the presence of a transition metal compound added in amounts 0.1 - 50 times greater in weight than said admixture; heating the whole at a temperature of from 50° to 300° C, said transition metal compound being selected from the group consisting of compounds having the general formula Ti(OR).sub.n X.sub.4-n wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl and aralkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X is a halogen atom and n is a whole number of 0 to 4, vanadium tetrahalide and a compound having the general formula VOX.sub.3 wherein X is a halogen atom; and contacting the same with an organoaluminum compound, an organozinc compound, or a mixture thereof, said organoaluminum compound having the formula R'.sub.3 Al, R'.sub.2 AlX, R'AlX.sub.2, R'.sub.2 AlOR', R'Al(OR')X, or R'.sub.3 Al.sub.2 X.sub.3, where R' is an alkyl or aryl group and X is a halogen atom, and said organozinc compound having the formula R".sub.2 Zn where R" is an alkyl group.

Claim 6

A process for the preparation of a catalyst for use in the polymerization or copolymerization of olefins which essentially comprises; admixing (a) anhydrous magnesium halide (b) silicon tetrachloride, and (c) a compound having the general formula ROH wherein R is a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, aryl and aralkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, the molar ratio of the compound ROH to silicon tetrachloride being in the range from 1 : 0.1 to 1 : 100, and the molar ratio of said anhydrous magnesium halide to said silicon tetrachloride being 1 : 0.01 to 1 : 100; heating the admixture at temperatures ranging between 10° and 300° C, in the presence of a transition metal compound added in amounts 0.1 - 50 times greater in weight than said admixture; heating the whole at a temperature of from 50° to 300° C, said transition metal compound being selected from the group consisting of compounds having the general formula Ti(OR).sub.n X.sub.4-n wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl and aralkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X is a halogen atom and n is a whole number of 0 to 4, vanadium tetrahalide and a compound having the general formula VOX.sub.3 wherein X is a halogen atom; and contacting the same with an organoaluminum compound, an organozinc compound, or a mixture thereof, said organoaluminum compound having the formula R'.sub.3 Al, R'.sub.2 AlX, R'AlX.sub.2, R'.sub.2 AlOR', R'Al(OR')X, or R'.sub.3 Al.sub.2 X.sub.3, where R' is an alkyl or aryl group and X is a halogen atom, and said organozinc compound having the formula R".sub.2 Zn where R" is an alkyl group.