Polymerization of olefins

Claim 1

A process for polymerizing ethylene or a mixture of ethylene and at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer under suitable polymerization conditions in the presence of a supported catalyst composition resulting from reacting in an inert hydrocarbon medium (A) at least one hydrocarbon soluble organomagnesium component represented by the formula MgR" 2 .xMR" y wherein each R" is independently a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; M is a metal selected from Al, Zn, Si, Sn, B and P; y has a number corresponding to the valence of M and x has a value from about 0.001 to about 10; (B) a sufficient quantity of at least one halide source so as to convert all of the organic groups attached to a magnesium atom in component (A) to a halide group; said halide source being selected from (1) an active non-metallic halide, said non-metallic halide corresponding to the formula R'X wherein R' is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and such that the hydrocarbyl halide is at least as active as sec-butyl chloride and does not poison the catalyst and X is halogen; or (2) a metallic halide corresponding to the formula MR y-a X a wherein M is a metal of Group IIIA or IVA of Mendeleev's Periodic Table of Elements, R is a monovalent hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, X is halogen, y is a number corresponding to the valence of M and a is a number from 1 to y; (C) at least one titanium compound represented by the formula Ti(OR) x X 4-x wherein each R is independently a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 20, carbon atoms; X is a halogen and x has a value from zero to 4; with (D) at least one compound containing at least two aromatic hydroxyl groups represented by the formulas ##STR20## wherein each A is independently a divalent hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 10, carbon atoms --O--, --S--, --S--S--, ##STR21## each A' is independently a divalent hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; each R is independently --OH, ##STR22## or a hydroxyl substituted hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyloxy group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; each R' is independently hydrogen, hydroxyl or a hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyloxy group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; each R" is independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; each X is independently a hydroxyl group, a nitro group, a nitrile group, a hydrocarbyl group, a hydrocarbyloxy group, a hydroxyl substituted hydrocarbyl or a hydroxyl substituted hydrocarbyloxy group each such groups having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a halogen; m has an average value of from about 0.01 to about 6; each n independently has a value of zero or 1; each x independently has a value of zero or 1; each y independently has a value of from zero to 4, and z has a value of from zero to 3; and when components (A) and/or (C) do not contain or contain an insufficient quantity of aluminum, then (E) an aluminum compound represented by the formula AlR y' X y" wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms; X is halogen and y' and y" each have a value of from zero to three with the sum of y' and y" being three is employed; and wherein the components are employed in quantities so as to provide the following ratios: (1) a Mg:Ti atomic ratio of from about 1:1 to about 200:1; (2) components (C) and (D) are employed in quantities which provide a molar ratio of D:C of from about 0.1:1 to about 4:1; (3) an excess X to Al ratio of from about 0.0005:1 to about 10:1; and (4) an Al:Ti aromatic ratio of from about 0.1:1 to about 2000:1; and wherein the catalyst components are added in one of the following orders: (1) A, B, (C and D, prereacted), E (if required); (2) A, B, E (if required), (C and D, prereacted); (3) (A and B, prereacted), (C and D, prereacted), E, (if required); (4) (A and B, prereacted), E (if required), (C and D, prereacted); and (5) (A, B and E, if required, prereacted), (C and D, prereacted).