US6767975B1
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Olefin polymerization with pyridine moiety-containing singe-site catalysts
Assignee: Equistar Chemicals LP
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Filing: 2003-07-14
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Granted: 2004-07-27
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Expires: 2023-07-14
Abstract
Abstract An olefin polymerization process is disclosed. The polymerization is performed in the presence of a clay, an activator, and a transition metal complex that has at least one pyridine moiety-containing ligand. The presence of clay increases the catalyst activity. The process is suitable for making ultra-high molecular weight polyethylenes (UHMWPE). The UHMWPE produced has increased bulk density.
Inventors
- 👤 Jia-Chu Liu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:15
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08F; C08F4/00; C08F4/02; C08F110/00; C08F110/02; C08F10/00; C08F4/42; C08F4/44; C08F4/60; C08F4/62; C08F4/64; C08F4/659; C08F4/65908; C08F4/65912; C08F4/6592
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
28 words
A process comprising polymerizing an olefin in the presence of a clay, an activator, and a Group 4 transition metal complex having at least one pyridine moiety-containing ligand.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process comprising polymerizing an olefin in the presence of a clay, an activator, and a Group 4 transition metal complex having at least one pyridine moiety-containing ligand.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the transition metal complex has the general structure: wherein M is a Group 4 transition metal; L 1 is a pyridine moiety-containing ligand; L 2 is a ligand selected from the group consisting of L 1 ligands, cyclopentadienyls, indenyls, fluorenyls, boraaryls, azaborolinyls, indenoindolyls, and phosphinimines; X is a ligand selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, halide, dialkylamino, and siloxy groups; and the sum of n and m satisfies the valence of M.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the M is Ti or Zr.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The process of claim 2 wherein L 1 has the general structure: wherein Y is bonded to M and is selected from the group consisting of O, S, and NR wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group; one or more of the remaining ring atoms are optionally and independently substituted by alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkylaryl, silyl, halogen, alkoxy, aryloxy, siloxy, nitro, dialkyl amino, or diaryl amino groups and two adjacent substituents optionally form a ring structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin is a mixture of ethylene and a C 3 to C 10 α-olefin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin is ethylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the activator is selected from the group consisting of alumoxanes, alkyl aluminums, alkyl aluminum halides, anionic compounds of boron or aluminum, trialkylboron and triarylboron compounds, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the activator is methylalumoxane (MAO) or polymeric MAO.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the activator is tris-(pentafluorophenyl)borane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the transition metal complex is 8-quinolinoxytitanium trichloride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the transition metal complex is 8-quinolinoxytitanium tribenzyl.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the clay is selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, saponite, hectorite, mica, vermiculite, bentonite, nontronite, beidellite, volkonskoite, magadite, and kenyaite, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the clay is an organoclay.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the clay is heat-treated prior to the polymerization.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the complex is supported.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the complex is supported on silica.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
A process for producing an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), said process comprising polymerizing ethylene at a temperature within the range of about 40° C. to about 110° C. in the presence of a supported Group 4 transition metal complex having at least one pyridine moiety-containing ligand, a clay, and a non-alumoxane activator, in the absence of aromatic solvent, α-olefin comonomer, or hydrogen, said UHMWPE having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) greater than about 3,000,000 and molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) less than about 5.0.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
A process for producing an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), said process comprising polymerizing ethylene at a temperature within the range of about 40° C. to about 110° C. in the presence of a supported Group 4 transition metal complex having at least one pyridine moiety-containing ligand, a clay, and a non-alumoxane activator, in the absence of aromatic solvent, α-olefin comonomer, or hydrogen, said UHMWPE having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) greater than about 3,000,000 and molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) less than about 5.0.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the non-alumoxane activator is selected from the group consisting of trialkyl amines, alkyl aluminums, alkyl aluminum halides, anionic compounds boron or aluminum, trialkyl boron compounds, triaryl boron compounds, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the activator is triethyl aluminum.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the clay is an organoclay.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 18 wherein the transition metal complex is quinolinoxytitanium trichloride or 8-quinolinoxytitanium tribenzyl.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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