EP3704164A1 - Catalyseurs métallocènes monosites supportés sur silice exempts de toluène contenus dans une formation de mao supportéein-situ - Google Patents

Catalyseurs métallocènes monosites supportés sur silice exempts de toluène contenus dans une formation de mao supportéein-situ

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Publication number
EP3704164A1
EP3704164A1 EP18872918.0A EP18872918A EP3704164A1 EP 3704164 A1 EP3704164 A1 EP 3704164A1 EP 18872918 A EP18872918 A EP 18872918A EP 3704164 A1 EP3704164 A1 EP 3704164A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
group
hydrocarbyl
catalyst
alkyl
support material
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP18872918.0A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3704164A4 (fr
Inventor
Lubin Luo
Anupriya JAIN
Charles J. HARLAN
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc
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ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc
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Application filed by ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc filed Critical ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc
Publication of EP3704164A1 publication Critical patent/EP3704164A1/fr
Publication of EP3704164A4 publication Critical patent/EP3704164A4/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
    • C08F10/00—Homopolymers and copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07F—ACYCLIC, CARBOCYCLIC OR HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING ELEMENTS OTHER THAN CARBON, HYDROGEN, HALOGEN, OXYGEN, NITROGEN, SULFUR, SELENIUM OR TELLURIUM
    • C07F17/00—Metallocenes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07F—ACYCLIC, CARBOCYCLIC OR HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING ELEMENTS OTHER THAN CARBON, HYDROGEN, HALOGEN, OXYGEN, NITROGEN, SULFUR, SELENIUM OR TELLURIUM
    • C07F7/00—Compounds containing elements of Groups 4 or 14 of the Periodic Table
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
    • C08F4/00—Polymerisation catalysts
    • C08F4/42—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors
    • C08F4/44—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides
    • C08F4/60—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides together with refractory metals, iron group metals, platinum group metals, manganese, rhenium technetium or compounds thereof
    • C08F4/62—Refractory metals or compounds thereof
    • C08F4/64—Titanium, zirconium, hafnium or compounds thereof
    • C08F4/659—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond
    • C08F4/65916—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond supported on a carrier, e.g. silica, MgCl2, polymer
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
    • C08F4/00—Polymerisation catalysts
    • C08F4/42—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors
    • C08F4/44—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides
    • C08F4/60—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides together with refractory metals, iron group metals, platinum group metals, manganese, rhenium technetium or compounds thereof
    • C08F4/62—Refractory metals or compounds thereof
    • C08F4/64—Titanium, zirconium, hafnium or compounds thereof
    • C08F4/659—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond
    • C08F4/6592—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond containing at least one cyclopentadienyl ring, condensed or not, e.g. an indenyl or a fluorenyl ring
    • C08F4/65922—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond containing at least one cyclopentadienyl ring, condensed or not, e.g. an indenyl or a fluorenyl ring containing at least two cyclopentadienyl rings, fused or not
    • C08F4/65925—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond containing at least one cyclopentadienyl ring, condensed or not, e.g. an indenyl or a fluorenyl ring containing at least two cyclopentadienyl rings, fused or not two cyclopentadienyl rings being mutually non-bridged
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
    • C08F4/00—Polymerisation catalysts
    • C08F4/42—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors
    • C08F4/44—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides
    • C08F4/60—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides together with refractory metals, iron group metals, platinum group metals, manganese, rhenium technetium or compounds thereof
    • C08F4/62—Refractory metals or compounds thereof
    • C08F4/64—Titanium, zirconium, hafnium or compounds thereof
    • C08F4/659—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond
    • C08F4/6592—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond containing at least one cyclopentadienyl ring, condensed or not, e.g. an indenyl or a fluorenyl ring
    • C08F4/65922—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond containing at least one cyclopentadienyl ring, condensed or not, e.g. an indenyl or a fluorenyl ring containing at least two cyclopentadienyl rings, fused or not
    • C08F4/65927—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond containing at least one cyclopentadienyl ring, condensed or not, e.g. an indenyl or a fluorenyl ring containing at least two cyclopentadienyl rings, fused or not two cyclopentadienyl rings being mutually bridged

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to catalyst systems for olefin polymerization, catalyst system precursors, methods of producing the precursors and catalyst systems and polyolefins formed from the catalyst systems.
  • Polyolefins are widely used commercially because of their robust physical properties. For example, various types of poly ethylenes, including high density, low density, and linear low density poly ethylenes, are some of the most commercially useful. Polyolefins are typically prepared with a catalyst (mixed with one or more other components to form a catalyst system) which promotes polymerization of olefin monomers in a reactor, such as a gas phase reactor.
  • a catalyst mixed with one or more other components to form a catalyst system
  • Methyalumoxane is the most popular activator supported on silica to activate a single site catalyst precursor, e.g., a metallocene, to form an active solid catalyst used in a commercial gas phase reactor to produce single-site polyolefin resins.
  • a single site catalyst precursor e.g., a metallocene
  • MAO is commonly sold as a toluene solution because an aromatic solvent can dissolve MAO without causing any issue observed with other solvents, e.g., a donor containing solvent (e.g., an ether or a THF) deactivates MAO, an active proton containing solvent (e.g., an alcohol) reacts and destroys MAO, and an aliphatic solvent (e.g., hexane) precipitates MAO.
  • a donor containing solvent e.g., an ether or a THF
  • an active proton containing solvent e.g., an alcohol
  • an aliphatic solvent e.g., hexane
  • a homogeneous MAO solution is desired for MAO molecules to be evenly distributed in the pores of the catalyst support material, e.g., silica, to obtain a catalyst with good performance including good productivity and good operability.
  • the catalyst support material e.g., silica
  • polyolefin products are often used as plastic packaging for sensitive products, and the amount of non-polyolefin compounds, such as toluene, present in the polyolefin products should be minimized.
  • References of interest include: U.S. Patent Nos. 8,354,485; 9,090,720; 7,910,764; 8,575,284; 8,575,284; 5,006,500; 4,937,217; U.S. Patent Publication No.
  • MAO is provided in a toluene solution and is unstable, typically involving special handling and cold storage.
  • the commercially available MAO has a short life, typically less than one week under ambient conditions and less than twelve months in cold storage, and undergoes compositional changes, e.g. gelation, even in cold storage. Therefore, there is also a need for more stable and less expensive MAO compositions.
  • This invention relates to a method for preparing supported alumoxane comprising contacting in an aliphatic solvent at a temperature of from 0°C to -60°C at least one support material having absorbed water and at least one hydrocarbyl aluminum compound.
  • the supported alumoxane is more stable and less expensive, relative to prior art alumoxanes, and is free of any detectable amount of aromatic solvent, such as toluene.
  • This invention also relates to a method for preparing a catalyst system comprising contacting in an aliphatic solvent at a temperature of from less than 0°C to -60°C at least one support material having absorbed water and at least one hydrocarbyl aluminum compound to form a supported alumoxane and contacting the supported alumoxane with at least one catalyst compound having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom or lanthanide metal atom.
  • the supported alumoxane may be heated prior to contact with the catalyst compound.
  • This invention also relates to a catalyst system including a catalyst compound having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom or lanthanide metal atom.
  • the catalyst system further includes supported alumoxane and has no detectable amount of aromatic solvent.
  • FIG. la, FIG. lb and FIG. lc are H ⁇ NMR (using Bruker 400MHz THF-d8) of methylalumoxane and trimethylaluminum regions of MAO extracted with THF-d8 from the supported methylalumoxane prepared according to the present disclosure compared with prior art supported methylalumoxane.
  • FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b are FT-IR spectra of supported methylalumoxane prepared according to the present disclosure compared with prior art supported methylalumoxane, both on ES70-875 silica.
  • FIG. 2c is an FT-IR spectra the supported methylalumoxane of FIG 2a after heating at 100°C for 3hrs.
  • the present disclosure relates to catalyst systems for olefin polymerization, methods of producing the catalyst systems, and polyolefins formed from the catalyst systems.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods for preparing a supported alumoxane including contacting in an aliphatic solvent at a temperature of from less than 0°C to -60°C at least one support material having absorbed water and at least one hydrocarbyl aluminum compound.
  • the supported alumoxane is formed in-situ when the hydrocarbyl aluminum compound reacts with the absorbed water on the silica.
  • the supported alumoxane is formed in-situ when the hydrocarbyl aluminum compound reacts with the absorbed water on the silica in a ratio of water: Al of 1:0.95 to 1: 100 (mol:mol).
  • the present disclosure also includes methods for preparing catalyst systems including heating the supported alumoxane prior to contact with a catalyst compound.
  • the catalyst compound has a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom or lanthanide metal atom.
  • the catalyst compound can be a metallocene catalyst compound comprising a Group 4 metal.
  • the present disclosure relates to a continuous process for preparing supported alumoxane comprising contacting in an aliphatic solvent at a temperature of from less than 0°C to -60°C at least one support material having absorbed water and at least one hydrocarbyl aluminum compound to produce a silica supported alumoxane, separating the silica supported alumoxane from the aliphatic solvent and recycling the aliphatic solvent and any excess hydrocarbyl aluminum.
  • the present disclosure also relates to a method of polymerizing olefins to produce a polyolefin composition
  • a method of polymerizing olefins to produce a polyolefin composition comprising contacting at least one olefin with a catalyst system prepared as described herein and obtaining a polyolefin having no detectable aromatic hydrocarbon solvent.
  • the present disclosure also relates to a method for preparing a catalyst system comprising contacting in an aliphatic solvent at a temperature of from less than 0°C to -60°C at least one support material having absorbed water and at least one hydrocarbyl aluminum compound to form a supported alumoxane, heating the supported alumoxane to at least 60°C up to 140°C and contacting the heated supported alumoxane with at least one catalyst compound having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom or lanthanide metal atom.
  • the present disclosure also relates to a method for preparing a catalyst system comprising contacting in an aliphatic solvent at a temperature of from less than 0°C to -60°C at least one support material having absorbed water and at least one hydrocarbyl aluminum compound to form a supported alumoxane, contacting the supported alumoxane with at least one catalyst compound having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom or lanthanide metal atom to form a supported catalyst system and heating the supported catalyst system to at least 60°C up to 140°C.
  • the present disclosure also relates to a process of making a supported aluminoxane free of aromatic solvent comprising adding at least one support material having absorbed water as a solid form to a hydrocarbyl aluminum aliphatic solvent solution at a temperature of from less than 0°C to about -60°C.
  • the present disclosure also relates to a process of making a supported aluminoxane free of aromatic solvent comprising adding an aliphatic solution of at least one support material having absorbed water to hydrocarbyl aluminum aliphatic solvent solution at a temperature of from about less than 0°C to about -60°C.
  • the present disclosure also relates to any process described herein where the hydrocarbyl aluminum solution concentration is 0.1 to 40 wt%, preferably is 1.0 to 20 wt%.
  • the present disclosure also relates to processes where the process is continuous and comprises isolating the solid supported aluminoxane product and recycling any excess hydrocarbyl aluminum.
  • the present disclosure also relates to any process described herein where the supported alumoxane composition is further heat-treated at a temperature selected from 60°C to 200°C for 0.5 to 24 hours prior to contact with the catalyst compound.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure also include catalyst systems including a Group 4 metal catalyst compound selected from a metallocene catalyst compound or a bis(phenolate) catalyst compound.
  • Eliminating aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in the catalyst system provides polyolefin products having no detectable aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (preferably no detectable toluene), as determined by gas phase chromotography as described in the Experimental section below.
  • the polyolefin products may be used as plastic materials for use in toluene-free materials such as in packaging for food products.
  • many saturated hydrocarbons have lower boiling points than aromatic hydrocarbons, such as toluene (110°C), which makes the saturated hydrocarbons easier to remove from the polyolefin products.
  • detecttable aromatic hydrocarbon solvent means 0.1 mg/m 2 or more as determined by gas phase chromatography.
  • detecttable toluene means 0.1 mg/m 2 or more as determined by gas phase chromatography.
  • saturated hydrocarbon includes hydrocarbons that contain zero carbon-carbon double bonds.
  • the saturated hydrocarbon can be a linear or cyclic hydrocarbon.
  • the saturated hydrocarbon can be a C4-C40 hydrocarbon, such as a C4-C7 hydrocarbon.
  • the C4-C40 hydrocarbon is isobutene. cyclohexane, isopentane, isohexane, hexane, heptane, or mixtures thereof.
  • a method of polymerizing olefins to produce a polyolefin composition includes contacting at least one olefin with a catalyst system of the present disclosure and obtaining a polyolefin having no detectable aromatic hydrocarbon solvent. Polymerization can be conducted at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 300°C, at a pressure of from about 0.35 MPa to about 10 MPa, and at a time up to about 300 minutes.
  • the at least one olefin can be C2 to C40 olefin, preferably C2 to C20 alpha-olefin preferably ethylene, propylene, butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, or mixtures thereof.
  • a "Group 4 metal” is an element from group 4 of the Periodic Table, e.g., Hf, Ti, or Zr.
  • Catalyst productivity is a measure of how many grams of polymer (P) are produced using a polymerization catalyst comprising W g of catalyst (cat), over a period of time of T hours; and may be expressed by the following formula: P/(T x W) and expressed in units of gPgcaHhr 1 . Conversion is the amount of monomer that is converted to polymer product, and is reported as mol% and is calculated based on the polymer yield (weight) and the amount of monomer fed into the reactor. Catalyst activity is a measure of the level of activity of the catalyst and is reported as the mass of product polymer (P) produced per mass of supported catalyst (cat) (gP/g supported cat).
  • the activity of the catalyst is at least 800 gpolymer/gsupported catalyst/hour, such as about 1,000 or more gpolymer/gsupported catalyst/hour, such as about 2,000 or more gpolymer/gsupported catalyst/hour, such as about 3,000 or more gpolymer/gsupported catalyst/hour, such as about 4,000 or more gpolymer/gsupported catalyst/hour, such as about 5,000 or more gpolymer/gsupported catalyst/hour.
  • an "olefin,” alternatively referred to as “alkene,” is a linear, branched, or cyclic compound of carbon and hydrogen having at least one double bond.
  • alkene is a linear, branched, or cyclic compound of carbon and hydrogen having at least one double bond.
  • the olefin present in such polymer or copolymer is the polymerized form of the olefin.
  • a copolymer when a copolymer is said to have an ethylene content of 35 wt% to 55 wt%, it is understood that the monomer (“mer”) unit in the copolymer is derived from ethylene in the polymerization reaction and the derived units are present at 35 wt% to 55 wt%, based upon the weight of the copolymer.
  • a "polymer” has two or more of the same or different mer units.
  • a “homopolymer” is a polymer having mer units that are the same.
  • a “copolymer” is a polymer having two or more mer units that are different from each other.
  • a “terpolymer” is a polymer having three mer units that are different from each other.
  • oligomer is typically a polymer having a low molecular weight, such an Mn of less than 25,000 g/mol, or less than 2,500 g/mol, or a low number of mer units, such as 75 mer units or less or 50 mer units or less.
  • ethylene polymer or "ethylene copolymer” is a polymer or copolymer comprising at least 50 mole% ethylene derived units
  • a "propylene polymer” or “propylene copolymer” is a polymer or copolymer comprising at least 50 mole% propylene derived units, and so on.
  • a "catalyst system” is a combination of at least one catalyst compound and a support material.
  • the catalyst system may have at least one activator and/or at least one co-activator.
  • catalyst systems are described as comprising neutral stable forms of the components, it is well understood that the ionic form of the component is the form that reacts with the monomers to produce polymers.
  • catalyst system includes both neutral and ionic forms of the components of a catalyst system.
  • Mn is number average molecular weight
  • Mw is weight average molecular weight
  • Mz is z average molecular weight
  • wt% is weight percent
  • mol% is mole percent.
  • Molecular weight distribution also referred to as polydispersity index (PDI)
  • PDI polydispersity index
  • the catalyst may be described as a catalyst precursor, a pre-catalyst compound, catalyst compound or a transition metal compound, and these terms are used interchangeably.
  • An "anionic ligand” is a negatively charged ligand which donates one or more pairs of electrons to a metal ion.
  • a “neutral donor ligand” is a neutrally charged ligand which donates one or more pairs of electrons to a metal ion.
  • substituted means that a hydrogen group has been replaced with a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group.
  • methylcyclopentadiene is a Cp group substituted with a methyl group.
  • alkoxides include those where the alkyl group is a Ci to Cio hydrocarbyl.
  • the alkyl group may be straight chain, branched, or cyclic.
  • the alkyl group may be saturated or unsaturated.
  • the alkyl group may comprise at least one aromatic group.
  • alkoxy or “alkoxide” preferably means an alkyl ether or aryl ether radical wherein the term alkyl is a Ci to Cio alkyl.
  • alkyl ether radicals include, but are not limited to, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, iso- propoxy, n-butoxy, iso-butoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, phenoxy, and the like.
  • the present disclosure describes transition metal complexes.
  • the term complex is used to describe molecules in which an ancillary ligand is coordinated to a central transition metal atom.
  • the ligand is stably bonded to the transition metal so as to maintain its influence during use of the catalyst, such as polymerization.
  • the ligand may be coordinated to the transition metal by covalent bond and/or electron donation coordination or intermediate bonds.
  • the transition metal complexes are generally subjected to activation to perform their polymerization function using an activator which is believed to create a cation as a result of the removal of an anionic group, often referred to as a leaving group, from the transition metal.
  • dme 1,2-dimethoxyethane
  • Me is methyl
  • Ph is phenyl
  • Et is ethyl
  • Pr is propyl
  • iPr is isopropyl
  • n-Pr is normal propyl
  • cPr is cyclopropyl
  • Bu is butyl
  • iBu is isobutyl
  • tBu is tertiary butyl
  • p-tBu para-tertiary butyl
  • nBu is normal butyl
  • sBu is sec-butyl
  • TMS is trimethylsilyl
  • TIBAL is triisobutylaluminum
  • TNOAL is tri(n-octyl)aluminum
  • MAO is methylalumoxane
  • sMAO is supported methylalumoxane
  • Bn is benzyl (i.e., CH 2 Ph)
  • THF also referred to as thf
  • hydrocarbyl radical is defined to be Ci-Cioo radicals, that may be linear, branched, or cyclic, and when cyclic, aromatic or non-aromatic.
  • radicals include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, iso-amyl, hexyl, octyl cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, and the like including their substituted analogues.
  • Substituted hydrocarbyl radicals are radicals in which at least one hydrogen atom of the hydrocarbyl radical has been substituted with at least a non-hydrogen group, such as halogen (such as Br, CI, F or I) or at least one functional group such as NR* 2 , OR*, SeR*, TeR*, PR* 2 , AsR* 2 , SbR* 2 , SR*, BR* 2 , SiR*3, GeR* 3 , SnR* 3 , PbR* 3 , and the like, or where at least one heteroatom has been inserted within a hydrocarbyl ring.
  • halogen such as Br, CI, F or I
  • functional group such as NR* 2 , OR*, SeR*, TeR*, PR* 2 , AsR* 2 , SbR* 2 , SR*, BR* 2 , SiR*3, GeR* 3 , SnR* 3 , PbR* 3 , and
  • alkenyl means a straight-chain, branched-chain, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical having one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. These alkenyl radicals may be substituted. Examples of suitable alkenyl radicals include, but are not limited to, ethenyl, propenyl, allyl, 1 ,4-butadienyl, cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloctenyl and the like including their substituted analogues.
  • aryl or "aryl group” means a carbon-containing aromatic ring and the substituted variants thereof, including but not limited to, phenyl, 2-methyl-phenyl, xylyl, 4-bromo-xylyl.
  • heteroaryl means an aryl group where a ring carbon atom (or two or three ring carbon atoms) has been replaced with a heteroatom, preferably N, O, or S.
  • aromatic also refers to pseudoaromatic heterocycles which are heterocyclic substituents that have similar properties and structures (nearly planar) to aromatic heterocyclic ligands, but are not by definition aromatic.
  • Aromatic means a hydrocarbyl compound containing a planar unsaturated ring of atoms that is stabilized by interaction of the bonds forming the ring. Such compounds are often six membered rings such as benzene and its derivatives.
  • aromatic also refers to pseudoaromatics which are compounds that have similar properties and structures (nearly planar) to aromatics, but are not by definition aromatic; likewise, the term aromatic also refers to substituted aromatics.
  • isomers of a named alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxide, or aryl group exist (e.g., n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl) reference to one member of the group (e.g., n-butyl) shall expressly disclose the remaining isomers (e.g., iso-butyl, sec -butyl, and tert-butyl) in the family.
  • alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxide, or aryl group without specifying a particular isomer (e.g., butyl) expressly discloses all isomers (e.g., n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl).
  • ring atom means an atom that is part of a cyclic ring structure.
  • a benzyl group has six ring atoms and tetrahydrofuran has 5 ring atoms.
  • a heterocyclic ring is a ring having a heteroatom in the ring structure as opposed to a heteroatom substituted ring where a hydrogen on a ring atom is replaced with a heteroatom.
  • tetrahydrofuran is a heterocyclic ring and 4-N,N-dimethylamino-phenyl is a heteroatom substituted ring.
  • Complex as used herein, is also often referred to as catalyst precursor, precatalyst, catalyst, catalyst compound, transition metal compound, or transition metal complex. These terms are used interchangeably. Activator and cocatalyst are also used interchangeably.
  • a scavenger is a compound that may be added to a catalyst system to facilitate polymerization by scavenging impurities. Some scavengers may also act as activators and may be referred to as co-activators. A co-activator, that is not a scavenger, may also be used in conjunction with an activator in order to form an active catalyst system. In at least one embodiment, a co-activator can be pre-mixed with the transition metal compound to form an alkylated transition metal compound.
  • a catalyst may be described as a catalyst precursor, a pre- catalyst compound, catalyst compound or a transition metal compound, and these terms are used interchangeably.
  • a polymerization catalyst system is a catalyst system that can polymerize monomers into polymer.
  • continuous means a system that operates without interruption or cessation for a period of time.
  • a continuous process to produce a polymer would be one where the reactants are continually introduced into one or more reactors and polymer product is continually withdrawn.
  • a "bulk polymerization” means a polymerization process in which the monomers and/or comonomers being polymerized are used as a solvent or diluent using little or no inert solvent or diluent. A small fraction of inert solvent might be used as a carrier for catalyst and scavenger.
  • a bulk polymerization system contains less than about 25 wt% of inert solvent or diluent, such as less than about 10 wt%, such as less than about 1 wt%, such as 0 wt%.
  • a catalyst system comprises an inert support material capable of absorbing water in an amount of at least 0.5 mmol of water per gram of support material.
  • the support material may be a porous support material, for example, talc, and inorganic oxides.
  • Other support materials include zeolites, clays, organoclays, or any other organic or inorganic support material and the like, or mixtures thereof.
  • the support material is an inorganic oxide in a finely divided form.
  • Suitable inorganic oxide materials for use in catalyst systems herein include Groups 2, 4, 13, and 14 metal oxides, such as silica, alumina, and mixtures thereof.
  • Other inorganic oxides that may be employed, either alone or in combination, with the silica, or alumina are magnesia, titania, zirconia, and the like.
  • Particularly useful supports include magnesia, titania, zirconia, montmorillonite, phyllosilicate, zeolites, talc, clays, silica clay, silicon oxide clay, and the like.
  • combinations of these support materials may be used, for example, silica-chromium, silica-alumina, silica-titania, and the like.
  • the support material is selected from AI2O3, Zr02, S1O2, S1O2/AI2O2, silica clay, silicon oxide/clay, or mixtures thereof.
  • the support material may be fluorided.
  • fluorided support and “fluorided support composition” mean a support, desirably particulate and porous, which has been treated with at least one inorganic fluorine containing compound.
  • the fluorided support composition can be a silicon dioxide support wherein a portion of the silica hydroxyl groups has been replaced with fluorine or fluorine containing compounds.
  • Suitable fluorine containing compounds include, but are not limited to, inorganic fluorine containing compounds and/or organic fluorine containing compounds.
  • Fluorine compounds suitable for providing fluorine for the support may be organic or inorganic fluorine compounds and are desirably inorganic fluorine containing compounds.
  • Such inorganic fluorine containing compounds may be any compound containing a fluorine atom as long as it does not contain a carbon atom.
  • inorganic fluorine- containing compounds selected from NH4BF4, (NH 4 )2SiF6, NH4PF6, NH 4 F, (NH 4 )2TaF 7 , NH 4 NbF 4 , (NH 4 ) 2 GeF 6 , (NH 4 ) 2 SmF 6 , (NH 4 ) 2 TiF 6 , (NH 4 ) 2 ZrF 6 , MoF 6 , ReF 6 , GaF 3 , SO2CIF, F 2 , SiF 4 , SF 6 , CIF3, CIF5, BrF 5 , IF 7 , NF 3 , HF, BF 3 , NHF 2 , NH 4 HF 2 , and combinations thereof.
  • ammonium hexafluorosilicate and ammonium tetrafluoroborate are used.
  • the support material comprises a support material treated with an electron- withdrawing anion.
  • the support material can be silica, alumina, silica- alumina, silica-zirconia, alumina-zirconia, aluminum phosphate, heteropolytungstates, titania, magnesia, boria, zinc oxide, mixed oxides thereof, or mixtures thereof; and the electron- withdrawing anion is selected from fluoride, chloride, bromide, phosphate, triflate, bisulfate, sulfate, or any combination thereof.
  • An electron-withdrawing component can be used to treat the support material.
  • the electron-withdrawing component can be any component that increases the Lewis or Br0nsted acidity of the support material upon treatment (as compared to the support material that is not treated with at least one electron-withdrawing anion).
  • the electron- withdrawing component is an electron-withdrawing anion derived from a salt, an acid, or other compound, such as a volatile organic compound, that serves as a source or precursor for that anion.
  • Electron-withdrawing anions can be sulfate, bisulfate, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, fluorosulfate, fluoroborate, phosphate, fluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate, triflate, fluorozirconate, fluorotitanate, phospho-tungstate, or mixtures thereof, or combinations thereof.
  • An electron-withdrawing anion can be fluoride, chloride, bromide, phosphate, triflate, bisulfate, or sulfate, and the like, or any combination thereof, at least one embodiment of this disclosure.
  • the electron-withdrawing anion is sulfate, bisulfate, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, fluorosulfate, fluoroborate, phosphate, fluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate, triflate, fluorozirconate, fluorotitanate, or combinations thereof.
  • the support material suitable for use in the catalyst systems of the present disclosure can be one or more of fluorided alumina, chlorided alumina, bromided alumina, sulfated alumina, fluorided silica-alumina, chlorided silica-alumina, bromided silica- alumina, sulfated silica-alumina, fluorided silica-zirconia, chlorided silica-zirconia, bromided silica-zirconia, sulfated silica-zirconia, fluorided silica-titania, fluorided silica-coated alumina, sulfated silica-coated alumina, phosphated silica-coated alumina, and the like, or combinations thereof.
  • the activator-support can be, or can comprise, fluorided alumina, sulfated alumina, fluorided silica-alumina, sulfated silica-alumina, fluorided silica- coated alumina, sulfated silica-coated alumina, phosphated silica-coated alumina, or combinations thereof.
  • the support material includes alumina treated with hexafluorotitanic acid, silica-coated alumina treated with hexafluorotitanic acid, silica- alumina treated with hexafluorozirconic acid, silica-alumina treated with trifluoroacetic acid, fluorided boria- alumina, silica treated with tetrafluoroboric acid, alumina treated with tetrafluoroboric acid, alumina treated with hexafluorophosphoric acid, or combinations thereof.
  • any of these activator- supports optionally can be treated with a metal ion.
  • combinations of one or more different electron- withdrawing anions can be used to tailor the specific acidity of the support material to a desired level.
  • Combinations of electron-withdrawing components can be contacted with the support material simultaneously or individually, and in any order that provides a desired chemically- treated support material acidity.
  • two or more electron- withdrawing anion source compounds in two or more separate contacting steps.
  • a chemically-treated support material is prepared is as follows: a selected support material, or combination of support materials, can be contacted with a first electron-withdrawing anion source compound to form a first mixture; such first mixture can be calcined and then contacted with a second electron-withdrawing anion source compound to form a second mixture; the second mixture can then be calcined to form a treated support material.
  • the first and second electron- withdrawing anion source compounds can be either the same or different compounds.
  • the method by which the oxide is contacted with the electron-withdrawing component can include, but is not limited to, gelling, co-gelling, impregnation of one compound onto another, and the like, or combinations thereof.
  • the contacted mixture of the support material, electron-withdrawing anion, and optional metal ion can be calcined.
  • the support material can be treated by a process comprising: (i) contacting a support material with a first electron- withdrawing anion source compound to form a first mixture; (ii) calcining the first mixture to produce a calcined first mixture; (iii) contacting the calcined first mixture with a second electron-withdrawing anion source compound to form a second mixture; and (iv) calcining the second mixture to form the treated support material.
  • the support material most preferably an inorganic oxide, has a surface area between about 10 m 2 /g and about 800 m 2 /g (optionally 700 m 2 /g), pore volume between about 0.1 cc/g and about 4.0 cc/g and average particle size between about 5 ⁇ and about 500 ⁇ .
  • the surface area of the support material is between about 50 m 2 /g and about 500 m 2 /g, pore volume between about 0.5 cc/g and about 3.5 cc/g and average particle size between about 10 ⁇ and about 200 ⁇ .
  • the surface area of the support material may be between about 100 m 2 /g and about 400 m 2 /g, pore volume between about 0.8 cc/g and about 3.0 cc/g and average particle size between about 5 ⁇ and about 100 ⁇ .
  • the average pore size of the support material may be between about 10 A and about 1000 A, such as between about 50 A and about 500 A, such as between about 75 A and about 350 A.
  • the support material is an amorphous silica with surface area of 300 to 400 m 2 /gm and a pore volume of 0.9 to 1.8 cm3 ⁇ 4m.
  • the supported material may optionally be a sub-particle containing silica with average sub-particle size of 0.05 to 5 micron, e.g., from the spray drying of average particle size of 0.05 to 5 micron small particle to form average particle size of 5 to 200 micron large main particles.
  • at least 20% of the total pore volume (as defined by BET method) has a pore diameter of 100 angstrom or more.
  • Non-limiting example silicas include Grace Davison's 952, 955, and 948; PQ Corporation's ES70 series, PD 14024, PD16042, and PD16043; Asahi Glass Chemical (AGC)'s D70-120A, DM-H302, DM-M302, DM-M402, DM-L302, and DM-L402; Fuji's P- 10/20 or P- 10/40; and the like.
  • the support material will contain from 0.5 mmol absorbed water per gram of support material to 30 mmol absorbed water per gram of support material.
  • the amount of absorbed water is determined by adding a known amount of water into the support hydrocarbon slurry in a close container and agitate to allow the water to distribute in the pore of the support and/or by a standard thermogravimetric analysis method, e.g., LOD (loss on drying) at the temperature 300°C for 4hr.
  • Most commercial support materials will contain some absorbed water and in some cases the amount of absorbed water may be sufficient. In other cases additional water can be added or the support material can be dried and then the support material can be contacted with an amount of water.
  • a support material is contacted with from about 0.5mmol water/g support material to about 30mmol water/g support material.
  • the support material is silica, alumina, alumina-silica or a derivative thereof.
  • the support material has an average particle size between 1 and 200 microns, an average pore volume of between 0.05 and 5 mL/g, and a surface area between 50 and 800 m 2 /g.
  • the support material has been treated with one or more of a Bronsted acid, a Lewis acid, a salt and a Lewis base.
  • the support material comprises a silylating agent.
  • the support material comprises a hydrocarbyl aluminum compound.
  • one or more of the support material comprises an electron withdrawing anion.
  • Suitable aliphatic solvents are materials in which all of the reactants used herein, e.g., the support and the hydrocarbyl aluminum, are at least partially soluble and which are liquid at reaction temperatures.
  • Suitable aliphatic solvents are materials in which all of the reactants used herein, e.g., the support and the hydrocarbyl aluminum, are at least partially soluble and which are liquid at reaction temperatures.
  • the hydrocarbyl aluminum compounds are preferably alkylaluminium compounds such as a trialkylaluminium compound wherein the alkyl substituents are alkyl groups of up to 10 carbon atoms, such as octyl, isobutyl, ethyl or methyl.
  • suitable hydrocarbyl aluminum compounds include trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, tripropylalumiuum, tri-n- butylaluminum, tri-isobutyl-aluminum, tri(2-methylpentyl)aluminum, trihexylaluminum, tri- n-octylaluminum, and tri-n-decylaluminum.
  • Preferred hydrocarbyl aluminum compounds are trimethylaluminum and tri-n-octylaluminum.
  • the ratio of water absorbed in the supported material to the amount of hydrocarbyl aluminum compound in one embodiment can be from 1 :0.95 to 1: 100.
  • the ratio is from 1 : 1.5 to 1: 20; more preferably, the ratio is from 1 : 1.5 to 10; and most preferably, the ratio is 1: 1.5 to 1 :3.
  • the alkylaluminium in some embodiments of the process is present in an amount of about 1.5 to 30 wt% aluminium based on the weight of the isolated solid product.
  • the amount of aluminium is between 5 wt% and 25 wt%, more preferably 6 and 20 wt%, based on the total weight of the isolated solid product.
  • the supported alumoxanes of the present disclosure are prepared in-situ by contacting the water saturated silica in an aliphatic solvent with the hydocarbyl aluminum compound in an aliphalic solvent.
  • the silica slurry is added slowly to the hydrocarbyl aluminum solution, at a temperature of from less than 0°C to -60°C, preferably at a temperature of from -10°C to -50°C, such as from -20°C up to -40°C, or less than -10°C, -20°C or -30°C, so that the internal temperature of the reactor is maintained in a desired range, e.g., within 1°C, -15°C, or -25 °C.
  • a hydrocarbon solvent such as mineral oil is added to the silica solution in order to produce a viscous slurry to reduce or avoid fast silica settlement.
  • the mixture of hydrocarbyl aluminum and water saturated silica is agitated.
  • the supported alumoxanes of the present disclosure after being prepared in-situ, can be further treated at a higher temperature for a certain period of time either in the form of an aliphatic solvent slurry or a solid.
  • the high temperature treatment can be in the range of 60- 200°C, preferably 70-140°C, and more preferably 80-120°C.
  • the reaction mixture after contacting the support material having absorbed water and the hydrocarbyl aluminum compound in an aliphatic solvent at a low temperature can also be spray dried in a spray drying reactor at a higher temperature to evaporate the solvents/volatiles and form the solid product with a desired average particle size and particle size distribution.
  • the preferred temperature range is 60-200°C, more preferred is 80- 190°C, and the most preferred is 90- 160°C.
  • the present disclosure provides a catalyst system comprising a catalyst compound having a metal atom.
  • the catalyst compound can be a metallocene catalyst compound.
  • the metal can be a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom, such as Group 3 through Group 10 metal atoms, or lanthanide Group atoms.
  • the catalyst compound having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom can be monodentate or multidentate, such as bidentate, tridentate, or tetradentate, where a heteroatom of the catalyst, such as phosphorous, oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur is chelated to the metal atom of the catalyst.
  • Non- limiting examples include bis(phenolate)s.
  • the Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom is selected from Group 5, Group 6, Group 8, or Group 10 metal atoms.
  • a Group 3 through Group 10 metal atom is selected from Cr, Sc, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, and Ni.
  • a metal atom is selected from Groups 4, 5, and 6 metal atoms.
  • a metal atom is a Group 4 metal atom selected from Ti, Zr, or Hf.
  • the oxidation state of the metal atom can range from 0 to +7, for example +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5, for example +2, +3 or +4.
  • a catalyst compound of the present disclosure can be a chromium or chromium- based catalyst.
  • Chromium-based catalysts include chromium oxide (CrCb) and silylchromate catalysts.
  • Chromium catalysts have been the subject of much development in the area of continuous fluidized-bed gas -phase polymerization for the production of polyethylene polymers. Such catalysts and polymerization processes have been described, for example, in U.S. Publication No. 2011/0010938 and U.S. Patent Nos. 7,915,357; 8,129,484; 7,202,313; 6,833,417; 6,841,630; 6,989,344; 7,504,463; 7,563,851; 8,420,754; and 8,101,691.
  • Metallocene catalyst compounds as used herein include metallocenes comprising Group 3 to Group 12 metal complexes, preferably, Group 4 to Group 6 metal complexes, for example, Group 4 metal complexes.
  • the metallocene catalyst compound of catalyst systems of the present disclosure may be unbridged metallocene catalyst compounds represented by the formula: Cp A Cp B M'X' n , wherein each Cp A and Cp B is independently selected from cyclopentadienyl ligands and ligands isolobal to cyclopentadienyl, one or both Cp A and Cp B may contain heteroatoms, and one or both Cp A and Cp B may be substituted by one or more R' ' groups.
  • M' is selected from Groups 3 through 12 atoms and lanthanide Group atoms.
  • X' is an anionic leaving group, n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4.
  • R" is selected from alkyl, lower alkyl, substituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, lower alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, lower alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, heteroalkynyl, alkoxy, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylthio, lower alkylthio, arylthio, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, aralkylene, alkaryl, alkarylene, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, heteroalkyl, heterocycle, heteroaryl, a heteroatom-containing group, hydrocarbyl, lower hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarby
  • each Cp A and Cp B is independently selected from cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, fluorenyl, cyclopentaphenanthreneyl, benzindenyl, fluorenyl, octahydrofluorenyl, cyclooctatetraenyl, cyclopentacyclododecene, phenanthrindenyl, 3,4- benzofluorenyl, 9-phenylfluorenyl, 8-H-cyclopent[a]acenaphthylenyl, 7-H-dibenzofluorenyl, indeno[l,2-9]anthrene, thiophenoindenyl, thiophenofluorenyl, and hydrogenated versions thereof.
  • the metallocene catalyst compound may be a bridged metallocene catalyst compound represented by the formula: Cp A (A)Cp B M'X' n , wherein each Cp A and Cp B is independently selected from cyclopentadienyl ligands and ligands isolobal to cyclopentadienyl. One or both Cp A and Cp B may contain heteroatoms, and one or both Cp A and Cp B may be substituted by one or more R" groups.
  • M' is selected from Groups 3 through 12 atoms and lanthanide Group atoms.
  • X' is an anionic leaving group, n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4.
  • (A) is selected from divalent alkyl, divalent lower alkyl, divalent substituted alkyl, divalent heteroalkyl, divalent alkenyl, divalent lower alkenyl, divalent substituted alkenyl, divalent heteroalkenyl, divalent alkynyl, divalent lower alkynyl, divalent substituted alkynyl, divalent heteroalkynyl, divalent alkoxy, divalent lower alkoxy, divalent aryloxy, divalent alkylthio, divalent lower alkylthio, divalent arylthio, divalent aryl, divalent substituted aryl, divalent heteroaryl, divalent aralkyl, divalent aralkylene, divalent alkaryl, divalent alkarylene, divalent haloalkyl, divalent haloalkenyl, divalent haloalkynyl, divalent heteroalkyl, divalent heterocycle, divalent heteroaryl, a divalent heteroatom-containing group,
  • R" is selected from alkyl, lower alkyl, substituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, lower alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, lower alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, heteroalkynyl, alkoxy, lower alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylthio, lower alkylthio, arylthio, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, aralkylene, alkaryl, alkarylene, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, heteroalkyl, heterocycle, heteroaryl, a heteroatom- containing group, hydrocarbyl, lower hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl, silyl, boryl, phosphino, phosphine, amino, amine, germanium, ether, and thioether.
  • each of Cp A and Cp B is independently selected from cyclopentadienyl, n-propylcyclopentadienyl, indenyl, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, tetramethylcyclopentadienyl, and n-butylcyclopentadienyl.
  • (A) may be O, S, NR', or SiR' 2, where each R' is independently hydrogen or C1-C20 hydrocarbyl.
  • the metallocene catalyst compound is represented by the formula:
  • Cp is independently a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligand or substituted or unsubstituted ligand isolobal to cyclopentadienyl such as indenyl, fluorenyl and indacenyl.
  • M is a Group 4 transition metal, such as Hf, Ti or Zr.
  • G is a heteroatom group represented by the formula JR* Z where J is N, P, O or S, and R* is a linear, branched, or cyclic C1-C20 hydrocarbyl.
  • z is 1 or 2.
  • T is a bridging group, y is 0 or 1.
  • X is a leaving group.
  • J is N
  • R* is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, cyclooctyl, cyclododecyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, adamantyl or an isomer thereof.
  • Preferred JR* Z groups include t-butyl amido and cyclododecylamido.
  • Preferred examples for the bridging group T include CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 , SiMe 2 , SiPh 2 , SiMePh, Si(CH 2 ) 3 , Si(CH 2 ) 4 , O, S, NPh, PPh, NMe, PMe, NEt, NPr, NBu, PEt, PPr, Me 2 SiOSiMe 2 , and PBu.
  • T is represented by the formula ER d 2 or (ER d 2 ) 2 , where E is C, Si, or Ge, and each R d is, independently, hydrogen, halogen, C 1 to C 2 o hydrocarbyl (such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, or dodecyl) or a C 1 to C 20 substituted hydrocarbyl, and two R d can form a cyclic structure including aromatic, partially saturated, or saturated cyclic or fused ring system.
  • C 1 to C 2 o hydrocarbyl such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, or dodecyl
  • two R d can form
  • Each X is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryls, hydrides, amides, alkoxides, sulfides, phosphides, halides, dienes, amines, phosphines, ethers, and a combination thereof, (two Xs may form a part of a fused ring or a ring system), preferably each X is independently selected from halides, aryls and C 1 to C 5 alkyl groups, preferably each X is a phenyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, or chloro group.
  • the metallocene catalyst compound may be selected from:
  • the catalyst compound is a bis(phenolate) catalyst compound represented
  • M is a Group 4 metal, such as Hf or Zr.
  • X 1 and X 2 are independently a univalent C1-C20 hydrocarbyl, C1-C20 substituted hydrocarbyl, a heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing group, or X 1 and X 2 join together to form a C4-C62 cyclic or polycyclic ring structure.
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is independently hydrogen, C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, C1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl, a heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing group, or two or more of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , or R 10 are joined together to form a C4-C62 cyclic or polycyclic ring structure, or a combination thereof;
  • Q is a neutral donor group;
  • J is heterocycle, a substituted or unsubstituted C7-C60 fused polycyclic group, where at least one ring is aromatic and where at least one ring, which may or may not be aromatic, has at least five ring atoms' G is as defined for J or may be hydrogen, C2-C60 hydrocarbyl, C1-C60 substituted hydrocar
  • the catalyst compound represented by Formula (I) is represented by Formula (II) or Formula (III):
  • M is Hf, Zr, or Ti.
  • X 1 , X 2 , R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , and Y are as defined for Formula (I).
  • R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 , R 20 , R 21 , R 22 , R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , R 26 , R 27 , and R 28 is independently a hydrogen, C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, C1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl, a functional group comprising elements from Groups 13 to 17, or two or more of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 ,
  • the catalyst is an iron complex represented by formula (IV):
  • A is chlorine, bromine, iodine, -CF3 or -OR 11 ;
  • each of R 1 and R 2 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or five-, six- or seven-membered heterocyclyl comprising at least one atom selected from the group consisting of N, P, O and S;
  • each of R 1 and R 2 is optionally substituted by halogen, -NR U 2, -OR 11 or -SiR 12 3 ; wherein R 1 optionally bonds with R 3 , and R 2 optionally bonds with R 5 , in each case to independently form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring;
  • R 7 is a C1-C20 alkyl
  • each of R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 15 , R 16 , and R 17 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C 22 -alkyl, C 2 - C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, -NR U 2, -OR 11 , halogen, -SiR 12 3 or five-, six- or seven-membered heterocyclyl comprising at least one atom selected from the group consisting of N, P, O, and S;
  • R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 15 , R 16 , and R 17 are optionally substituted by halogen, -NR n 2 , -OR 11 or -SiR 12 3 ;
  • R 3 optionally bonds with R 4 , R 4 optionally bonds with R 5 , R 7 optionally bonds with R 10 , R 10 optionally bonds with R 9 , R 9 optionally bonds with R 8 , R 17 optionally bonds with R 16 , and R 16 optionally bonds with R 15 , in each case to independently form a five-, six- or seven- membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, the heterocyclic ring comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S;
  • R 13 is Ci-C2o-alkyl bonded with the aryl ring via a primary or secondary carbon atom;
  • R 14 is chlorine, bromine, iodine, -CF3 or -OR 11 , or Ci-C2o-alkyl bonded with the aryl ring; each R 11 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C 6 -C22-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or -SiR 12 3, wherein R 11 is optionally substituted by halogen, or two R 11 radicals optionally bond to form a five- or six-membered ring;
  • each R 12 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C 6 -C22-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or two R 12 radicals optionally bond to form a five- or six-membered ring;
  • each of E 1 , E 2 , and E 3 is independently carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus;
  • each u is independently 0 if E 1 , E 2 , and E 3 is nitrogen or phosphorus and is 1 if E 1 , E 2 , and E 3 is carbon;
  • each X is independently fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, hydrogen, Ci-C2o-alkyl, C2-C10- alkenyl, C6-C2o-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, -NR 18 2 , -OR 18 , -SR 18 , -SO3R 18 , -OC(0)R 18 , -CN, -SCN, ⁇ -diketonate, -CO, -BF4 " , -PF6 " or bulky non-coordinating anions, and the radicals X can be bonded with one another;
  • each R 18 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C2o-alkyl, C2-C2o-alkenyl, C6-C2o-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or -SiR 19 3, wherein R 18 can be substituted by halogen or nitrogen- or oxygen-containing groups and two R 18 radicals optionally bond to form a five- or six-membered ring;
  • each R 19 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C2o-alkyl, C2-C2o-alkenyl, C6-C2o-aryl or arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein
  • R 19 can be substituted by halogen or nitrogen- or oxygen-containing groups or two R 19 radicals optionally bond to form a five- or six-membered ring;
  • s is 1, 2, or 3;
  • D is a neutral donor
  • t 0 to 2.
  • the catalyst is a quinolinyldiamido transition metal complex represented by formulas (V) and (VI):
  • M is a Group 3-12 metal
  • J is a three-atom-length bridge between the quinoline and the amido nitrogen
  • E is selected from carbon, silicon, or germanium
  • X is an anionic leaving group
  • L is a neutral Lewis base
  • R 1 and R 13 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, and silyl groups;
  • R 2 through R 12 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, substituted hydrocarbyls, halogen, and phosphino; n is 1 or 2;
  • n 0, 1, or 2;
  • n+m is not greater than 4.
  • any two adjacent R groups may be joined to form a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings;
  • any two X groups may be joined together to form a dianionic group
  • any two L groups may be joined together to form a bidentate Lewis base
  • an X group may be joined to an L group to form a monoanionic bidentate group.
  • M is a Group 4 metal, zirconium or hafnium.
  • J is an arylmethyl, dihydro-lH-indenyl, or tetrahydronaphthalenyl group.
  • E is carbon.
  • X is alkyl, aryl, hydride, alkylsilane, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, triflate, carboxylate, or alkylsulfonate.
  • L is an ether, amine or thioether.
  • R 10 and R 11 are joined to form a five membered ring with the joined R 10 and R 11 groups being -CH2CH2-.
  • R 10 and R 11 are joined to form a six membered ring with the joined R 10 and R 11 groups being -CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 -.
  • R 1 and R 13 may be independently selected from phenyl groups that are variously substituted with between zero to five substituents that include F, CI, Br, I, CF3, NO2, alkoxy, dialkylamino, aryl, and alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbons, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, and isomers thereof.
  • the catalyst is a phenoxyimine compound represented by the formula (VII):
  • M represents a transition metal atom selected from the groups 3 to 11 metals in the periodic table;
  • k is an integer of 1 to 6;
  • m is an integer of 1 to 6;
  • R a to R f may be the same or different from one another and each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, a heterocyclic compound residue, an oxygen-containing group, a nitrogen-containing group, a boron-containing group, a sulfur-containing group, a phosphorus -containing group, a silicon-containing group, a germanium-containing group or a tin-containing group, among which 2 or more groups may be bound to each other to form a ring; when k is 2 or more, R a groups, R b groups, R c groups, R d groups, R e groups, or R f groups may be the same or different from one another, one group of R a to R f contained in one ligand and one group of R a to R f contained in
  • the catalyst is a bis(imino)pyridyl of the formula (VIII):
  • R 4 and R 5 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, an inert functional group or substituted hydrocarb l;
  • R 6 is formula IX: and R 7 is formula X:
  • R 8 and R 13 are each independently hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group
  • R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 14 , R 15 and R 16 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group;
  • R 12 and R 17 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group
  • R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 and R 17 that are adjacent to one another, together may form a ring.
  • the catalyst compound is represented by the formula (XI):
  • M 1 is selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum and tungsten. In at least one embodiment, M 1 is zirconium.
  • Each of Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 3 , and Q 4 is independently oxygen or sulfur. In at least one embodiment, at least one of Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 3 , and Q 4 is oxygen, alternately all of Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 3 , and Q 4 are oxygen.
  • R 1 and R 2 are independently hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, hydrocarbyl, or substituted hydrocarbyl (such as Ci-Cio alkyl, Ci-Cio alkoxy, C6-C20 aryl, C 6 -Cio aryloxy, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C40 alkenyl, C7-C40 arylalkyl, C7-C40 alkylaryl, C8-C40 arylalkenyl, or conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl) silyl or tri(hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl, the diene having up to 30 atoms other than hydrogen).
  • R 1 and R 2 can be a halogen selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine.
  • R 1 and R 2 are chlorine.
  • R 1 and R 2 may also be joined together to form an alkanediyl group or a conjugated C4-C40 diene ligand which is coordinated to M 1 .
  • R 1 and R 2 may also be identical or different conjugated dienes, optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl) silyl or tri(hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl, the dienes having up to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen and/or forming a ⁇ -complex with M 1 .
  • Exemplary groups suitable for R 1 and or R 2 can include 1,4-diphenyl, 1,3 -butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, 2-methyl 1,3-pentadiene, 2,4-hexadiene, 1-phenyl, 1,3-pentadiene, 1,4-dibenzyl, 1,3-butadiene, l,4-ditolyl-l,3-butadiene, 1,4-bis (trimethylsilyl)-l,3-butadiene, and 1,4-dinaphthyl- 1,3 -butadiene.
  • R 1 and R 2 can be identical and are C1-C3 alkyl or alkoxy, C 6 -Cio aryl or aryloxy, C2-C4 alkenyl, C7-C10 arylalkyl, C7-C12 alkylaryl, or halogen.
  • R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17 , R 18 , and R 19 is independently hydrogen, halogen, C1-C40 hydrocarbyl or C1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl (such as C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C6-C20 aryl, C 6 -Cio aryloxy, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C40 alkenyl, C 7 - C40 arylalkyl, C7-C40 alkylaryl, C8-C40 arylalkenyl, or conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl) silyl or tri(hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl, the diene having up to 30 atoms
  • C1-C40 hydrocarbyl is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec -butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, sec-heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, sec-octyl, n- nonyl, isononyl, sec-nonyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, and sec-decyl.
  • R 11 and R 12 are C 6 - C10 aryl such as phenyl or naphthyl optionally substituted with C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, such as Ci- C10 hydrocarbyl.
  • R 6 and R 17 are Ci-40 alkyl, such as C1-C10 alkyl.
  • each of R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17 , R 18 , and R 19 is independently hydrogen or C1-C40 hydrocarbyl.
  • C1-C40 hydrocarbyl is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec -butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, sec-heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, sec-octyl, n-nonyl, isononyl, sec-nonyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, and sec-decyl.
  • each of R 6 and R 17 is C1-C40 hydrocarbyl and R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 18 , and R 19 is hydrogen.
  • C1-C40 hydrocarbyl is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, sec-heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, sec-octyl, n-nonyl, isononyl, sec-nonyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, and sec-decyl.
  • R 3 is a C1-C40 unsaturated alkyl or substituted C1-C40 unsaturated alkyl (such as C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C6-C20 aryl, C 6 -Cio aryloxy, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C40 alkenyl, C7-C40 arylalkyl, C7-C40 alkylaryl, C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl, or conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl) silyl or tri(hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl, the diene having up to 30 atoms other than hydrogen).
  • C1-C40 unsaturated alkyl such as C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C6-C20 aryl, C 6 -Cio aryloxy, C2-C10 alkenyl,
  • R 3 is a hydrocarbyl comprising a vinyl moiety.
  • “vinyl” and “vinyl moiety” are used interchangeably and include a terminal alkene, e.g., represented Hydrocarbyl of R 3 may be further substituted (such as C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C6-C20 aryl, C6-C10 aryloxy, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C40 alkenyl, C7-C40 arylalkyl, C7-C40 alkylaryl, C8-C40 arylalkenyl, or conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl) silyl or tri(hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl, the diene having up to 30 atoms other than hydrogen).
  • R 3 is C1-C40 unsaturated alkyl that is vinyl or substituted C1-C40 unsaturated alkyl that is vinyl.
  • C1-C40 hydrocarbyl is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec -butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, sec-heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, sec-octyl, n- nonyl, isononyl, sec-nonyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, and sec-decyl.
  • R 3 is 1-propenyl, 1-butenyl, 1-pentenyl, 1-hexenyl, 1-heptenyl, 1-octenyl, 1-nonenyl, or 1-decenyl.
  • the catalyst is a Group 15-containing metal compound represented b Formulas (XII) or (XIII):
  • M is a Group 3 to 12 transition metal or a Group 13 or 14 main group metal, a Group 4, 5, or 6 metal.
  • M is a Group 4 metal, such as zirconium, titanium, or hafnium.
  • Each X is independently a leaving group, such as an anionic leaving group.
  • the leaving group may include a hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, a halogen, or an alkyl; y is 0 or 1 (when y is 0 group L' is absent).
  • the term 'n' is the oxidation state of M.
  • n is +3, +4, or +5.
  • n is +4.
  • 'm' represents the formal charge of the YZL or the YZL' ligand, and is 0, -1, -2 or -3 in various embodiments. In many embodiments, m is -2.
  • L is a Group 15 or 16 element, such as nitrogen or oxygen; L' is a Group 15 or 16 element or Group 14 containing group, such as carbon, silicon or germanium.
  • Y is a Group 15 element, such as nitrogen or phosphorus. In many embodiments, Y is nitrogen.
  • Z is a Group 15 element, such as nitrogen or phosphorus. In many embodiments, Z is nitrogen.
  • R 1 and R 2 are, independently, a Ci to C20 hydrocarbon group, a heteroatom containing group having up to twenty carbon atoms, silicon, germanium, tin, lead, or phosphorus.
  • R 1 and R 2 are a C2 to C20 alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, such as a C2 to C20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group, or a C2 to C20 hydrocarbon group.
  • R 1 and R 2 may also be interconnected to each other.
  • R 3 may be absent or may be a hydrocarbon group, a hydrogen, a halogen, a heteroatom containing group.
  • R 3 is absent, for example, if L is an oxygen, or a hydrogen, or a linear, cyclic, or branched alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
  • R 4 and R 5 are independently an alkyl group, an aryl group, substituted aryl group, a cyclic alkyl group, a substituted cyclic alkyl group, a cyclic aralkyl group, a substituted cyclic aralkyl group, or multiple ring system, often having up to 20 carbon atoms.
  • R 4 and R 5 have between 3 and 10 carbon atoms, or are a Ci to C20 hydrocarbon group, a Ci to C20 aryl group or a Ci to C20 aralkyl group, or a heteroatom containing group.
  • R 4 and R 5 may be interconnected to each other.
  • R 6 and R 7 are independently absent, hydrogen, an alkyl group, halogen, heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyl group, such as a linear, cyclic or branched alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
  • R 6 and R 7 are absent.
  • R* may be absent, or may be a hydrogen, a Group 14 atom containing group, a halogen, or a heteroatom containing group.
  • R 1 and R 2 may also be interconnected” it is meant that R 1 and R 2 may be directly bound to each other or may be bound to each other through other groups.
  • R 4 and R 5 may also be interconnected” it is meant that R 4 and R 5 may be directly bound to each other or may be bound to each other through other groups.
  • An alkyl group may be linear, branched alkyl radicals, alkenyl radicals, alkynyl radicals, cycloalkyl radicals, aryl radicals, acyl radicals, aroyl radicals, alkoxy radicals, aryloxy radicals, alkylthio radicals, dialkylamino radicals, alkoxycarbonyl radicals, aryloxycarbonyl radicals, carbomoyl radicals, alkyl- or dialkyl- carbamoyl radicals, acyloxy radicals, acylamino radicals, aroylamino radicals, straight, branched or cyclic, alkylene radicals, or combination thereof.
  • An aralkyl group is defined to be a substituted aryl group.
  • R 4 and R 5 are independently a group represented by structure (XIV):
  • R 8 to R 12 are each independently hydrogen, a Ci to C40 alkyl group, a halide, a heteroatom, a heteroatom containing group containing up to 40 carbon atoms.
  • R 8 to R 12 are a Ci to C20 linear or branched alkyl group, such as a methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl group. Any two of the R groups may form a cyclic group and/or a heterocyclic group.
  • the cyclic groups may be aromatic.
  • R 9 , R 10 and R 12 are independently a methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl group (including all isomers).
  • R 9 , R 10 and R 12 are methyl groups, and R 8 and R 11 are hydrogen.
  • R 4 and R 5 are both a group represented by structure
  • M is a Group 4 metal, such as zirconium, titanium, or hafnium. In at least one embodiment, M is zirconium.
  • M is zirconium.
  • Each of L, Y, and Z may be a nitrogen.
  • Each of R 1 and R 2 may be -CH2-CH2-.
  • R 3 may be hydrogen, and R 6 and R 7 may be absent.
  • the maximum amount of alumoxane is up to a 5000-fold molar excess Al/M over the catalyst compound (per metal catalytic site).
  • the minimum alumoxane-to-catalyst-compound is a 1: 1 molar ratio.
  • Alternate preferred ranges include from 1: 1 to 500: 1, alternately from 1 : 1 to 200: 1, alternately from 1 : 1 to 100: 1, or alternately from 1: 1 to 50: 1.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods for preparing a catalyst system including contacting in an aliphatic solvent the supported alumoxane with at least one catalyst compound having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom or lanthanide metal atom.
  • the catalyst compound having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom or lanthanide metal atom can be a metallocene catalyst compound comprising a Group 4 metal.
  • the supported alumoxane is heated prior to contact with the catalyst compound.
  • the supported alumoxane can be slurried in an aliphatic solvent and the resulting slurry is contacted with a solution of at least one catalyst compound.
  • the catalyst compound can also be added as a solid to the slurry of the aliphatic solvent and the supported alumoxane.
  • the slurry of the supported alumoxane is contacted with the catalyst compound for a period of time between about 0.02 hours and about 24 hours, such as between about 0.1 hours and 1 hour, 0.2 hours and 0.6 hours, 2 hours and about 16 hours, or between about 4 hours and about 8 hours.
  • the mixture of the catalyst compound and the supported alumoxane may be heated to between about 0°C and about 70°C, such as between about 23 °C and about 60°C, for example room temperature.
  • Contact times may be between about 0.02 hours and about 24 hours, such as between about 0.1 hours and 1 hour, 0.2 hours and 0.6 hours, 2 hours and about 16 hours, or between about 4 hours and about 8 hours.
  • Useful aliphatic solvents are materials in which all or part of the reactants used herein, e.g., the supported alumoxane and the catalyst compound, are at least partially soluble (or in the case of the solid support, suspended) and which are liquid at reaction temperatures.
  • Non-limiting example solvents are non-cyclic alkanes with formula C n H( n +2) where n is 4 to 30, such as isobutane, butane, isopentane, hexane, n-heptane, octane, nonane, decane and the like, and cycloalkanes with formula C n H n where n is 5 to 30, such as cyclopentane, methylcyclopentane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane and the like.
  • Suitable aliphatic solvents also include mixtures of any of the above.
  • the solvent can be charged into a reactor, followed by a supported alumoxane. Catalyst can then be charged into the reactor, such as a solution of catalyst in an aliphatic solvent or as a solid.
  • the mixture can be stirred at a temperature, such as room temperature. Additional solvent may be added to the mixture to form a slurry having a desired consistency, such as from about 2 cc/g of silica to about 20 cc/g silica, such as about 4 cc/g.
  • the solvent is then removed. Removing solvent dries the mixture and may be performed under a vacuum atmosphere, purged with inert atmosphere, heating of the mixture, or combinations thereof.
  • any suitable temperature can be used that evaporates the aliphatic solvent. It is to be understood that reduced pressure under vacuum will lower the boiling point of the aliphatic solvent depending on the pressure of the reactor.
  • Solvent removal temperatures can be from about 10°C to about 200°C, such as from about 60°C to about 140°C, such as from about 60°C to about 120°C, for example about 80°C or less, such as about 70°C or less.
  • removing solvent includes applying heat, applying vacuum, and applying nitrogen purged from bottom of the vessel by bubbling nitrogen through the mixture. The mixture is dried.
  • a method includes polymerizing olefins to produce a polyolefin composition by contacting at least one olefin with a catalyst system of the present disclosure and obtaining the polyolefin composition.
  • Polymerization may be conducted at a temperature of from about 0°C to about 300°C, at a pressure of from about 0.35 MPa to about 10 MPa, and/or at a time up to about 400 minutes.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure include polymerization processes where monomer (such as ethylene or propylene), and optionally comonomer, are contacted with a catalyst system comprising at least one catalyst compound and an activator, as described above.
  • the at least one catalyst compound and activator may be combined in any order, and are combined typically prior to contact with the monomer.
  • Slurry and gas phase polymerizations may be conducted in the presence of an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent/diluent/condensing agent (such as isobutane, butane, pentane, isopentane, hexanes, isohexane, heptane, octane, dodecane, and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane, and mixtures thereof; preferably aromatics are present in the solvent/diluent/condensing agent at less than 1 wt%, preferably less than 0.5 wt%, preferably at 0 wt% based upon the weight of the solvents/diluent/condensing agent).
  • an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent/diluent/condensing agent such as isobutane, butane, pentan
  • solvents/diluents used in the polymerizations are not aromatic, preferably aromatics are present in the solvent/diluent at less than 1 wt%, preferably less than 0.5 wt%, preferably less than 0 wt% based upon the weight of the solvents/diluents.
  • Monomers useful herein include substituted or unsubstituted C2 to C40 alpha olefins, preferably C2 to C20 alpha olefins, preferably C2 to C12 alpha olefins, preferably ethylene, propylene, butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene and isomers thereof.
  • olefins include a monomer that is propylene and one or more optional comonomers comprising one or more ethylene or C 4 to C 4 o olefin, preferably C 4 to C20 olefin, or preferably C 6 to C12 olefin.
  • the C 4 to C 4 o olefin monomers may be linear, branched, or cyclic.
  • the C 4 to C 4 o cyclic olefin may be strained or unstrained, monocyclic or polycyclic, and may include one or more heteroatoms and/or one or more functional groups.
  • olefins include a monomer that is ethylene and an optional comonomer comprising one or more of C3 to C 4 o olefin, preferably C 4 to C20 olefin, or preferably C 6 to C12 olefin.
  • the C3 to C 4 o olefin monomers may be linear, branched, or cyclic.
  • the C3 to C 4 o cyclic olefins may be strained or unstrained, monocyclic or polycyclic, and may include heteroatoms and/or one or more functional groups.
  • Exemplary C2 to C 4 o olefin monomers and optional comonomers include ethylene, propylene, butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbornene, norbornadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbornene, 7-oxanorbornadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof, preferably hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, dodecene, cyclooctene, 1,5-cyclooctadiene, l-hydroxy-4-cyclooctene, l-acetoxy-4-cycloocten
  • one or more dienes are present in a polymer produced herein at up to about 10 wt%, such as from about 0.00001 to about 1.0 wt%, such as from about 0.002 to about 0.5 wt%, such as from about 0.003 to about 0.2 wt%, based upon the total weight of the composition.
  • about 500 ppm or less of diene is added to the polymerization, such as about 400 ppm or less, such as about 300 ppm or less.
  • at least about 50 ppm of diene is added to the polymerization, or about 100 ppm or more, or 150 ppm or more.
  • Diolefin monomers include any hydrocarbon structure, preferably C 4 to C30, having at least two unsaturated bonds, wherein at least two of the unsaturated bonds are readily incorporated into a polymer by either a stereospecific or a non-stereospecific catalyst(s). It is further preferred that the diolefin monomers be selected from alpha, omega-diene monomers (i.e., di-vinyl monomers). In at least one embodiment, the diolefin monomers are linear di-vinyl monomers, such as those containing from 4 to 30 carbon atoms.
  • Non-limiting examples of dienes include butadiene, pentadiene, hexadiene, heptadiene, octadiene, nonadiene, decadiene, undecadiene, dodecadiene, tridecadiene, tetradecadiene, pentadecadiene, hexadecadiene, heptadecadiene, octadecadiene, nonadecadiene, icosadiene, heneicosadiene, docosadiene, tricosadiene, tetracosadiene, pentacosadiene, hexacosadiene, heptacosadiene, octacosadiene, nonacosadiene, triacontadiene, particularly preferred dienes include 1,6-heptadiene, 1,7-octadiene, 1,8-nonadiene, 1,9-deca
  • Non-limiting example cyclic dienes include cyclopentadiene, vinylnorbornene, norbornadiene, ethylidene norbornene, divinylbenzene, dicyclopentadiene or higher ring containing diolefins with or without substituents at various ring positions.
  • the butene source may be a mixed butene stream comprising various isomers of butene.
  • the 1-butene monomers are expected to be preferentially consumed by the polymerization process as compared to other butene monomers.
  • Use of such mixed butene streams will provide an economic benefit, as these mixed streams are often waste streams from refining processes, for example, C 4 raffinate streams, and can therefore be substantially less expensive than pure 1-butene.
  • Polymerization processes of the present disclosure can be carried out in any suitable manner. Any suitable slurry or gas phase polymerization process can be used. Such processes can be run in a batch, semi-batch, or continuous mode.
  • Preferred polymerizations can be run at any temperature and/or pressure suitable to obtain the desired polyolefins.
  • Typical temperatures and/or pressures include a temperature from about 0°C to about 300°C, such as from about 20°C to about 200°C, such as from about 35°C to about 150°C, such as from about 40°C to about 120°C, such as from about 65°C to about 95°C; and at a pressure from about 0.35 MPa to about 10 MPa, such as from about 0.45 MPa to about 6 MPa, or preferably from about 0.5 MPa to about 4 MPa.
  • the run time of the reaction is up to about 400 minutes, such as from about 5 to about 250 minutes, such as from about 10 to about 120 minutes.
  • Hydrogen may be added to a reactor for molecular weight control of polyolefins.
  • hydrogen is present in the polymerization reactor at a partial pressure of from about 0.001 and 50 psig (0.007 to 345 kPa), such as from about 0.01 to about 25 psig (0.07 to 172 kPa), such as from about 0.1 and 10 psig (0.7 to 70 kPa).
  • 600 ppm or less of hydrogen is added, or 500 ppm or less of hydrogen is added, or 400 ppm or less or 300 ppm or less.
  • at least 50 ppm of hydrogen is added, or 100 ppm or more, or 150 ppm or more.
  • the activity of the catalyst is at least about 50 g/mmol/hour, such as about 500 or more g/mmol/hour, such as about 5,000 or more g/mmol/hr, such as about 750,000 or more g/mmol/hr where the amount of metallocene catalyst is in the denominator.
  • the conversion of olefin monomer is at least about 10%, based upon polymer yield (weight) and the weight of the monomer entering the reaction zone, such as about 20% or more, such as about 30% or more, such as about 50% or more, such as about 80% or more.
  • alumoxane is present at a molar ratio of aluminum to transition metal of a catalyst compound of less than about 500: 1, such as less than about 300: 1, such as less than about 100: 1, such as less than about 1 : 1.
  • scavenger such as tri alkyl aluminum
  • the scavenger is present at a molar ratio of scavenger metal to transition metal of the catalyst of less than about 100: 1, such as less than about 50: 1, such as less than about 15: 1, such as less than about 10: 1.
  • the polymerization 1) is conducted at temperatures of 0 to 300°C (preferably 25 to 150°C, preferably 40 to 120°C, preferably 45 to 80°C); 2) is conducted at a pressure of atmospheric pressure to 10 MPa (preferably 0.35 to 10 MPa, preferably from 0.45 to 6 MPa, preferably from 0.5 to 4 MPa); 3) wherein the catalyst system used in the polymerization comprises alumoxane at a molar ratio of aluminum to transition metal of a catalyst compound of less than 200: 1, preferably 75: 1 to 160: 1, preferably 90: 1 to 150: 1, such as 95: 1 to 125: 1; 4) the polymerization preferably occurs in one reaction zone; 5) the productivity of the catalyst compound is at least 80,000 g/mmol/hr (preferably at least 150,000 g/mmol/hr, preferably at least 200,000 g/mmol/hr, preferably at least 250,000 g/mmol/hr, preferably at least 300,000
  • the scavenger is present at a molar ratio of scavenger metal to transition metal of less than 100: 1, preferably less than 50: 1, preferably less than 15: 1, preferably less than 10: 1; and 8) optionally hydrogen is present in the polymerization reactor at a partial pressure of 0.001 to 50 psig (0.007 to 345 kPa) (preferably from 0.01 to 25 psig (0.07 to 172 kPa), more preferably 0.1 to 10 psig (0.7 to 70 kPa)).
  • the catalyst system used in the polymerization comprises no more than one catalyst compound.
  • reaction zone also referred to as a “polymerization zone” is a vessel where polymerization takes place, for example a batch reactor.
  • each reactor is considered as a separate polymerization zone.
  • each polymerization stage is considered as a separate polymerization zone.
  • the polymerization can occur in one or more reaction zones.
  • additives may also be used in the polymerization, as desired, such as one or more scavengers, promoters, modifiers, chain transfer agents (such as diethyl zinc), reducing agents, oxidizing agents, hydrogen, aluminum alkyls, or silanes.
  • Chain transfer agents may be alkylalumoxanes, a compound represented by the formula AIR3, ZnPv2 (where each R is, independently, a Ci-Cs aliphatic radical, preferably methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, penyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl or an isomer thereof) or a combination thereof, such as diethyl zinc, methylalumoxane, trimethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, trioctylaluminum, or a combination thereof.
  • Gas phase polymerization Gas phase polymerization processes may be used herein.
  • a gaseous stream containing one or more monomers is continuously cycled through a fluidized bed in the presence of a catalyst under reactive conditions.
  • the gaseous stream is withdrawn from the fluidized bed and recycled back into the reactor.
  • polymer product is withdrawn from the reactor and fresh monomer is added to replace the polymerized monomer.
  • Slurry phase polymerization processes may be used herein.
  • a slurry polymerization process generally operates between 1 to about 50 atmosphere pressure range (15 psi to 735 psi, 103 kPa to 5068 kPa) or even greater and temperatures of 0°C to about 120°C.
  • a suspension of solid, particulate polymer is formed in a liquid polymerization diluent medium to which monomer and comonomers, along with catalysts, are added.
  • the suspension including diluent is intermittently or continuously removed from the reactor where the volatile components are separated from the polymer and recycled, optionally after a distillation, to the reactor.
  • the liquid diluent employed in the polymerization medium is typically an alkane having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, preferably a branched alkane.
  • the medium employed should be liquid under the conditions of polymerization and relatively inert. When a propane medium is used, the process should be operated above the reaction diluent critical temperature and pressure. Preferably, a hexane or an isobutane medium is employed.
  • the diluent is not aromatic, preferably aromatics are present in the diluent at less than 1 wt%, preferably less than 0.5 wt%, preferably less than 0 wt% based upon the weight of the diluents employed.
  • the present disclosure also relates to polyolefin compositions, such as resins, produced by the catalyst systems of the present disclosure.
  • Polyolefins of the present disclosure can have no detectable aromatic solvent.
  • a process includes utilizing a catalyst system of the present disclosure to produce propylene homopolymers or propylene copolymers, such as propylene-ethylene and/or propylene-alphaolefin (preferably C3 to C20) copolymers (such as propylene -hexene copolymers or propylene-octene copolymers) having an Mw/Mn of greater than about 1, such as greater than about 2, such as greater than about 3, such as greater than about 4.
  • propylene homopolymers or propylene copolymers such as propylene-ethylene and/or propylene-alphaolefin (preferably C3 to C20) copolymers (such as propylene -hexene copolymers or propylene-octene copolymers) having an Mw/Mn of greater than about 1, such as greater than about 2, such as greater than about 3, such as greater than about 4.
  • a process includes utilizing a catalyst system of the present disclosure to produce olefin polymers, preferably polyethylene and polypropylene homopolymers and copolymers.
  • the polymers produced herein are homopolymers of ethylene or copolymers of ethylene preferably having from about 0 and 25 mol% of one or more C3 to C20 olefin comonomer (such as from about 0.5 and 20 mol%, such as from about 1 to about 15 mol%, such as from about 3 to about 10 mol%).
  • Olefin comonomers may be C3 to C12 alpha-olefins, such as one or more of propylene, butene, hexene, octene, decene, or dodecene, preferably propylene, butene, hexene, or octene.
  • Olefin monomers may be one or more of ethylene or C 4 to C12 alpha-olefin, preferably ethylene, butene, hexene, octene, decene, or dodecene, preferably ethylene, butene, hexene, or octene.
  • Polymers produced herein may have an Mw of from about 5,000 to about 1,000,000 g/mol (such as from about 25,000 to about 750,000 g/mol, such as from about 50,000 to about 500,000 g/mol), and/or an Mw/Mn of from about 1 to about 40 (such as from about 1.2 to about 20, such as from about 1.3 to about 10, such as from about 1.4 to about 5, such as from about 1.5 to about 4, such as from about 1.5 to about 3) as determined by GPC-4D as described in the Experimental section below.
  • the polyolefins produced herein contain 0 ppm of aromatic hydrocarbon.
  • the polyolefins produced herein contain 0 ppm of toluene.
  • the polymer (such as polyethylene or polypropylene) produced herein and having no detectable aromatic solvent is combined with one or more additional polymers prior to being formed into a film, molded part or other article.
  • additional polymers include polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene, highly isotactic polypropylene, syndiotactic polypropylene, random copolymer of propylene and ethylene, and/or butene, and/or hexene, polybutene, ethylene vinyl acetate, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene methyl acrylate, copolymers of acrylic acid, polymethylmethacrylate or any other polymers polymerizable by a high-pressure free radical process, polyvinylchloride, polybutene- 1, isotactic polybutene, ABS resins, ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR),
  • EPR ethylene-propylene rubber
  • the polymer (such as polyethylene or polypropylene) is present in the above blends, at from about 10 to about 99 wt%, based upon the weight of total polymers in the blend, such as from about 20 to about 95 wt%, such as from about 30 to about 90 wt%, such as from about 40 to about 90 wt%, such as from about 50 to about 90 wt%, such as from about 60 to about 90 wt%, such as from about 70 to about 90 wt%.
  • the polymer such as polyethylene or polypropylene
  • Blends of the present disclosure may be produced by mixing the polymers of the present disclosure with one or more polymers (as described above), by connecting reactors together in series to make reactor blends or by using more than one catalyst in the same reactor to produce multiple species of polymer.
  • the polymers can be mixed together prior to being put into the extruder or may be mixed in an extruder.
  • Blends of the present disclosure may be formed using conventional equipment and methods, such as by dry blending the individual components, such as polymers, and subsequently melt mixing in a mixer, or by mixing the components together directly in a mixer, such as, for example, a Banbury mixer, a Haake mixer, a Brabender internal mixer, or a single or twin-screw extruder, which may include a compounding extruder and a side-arm extruder used directly downstream of a polymerization process, which may include blending powders or pellets of the resins at the hopper of the film extruder.
  • a mixer such as, for example, a Banbury mixer, a Haake mixer, a Brabender internal mixer, or a single or twin-screw extruder, which may include a compounding extruder and a side-arm extruder used directly downstream of a polymerization process, which may include blending powders or pellets of the resins at the hopper of the film extruder.
  • additives may be included in the blend, in one or more components of the blend, and/or in a product formed from the blend, such as a film, as desired.
  • additives can include, for example: fillers; antioxidants (e.g., hindered phenolics such as IRGANOXTM 1010 or IRGANOXTM 1076 available from Ciba-Geigy); phosphites (e.g., IRGAFOSTM 168 available from Ciba-Geigy); anti-cling additives; tackifiers, such as polybutenes, terpene resins, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon resins, alkali metal and glycerol stearates, and hydrogenated rosins; UV stabilizers; heat stabilizers; anti -blocking agents; release agents; anti-static agents; pigments; colorants; dyes; waxes; silica; fillers; talc; mixtures thereof, and the like.
  • antioxidants e
  • a polyolefin composition such as a resin, that is a multimodal polyolefin composition comprises a low molecular weight fraction and/or a high molecular weight fraction.
  • the polyolefin composition produced by a catalyst system of the present disclosure has a comonomer content from about 3 wt% to about 15 wt%, such as from about 4 wt% and bout 10 wt%, such as from about 5 wt% to about 8 wt%.
  • the polyolefin composition produced by a catalyst system of the present disclosure has a polydispersity index of from about 2 to about 6, such as from about 2 to about 5.
  • any of the foregoing polymers such as the foregoing polyethylenes or blends thereof, may be used in a variety of end-use applications. Such applications include, for example, mono- or multi-layer blown, extruded, and/or shrink films. These films may be formed by any suitable extrusion or coextrusion techniques, such as a blown bubble film processing technique, where the composition can be extruded in a molten state through an annular die and then expanded to form a uni-axial or biaxial orientation melt prior to being cooled to form a tubular, blown film, which can then be axially slit and unfolded to form a flat film.
  • suitable extrusion or coextrusion techniques such as a blown bubble film processing technique
  • Films may be subsequently unoriented, uniaxially oriented, or biaxially oriented to the same or different extents.
  • One or more of the layers of the film may be oriented in the transverse and/or longitudinal directions to the same or different extents.
  • the uniaxially orientation can be accomplished using typical cold drawing or hot drawing methods.
  • Biaxial orientation can be accomplished using tenter frame equipment or a double bubble process and may occur before or after the individual layers are brought together.
  • a polyethylene layer can be extrusion coated or laminated onto an oriented polypropylene layer or the polyethylene and polypropylene can be coextruded together into a film then oriented.
  • oriented polypropylene could be laminated to oriented polyethylene or oriented polyethylene could be coated onto polypropylene then optionally the combination could be oriented even further.
  • the films are oriented in the Machine Direction (MD) at a ratio of up to 15, preferably between 5 and 7, and in the Transverse Direction (TD) at a ratio of up to 15, preferably 7 to 9.
  • MD Machine Direction
  • TD Transverse Direction
  • the film is oriented to the same extent in both the MD and TD directions.
  • the films may vary in thickness depending on the intended application; however, films of a thickness from 1 ⁇ to 50 ⁇ may be suitable. Films intended for packaging are usually from 10 ⁇ to 50 ⁇ thick. The thickness of the sealing layer is typically 0.2 ⁇ to 50 ⁇ . There may be a sealing layer on both the inner and outer surfaces of the film or the sealing layer may be present on only the inner or the outer surface.
  • one or more layers may be modified by corona treatment, electron beam irradiation, gamma irradiation, flame treatment, or microwave.
  • one or both of the surface layers is modified by corona treatment.
  • the distribution and the moments of molecular weight (Mw, Mn, Mw/Mn, etc.), the comonomer content (C 2 , C3, C 6 , etc.) are determined by using a high temperature Gel Permeation Chromatography (Polymer Char GPC-IR) equipped with a multiple-channel band- filter based Infrared detector IR5, an 18-angle light scattering detector and a viscometer. Three Agilent PLgel 10- ⁇ Mixed-B LS columns are used to provide polymer separation. Aldrich reagent grade 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB) with 300 ppm antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is used as the mobile phase.
  • TCB 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene
  • BHT butylated hydroxytoluene
  • the TCB mixture is filtered through a 0.1 - ⁇ Teflon filter and degassed with an online degasser before entering the GPC instrument.
  • the nominal flow rate is 1.0 ml/min and the nominal injection volume is 200 ⁇ .
  • the whole system including transfer lines, columns, and detectors are contained in an oven maintained at 145°C.
  • the polymer sample is weighed and sealed in a standard vial with 80- ⁇ flow marker (Heptane) added to it. After loading the vial in the autosampler, polymer is automatically dissolved in the instrument with 8 ml added TCB solvent. The polymer is dissolved at 160°C with continuous shaking for about 1 hour for most PE samples or 2 hour for PP samples.
  • the TCB densities used in concentration calculation are 1.463 g/ml at room temperature and 1.284 g/ml at 145°C.
  • the sample solution concentration is from 0.2 to 2.0 mg/ml, with lower concentrations being used for higher molecular weight samples.
  • the mass recovery is calculated from the ratio of the integrated area of the concentration chromatography over elution volume and the injection mass which is equal to the pre-determined concentration multiplied by injection loop volume.
  • the conventional molecular weight (IR MW) is determined by combining universal calibration relationship with the column calibration which is performed with a series of monodispersed polystyrene (PS) standards ranging from 700 to 10M gm/mole.
  • PS monodispersed polystyrene
  • a 0.695 and K is 0.000579*(1- 0.0087*w2b+0.000018*(w2b)
  • a 0.695 and K is 0.000579*(l-0.0075*w2b) for ethylene- hexene copolymer where w2b is a bulk weight percent of hexene comonomer
  • a 0.695 and K is 0.000579*(l-0.0077*w2b) for ethylene-octene copolymer where w2b is
  • the comonomer composition is determined by the ratio of the IR5 detector intensity corresponding to C3 ⁇ 4 and C3 ⁇ 4 channel calibrated with a series of PE and PP homo/copolymer standards whose nominal value are predetermined by NMR or FTIR. In particular, this provides the methyls per 1000 total carbons (CH3/IOOOTC) as a function of molecular weight.
  • the short-chain branch (SCB) content per lOOOTC (SCB/1000TC) is then computed as a function of molecular weight by applying a chain-end correction to the CH3/IOOOTC function, assuming each chain to be linear and terminated by a methyl group at each end.
  • the weight % comonomer is then obtained from the following expression in which / is 0.3, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and so on for C3, C 4 , C 6 , C 8 , and so on co-monomers, respectively:
  • bulk SCB/1000TC is converted to bulk w2 in the same manner as described above.
  • the LS detector is the 18-angle Wyatt Technology High Temperature DAWN HELEOSII.
  • the LS molecular weight (M) at each point in the chromatogram is determined by analyzing the LS output using the Zimm model for static light scattering (Light Scattering from Polymer Solutions; Huglin, M. B., Ed.; Academic Press, 1972.):
  • ⁇ ( ⁇ ) is the measured excess Rayleigh scattering intensity at scattering angle ⁇
  • c is the polymer concentration determined from the IR5 analysis
  • a 2 is the second virial coefficient
  • ⁇ ( ⁇ ) is the form factor for a monodisperse random coil
  • K 0 is the optical constant for the system:
  • N A is Avogadro's number
  • (dn/dc) is the refractive index increment for the system.
  • MW reported in the Tables below is weight average molecular weight.
  • Density is determined according to ASTM 1505.
  • Aromatic content is determined by Gas Phase Chromatography as follows:
  • the following multiple headspace GC-MS (SIM) method is addressed to quantification of trace level of aromatics such as toluene in polymer (such polyethylene) samples.
  • a polymer (such as polyethylene) sample is heated in the headspace autosampler for a time in order to establish the equilibrium between the polymer and its headspace.
  • a fraction of the gas phase is then automatically injected into the capillary GC column.
  • the sample is thermostatted and sampled in two more identical cycles to complete a multiple headspace extraction (MHE) of the polymer.
  • MHE multiple headspace extraction
  • the peak areas obtained during the three MHE steps are extrapolated to infinity in order to calculate the polymer's total aromatic (such as toluene) content. Pure standard solutions of the aromatic of interest (such as toluene) at different concentration level were injected, and run under exactly the same conditions.
  • Sample One gram of polymer sample is placed in a vial (Perkin Elmer part number B0104236), and sealed tightly with a headspace crimp cap containing a spring and a
  • PTFE/silicone liner (Perkin Elmer part number BO 104242).
  • toluene External References of toluene: Four reference solutions of toluene at a final concentration of 1000 ppb, 200 ppb, 20 ppb and 10 ppb are prepared, diluted in the high boiling vacuum pump fluid Inland 45 (100% synthetic aliphatic hydrocarbon). One gram of each reference solution is placed in a headspace vial and run under exactly the same conditions as the sample. Each solution is injected in triplicate.
  • Inland 45 50% synthetic aliphatic hydrocarbon
  • Blank A blank prepared from one gram of the high boiling vacuum pump fluid is injected in the GC-MS under the same conditions. In case of impurity the area of the target toluene is corrected for the corresponding areas of the blank. Injection is performed in triplicate.
  • Oven program from 50°C (5 min) to 120°C at 10°C/min, than to 300 °C at 50°C/min (5 min).
  • the concentration of the reference component in wtppb The areas of the toluene peak (areas Ai, A2 and A3 for the first, the second and the third cycle run, respectively)
  • the areas of the different volatile component (areas Ai, A 2 and A3 for the first, second and the third cycle run, respectively)
  • the concentration of the volatile component in the sample is then calculated as:
  • Trimethylaluminum was purchased from Sigma Aldrich (St. Louis, MO) or AkzoNobel and used as obtained, unless stated otherwise.
  • ES70TM silica was purchased from PQ Corporation.
  • ES70-875 is ES70TM silica that has been calcined at 880°C for four hours after being ramped to 880°C according to the following ramp rates.
  • DlOO-100 silica support and D70-120A silica were purchased from AGC Chemicals Americas, Inc.
  • Equipment Ace Glass 4L jacketed filter reactor with a Lauda chiller capable of controlling temperature range from -35°C to 165°C.
  • the silica slurry was transferred to an addition funnel connected to the 4 L reactor, and the material was added slowly to the TMA solution under 250 rpm, with control of the addition rate slow enough to maintain the reactor internal temperature ⁇ -17°C, ⁇ 1.5 hr (80% reaction time at -19°C to -21°C).
  • the solid was washed 2 times with 300 g hexane and the wet solid was dried under vacuum overnight. Yield 77 g with solvent residue 1.7 wt% (hexane and mineral oil from THF extraction) or 75.7 g after solvent exclusion.
  • the MAO loading is therefore about 25.7 g, corresponding to an amount of Al of 15.3 wt% (5.6mmol Al/g sMAO or 8.6 mmolAl/g silica based on MAO formula weight of 60g/mol).
  • FIG. la shows that similar to sMAO (FIG. lb and FIG. lc, respectively), the in-situ supported MAO spectrum (FIG. la) also shows AlMe2 + (THF)2 at -0.6ppm (see U.S. Patent No. 8,575,284 for the identification method).
  • the high temperature calcined silica ES70-875 shows significantly higher THF extractable MAO than low temperature calcined silica D 100- 100 (200°C), i.e., 8.0 wt% vs.
  • the in-situ supported MAO although with the ES70-875, shows a THF extractable MAO amount of 5.2 wt%, in between the 200°C and 875 °C calcined silica derived THF extractables, likely indicating that the high temperature calcined silica, after being saturated with water, has recovered some of the surface -OH groups able to form more chemically bonded MAO from THF extraction and behave like a 400°C-600°C calcined silica.
  • IR spectroscopy did show that the in-situ supported MAO contains more unreacted OH than the regular supported MAO from the same support ES70 after 875°C calcination, as shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b.
  • the in-situ supported MAO solid was slurried in Isopar E (higher boiling point aliphatic solvent (ExxonMobil Chemical Company product, boiling point range 113-139°C) and then was heated at 100°C for 3hr.
  • Isopar E higher boiling point aliphatic solvent
  • the slurry was heated to 100°C for 3hrs and then washed with hexane and dried under vacuum for 2hrs.
  • the solid was analyzed with IR spectroscopy (Fig. 2c) and compared to the in-situ supported MAO without heating (Example 1, FIG. 2a) and showed significantly less IR detectable OH groups.
  • the general preparation includes two different procedures: 1) mixing the metallocene with MAO 30% solution in a 1 : 100 mokmol ratio, with MAO loading based on 12-14 wt% Al, for 1-2 hr at ambient temperature.
  • the activated metallocene solution was then added to the silica (calcined at 875°C) toluene slurry, e.g., lg silica with 3g toluene, then the mixture was agitated at ambient temperature for l-2hr, and the volatiles removed under vacuum with or without heating, e.g., at 40-60°C; and 2) based on the same MAO:metallocene ratio and Al loading on silica, MAO was added to a silica slurry and heated at 80-100°C for 3-4hr to form the sMAO, then the metallocene, either in solid form or in toluene slurry form, was added to the sMAO at ambient temperature.
  • the volatiles were removed under vacuum with or without heating, e.g., at 40-60°C.
  • the mixture is passed through a frit to remove the toluene solvent and wash with a low boiling point aliphatic solvent before placing under vacuum to improve drying efficiency.
  • Example 3-4-1 Rac-dimethylsilyl(4-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-4'-methoxy-phenyl)-2- methyl indenyl)(4-o-biphenyl 2-hexyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride on in-situ supported MAO from Example 1.
  • Example 3-4-2 Rqodimefhylsilyl(4-(3 ' ,5 ' -di-tert-butyl-4' -methoxy-phenyl)-2-methyl indenyl)(4-o-biphenyl 2-hexyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride on regular supported MAO on D70-120A silica:
  • a 1-hexene polymerization test was carried out in a 4 mL vial to compare the bispropylcyclopentadienyl halfnium dimethyl derived catalyst activities based on in-situ supported MAO vs. supported MAO from a commercial like preparation, respectively.
  • Comparative supported MAO 0.10 g; ethylenebisindenyl zirconium dichloride: 0.013 g; toluene: 0.50 g.
  • Example 3-1-1 bispropylcyclopentadienyl halfnium dimethyl with in-situ supported MAO from Example 1 for standard polyethylene (PE) test in a salt-bed reactor:
  • Example 3-1-2, Example 3-2, and Example 3-3 were run under similar conditions and the results are collected in Table 1 and 2, including repeated catalyst preparation of Example 3-1- 1 and Example 3-1-2 (labeled as Example 3-1-lr and Example 3-l-2r).
  • Al wt% is calculated based on the product yield as shown in Example 1 step 7; Hf or Zr wt% is based on the charge b : average of two runs
  • compositions, an element or a group of elements are preceded with the transitional phrase “comprising”, it is understood that we also contemplate the same composition or group of elements with transitional phrases “consisting essentially of,” “consisting of”, “selected from the group of consisting of,” or “is” preceding the recitation of the composition, element, or elements and vice versa.

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé de préparation d'un système de catalyseur consistant à mettre en contact dans un solvant aliphatique, à une température allant de moins de 0 °C à -60 °C, au moins un matériau support ayant absorbé de l'eau et au moins un composé d'hydrocarbylaluminium pour former un alumoxane supporté (précurseur du catalyseur) et à mettre en contact l'alumoxane supporté avec au moins un composé catalyseur possédant un atome métallique allant du groupe 3 au groupe 12 ou un atome métallique lanthanide. L'alumoxane supporté peut être chauffé avant d'être mis en contact avec le composé catalyseur.
EP18872918.0A 2017-10-31 2018-09-17 Catalyseurs métallocènes monosites supportés sur silice exempts de toluène contenus dans une formation de mao supportéein-situ Pending EP3704164A4 (fr)

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US5015749A (en) * 1987-08-31 1991-05-14 The Dow Chemical Company Preparation of polyhydrocarbyl-aluminoxanes
US5006500A (en) * 1988-10-27 1991-04-09 Exxon Chemical Patents Inc. Olefin polymerization catalyst from trialkylaluminum mixture, silica gel and a metallocene
EP0877051B1 (fr) * 1993-05-13 2004-12-22 ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc. Copolymères d'éthylène ayant une distribution étroite de composition, leur production et utilisation
US5422325A (en) * 1993-09-17 1995-06-06 Exxon Chemical Patents Inc. Supported polymerization catalysts, their production and use
US5629253A (en) * 1994-04-26 1997-05-13 Exxon Chemical Patents, Inc. Polymerization catalyst systems, their production and use
US5468702A (en) * 1994-07-07 1995-11-21 Exxon Chemical Patents Inc. Method for making a catalyst system
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