GB865248A - Process for the polymerisation of olefines - Google Patents

Abstract

One or more olefines each containing up to 8 carbon atoms are polymerized with the aid of a catalyst comprising a compound of an element of sub-group III(a) of the Mendeleeff Periodic Table and of atomic number 21 to 71, and a finely divided metal, or metal hydride, or an organo-metallic compound of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or Al, Sc, Y, La, Zn, or Cd. The first mentioned compound may be a halide of a rare earth metal e.g. cerium chloride, praseodymium chloride, neodymium chloride, lanthanum chloride, and mixtures or an organic compound of a rare earth metal such as cerium acetyl-acetonate. The olefine may be ethylene, propylene, butene-1, hexene-1, octene-1, styrene, 3-methylbutene-1, butadiene, or isoprene, or mixtures thereof. Other catalyst components mentioned are Na, Ca, Al, Zn, NaH, CaH2, L1AlH4, Na-phenyl, Zn (C2H5)2, or Al(C2H5)3, Cl. The catalyst may be made in the absence or presence of an organic solvent by grinding the components together e.g. in a ball mill. The polymerization may be effected in bulk or in the presence of an organic solvent or diluent, and the polymerization may be controlled by the addition of a small amount of oxygen or hydrogen. The polymer may be purified with 2N-hydrochloric acid. The polymerization may be effected in a silver or steel autoclave.ALSO:A catalyst for polymerizing olefines comprises (1) a compound of an element of sub-Group IIIa of the Mendeleeff Periodic Table and of atomic number 21 to 71, and (2) a hydride or an organo-metallic compound of an alkali metal or of an alkaline earth metal or of Al, Sc, Y, La, Zn, or Co, or any of these metals themselves. Compound (1) may be a halide of a rare metal, e.g. cerium chloride, praseodymium chloride, neodymium chloride, lanthanium chloride, and mixtures thereof or an organic compound of a rare earth metal such as cerium acetylacetonate. Component (2) of the catalyst may be Na, Ca, Al, Zn, NaH, CaH2, LiAlH4, Na-phenyl, Zn(C2H5)2, Al(C2H5)3 or Al (C2H5)2Cl. p The catalyst may be prepared in the absence or presence of an organic solvent by grinding the components together, e.g. in a ball mill. Specified solvents are butane, n-heptane, refined hydrogenated petroleum, cyclohexane, methyl cyclohexane, benzene, xylene, or tetrahydronaphthalene.