Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
  • F16G5/00—V-belts, i.e. belts of tapered cross-section
  • F16G5/04—V-belts, i.e. belts of tapered cross-section made of rubber
• • 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
  • C08F2/00—Processes of polymerisation
  • C08F2/04—Polymerisation in solution
  • C08F2/06—Organic solvent
• • 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
  • 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
  • C08F10/02—Ethene
• • 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
  • C08F210/00—Copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
  • C08F210/16—Copolymers of ethene with alpha-alkenes, e.g. EP rubbers
  • C08F210/18—Copolymers of ethene with alpha-alkenes, e.g. EP rubbers with non-conjugated dienes, e.g. EPT rubbers
• • 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
  • C08F4/605—Component covered by group C08F4/60 with a metal or compound covered by group C08F4/44, not provided for in a single group of groups C08F4/602 or C08F4/603
• • 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
  • C08F210/00—Copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
  • C08F210/16—Copolymers of ethene with alpha-alkenes, e.g. EP rubbers
• • 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
  • C08F4/65908—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond in combination with an ionising compound other than alumoxane, e.g. (C6F5)4B-X+
• • 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
  • C08F4/65912—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond in combination with an organoaluminium compound
• • 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
• • 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
• • 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
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S526/00—Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 series
  • Y10S526/904—Monomer polymerized in presence of transition metal containing catalyst at least part of which is supported on a polymer, e.g. prepolymerized catalysts
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S526/00—Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 series
  • Y10S526/943—Polymerization with metallocene catalysts

Definitions

• This invention relates to a liquid phase polymerization process for producing a polyolefin elastomer, e.g., one derived from ethylene, another c.-olefin such as propylene and, optionally, a diene, to a cation-generating cocatalyst for activating a metallocene procatalyst that can be employed in the polymerization process, to the resulting polyolefin elastomer possessing a desirably high molecular weight (M w ) , high Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 at 125°C) , low polydispersity index ( ⁇ /M , low glass transition temperature (T g ) and low hysteresis (tan ⁇ ) and to various products manufactured therefrom including rubber articles such as hoses, belts and moldings, polymer blends containing one or more other hydrocarbon polymers and lubricating oils in which the elastomer functions as a vis
• EP ethylene and propylene
• EPDM terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene
• Ordinary EP elastomers can be cured using such curatives as organic peroxides, while the use of sulfur as a curative requires the incorporation of a diene.
• EPDM elastomers are usually produced with vanadium-organoaluminum catalysts, i.e., Ziegler-Natta catalysts.
• EPDMs are representative of the more general category of ethylene-c.- olefin diene elastomers (EODEs) .
• EODEs ethylene-c.- olefin diene elastomers
• EPDMs include their use in such products as hoses, gaskets, power transmission belts, conveyor belts, bumpers, automotive extrusions and moldings, weather stripping, blending components for plastics and rubbers such as polypropylene, polystyrene and butyl rubber, fabric coatings, viscosity modifiers for lubrication oils, tire sidewalls and in roofing and other membrane applications, shoe soles and heels and many other rubber articles.
• plastics and rubbers such as polypropylene, polystyrene and butyl rubber
• fabric coatings such as polypropylene, polystyrene and butyl rubber
• viscosity modifiers for lubrication oils
• tire sidewalls and in roofing and other membrane applications such as shoe soles and heels and many other rubber articles.
• Another noteworthy application of the EPDMs is in wire and cable insulation due to their excellent dielectric properties.
• an EPDM it is desirable for an EPDM to have a reasonably fast cure rate and high state of cure, requirements calling for a relatively high diene content, e.g., three percent or higher.
• the cure rate for an EPDM elastomer and the final properties of the cured article depend upon the type of diene incorporated. For example, on a comparable diene weight percent basis, an EPDM produced with 5-ethylidiene-2- norbornene (ENB) as the diene will have a faster cure rate using a sulfur cure than would an EPDM containing dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) or 1,4-hexadiene (HD) .
• DCPD dicyclopentadiene
• HD 1,4-hexadiene
• EPDMs made with hexadiene as the termonomer are known to exhibit good heat resistance.
• the EPDM should have a weigh -average molecular weight (M w ) of at least about 300,000, or ML 1+4 at 125°C of at least about 20 when expressed in terms of Mooney viscosity.
• MWD molecular weight distribution
• the properties of an EPDM elastomer such as its tensile strength, processability and tack can be related to its degree of crystallinity. Since in most commercial uses elastomers are higher in molecular weight than plastics, too high a degree of crystallinity can make an EPDM difficult to process at ordinary temperatures. Although good physical properties are desirable, especially in such applications as hose, tubing, wire and cable, excessive crystallinity can cause an EPDM to exhibit high hardness and stiffness resulting in a "plastic” rather than a "rubber" surface with poor surface tack.
• plastics which are homo- and copolymers of ethylene, propylene, and higher of-olefins, need not have as high a molecular weight as commercially useful elastomers of ethylene- ⁇ -olefins such as EPDM.
• catalysts that provide high M u plastic copolymers may produce low M w polymers unsuitable for elastomer applications.
• undesirable MWD changes can occur or the compositional distribution can change.
• catalyst performance for the production of plastics is not indicative of catalyst performance for the production of elastomers.
• the catalysts conventionally employed in the production of high molecular weight EPDM elastomers are soluble vanadium catalysts such as VC1 « , VOCI 3 , V0(Ac) 3 or V0(0R) 3 where R is an alkyl group together with an organoaluminum compound.
• the activity of the vanadium catalysts are relatively low, e.g., producing 5-20 kg polymer/g vanadium.
• crystallinity is a function of both the ethylene content of the polymer and the catalyst system used for its production.
• the catalyst system controls the fraction of ethylene units present in long ethylene sequences which are capable of crystallizing. With any given catalyst and reactor configuration, polymers with higher ethylene content will have longer ethylene sequences and be more crystalline.
• the product EPDM polymers are completely amorphous (non-crystalline) at ethylene contents below about 55 wt%. Conversely, at ethylene contents of about 55 wt% or greater, an EPDM will possess significant crystallinity. The degree of crystallinity depends less on the diene content of the EPDM than on the percentage of ethylene.
• Metallocene catalysts typically consist of a transition-metal atom sandwiched between ring structures to form a sterically hindered site. Plastics obtained with metallocene catalysts tend to have increased impact strength and toughness, good melt characteristics, and improved clarity in films.
• metallocene catalysts In actual practice, the extent to which metallocene catalysts can effectively replace traditional catalysts in polymer production depends on the cost and efficiency of the system. Metallocene catalysts cost significantly more than the traditional Ziegler-Natta catalysts but the metallocene systems are considerably more productive ' . In some cases, the* increased productivity of metallocene catalysts relative to the Ziegler-Natta catalysts ranges from one to two orders of magnitude more polymer produced per pound of catalyst .
• EPA 593,083 describes a gas phase polymerization process for producing EPDM employing a bridged metallocene catalyst (1) :
• EPA 612,769 and EP 653,445 both disclose the use of metallocene catalyst (1) in a solution phase polymerization process for producing linear low [molecular weight] propylene-diene elastomer (LLPDE) in contrast to a high molecular weight elastomer that is an object of the present invention.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,401,817 describes a polymerization process employing bridged metallocene catalyst (2) :
• Another aspect of the present invention lies in the discovery that not all bridged metallocene catalysts will provide high molecular weight elastomers. Thus, e.g., it has been found that bridged metallocene catalyst (5)
• activated metallocene catalyst (1) provides elastomers of high molecular weight (>300,000) .
• Bridged metallocene catalysts (6) and (7) possessing the bis (indenyl) and the bis(fluorenyl) structures, respectively, are capable of providing high molecular weight amorphous ethylene-propylene copolymers:
• Metallocenes (6) and (7) are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,145,819 (indenyl) and 5,436,305 (fluorenyl) for the production of homopolymers. No mention is made in either patent of employing the disclosed metallocene for the production of an EPDM-type elastomer.
• Yet another object of the invention is to provide a catalytically active composition
• a catalytically active composition comprising a metallocene procatalyst activated by*- a particular type of cation- generating cocatalyst.
• Additional objects of the invention include providing a polyolefin elastomer possessing a combination of high molecular weight, high Mooney viscosity, low polydispersity index, low glass transition temperature and low hysteresis and various products manufactured therefrom.
• a process for the liquid phase polymerization of ethylene, at least one other ⁇ -olefin and, optionally, at least one diene monomer to provide an elastomer comprising contacting the monomer under liquid phase polymerization conditions with a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst composition comprising the product obtained by combining (a) a metallocene procatalyst, preferably one containing a bridging group possessing at least two bulky groups, and (b) a cocatalyst, preferably a cation-generating cocatalyst as hereinafter described.
• the polyolefin elastomers obtained by the process of this invention are themselves novel, possessing, in combination, a higher molecular weight (M Cincinnati) , higher Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 at 125°C) a lower polydispersity index (M w /M n ) , a lower glass transition temperature (T g ) and a lower hysteresis (tan ⁇ ) than these same properties in known polyolefin elastomers incorporating equivalent amounts of the same olefins. These elastomers confer advantageous properties on products manufactured therefrom relative to the same products manufactured from known elastomers.
• metallocene and "metallocene procatalyst” as used herein shall be understood to refer to compounds possessing a transition metal M, at least one non- cyclopentadienyl-derived ligand X and zero or one heteroatom-containing ligand Y, the ligands being coordinated to M and cos_responding in number to the valence thereof.
• Such compounds, cocatalysts useful for their activation to provide metallocene catalysts that may be employed for the polymerization of olefins to provide polyolefin homopolymers and copolymers and/or polymerization processes employing one or more of the metallocene catalysts are described in, among others, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,752,597;
• Figure 1 is a graphical comparison of the stability of a metallocene procatalyst activated by cation- generating cocatalysts both within (Example 21) and outside (Comparative Example 30) the scope of the invention, the stability of the catalysts being shown as the amount of monomer consumed over time.
• the polymerization process herein employs a catalyst composition obtained by activating a metallocene procatalyst with a suitable cocatalyst.
• the metallocene procatalyst is preferably one or a mixture of metallocene compounds of either or both of the following general formulae:
• Metallocene procatalyst (I) can be activated either with an aluminoxane or, preferably, with the cation- generating cocatalyst hereinafter described. If the metallocene procatalyst is entirely one of formula (II) , it is activated with the aforementioned cation-generating cocatalyst. However, where the metallocene procatalyst is one of formula (I) and the cocatalyst is entirely an aluminoxane, ligand (Cp ⁇ must be different from ligand (Cp 2 R 2 p ) , bridging group R 3 must contain at least two bulky groups and the value of n must be 1. Of these bridged metallocenes, it is preferred that bridging group R 3 possess the structure
• bulky groups R 4 and R 5 each, independently, is, or contains, a cyclohydrocarbyl group containing up to about
• bridged metallocenes those in which ligand (Cp ⁇ 1 ) is unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl, ligand (Cp 2 R p 2 ) is indenyl or fluorenyl, M is zirconium, R 4 and R 5 each is phenyl and each X ligand is chlorine are still more preferred.
• ligand (Cp ⁇ 1 ) is unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl
• ligand (Cp 2 R p 2 ) is indenyl or fluorenyl
• M zirconium
• R 4 and R 5 each is phenyl
• each X ligand is chlorine
• Still other preferred bridged metallocenes (I) that can be used in the polymerization process of this invention include: diphenylmethylene (indenyl) (fluorenyl) zirconium dichloride, diphenylmethylene (cyclopentadienyl) (4,5,6, 7-tetrahydro- indenyl) zirconium dichloride, diphenylmethylene (cyclopentadienyl) (2-methylindenyl) zirconium dichloride, diphenylmethylene (2, 4-dimethylcyclo-pentadienyl) (3 ' , 5 ' - dimethylcyclopentadienyl) zirconium dichloride, diphenylmethylene(2-methyl-4-tert-butylcyclo-pentadienyl) (3 ' -tert-butyl-5 ' -methylcyclopentadienyl) zirconium dichloride, dixylylmethylene (2,3, 5-trimethyl
• n and r are both 1, the valence of M is 4, X is halogen and s is 2.
• Illustrative of such preferred metallocene procatalysts (II) that can be activated by the cation-generating cocatalyst of this invention are the following: dimethylsilyl (tetramethylcyclopentadienyl) (cyclohexylamido) zirconium dichloride, dimethylsilyl (3,4-dimethyl cyclopentadienyl) (cyclohexyl ⁇ amido) hafnium dichloride, dimethylsilyl (tetramethylcyclopentadienyl) (butylamido) titanium dichloride, dimethylsilyl (3,4-di-t-butylcyclopentadienyl) (cyclododecyl- amido) titanium dichloride, dimethylsilyl (2
• the cocatalyst, or activator, employed with the preferred bridged metallocene procatalysts of formula (I) can, as previously stated, be any of the aluminoxanes known to activate metallocene procatalysts.
• aluminoxane cocatalysts including such alkylaluminoxanes as MAO see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,227,478.
• the bridged metallocene procatalyst can be present in the reactor in an amount, expressed in terms of its transition metal content, of from about 0.0001 to about 0.02, preferably from about 0.0002 to about 0.015 and more preferably from about 0.0002 to about 0.01, millimoles/liter.
• the aluminoxane cocatalyst can be utilized in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 100, preferably from about 0.02 to about 75 and more preferably from about 0.025 to about 50, millimoles/liter.
• aluminoxane cocatalyst When employing an aluminoxane cocatalyst, 'it can be advantageous to include a trialkylaluminum such as trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, tri (n-propyl) aluminum, triisopropyaluminum, tri (n-butyl) aluminum, triisobutyl- aluminum, and the like, to reduce the amount of aluminoxane required for suitable activation of the metallocene procatalyst.
• the optional trialkylaluminum can be utilized in a molar ratio to metallocene procatalyst of from about 1 to about 1000 and preferably from about 2 to about 500.
• the cation-generating cocatalyst of the composition described below is used to activate metallocene procatalysts (I) and (II) .
• This preferred cocatalyst can be used as a partial or complete replacement for the aluminoxanes, not only for the preferred bridged metallocenes described above, but for any of the metallocene procatalysts, whether bridged or nonbridged, with which the invention is concerned.
• the cation-generating cocatalyst herein comprises: as a first component, a metal- and/or metalloid-containing compound capable of exchanging at least one X ligand in the metallocene procatalyst up to the total number thereof with, independently, a hydrogen atom or a carbohydryl group containing up to about 20 carbon atoms or oxycarbohydryl group containing up to 20 carbon atoms; as a second component, a neutral metal- and/or metalloid-containing compound having at least one aryl group possessing at least one electron-withdrawing substituent; and, as a third component an anionic metal- and/or metalloid-containing compound having at least one aryl group possessing at least one electron-withdrawing substituent .
• Activation of the metallocene procatalyst can be achieved by combining the metallocene with the aforementioned components of the cation-generating cocatalyst either simultaneously or in any sequence and with any interval of time therebetween.
• in situ activation of the procatalyst i.e., within the polymerization reactor in the presence of monomer, is preferred.
• procatalyst it is also within the scope of the invention to achieve activation of the procatalyst in other ways, for example, by reacting the metallocene procatalyst with the first component of the cocatalyst and thereafter combining the product of this reaction with the second and third components of the cocatalyst either simultaneously or sequentially either within, or in the absence of, the olefin monomer.
• the molar ratio of the first component of the cocatalyst to metallocene procatalyst can vary from 1 to about 500 and preferably from about 2 to about 500 and the molar ratios of the second and third components of the cocatalyst to metallocene procatalyst can, independently, vary from about 0.5 to about 10 and preferably from about 0.8 to about 5.
• the metal- or metalloid-containing first component for providing the cation-generating cocatalyst herein can advantageously be an aluminum compound of the general formula AlR 4 R 5 R 6 in which R 4 , R 5 and R 6 each, independently, is a hydrocarbyl, e.g., alkyl, or oxyhydrocarbyl, e.g., alkoxy, group containing up to about 20 carbon atoms, or hydrogen, provided that no more than two of R*, R 5 and R 6 can be hydrogen.
• Suitable aluminum compounds include trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, tri (n-propyl) aluminum, triisopropylaluminum, tri (n-butyl)aluminum, tri (n-propyl) aluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri (n-hexyl)aluminum, tri (n- octyl) aluminum, dimethyaluminum hydride, diethylaluminum hydride, diisopropylaluminum hydride, di (n-propyl) aluminum hydride, diisobutylaluminum hydride, di (n-butyl) aluminum hydride, dimethylaluminum ethoxide, di (n-propyl) aluminum ethoxide, diisobutylaluminum ethoxide, di (n-butyl) aluminum ethoxide, and the like.
• the trialkylaluminums are preferred and of these, triethylaluminum and triisobutylaluminum are more preferred.
• Additional representatives of compounds that can be used as the first component of the cocatalyst are alkali metal organometallics, alkaline earth organometallies and organometal halides (e.g., Grignard reagents) , hydrocarbyl complexes of such metals and organometalloids such as those of boron, zinc, gallium, germanium, arsenic, tellurium mercury, lead, and the like.
• Useful second components for providing the preferred cocatalysts include boranes such as tris (pentafluorophenyl)borane, tris (methoxyphenyl)borane, tris (trifluoromethyl-phenyl) borane, tris (3, 5-di [trifluoro- methyl] phenyl)borane, tris (tetrafluoroxylyl)borane, tris (tetrafluoro-o-tolyl)borane, and the like.
• boranes such as tris (pentafluorophenyl)borane, tris (methoxyphenyl)borane, tris (trifluoromethyl-phenyl) borane, tris (3, 5-di [trifluoro- methyl] phenyl)borane, tris (tetrafluoro-o-tolyl)borane, and the like.
• boranes such as tris (penta
• Specific third components that can be used in the preferred cocatalysts include borates such as lithium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis (tri- fluoromethylphenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis (3, 5-di [tri- fluoromethyl]phenyl) borate, sodium tetrakis (pentafluoro ⁇ phenyl)borate, potassium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)borate, magnesium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)borate, titanium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)borate, tin tetrakis (pentafluoro ⁇ phenyl)borate, and the like.
• borates such as lithium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis (tri- fluoromethylphenyl)bor
• alkali metal borates such as lithium tetrakis (pentafluoro ⁇ phenyl) borate and lithium tetrakis (3, 5-di [trifluoro ⁇ methyl] phenyl)borate are preferred.
• Other useful third components include aluminate homologues of the foregoing compounds.
• the activated metallocene catalyst composition can be prepared in advance and thereafter introduced into the polymerization reactor. However, when employing the preferred cation-generating cocatalyst, supra, it is highly preferred to activate the metallocene procatalyst with the cocatalyst components in situ, which is to say, in the presence of monomer. There are considerable advantages to such in situ activation.
• the metallocene procatalysts in which each X ligand is a halogen are fairly stable compounds and impose no special handling or storage requirements.
• the metallocenes in which one or more X ligands is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group are highly susceptible to degradation when exposed to oxygen, moisture, light and/or heat. When prepared in advance, care must be taken to store these metallocenes in a manner which will exclude all of these conditions. This is especially the case with the metallocene hydrides which are extremely unstable. For these reasons, it is preferred to activate the metallocene procatalyst with the preferred cocatalyst within the polymerization reactor in the presence of monomer.
• in situ activation offers the flexibility of adjusting the quantity of aluminum component in the cocatalyst to compensate for process conditions in the polymerization reactor, e.g., via reactive scavenging of polar impurities.
• Use of preformed metallocene hydrides, hydrocarbyls or oxyhydrocarbyls would necessitate an independent feed of such a scavenger such representing a complication of the polymerization process.
• activation in the presence of olefin monomer results in significantly higher initial polymerization activity than the same catalyst activated in advance of its introduction into the polymerization reactor.
• the o;-olefins suitable for use in the preparation of the elastomers herein contain from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms and include propylene, 1-butene, 3-methylbutene, 1- pentene, -methyl-1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, and vinyl aromatic monomers such as styrene, a- methyl styrene and the like, with propylene being the - olefin of choice.
• the optional diene monomer(s) can be conjugated or nonconjugated.
• Conjugated monomers include butadiene, isoprene, 2, 3-dimethylbutadiene and cyclopentadiene.
• nonconjugated dienes include straight chain acyclic dienes such as 1,4-hexadiene, 1,5- hexadiene, 1, 6-heptadiene, and, 1, 7-octadiene; branched chain acyclic dienes such as 4-methyl-l,5-hexadiene, 5- methyl-1, 4-hexadiene, 3, 7-dimethyl-l, 6-octadiene, 3-7- dimethyl-1, 7-octadiene and mixed isomers of dihydromyrcene and dihydroocinene,- unsubstituted and substituted cyclic dienes such as 1, 4-cyclohexadiene, 1, 5-cyclooctadiene and 1, 5-cyclododecadiene; and, multicyclic dienes such as tetrahydroindene, methyltetrahydroindene, dicyclopentadiene; bicyclo- (2, 2, 1) -hepta-2, 6-d
• the preferred ones are 1,4-hexadiene, 5-ethyl"idene-2- norbornene, 5-vinylidene-2-norbornene, 5-methylene-2- norbornene and dicyclopentadiene and of these, 5-ethylidene- 2-norbornene, 1,4-hexadiene and dicyclopentadiene are more preferred.
• the product elastomer When employing a diene that results in little if any branching in the product elastomer, e.g., such dienes as 1,4-hexadiene, ethylidene-2-norbornene, dicyclopentadiene, 1-methylcyclopentadiene, indene, and the like, it can be advantageous to the properties of the product elastomer to include within the monomer mixture a diene that provides branching.
• a diene that provides branching e.g., such dienes as 1,4-hexadiene, ethylidene-2-norbornene, dicyclopentadiene, 1-methylcyclopentadiene, indene, and the like.
• Branching dienes include branched or unbranched acyclic dienes such as 1, 5-hexadiene, 1, 7-octadiene or 4-methy1-1, 5-hexadiene; substituted or unsubstituted cyclic dienes such as cyclopentadiene, 3- methyl-l,4-cyclopentadiene, vinyl cyclohexene or norbornadiene; alkenyl-substituted norbornenes such as 5- methylene-2-norbornene, 5-vinyl-2-norbornene, 5-propenyl-2- norbornene or 5-butenyl-2-norbornene; conjugated acyclic dienes such as butadiene, isoprene or 2,3-dimethylbutadiene; and, dialkenylaromatic dienes such as divinylbenzene.
• branched or unbranched acyclic dienes such as 1, 5-hexadiene, 1, 7-octad
• the preferred elastomeric ethylene- ⁇ -olefin copolymers and EODEs can contain up to about 90, preferably from about 30 to about 85, and more preferably from about 35 to about 80, weight percent ethylene, the balance being a- olefin(s) and optional diene monomer(s) .
• the diene monomer(s) when utilized, can be incorporated into the EODE at a level of from about 0.1 to about 30, preferably from about 1 to about 25, and more preferably from about 1 to about 20, weight percent.
• Polymerization of the aforementioned monomers using the catalyst of the present invention is carried out in the liquid phase, i.e., in a solution or slurry process, either continuously or in batch. These processes are generally carried out at temperatures in the range ⁇ f from about -20°C. to about 300°C. and preferably from about 0°C. to about 200°C, and pressures from about 5 to about 2000 psig.
• Dilution solvents that can be employed include straight and branched chain hydrocarbons such as the butanes, the pentanes, the hexanes, the heptanes, the octanes, and the like, cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methyl- cyclopentane, ethylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane and the like, and alkyl-substituted aromatic compounds such as toluene, xylene, and the like.
• straight and branched chain hydrocarbons such as the butanes, the pentanes, the hexanes, the heptanes, the octanes, and the like
• cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methyl- cyclopentane,
• a typical batch solution polymerization process can be carried out by first introducing the hydrocarbon solvent, e.g., cyclohexane, into a stirred tank reactor.
• the monomer feed comprising ethylene, c_-olefin, e.g., propylene, and diene (s) (if utilized) is then sparged into the liquid phase.
• a hydrocarbon solution of the cocatalyst followed by a hydrocarbon solution of the metallocene procatalyst in the required amounts are then added to the liquid phase in the reactor.
• the rate of polymerization is controlled by the concentration of the catalyst.
• the reactor temperature is controlled by means of cooling coils, etc., and the initial total pressure in the reactor is maintained by a constant flow of gaseous monomer(s) .
• the ethylene content of the elastomer product is determined by the metallocene catalyst used and by the ratio of ethylene to ⁇ -olefin in the reactor which is controlled by manipulating the relative feed rates of these monomers to the reactor. After polymerization and deactivation of the catalyst followed by coagulation of the elastomer, the latter can be recovered by any suitable means and further processed as desired.
• a suspension of the solid, particulate polymer is formed in the hydrocarbon diluent to which ethylene, ⁇ -olefin(s) , any optional diene (s) and the components of the catalyst composition have been added.
• Slurry polymerization proceeds much like solution polymerization.
• Preffered polyolefin elastomers that can be obtained by the polymerization process herein possess a unique combination of high molecular weight (M , high Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 ) low polydispersity index (M. . /M-,) , low glass transition temperature (T g ) and low hysteresis (tan ⁇ ) properties that distinguish them from known .polyolefin elastomers.
• novel polyolefin elastomers of this invention prior to curing possess an M w of from about 200,000 to about 2,000,000, preferably from about 275,000 to about 1,750,000 and more preferably from about 300,000 to about 1,500,000, an ML 1+4 at 125°C of from about 10 to about 200, preferably from about 15 to about 175 and more preferably from about 20 to about 150, an M w /M n of from about 1.25 to about 10, preferably from about 1.5 to about 8.5 and more preferably from about 2.0 to about 7.5, a T g (°C) of below about -25, preferably below about -30 and more preferably below -35 and a tan ⁇ of from about 0.3 to about 7, preferably from about 0.35 to about 6 and more preferably from about 0.4 to about 5.
• M w of from about 200,000 to about 2,000,000, preferably from about 275,000 to about 1,750,000 and more preferably from about 300,000 to about 1,500,000
• polymer blends can be prepared which contain an elastomer in accordance with this invention and one or more other hydrocarbon polymers with which elastomers such as the EPDMs are known to be compatible, e.g., poly( ⁇ -olefin) homopolymers and copolymers, polystyrene, ethylene/cycloolefin copolymer, butyl rubber, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and the like.
• the elastomer herein can be incorporated into any of a wide assortment of rubber articles such as hoses, tubing, power transmission belts including V-belts, conveyor belts, timing belts and industrial flat belts, air springs, roofing membranes, weather stripping, bushings, vibration mounts, bridge bearing pads, shoe soles and heels, jacketing for wire or cable, and the like.
• the elastomer of this invention is also useful as a viscosity modifier for lubricating oils.
• the elastomer herein can be provided as an oil-extended polymer prior to mixing with the other hydrocarbon polymer.
• the elastomer can be oil-extended by the well known procedure of adding oil to the polymer after it is recovered from the polymerization reactor.
• the oil can be selected from the naphthenic or paraffinic oils, typically in amounts of from about 5 to about 150 parts by weight of oil per 100 parts by weight of elastomer. Alternatively, part or all of the oil can be added to the elastomer and other hydrocarbon polymer during the blending operation.
• the elastomer of this invention can be formulated in a known manner with any of the many usual compounding ingredients, for example, a vulcanizing or curative package containing one or more vulcanizing agents, accelerators, activators, retarders, and the like.
• Other common formulation ingredients include antiozonants, antioxidants, plasticizing oils and softeners, fillers, reinforcing pigments and carbon blacks.
• racemic-ethylenebis (indenyl) hafnium dichloride [rac- Et (Ind) 2 HfCl 2 ]
• racemic-dimethylsilylbis (indenyl)hafnium dichloride [rac-Me 2 Si (Ind) 2 ]
• lithium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)borate [LiB (C 6 F 5 ) 4 ]
• Hexane solvent was purified over 3 A molecular sieves .
• Toluene solvent was distilled from molten sodium and degassed with dry, deoxygenated argon.
• Ethylene and propylene, both high purity grade monomers, were purified by passage over molecular sieves and a deoxygenation catalyst.
• the diene monomers 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene [ENB] , dicyclopentadiene [DCPD] , 5-vinyl-2-norbornene [VNB] and 1, 7-octadiene [OD] were deinhibited over activated alumina and stored over 4 A molecular sieves.
• M n were measured in orthodichlorobenzene at 130°C on a Waters GPC 150C gel permeation chromatograph equipped with a Waters RA401 refractive index detector and Waters Styragel HT columns (10E5 A, 10E4 A, 10E3 A, and 10E6 A) .
• Molecular weights were calculated from elution times calibrated against polystyrene standards from American Polymer Standards Corp. (narrow molecular weight distribution, M n from 9300 to 2.1xl0 6 ) .
• Mooney Viscosity (ML,., ) at 125°C)
• T g Glass Transition Temperature
• Hysteresis (Tan ⁇ ) The hysteresis of the elastomers (tan ⁇ ; ASTM standard D945) was determined using a Monsanto Rubber Process Analyzer model RPA 2000 and is reported as the average of ten measurements made at 150°C at a frequency of 0.25 rad/s and at a strain of 1° arc (14%) .
• Ethylene:Propylene Ratio and Diene Content The ethylene :propylene ratio and the diene content of the elastomers were determined by infrared spectroscopy of thin polymer films on a Perkin-Elmer infrared spectrophotometer model Paragon 1000 PC, according to ASTM standard D3900.
• the metallocene procatalyst was tared into a hypovial and combined with vigorous mixing under argon with the appropriate aliquot of MAO solution.
• the resulting catalyst solution was aged for 30 minutes prior to use.
• a 2-liter glass reactor was char ed with
• a 2-liter glass reactor was charged with 1500 ml of hexane, 1.2 ml of Al(Bu i ) 3 (1.0 mmol Al) , the appropriate aliquots of diene and 50 psi each of ethylene and propylene
• the remaining components of the cocatalyst e.g., 1.0 ml of a 10 mM solution of B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 (0.l02g, 100 micromol) and LiB(C 6 F 5 ) 4 (0.152 g, 100 micromol) in 10 ml of toluene, were injected into the reactor. Ethylene and propylene were supplied on demand to maintain the reactor pressure at 50 psi . Polymerization was terminated with 100 ml of acidified methanol (1 vol % concentrated HCl) and the resulting polymer was coagulated and thereafter mill-dried.
• the polymer products were analyzed by IR spectroscopy to determine the E:P ratio and diene content.
• M w molecular weight
• DSC thermal transitions
• tan ⁇ tan ⁇
• Mooney viscosity at 125°C were determined.
• Comparative Examples 1-3 and 7-9 illustrating the use of zirconium-based metallocene catalysts yielded low Mooney viscosity polymers and Comparative Examples 4-6 and 10-12 illustrating the use of hafnium-based metallocene catalysts exhibited unacceptably low activity. All of the catalysts employed in Comparative Examples 1-13 showed relatively poor activity toward propylene. Comparative Examples 13-18 yielded copolymers only, not terpolymers; there was no diene incorporation and
• Comparative Example 19 showed low catalyst activity and the resulting elastomer possessed low Mooney viscosity.
• E:P ratio were consistently achieved.
• diene was successfully incorporated into the polymers to provide EPDM elastomers. All of the elastomers exhibited 5 good properties. Examples 1 to 3 also demonstrate the typically high ratios of MAO to metallocene that are needed for good results.
• Ph.C Ph,CB(C 4 F,)., HNMe.Ph - IHNMe.Ph)B(C,F_),, LiB » LiBIC.F,),
• Comparative Examples 44-48 utilized solution polymerization procedure A and are illustrative of the use of a known type of MAO-activated catalyst.
• Examples 25-27 utilized solution polymerization procedure B and illustrate the use of a catalyst obtained by activating the same

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=24528033

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (14)

Cited By (18)

Families Citing this family (71)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (82)

• 1996
  • 1996-04-10 US US08/630,650 patent/US6225426B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1997
  • 1997-04-01 EP EP97917770A patent/EP0892816B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-04-01 AT AT97917770T patent/ATE229039T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-04-01 DK DK97917770T patent/DK0892816T3/da active
  • 1997-04-01 CN CNA2007101802372A patent/CN101186658A/zh active Pending
  • 1997-04-01 CN CNB031277535A patent/CN100389129C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-04-01 JP JP53627897A patent/JP3274686B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-04-01 ES ES97917770T patent/ES2190529T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-04-01 WO PCT/US1997/005323 patent/WO1997038019A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-04-01 KR KR10-2004-7014875A patent/KR100505840B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-04-01 PT PT97917770T patent/PT892816E/pt unknown
  • 1997-04-01 RU RU98120351/04A patent/RU2205837C2/ru active
  • 1997-04-01 DE DE69717614T patent/DE69717614T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-04-01 CN CNB97193715XA patent/CN100436484C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-04-01 BR BR9708645-2A patent/BR9708645A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-12-15 US US08/990,922 patent/US6147025A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-12-15 US US08/990,612 patent/US6136744A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-12-15 US US08/990,364 patent/US6060572A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1999
  • 1999-10-27 HK HK99104796.0A patent/HK1019609A1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2001
  • 2001-03-19 JP JP2001078458A patent/JP2001302731A/ja active Pending
  • 2001-11-22 JP JP2001357894A patent/JP2002249521A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (6)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events