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• • 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
  • C08F297/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by successively polymerising different monomer systems using a catalyst of the ionic or coordination type without deactivating the intermediate polymer
  • C08F297/06—Macromolecular compounds obtained by successively polymerising different monomer systems using a catalyst of the ionic or coordination type without deactivating the intermediate polymer using a catalyst of the coordination type
  • C08F297/08—Macromolecular compounds obtained by successively polymerising different monomer systems using a catalyst of the ionic or coordination type without deactivating the intermediate polymer using a catalyst of the coordination type polymerising mono-olefins
• • 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
  • C08F210/04—Monomers containing three or four carbon atoms
  • C08F210/06—Propene
• • 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
  • C08F297/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by successively polymerising different monomer systems using a catalyst of the ionic or coordination type without deactivating the intermediate polymer
  • C08F297/06—Macromolecular compounds obtained by successively polymerising different monomer systems using a catalyst of the ionic or coordination type without deactivating the intermediate polymer using a catalyst of the coordination type
  • C08F297/08—Macromolecular compounds obtained by successively polymerising different monomer systems using a catalyst of the ionic or coordination type without deactivating the intermediate polymer using a catalyst of the coordination type polymerising mono-olefins
  • C08F297/083—Macromolecular compounds obtained by successively polymerising different monomer systems using a catalyst of the ionic or coordination type without deactivating the intermediate polymer using a catalyst of the coordination type polymerising mono-olefins the monomers being ethylene or propylene
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
  • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
  • C08L23/10—Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
• • 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
  • C08F4/65916—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
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L2207/00—Properties characterising the ingredient of the composition
  • C08L2207/02—Heterophasic composition
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
  • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
  • C08L23/16—Ethene-propene or ethene-propene-diene copolymers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L2308/00—Chemical blending or stepwise polymerisation process with the same catalyst
• • 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

• the present invention relates to a multistep process for preparing heterophasic propylene copolymers, by using a particular class of metallocene compounds.
• Multistep processes for the polymerization of olefins, carried out in two or more reactors are known from the patent literature and are of particular interest in industrial practice.
• process parameters such as temperature, pressure, type and concentration of monomers, concentration of hydrogen or other molecular weight regulator, provides much greater flexibility in controlling the composition and properties of the end product compared to single-step processes.
• Multistep processes are generally carried out using the same catalyst in the various steps/reactors. The product obtained in one reactor is discharged and sent directly to the next step/reactor without altering the nature of the catalyst.
• WO 01/48034 describes a class of bis indenyl metallocene compounds wherein the indenyl moieties are substituted in position 4 with a substituted aryl radical. This document exemplifies the use of this class of metallocene compounds in a multistage process.
• PCT/EP2004/013827 relates to a class of bis indenyl metallocene compounds wherein at least one indenyl moiety is substituted in position 5 and 6 with a condensed ring.
• This documents describes in a generical way a process for preparing an heterophasic polymer. It describes only the polymers that can be prepared in each stage without explaining how each step has to be carried out. Moreover this document reports that the amount of copolymer produced in the second stage ranges from 3 to 60% by weight of the end product.
• the rubber phase of the heterophasic polymer results to have a very high molecular weight.
• the amount of the rubber exceeds a certain threshold it is possible to obtain a soft final polymer with an optimum balance of properties.
• an object of the present invention is a multistep process comprising the following steps: F ⁇ 6246
• M is an atom of a transition metal selected from those belonging to group 4of the Periodic Table of the Elements; preferably M is zirconium, titanium or hafnium; X, equal to or different from each other, is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a R, OR, OR'O, F ⁇ 6246
• R is a linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl, C 2 -C 40 alkenyl, C 2 -C 40 alkynyl, C 6 -C 40 -aryl, C 7 -C 40 -alkylaryl or C 7 -C 40 -arylalkyl radical; optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and R' is a Q-Cio-alkylidene, C 6 -C 20 -arylidene, C 7 -C 20 -alkylarylidene, or C 7 -C 20 -arylalkylidene radical; preferably X is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a OR'O or R group; more preferably X is chlorine or a methyl radical;
• L is a divalent bridging group selected from C 1 -C 20 alkylidene, C 3 -C 20 cycloalkylidene, C 6 -C 20 arylidene, C 7 -C 20 alkylarylidene, or a C 7 -C 20 arylalkylidene radicals, optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, or it is a silylidene radical containing up to 5 silicon atoms; preferably L is Si(R 1 !
• R 11 is a linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl, C 2 -C 40 alkenyl, C 2 -C 40 alkynyl, C 6 -C 40 -aryl, C 7 -C 40 -alkylaryl or C 7 -C 40 -arylalkyl radical ; more preferably L is Si(CH 3 ) 2 or SiPh 2 ;
• R 1 and R 19 are different from each other and are a Z 1 or Z 2 group wherein Z 1 is an alpha branched C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbon radical optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and Z 2 is a linear C 1 -C 40 hydrocarbon radical optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; with the proviso that if R 1 or R 19 are Z 1 then R 19 or R 1 are Z 2 ; preferably Z 1 is a compound of formula of formula (II)
• R 23 and R 24 are C 1 -C 40 hydrocarbon radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; preferably they are C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbon radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; more preferably R 23 and R 24 are Q-Cio-alkyl, C 2 -C 40 alkenyl, preferably C 2 -C 20 alkenyl, C 2 -C 40 alkynyl, preferably C 2 -C 20 alkynyl radicals, optional
• R 23 and R 24 are linear or branched Ci-Qo-alkyl radical such as methyl, or ethyl radicals
• R 25 is an hydrogen atom or it has the same meaning of R 23 and R 24 ; more preferably R 25 is a hydrogen atom
• Z 2 is a linear Ci-C2o-alkyl, C 2 -C 40 alkenyl, C 2 -C 40 alkynyl radical, optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements
• Z 2 is a linear Ci-Cio-alkyl radical
• more preferably Z 2 is a methyl, or ethyl radical
• R 2 and R 3 are part of 4-7 membered ring condensed to the benzene ring of the indenyl moiety; preferably a 5 or 6 membered ring; said ring optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-16 of the Periodic Table of the Elements
• R 4 is a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 40 hydrocarbon radical optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; preferably R 4 is a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl, C 2 -C 40 alkenyl, C 2 -C 40 alkynyl, C 6 -C 40 -aryl, C 7 -C 40 -alkylaryl or C 7 -C 40 -arylalkyl radical optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; preferably R 4 is a hydrogen atom a Ci-Cio-alkyl or a C 6 -C 40 -aryl radical;
• W is an aromatic 5 or 6 membered ring that can contain heteroatoms belonging to groups 15-16 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; the valence of each atom of said ring is substituted with hydrogen atom or it can optionally be substituted with R 5 groups, wherein R 5 , equal to or different from each other, are C 1 -C 40 hydrocarbon radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; preferably R 5 , are linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl, C 2 -C 40 alkenyl, C 2 -C 40 alkynyl, C 6 -C 40 -aryl, C 7 -C 40 -alkylaryl or C 7 -C 40 -arylalkyl radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the F ⁇ 6246
• W is selected from the group comprising the following moieties of formula (Wa),
• R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 are hydrogen atoms or C 1 -C 40 hydrocarbon radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; preferably R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 , are hydrogen atoms or linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl, C 2 -C 40 alkenyl, C 2 -C 40 alkynyl, C 6 -C 40 -aryl, C 7 -C 40 -alkylaryl or C 7 -C 40 -arylalkyl radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements;
• Z 1 is a nitrogen atom or a CR 10 group
• Z 2 is a nitrogen atom or a CR 6 group
• Z 3 is a nitrogen atom or a CR 7 group
• Z 4 is a nitrogen atom or a CR 8 group
• Z 5 is a nitrogen atom or a CR 9 group; provided that not more that 2 groups among Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 and Z 5 are nitrogen atoms, preferably not more that one group among Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 and Z 5 is a nitrogen atom;
• Z 6 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a NR 13 group or a CR 13 group
• Z 7 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a NR 14 group or a CR 14 group
• Z 8 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a NR 15 group or a CR 15 group
• Z 9 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a NR 16 group or a CR 16 group
• Z 10 is a nitrogen atom or a carbon atom that bonds the indenyl moiety of the structure of formula (I); with the proviso that not more than 1 group among Z 6 , Z 7 , Z 8 , Z 9 or Z 10 is a suliur atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen-containing group atom selected from NR 13 , NR 14 , NR 15 , NR 16 , and a nitrogen atom;
• R 13 , R 14 , R 15 and R 16 are hydrogen atoms or C 1 -C 40 hydrocarbon radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; preferably R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 , are hydrogen atoms or linear or F ⁇ 6246
• R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 are hydrogen atoms, Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl or C 6 -C 40 -aryl radicals;
• R 7 is a Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl radical, preferably a branched Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl radical such as a tertbutyl radical, more preferably R 7 is a branched
• Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl radical wherein the carbon atom in position alpha is a tertiary carbon atom and R 6 , R 8 ,
• R 9 and R 10 are hydrogen atoms
• R 10 and R 8 are Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl radicals, preferably they are linear
• C 1 -C 40 alkyl radicals such as methyl radicals and R 7 , R 8 and R 9 are hydrogen radicals:
• R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are linear or branched Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl radicals such as methyl or tertbutyl radicals and R 10 and R 9 are hydrogen atoms.
• R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 are hydrogen atoms
• Z 1 is a nitrogen atom and Z 2 , Z 3 , Z 4 and Z 5 are respectively CR 6 , CR 7 , CR 8 and CR 9 wherein the meaning of R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , and R 9 is described above;
• Z 3 is a nitrogen atom and Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 4 and Z 5 are respectively CR 10 , CR 6 , CR 8 and CR 9 wherein the meaning of R 10 , R 6 , R 8 , and R 9 is described above;
• Z 2 is a nitrogen atom and Z 1 , Z 3 , Z 4 and Z 5 are respectively CR 10 , CR 7 , CR 8 and CR 9 wherein the meaning of R 10 , R 7 , R 8 , and R 9 is described above;
• Z 6 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a
• NR 16 group preferably it is a sulfur atom or a NR 16 ; wherein R 16 is preferably a Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl radical; more preferably Z 6 is a sulfur atom; and Z 7 , Z 8 , Z 9 and Z 10 are respectively a CR 14 , CR 15 ,
• R 14 is a hydrogen atom or a Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl radical such as methyl or ethyl
• R 15 and R 16 are hydrogen atoms or Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl radicals
• R , R and R are hydrogen atoms or C 1 -C 40 hydrocarbon radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; preferably R 20 and R 21 are hydrogen atoms or C 1 -C 10 alkyl radicals, with the proviso that they are not both or C 1 -C 10 alkyl radicals; preferably R 22 is an hydrogen atom; Preferred class of compounds of formula (I) have formula (HI) F ⁇ 6246
• R 11 and R 12 are hydrogen atoms or C 1 -C 40 hydrocarbon radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; preferably R 11 and R 12 are hydrogen atoms or linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, Ci-C-io-alkyl, C 2 -C 40 alkenyl, C 2 -C 40 alkynyl radicals, optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; more preferably R 11 and R 12 are hydrogen atoms or Ci-Cio-alkyl radicals such as methyl or ethyl radicals.
• a further preferred class of compounds of formula (I) have formula (IV)
• R 11 and R 12 are hydrogen atoms or C 1 -C 40 hydrocarbon radicals optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; preferably R 11 and R 12 are hydrogen atoms or linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, Ci-Gr ⁇ -alkyl, C 2 -C 40 alkenyl, C 2 -C 40 alkynyl radicals, optionally containing heteroatoms belonging to groups 13-17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; more preferably R 11 and R 12 are hydrogen atoms or Ci-Cio-alkyl rad icals such as methyl or ethyl radicals; Preferably W is a moiety of formula (Wa) as described
• Alumoxanes used as component ii) in the catalyst system according to the present invention can be obtained by reacting water with an organo-aluminium compound of formula H j AlU 3- J or H j Al 2 U 6- J, where the U substituents, same or different, are hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, Q ⁇ o-alkyl, C 3 - C2 0 -cyclalkyl, C 6 -C 20 -BTyI, C 7 -C 2 o-alkylaryl or C 7 -C 20 -arylalkyl radicals, optionally containing silicon or germanium atoms, with the proviso that at least one U is different from halogen, and j ranges from 0 to 1, being also a non-integer number.
• the molar ratio of Al/water is preferably comprised between 1:1 and 100:1.
• alumoxanes used in the catalyst system according to the invention are considered to be linear, branched or cyclic compounds containing at least one group of the type: F ⁇ 6246
• n 1 is O or an integer of from 1 to 40 and the substituents U are defined as above; or alumoxanes of the formula:
• (Al — O)n 2 can be used in the case of cyclic compounds, wherein n 2 is an integer from 2 to 40 and the U substituents are defined as above.
• alumoxanes suitable for use according to the present invention are methylalumoxane
• MAO tetra-(isobutyl)alumoxane
• TIBAO tetra-(isobutyl)alumoxane
• TIOAO tetra-(2,4,4-trimethyl-pentyl)alumoxane
• TDMBAO tetra-(2,3-dimethylbutyl)alumoxane
• Non-limiting examples of aluminium compounds that can be reacted with water to give suitable alumoxanes (b), described in WO 99/21899 and WO01/21674, are: tris(2,3,3-trimethyl-butyl)aluminium, tris(2,3-dimethyl-hexyl)aluminium, tris(2,3-dimethyl- butyl)aluminium, tris(2,3-dimethyl-pentyl)aluminium, tris(2,3-dimethyl-heptyl)aluminium, tris(2-methyl-3-ethyl-pentyl)aluminium, tris(2-methyl-3-ethyl-hexyl)aluminium, tris(2-methyl-3- ethyl-heptyl)aluminium, tris(2-methyl-3-propyl-hexyl)aluminium, tris(2-ethyl-3-methyl-butyl)aluminium,
• 3-methyl-pentyl)aluminium tris(2,3,3-trimethyl-pentyl)aluminium, tris(2,3,3-trimethyl- hexyl)aluminium, tris(2-ethyl-3,3-dimethyl-butyl)aluminium, tris(2-ethyl-3,3-dimethyl- pentyl)aluminium, tris(2-isopropyl-3,3-dimethyl-butyl)aluminium, tris(2-trimethylsilyl- F ⁇ 6246
• propyl)aluminium tris(2-methyl-3-phenyl-butyl)aluminium, tris(2-ethyl-3-phenyl-butyl)aluminium, tris(2,3-dimethyl-3-phenyl-butyl)aluminium, tris(2-phenyl-propyl)aluminium, tris[2-(4-fluoro- phenyl)-propyl]aluminium, tris[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-propyl]aluminium, tris[2-(3-isopropyl-phenyl)- propyl]aluminium, tris(2-phenyl-butyl)aluminium, tris(3-methyl-2-phenyl-butyl)aluminium, tris(2- phenyl-pentyl)aluminium, tris[2-(pentafluorophenyl)-propyl]aluminium, tris
• TMA trimethylaluminium
• TIB A triisobutylaluminium
• TIOA tris(2,4,4-trimethyl-pentyl)aluminium
• TDMBA tris(2,3-dimethylbutyl)aluminium
• TTMBA tris(2,3,3-trimethylbutyl)aluminium
• Non-limiting examples of compounds able to form an alkylmetallocene cation are compounds of formula D + E " , wherein D + is a Br ⁇ nsted acid, able to donate a proton and to react irreversibly with a substituent X of the metallocene of formula (I) and E " is a compatible anion, which is able to stabilize the active catalytic species originating from the reaction of the two compounds, and which is sufficiently labile to be removed by an olefinic monomer.
• the anion E " comprises one or more boron atoms.
• the anion E " is an anion of the formula BAr 4 ⁇ , wherein the substituents Ar which can be identical or different are aryl radicals such as phenyl, pentafluorophenyl or bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl. Tetrakis-pentafluorophenyl borate is particularly preferred compound, as described in WO 91/02012.
• compounds of formula BAr 3 can be conveniently used. Compounds of this type are described, for example, in the International patent application WO 92/00333.
• Other examples of compounds able to form an alkylmetallocene cation are compounds of formula BAr 3 P wherein P is a substituted or unsubstituted pyrrol radical.
• Non limiting examples of compounds of formula D + E " are: Tributylammoniumtetra(pentafluorophenyl)aluminate, Tributylammoniumtetra(trifluoromethylphenyl)borate, F ⁇ 6246
• Triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate Triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate
• Organic aluminum compounds used as compound iii) are those of formula H j AlU 3- J or H j AIiU 6- J as described above.
• the catalysts system to be used in the process of the present invention can be supported on an inert carrier. This is achieved by depositing the metallocene compound i) or the product of the reaction thereof with the component ii), or the component ii) and then the metallocene compound i) on an inert support.
• the support can be a porous solid such as talc, a sheet silicate, an inorganic oxide or a finely divided polymer powder (e.g. polyolefin). Suitable inorganic oxides may be found among the oxides of elements of groups 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the Periodic Table of the
• oxides preferred as supports include silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, and also mixed oxides of the elements calcium, aluminum, silicon, magnesium or titanium and also corresponding oxide mixtures, magnesium halides, styrene/divinylbenzene copolymers, polyethylene or polypropylene.
• oxides preferred as supports include silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, and also mixed oxides of the elements calcium, aluminum, silicon, magnesium or titanium and also corresponding oxide mixtures, magnesium halides, styrene/divinylbenzene copolymers, polyethylene or polypropylene.
• Other inorganic oxides which can be used alone or in combination with the abovementioned preferred oxidic supports are, for example, MgO, ZrO 2 , TiO 2 or B 2 O 3 .
• a suitable class of supports which can be used is that constituted by porous organic supports functionalized with groups having active hydrogen atoms. Particularly suitable are those in which the organic support is a partially crosslinked styrene polymer. Supports of this type are described in F ⁇ 6246
• inert supports particularly suitable for use according to the invention is that of polyolefin porous prepolymers, particularly polyethylene.
• a further suitable class of inert supports for use according to the invention is that of porous magnesium halides such as those described in International application WO 95/32995.
• the support materials used preferably have a specific surface area in the range from 10 to
• a pore volume in the range from 0.5 to 3.5 ml/g and a mean particle size in the range from 5 to 350 ⁇ m Particular preference is given to supports having a specific surface area in the range from 200 to 400 m 2 /g, a pore volume in the range from 0.8 to 3.0 ml/g and a mean particle size of from 10 to 300 ⁇ m.
• the inorganic support can be subjected to a thermal treatment, e.g. to remove adsorbed water.
• Such a drying treatment is generally carried out at from 80 to 300°C, preferably from 100 to
• the inorganic support can be calcined at from 200 to 1 000°C to produce the desired structure of the solid and/or set the desired OH concentration on the surface.
• the support can also be treated chemically using customary desiccants such as metal alkyls, preferably aluminum alkyls, chlorosilanes or SiCl 4 , or else methylaluminoxane.
• the inorganic support material can also be chemically modified.
• treatment of silica gel with (NH 4 )2SiF 6 leads to fluorination of the silica gel surface
• treatment of silica gels with silanes containing nitrogen-, fluorine- or sulfur-containing groups leads to correspondingly modified silica gel surfaces.
• Organic support materials such as finely divided polyolefin powders (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene or polystyrene) can also be used and are preferably likewise freed of adhering moisture, solvent residues or other impurities by means of appropriate purification and drying operations before use. It is also possible to use functionalized polymer supports, e.g. supports based on polystyrene, via whose functional groups, for example ammonium or hydroxy groups, at least one of the catalyst components can be immobilized.
• alkylaluminium compound either as such or prereacted with water if necessary, can be usefully.
• step a) further comprises a prepolymerization step a-1).
• said alpha olefins are propylene or ethylene, at a temperature ranging from -
• Said hydrocarbon solvent can be either aromatic (such as toluene) or aliphatic (such as propane, hexane, heptane, isobutane, cyclohexane and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane).
• Step a) can be carried out in the presence of hydrogen.
• the ratio hydrogen/propylene present during the polymerization reaction is preferably higher than 1 ppm; more preferably it ranges from 5 to 2000 ppm; even more preferably from 6 to 500 ppm with respect to the propylene present in the reactor.
• Hydrogen can be added either at the beginning of the polymerization reaction or it can also be added at a later stage after a prepolymerization step has been carried out.
• the propylene polymer obtained in step a) is a propylene homopolymer or a propylene copolymer containing up to 20% by mol preferably from 0.1 to 10% by mol, more preferably from 1% to 5% by mol of derived units of ethylene or one or more alpha olefins of formula
• CH 2 CHT 1 .
• comonomers are ethylene or 1-butene.
• the amount of polymer obtained in step a) ranges from 5% to 39% by weight of the total polymer produced in the whole process, preferably it ranges from 10% to 38% by weight of the total polymer produced in the whole process; more preferably from 20% to 35% by weight of the total polymer produced in the whole process.
• step a) a propylene homopolymer or a propylene/ethylene copolymer having an ethylene content lower than 10% by weight is prepared.
• Said hydrocarbon solvent can be either aromatic (such as toluene) or aliphatic (such as propane, hexane, heptane, isobutane, cyclohexane and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane).
• the polymerization temperature is generally comprised between -100°C and +200°C, and, preferably, between 10°C and +100°C.
• the polymerization pressure is generally comprised between 0,5 and 100 bar.
• the amount of polymer obtained in step b) ranges from 61% to 95% by weight of the polymer produced in the whole process, preferably it ranges from 62% to 90% by weight of the polymer produced in the whole process, more preferably it ranges from 65% to
• Step b) can be carried out in the presence of hydrogen.
• the ratio hydrogen/hethylene present during the polymerization reaction is preferably higher than 1 ppm with respect to the ethylene or propylene, depending on what is the prevalent monomer, present in the reactor; more preferably it ranges from 5 to 2000 ppm; even more preferably from 6 to 500 ppm.
• a propylene copolymer or an ethylene copolymer can be produced.
• the polymer obtained in step b) can optionally contains up to 20% by mol of a non conjugated diene.
• Non conjugated dienes can be a straight chain, branched chain or cyclic hydrocarbon diene having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable non-conjugated dienes are:
• branched chain acyclic dienes such as 5 -methyl- 1,4-hexadiene, 3, 7 -dimethyl- 1,6-octadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-l,7-octadiene and mixed isomers of dihydro myricene and dihydroocinene;
• - single ring alicyclic dienes such as 1,3-cyclopentadiene, 1,4-cyclohexadiene, 1,5- cyclooctadiene and 1,5-cyclododecadiene;
• - multi-ring alicyclic fused and bridged ring dienes such as tetrahydroindene, methyl tetrahydroindene, dicyclopentadiene, bicyclo-(2,2,l)-hepta-2, 5 -diene; and
• alkenyl, alkylidene, cycloalkenyl and cycloalkylidene norbornenes such as 5-methylene-2- norbornene (MNB), 5-propenyl-2-norbornene, 5-isopropylidene-2-norbornene,5-(4- F ⁇ 6246
• Preferred dienes are 1,4-hexadiene (HD), 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB), 5-vinylidene-2- norbornene (VNB), 5-methylene-2-norbornene (MNB) and dicyclopentadiene (DCPD).
• Particularly preferred dienes are 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) and 1,4-hexadiene (HD).
• the non-conjugated dienes are generally incorporated into the polymer in an amount from 0.1% to about 20% by mol; preferably from 1% to 15% by mol, and more preferably from 2% to 7% by mol. If desired, more than one diene may be incorporated simultaneously, for example HD and ENB, with total diene incorporation within the limits specified above.
• step a and b can be carried out in slurry, solution or in a gas phase; preferably step a is carried out in slurry or in a gas phaseL; preferably step b) can be carried out in slurry or in a gas phase.
• steps are carried out in solution.
• the following examples have an illustrative a non limiting purpose Examples
• the intrinsic viscosity in Decahydronaphthalene was determined on an Ubbelohde viscometer PVS 1 with an S 5 measuring head (both from Lauda) in decalin at 135°C.
• S 5 measuring head both from Lauda
• the instrument is calibrated with indium and tin standards.
• the weighted sample (5-10 mg), was sealed into aluminum pans, heated to 200°C and kept at that temperature for a time long enough (5 minutes) to allow a complete melting of all the crystallites. Successively, after cooling at 20°C/min to -20°C. After standing 5 minutes at 0°C, the sample was heated to 200°C at a rate of 20°C/min. In this second heating run, the peak temperature was assumed as melting temperature (Tm) and the area as the global melting hentalpy ( ⁇ H).
• Methylalumoxane was received from Albemarle as a 30% wt/V toluene solution and used as such and the silica was received from ESfEOS ( ES70Y, ioo microns).
• the support is suspended in 20 ml toluene, then brought to 80°C, and stirred for 30 min at this temperature before hot filtration.
• the MAO/silica is suspended at 15 °C in 20 ml toluene.
• a solution of 0.25 mmol (207 mg, 40 ⁇ mol/g carrier) of the metallocene indicated in table 1 in 2 ml MAO and 2 ml toluene is slowly added.
• the reaction mixture is stirred for 1 h at 15 °C, and after raising the temperature to 40 °C, again stirred for 2 h. Then, it is filtered.
• Triethylaluminum (TEA) (as 10% w/v hexane solution) as reactor scavenger. Also 0.5 bar-g of propylene are fed to prevent air insertion in the reactor.
• Prepolymerization 252 g propylene are fed in the autoclave at 0°C.
• the catalytic system is injected in the reactor and propylene is prepolymerized at 30°C for 5 minutes.
• the reactor temperature was raised from 30 to 70°C (in 10 minutes).
• 59 cc H 2 are fed, corresponding to 2.63 mmol H 2 .
• Propylene polymerization in bulk this step is carried out at 30 bar-g pressure and 70°C until the liquid propylene is totally consumed, and the pressure inside the reactor starts to decrease.
• the PP matrix polymerization time is recorded and the pressure is released down to 0.1 bar-g propylene; at the same time the temperature decreases to 30°C.
• Ethylene and propylene at a molar ratio ethylene(C2)/propylene(C3)+ethylene(C2) of 0.5 are fed in the reactor to reach the pressure of 21 bar-g then the temperature is raised to 60°C and the ethylene/propylene mixture is fed at constant pressure until 232g of monomers are consumed.
• the polymer is collected and dried at reduced pressure and 60°C.
• the resulting polymer has been subjected to xylene extraction at 25°C according to the procedure described above.
• the fraction of polymer soluble in xylene at 25°C has been taken as the amount of ethylene propylene copolymers produced in the process.
• the polymerization data are reported in table 1.
• Triethylaluminum (TEA) (as 10% w/v hexane solution) as reactor scavenger. Also 0.5 bar-g of propylene are fed to prevent air insertion in the reactor.
• Prepolymerization 134 g propylene are fed in the autoclave at 0°C.
• the catalytic system is injected in the reactor and propylene is prepolymerized at 30°C for 5 minutes.
• the reactor temperature was raised from 30 to 80°C (in 10 minutes).
• Propylene polymerization in gas phase this step is carried out at 24 bar-g pressure and 80°C until 70 grams of propylene are consumed and the pressure inside the reactor starts to decrease.
• the PP matrix polymerization time is recorded and the pressure is released down to
• the polymer is collected and dried at reduced pressure and temperature.

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