CA2171835A1 - Multistage process for the (co)polymerization of olefins - Google Patents
Multistage process for the (co)polymerization of olefinsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2171835A1 CA2171835A1 CA002171835A CA2171835A CA2171835A1 CA 2171835 A1 CA2171835 A1 CA 2171835A1 CA 002171835 A CA002171835 A CA 002171835A CA 2171835 A CA2171835 A CA 2171835A CA 2171835 A1 CA2171835 A1 CA 2171835A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- 2mcl2
- me2si
- stage
- compound
- polymerization
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 72
- 238000006116 polymerization reaction Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 65
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 55
- 150000001336 alkenes Chemical class 0.000 title claims abstract description 14
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 88
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 55
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 41
- 125000004432 carbon atom Chemical group C* 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 125000000217 alkyl group Chemical group 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 229910052720 vanadium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 125000000753 cycloalkyl group Chemical group 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 150000005840 aryl radicals Chemical group 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 125000004435 hydrogen atom Chemical group [H]* 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 229910052723 transition metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 31
- 150000003624 transition metals Chemical class 0.000 claims description 31
- QQONPFPTGQHPMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N propylene Natural products CC=C QQONPFPTGQHPMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 30
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 29
- 125000004805 propylene group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])C([H])([*:1])C([H])([H])[*:2] 0.000 claims description 28
- VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethene Chemical compound C=C VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000005977 Ethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000012071 phase Substances 0.000 claims description 24
- -1 magnesium halide Chemical class 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000000306 component Substances 0.000 claims description 18
- 229910018965 MCl2 Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 17
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 150000004820 halides Chemical class 0.000 claims description 10
- 229910052726 zirconium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 10
- 229910052735 hafnium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 9
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 claims description 8
- 125000003118 aryl group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 7
- 125000000058 cyclopentadienyl group Chemical group C1(=CC=CC1)* 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 5
- 125000005843 halogen group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 125000001424 substituent group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 5
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- TWRXJAOTZQYOKJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L Magnesium chloride Chemical group [Mg+2].[Cl-].[Cl-] TWRXJAOTZQYOKJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 4
- CTQNGGLPUBDAKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N O-Xylene Chemical compound CC1=CC=CC=C1C CTQNGGLPUBDAKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920005606 polypropylene copolymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000008096 xylene Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910007161 Si(CH3)3 Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003446 ligand Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- JRZJOMJEPLMPRA-UHFFFAOYSA-N olefin Natural products CCCCCCCC=C JRZJOMJEPLMPRA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 125000003903 2-propenyl group Chemical group [H]C([*])([H])C([H])=C([H])[H] 0.000 claims description 2
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical group [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910010062 TiCl3 Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910003074 TiCl4 Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910021551 Vanadium(III) chloride Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910021552 Vanadium(IV) chloride Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000004423 acyloxy group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000003545 alkoxy group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000002877 alkyl aryl group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000003710 aryl alkyl group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052736 halogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910001629 magnesium chloride Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000002950 monocyclic group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000001997 phenyl group Chemical group [H]C1=C([H])C([H])=C(*)C([H])=C1[H] 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000003367 polycyclic group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 2
- 150000003254 radicals Chemical class 0.000 claims description 2
- XJDNKRIXUMDJCW-UHFFFAOYSA-J titanium tetrachloride Chemical compound Cl[Ti](Cl)(Cl)Cl XJDNKRIXUMDJCW-UHFFFAOYSA-J 0.000 claims description 2
- YONPGGFAJWQGJC-UHFFFAOYSA-K titanium(iii) chloride Chemical compound Cl[Ti](Cl)Cl YONPGGFAJWQGJC-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 claims description 2
- JTJFQBNJBPPZRI-UHFFFAOYSA-J vanadium tetrachloride Chemical compound Cl[V](Cl)(Cl)Cl JTJFQBNJBPPZRI-UHFFFAOYSA-J 0.000 claims description 2
- HQYCOEXWFMFWLR-UHFFFAOYSA-K vanadium(iii) chloride Chemical compound [Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[V+3] HQYCOEXWFMFWLR-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 claims description 2
- XRILCFTWUCUKJR-INFSMZHSSA-N 2'-3'-cGAMP Chemical compound C([C@H]([C@H]1O)O2)OP(O)(=O)O[C@H]3[C@@H](O)[C@H](N4C5=NC=NC(N)=C5N=C4)O[C@@H]3COP(O)(=O)O[C@H]1[C@@H]2N1C=NC2=C1NC(N)=NC2=O XRILCFTWUCUKJR-INFSMZHSSA-N 0.000 claims 1
- 101100001475 Aeromonas hydrophila subsp. hydrophila (strain ATCC 7966 / DSM 30187 / BCRC 13018 / CCUG 14551 / JCM 1027 / KCTC 2358 / NCIMB 9240 / NCTC 8049) alr-1 gene Proteins 0.000 claims 1
- 101000588928 Condylactis gigantea Delta-actitoxin-Cgg1a Proteins 0.000 claims 1
- 229920000098 polyolefin Polymers 0.000 claims 1
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 abstract description 25
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 5
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- LEONUFNNVUYDNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N vanadium atom Chemical compound [V] LEONUFNNVUYDNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract 1
- VLKZOEOYAKHREP-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-Hexane Chemical compound CCCCCC VLKZOEOYAKHREP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 30
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 22
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 21
- YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Toluene Chemical compound CC1=CC=CC=C1 YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 15
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 14
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 description 14
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- ATUOYWHBWRKTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propane Chemical compound CCC ATUOYWHBWRKTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- MCULRUJILOGHCJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N triisobutylaluminium Chemical compound CC(C)C[Al](CC(C)C)CC(C)C MCULRUJILOGHCJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- 229910007928 ZrCl2 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 9
- 229920001519 homopolymer Polymers 0.000 description 9
- 239000000178 monomer Substances 0.000 description 8
- VXNZUUAINFGPBY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1-Butene Chemical compound CCC=C VXNZUUAINFGPBY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 6
- IAQRGUVFOMOMEM-UHFFFAOYSA-N butene Natural products CC=CC IAQRGUVFOMOMEM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 6
- 235000001055 magnesium Nutrition 0.000 description 6
- 229940091250 magnesium supplement Drugs 0.000 description 6
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 239000001294 propane Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000012798 spherical particle Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000012685 gas phase polymerization Methods 0.000 description 5
- VOITXYVAKOUIBA-UHFFFAOYSA-N triethylaluminium Chemical compound CC[Al](CC)CC VOITXYVAKOUIBA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 241000518994 Conta Species 0.000 description 4
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 4
- HQQADJVZYDDRJT-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethene;prop-1-ene Chemical group C=C.CC=C HQQADJVZYDDRJT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 4
- UHOVQNZJYSORNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N Benzene Chemical compound C1=CC=CC=C1 UHOVQNZJYSORNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- SJJCABYOVIHNPZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N cyclohexyl-dimethoxy-methylsilane Chemical compound CO[Si](C)(OC)C1CCCCC1 SJJCABYOVIHNPZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 150000002148 esters Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229920001384 propylene homopolymer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000003756 stirring Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229920000089 Cyclic olefin copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- IMNFDUFMRHMDMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N N-Heptane Chemical compound CCCCCCC IMNFDUFMRHMDMM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003197 catalytic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007334 copolymerization reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920013728 elastomeric terpolymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 125000001449 isopropyl group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])C([H])(*)C([H])([H])[H] 0.000 description 2
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920002959 polymer blend Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920000576 tactic polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- GPPXJZIENCGNKB-UHFFFAOYSA-N vanadium Chemical compound [V]#[V] GPPXJZIENCGNKB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229940045605 vanadium Drugs 0.000 description 2
- VPGLGRNSAYHXPY-UHFFFAOYSA-L zirconium(2+);dichloride Chemical compound Cl[Zr]Cl VPGLGRNSAYHXPY-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- YBYIRNPNPLQARY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1H-indene Natural products C1=CC=C2CC=CC2=C1 YBYIRNPNPLQARY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-M Chloride anion Chemical compound [Cl-] VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 208000036366 Sensation of pressure Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000002083 X-ray spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006653 Ziegler-Natta catalysis Methods 0.000 description 1
- QCWXUUIWCKQGHC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zirconium Chemical compound [Zr] QCWXUUIWCKQGHC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910007926 ZrCl Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001335 aliphatic alkanes Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001412 amines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 125000001797 benzyl group Chemical group [H]C1=C([H])C([H])=C(C([H])=C1[H])C([H])([H])* 0.000 description 1
- 229920001400 block copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 125000000484 butyl group Chemical group [H]C([*])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])[H] 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013256 coordination polymer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000004122 cyclic group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 238000007872 degassing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- JWCYDYZLEAQGJJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N dicyclopentyl(dimethoxy)silane Chemical compound C1CCCC1[Si](OC)(OC)C1CCCC1 JWCYDYZLEAQGJJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000001993 dienes Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- MCWXGJITAZMZEV-UHFFFAOYSA-N dimethoate Chemical compound CNC(=O)CSP(=S)(OC)OC MCWXGJITAZMZEV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- AHUXYBVKTIBBJW-UHFFFAOYSA-N dimethoxy(diphenyl)silane Chemical compound C=1C=CC=CC=1[Si](OC)(OC)C1=CC=CC=C1 AHUXYBVKTIBBJW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ZSWFCLXCOIISFI-UHFFFAOYSA-N endo-cyclopentadiene Natural products C1C=CC=C1 ZSWFCLXCOIISFI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000002170 ethers Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 125000001495 ethyl group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])C([H])([H])* 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012467 final product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000003983 fluorenyl group Chemical group C1(=CC=CC=2C3=CC=CC=C3CC12)* 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000003454 indenyl group Chemical group C1(C=CC2=CC=CC=C12)* 0.000 description 1
- 238000002329 infrared spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000000654 isopropylidene group Chemical group C(C)(C)=* 0.000 description 1
- 150000002576 ketones Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012968 metallocene catalyst Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000002496 methyl group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])* 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- XNGIFLGASWRNHJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L phthalate(2-) Chemical compound [O-]C(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1C([O-])=O XNGIFLGASWRNHJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229920005604 random copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 150000004756 silanes Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000003377 silicon compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012721 stereospecific polymerization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010557 suspension polymerization reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- NETBVGNWMHLXRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N tert-butyl-dimethoxy-methylsilane Chemical compound CO[Si](C)(OC)C(C)(C)C NETBVGNWMHLXRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000003609 titanium compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000005303 weighing Methods 0.000 description 1
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
- C08F295/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerisation using successively different catalyst types without deactivating the intermediate 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
- 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
- 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
- C08F4/642—Component covered by group C08F4/64 with an organo-aluminium 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
- C08F110/00—Homopolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
- C08F110/04—Monomers containing three or four carbon atoms
- C08F110/06—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
- C08F2410/00—Features related to the catalyst preparation, the catalyst use or to the deactivation of the catalyst
- C08F2410/05—Transitioning, i.e. transition from one catalyst to another with use of a deactivating agent
-
- 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
- Y10S526/901—Monomer polymerized in vapor state in presence of transition metal containing 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
Abstract
Multistage process for the polymerization of olefins CH2=CHR, where R is hydrogen or an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical with 1-10 carbon atoms, comprising two stages of polymerization. In a first stage, in the presence of a titanium or a vanadium catalyst and working in one or more reactors, an olefinic polymer with particular values of porosity is prepared; in a second stage, in the presence of the said porous polymer and a metallocene compound and/or their reaction products, one or more olefins, that are equal to or different from those polymerized in the first stage, are polymerized in ore or more reactors.
Description
W096/02~83 PCT~P95/02808 Title "MULTISTAGE PROCESS FOR THE (CO)POLYMERIZATION OF OLEFINS"
The present invention relates to a multistage process for the polymerization of olefins CH2=CHR, where R is hydrogen or an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical with 1-10 carbon atoms.
In a first stage, carried out in one or more reactors, one or more of the said olefins are polymerized in the presence of a catalyst comprising the reaction product of an alkyl-Al com-pound with a compound of Ti and/or V supported on a magnesium halide in active form, obtaining an olefinic polymer that has particular values of porosity. In a second stage of polymeri-zation, one or more of said olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized in the presence of the product obtained by bringing said porous polymer into contact with a compound of a transition metal M
cont~;n;ng at least one M-~ bond, obtaining new polymer compo-sitions directly from the reactors.
Multistage 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 prac-tice. The possibility of independently varying, in any reac-tor, process parameters such as temperature, pressure, type and concentration of monomers, concentration of hydrogen or other molecular weight regulator, provides much greater flexi-bility in controlling the composition and the properties of WO 961tl2583 ,~ 35 P<TII~P951~2898 the end product compared with single-stage processes. Multi-stage processes are generally carried out using the same cata-lyst in the various stages/reactors: the product obtained in one reactor is discharged and sent directly to the next stage/reactor without altering the nature of the catalyst.
Multistage processes find application for example in the preparation of olefin (co)polymers with broad molecular weight distribution (MWD), by producing polymer fractions with dif-ferent molecular weight in the various reactors. The molecular weight in each reactor, and therefore the range of the MWD of the final product, is generally controlled by using a molecu-lar weight regulator, which is preferably hydrogen. Multistage processes are also used in the preparation of high-impact co-polymers of propylene by sequential polymerization of propyle-ne and of mixtures of propylene with ethylene. In a first stage, propylene is homopolymerized or copolymerized with smaller proportions of ethylene and/or olefins having 4-lO
carbon atoms, obtaining a stereoregular polymer; in a second stage, mixtures of ethylene and propylene are polymerized in the presence of the polymer including the catalyst that is obtained in the first stage, obtaining polypropylene composi-tions that have improved impact strength.
Processes of this type are described for example in USP
4,521,566. In said patent, polypropylene compositions having w096/02~83 21 7183~ PCT~P95/02808 high impact strength are prepared in a multistage process which comprises at least one stage of homopolymerization of propylene and at least one stage of polymerization of ethyle-ne/propylene mixtures in the presence, in both stages, of a catalyst comprising a compound of titanium supported on a mag-nesium halide in active form.
European patent application EP-A-433989 describes a pro-cess for preparing polypropylene compositions containing from 20 to 99% by weight of a crystalline (co)polymer, containing at least 95% by weight of propylene units, and from 1 to 80 by weight of a non-crystalline ethylene/propylene copolymer, containing from 20 to 90% by weight of ethylene units. The process is effected in 2 stages: in a first stage, carried out in liquid propylene, the crystalline propylene (co)polymer is produced, and in a second stage, carried out in a hydrocarbon solvent, the non-crystalline ethylene/propylene copolymer is produced. The same catalyst, consisting of a chiral metalloce-ne and an aluminoxane, is used in both stages.
European patent application EP-A-433990 describes a pro-cess in two stages for the preparation of propylene-based po-lymer compositions similar to those described in EP-A-433989.
In the first stage the crystalline propylene (co)polymer is produced by polymerization in liquid propylene, and in the second stage the non-crystalline ethylene-propylene copolymer W096/02583 2~ ~835 PCT~P95/02808 is produced by gas-phase polymerization. Also in this case, the same catalyst, consisting of a chiral metallocene and an aluminoxane, is used in both reactors.
German patent application DE 4130429 describes a multi-stage process for the production of block copolymers, carried out entirely in the gas phase. In a first stage a propylene homo or copolymer matrix is produced in a quantity between 45 and 95% by weight based on the total product; in a second stage, carried out in the presence of the polypropylene matrix previously produced and the catalyst used therein, an ethylene/a-olefin copolymer is prepared, cont~;n;ng from O.l to 79.9% by weight of ethylene units, in a quantity of between and 55% by weight based on the total product. In both stages, polyme-rization is carried out in the gas-phase using the same metallocene catalyst.
The processes of the state of the art have various limi-tations, one of which derives from the fact that the same ca-talyst is used in the different process stages and therefore the characteristics of the products obtained in the individual stages are not always optimum. For example, in the case of the heterophase copolymers prepared in multistage processes using non-metallocene Ti-based catalysts, the properties of the rub-bery copolymer produced in the second stage are poor. It is known in fact that said catalysts produce ethylene/propylene ~ w096/02s83 71~ rcT~p9slo28o8 copolymers contA; n;ng relatively long sequences of the same monomer unit and consequently the elastomeric properties of the product are poor.
It has now been found a multistage process by which it is possible to prepare a wide range of olefinic polymer composi-tions, working with different catalyst systems in the various stages. In particular, the process of the invention comprises a first stage in which, in the presence of titanium or vana-dium catalysts, an olefinic polymer having particular values of porosity is prepared, and a second stage in which, in the presence of said porous polymer and a metallocene compound and/or their reaction products, one or more olefins are poly-merized, said olefins being identical to or different from those polymerized in the first stage.
The process of the invention is characterized in that it comprises:
(I) a first stage of polymerization, in which one or more of said olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized, in one or more re-actors, in the presence of a catalyst comprising the pro-duct of the reaction between an alkyl-Al compound and a solid component comprising at least one compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti or V and not contai-ning Ml-~ bonds and a halide of Mg in active form, said catalyst being capable of producing an olefinic polymer W096/02~83 PCT~P95/02808 ~
The present invention relates to a multistage process for the polymerization of olefins CH2=CHR, where R is hydrogen or an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical with 1-10 carbon atoms.
In a first stage, carried out in one or more reactors, one or more of the said olefins are polymerized in the presence of a catalyst comprising the reaction product of an alkyl-Al com-pound with a compound of Ti and/or V supported on a magnesium halide in active form, obtaining an olefinic polymer that has particular values of porosity. In a second stage of polymeri-zation, one or more of said olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized in the presence of the product obtained by bringing said porous polymer into contact with a compound of a transition metal M
cont~;n;ng at least one M-~ bond, obtaining new polymer compo-sitions directly from the reactors.
Multistage 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 prac-tice. The possibility of independently varying, in any reac-tor, process parameters such as temperature, pressure, type and concentration of monomers, concentration of hydrogen or other molecular weight regulator, provides much greater flexi-bility in controlling the composition and the properties of WO 961tl2583 ,~ 35 P<TII~P951~2898 the end product compared with single-stage processes. Multi-stage processes are generally carried out using the same cata-lyst in the various stages/reactors: the product obtained in one reactor is discharged and sent directly to the next stage/reactor without altering the nature of the catalyst.
Multistage processes find application for example in the preparation of olefin (co)polymers with broad molecular weight distribution (MWD), by producing polymer fractions with dif-ferent molecular weight in the various reactors. The molecular weight in each reactor, and therefore the range of the MWD of the final product, is generally controlled by using a molecu-lar weight regulator, which is preferably hydrogen. Multistage processes are also used in the preparation of high-impact co-polymers of propylene by sequential polymerization of propyle-ne and of mixtures of propylene with ethylene. In a first stage, propylene is homopolymerized or copolymerized with smaller proportions of ethylene and/or olefins having 4-lO
carbon atoms, obtaining a stereoregular polymer; in a second stage, mixtures of ethylene and propylene are polymerized in the presence of the polymer including the catalyst that is obtained in the first stage, obtaining polypropylene composi-tions that have improved impact strength.
Processes of this type are described for example in USP
4,521,566. In said patent, polypropylene compositions having w096/02~83 21 7183~ PCT~P95/02808 high impact strength are prepared in a multistage process which comprises at least one stage of homopolymerization of propylene and at least one stage of polymerization of ethyle-ne/propylene mixtures in the presence, in both stages, of a catalyst comprising a compound of titanium supported on a mag-nesium halide in active form.
European patent application EP-A-433989 describes a pro-cess for preparing polypropylene compositions containing from 20 to 99% by weight of a crystalline (co)polymer, containing at least 95% by weight of propylene units, and from 1 to 80 by weight of a non-crystalline ethylene/propylene copolymer, containing from 20 to 90% by weight of ethylene units. The process is effected in 2 stages: in a first stage, carried out in liquid propylene, the crystalline propylene (co)polymer is produced, and in a second stage, carried out in a hydrocarbon solvent, the non-crystalline ethylene/propylene copolymer is produced. The same catalyst, consisting of a chiral metalloce-ne and an aluminoxane, is used in both stages.
European patent application EP-A-433990 describes a pro-cess in two stages for the preparation of propylene-based po-lymer compositions similar to those described in EP-A-433989.
In the first stage the crystalline propylene (co)polymer is produced by polymerization in liquid propylene, and in the second stage the non-crystalline ethylene-propylene copolymer W096/02583 2~ ~835 PCT~P95/02808 is produced by gas-phase polymerization. Also in this case, the same catalyst, consisting of a chiral metallocene and an aluminoxane, is used in both reactors.
German patent application DE 4130429 describes a multi-stage process for the production of block copolymers, carried out entirely in the gas phase. In a first stage a propylene homo or copolymer matrix is produced in a quantity between 45 and 95% by weight based on the total product; in a second stage, carried out in the presence of the polypropylene matrix previously produced and the catalyst used therein, an ethylene/a-olefin copolymer is prepared, cont~;n;ng from O.l to 79.9% by weight of ethylene units, in a quantity of between and 55% by weight based on the total product. In both stages, polyme-rization is carried out in the gas-phase using the same metallocene catalyst.
The processes of the state of the art have various limi-tations, one of which derives from the fact that the same ca-talyst is used in the different process stages and therefore the characteristics of the products obtained in the individual stages are not always optimum. For example, in the case of the heterophase copolymers prepared in multistage processes using non-metallocene Ti-based catalysts, the properties of the rub-bery copolymer produced in the second stage are poor. It is known in fact that said catalysts produce ethylene/propylene ~ w096/02s83 71~ rcT~p9slo28o8 copolymers contA; n;ng relatively long sequences of the same monomer unit and consequently the elastomeric properties of the product are poor.
It has now been found a multistage process by which it is possible to prepare a wide range of olefinic polymer composi-tions, working with different catalyst systems in the various stages. In particular, the process of the invention comprises a first stage in which, in the presence of titanium or vana-dium catalysts, an olefinic polymer having particular values of porosity is prepared, and a second stage in which, in the presence of said porous polymer and a metallocene compound and/or their reaction products, one or more olefins are poly-merized, said olefins being identical to or different from those polymerized in the first stage.
The process of the invention is characterized in that it comprises:
(I) a first stage of polymerization, in which one or more of said olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized, in one or more re-actors, in the presence of a catalyst comprising the pro-duct of the reaction between an alkyl-Al compound and a solid component comprising at least one compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti or V and not contai-ning Ml-~ bonds and a halide of Mg in active form, said catalyst being capable of producing an olefinic polymer W096/02~83 PCT~P95/02808 ~
2~7~83~ '.
that has porosity, expressed as percentage of voids, greater than 5%;
(II) a treatment stage, in which the polymer obtained in said first stage of polymerization (I) is contacted with a compound of a transition metal M selected from Ti, V, Zr and Hf containing at least one M-~ bond and optionally with an alkyl-Al compound;
(III) a second stage of polymerization, in which one or more of said olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized, in one or more reactors, in the presence of the product obtained in said treatment stage (II).
Preferably, the porosity of the polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) is greater than 10% and more preferably greater than 15%. Porosity values as high as 35-40%
or greater are possible.
Preferably the polymers produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) are characterized by the fact that they have macroporosity. In general, more than 40% of the porosity of said polymers is due to pores with diameter greater than 10000 A. When the porosity of the polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) is greater than 15%, the distribution of pore radius is preferably such that more than 90% of the porosity is due to pores with diameter greater than 10000 A.
W096/0~83 17~ pcT~rsslo2sos The porosity, expressed as percentage of voids, and the distribution of pore radius are determined by the mercury method described hereinafter.
Production of a porous polymer in stage (I) makes it pos-sible to obtain a product cont~;n;ng the compound of the tran-sition metal M in a significant amount and having particularly high activity in the second stage of polymerization (III).
Moreover, when a rubbery copolymer is produced in stage (III), the porosity of the polymer produced in stage (I) makes it possible to work in the gas phase without particular problems.
The same result cannot be obtained when the polymer produced in stage (I) is not porous.
The amount of polymer produced in stage (I) is generally greater than 2000 g/g of solid component, preferably greater than 3000 g/g, and more preferably greater than 5000 g/g.
The catalyst used in the first stage of polymerization (I) comprises the product of the reaction between:
(a) a solid component comprising a compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti or V and not cont~;n;ng MI_~
bonds, supported on magnesium halide in active form. The solid component can also comprise an electron-donor com-pound (internal donor). As a rule, the internal donor is used when the solid component is used for preparing cata-lysts for the stereospecific polymerization of propylene, W096/02~83 ~ 8 35 = PCT~Pg5/02808 l-butene and similar a-olefins, where high stereospecifi-city is necessary to obtain polymers with an isotactic index higher than 90;
(b) an alkyl-Al compound and optionally an electron-donor compound (external donor).
When stereoregular polymers are produced in stage (I), for example polymers of propylene with high isotactic index, the external donor is used for imparting the necessary high stereospecificity to the catalyst. However, when diethers of the type described in patent EP-A-361493 are used as internal donors, the stereospecificity of the catalyst is sufficiently high in itself and the external donor is not necessary.
The catalyst must be capable of giving a polymer with porosity greater than 5%.
The halides of magnesium, preferably MgCl2, in active form, used as support for Ziegler-Natta catalysts, are widely known from the patent literature. Patents USP 4,298,718 and USP 4,495,338 first described the use of these compounds in Ziegler-Natta catalysis. It is known from these patents that the halides of magnesium in active form used as support or co-support in components of catalysts for the polymerization of olefins are characterized by X-ray spectra in which the most intense diffraction line that appears in the spectrum of the non-active halide is ~im;n; shed in intensity and is replaced W096/02s83 171835 rcT~rs~02sos by a halo whose m~; mum intensity is shifted towards lower angles compared with that of the most intense line.
The compound of the transition metal MI is selected pre-ferably from the group consisting of: Ti halides, Ti halo-alkoxides, VCl3, VCl4, VOCl3, halo-alkoxides of vanadium.
Among the titanium compounds, the preferred are TiCl4, TiCl3 and the halo alkoxides of the formula Ti(oRI)mXn in which Rl lS a hydrocarbon radical with 1-12 carbon atoms or a -COR
group, X is a halogen and (m+n) is the valence of titanium.
The catalytic component (A) is advantageously used in the form of spherical particles having mean diameter between about 10 and 150 ~m. Suitable methods for the preparation of said components in spherical form are described for example in pat-ents EP-A-395083, EP-A-553805, EP-A-553806, whose description relating to the method of preparation and to the characteris-tics of the products is herein incorporated for reference.
Examples of internal donor compounds are ethers, esters, in particular esters of polycarboxylic acids, amines, ketones and 1,3-diethers of the type described in patent EP-A-361493.
The alkyl-Al compound (B) is generally selected from trialkylaluminiums such as AlEt3, triisobutyl-Al, tri-n-butyl-Al, tri-n-hexyl-Al and tri-n-octyl-Al. It is also possible to use mixtures of trialkyl-Al's with alkyl-Al halides or alkyl-Al sesquichlorides such as AlEt2Cl and Al2Et3Cl3.
w096/02~83 PCT~P95/02808 ~
83~
The external donor can be the same as or can be different from the internal donor. When the internal donor is an ester of a polycarboxylic acid, such as a phthalate, the external donor is preferably selected from silicon compounds of formula RlR2Si(OR)2, where R1 and R2 are alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl rad-icals with 1-18 carbon atoms. Examples of silanes are methyl-cyclohexyldimethoxysilane, diphenyldimethoxysilane, methyl-t-butyldimethoxysilane and dicyclopentyldimethoxysilane.
The compounds of the transition metal M used in treatment stage (II) are selected from compounds of Ti, V, Zr and Hf having at least one M-~ bond. Preferably, said compounds con-tain at least one ligand L, having a mono or polycyclic struc-ture cont~;n;ng conjugated ~ electrons, coordinated on the metal M.
Said compound of Ti, V, Zr or Hf is preferably selected from components having the following structure:
Cp MR "R bR c ( i ) CplCp~Rlz~R2b ( ii ) (Cp-~-CP )MR~R b ( iii ) in which M is Ti, V, Zr or Hf; Cpl and Cp~, equal or different, are cyclopentadienyl groups or substituted cyclopentadienyl groups; two or more substituents on said cyclopentadienyl groups can form one or more rings having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms; Rl, R2 and R3, equal or different, are hydrogen or W096/02~83 1 835 PCT~P95102808 halogen atoms or an alkyl or alkoxy group with 1-20 carbon atoms, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl with 6-20 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group with 1-20 carbon atoms, an allyl group, a substituent containing a silicon atom; A is an alkenyl bridge or one with structure selected from:
IRl Rl Rl ~1 Rl Rl --Ml-- , --Ml Ml-- , --O--MrO--/ --C -- Ml--, =BRl, AlRl, Rl R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 -Ge-, -Sn-, -O-, -S-, =SO, =SO2, =NR1, =PRl and =P(O)Rl, in which Ml is Si, Ge, or Sn; R1 and R2, equal or different, are alkyl groups with 1-4 carbon atoms or aryl groups with 6-10 carbon atoms; a, k and c are, independently, integers from 0 to 4; e is an integer from 1 to 6 and two or more of the rad-icals R1, R2 and R3 can form a ring. In the case where the Cp group is substituted, the substituent is preferably an alkyl group with 1-20 carbon atoms.
Examples of compounds of formula (I) are: (MesCp)MMe3, (MesCp)M(OMe)3, (MesCp)MCl3, (Cp)MCl3, (Cp)MMe3, (MeCp)MMe3, ~Me3Cp)MMe3, (Me4Cp)MCl3, (Ind)MBenz3, (H4Ind)MBenz3, (Cp)MBU3.
Examples of compounds of formula ~II) are: (Cp)2MMe2, (Cp)~Ph2, (Cp)2MEt2, (Cp)2MCl2, (Cp)2M(OMe)2, (Cp)2M(OMe)Cl, (MeCp),MCl2, (Me5Cp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2MMe2, (Me5Cp)2MMeCl, (1-MeFlu)2-MCl2, (Cp)(Me5Cp)MCl2, (BuCp)2MCl2, (Me3Cp)2MCl2, (Me4Cp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2M(OMe)2, (Me5Cp)2M(OH)Cl, (MesCp)2M(OH)2, (Me5Cp)2M(C6Hs)2, W096/02~83 PCT~P9S/02808 ~ ~83$
(MesCp)2M(CH3)Cl, (EtMe4Cp)2MCl2, [ (c6Hs)Me4cp]2Mcl2r (EtsCP)2Mcl2~
(MesCp)2M(C6Hs)Cl, (Ind)2MCl2, (Ind)2MMe2, (H4Ind)2MCl2, (H4Ind)2M-Me2, {[si(CH3)3]cP}2Mcl2~ {[Si(CH3)3]2Cp}2MCl2, (Me4Cp)(MesCp)MCl2.
Examples of compounds of formula (III) are: C2H4(Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(Ind)2MMe2, C2H4(H4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(H4Ind)2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MCl2,Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MMe2, Me2SiCp2MC12, Me2SiCp2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MMeOMe, Me2Si(Flu)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Et-5-iPrCp)2MCl2, Me2Si(H4Ind)2MCl2, Me2-Si(H4Flu)2MCl2, Me2SiCH2(Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(2--MeH4Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-MeInd)~MCl2, Me2Si(2-Et-5-iPrCp)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-5-EtCp)2MCl2, Me~Si(2,5-Me2Cp)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Me2Si-(4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-EtInd)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-iPrInd)2-MCl2, Me2Si(2-t-BuInd)MCl2, Me2Si(3-t-Bu-5-MeCp)2MCl2, Me2Si(3-t-Bu-5-MeCp)2MMe2, Me2Si(2-MeInd)2MCl2, Me2C(Flu)CpMCl2, C2H4(2-Me-4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Ph2Si(Ind)2MCl2, Ph(Me)Si(Ind)2MCl2, C2H4-(H4Ind)M(NMe2)OMe, isopropylidene(3-t-BuCp)(Flu)MCl2, Me2C-(Me4Cp)(MeCp)MCl2, MeSi(Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(Ind)2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2M-Cl(OEt), C2H4(Ind)2M(NMe2)2, C2H4(Me4Cp)2MCl2, Me2Si(3-MeInd)2MCl2, C,Me4(Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(3-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(4,7-Me~Ind),MCl2, C2H4(5,6-Me2Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2,4,7-Me3Ind)2MCl2, C2H4-(3,4,7-Me3Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2-MeH4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(4,7-Me2H4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2,4,7-Me3H4Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(4,7-Me2Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(5,6-Me2-Ind)~MCl2, Me2Si(2,4,7-Me3H4Ind)2MCl2.
In the simplified formulae given above, the symbols have the following meanings: Me=methyl, Et=ethyl, iPr=isopropyl, W096/U~83 ~ ; rcT~Pssl~28~8 Bu=butyl, Ph=phenyl, Cp=cyclopentadienyl, Ind=indenyl, H4Ind=4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl, Flu=fluorenyl, Benz=benzyl, M= Ti, Zr or Hf, preferably Zr.
Compounds of the type Me2Si(2-MeInd)2ZrCi2 and Me2Si(2-Me-H4Ind)ZrCl2 and their methods of preparation are described respectively in European applications EP-A-485822 and 485820, the description of which is included herein for reference.
Compounds of the type Me2Si(3-t-Bu-5-MeCp)2ZrCl2 and of the type Me2Si(2-Me-4,5-benzoindenyl)ZrCl2 and their method of preparation are described respectively in USP 5132262 and in patent application EP-A-549900, the description of which is included herein for reference.
The first stage of polymerization (I) can be carried out in liquid phase or in gas phase, working in one or more reac-tors. The liquid phase can consist of an inert hydrocarbon solvent (suspension process) or of one or more olefins CH2=CHR
(liquid monomer process). Gas-phase polymerization can be carried out using the known fluidized-bed technique or working in conditions in which the bed is agitated mechanically.
Treatment stage (II) can be carried out by contacting the polymer produced in stage (I) with solutions of the transition metal M in hydrocarbon solvents (benzene, toluene, heptane, hexane and the like). Preferably, the metallocene compound is used in solutions of hydrocarbon solvents also contA;n;ng an w096/0~83 PCT~Pg5/02808 ~
217183~ -alkyl-Al compound, such as triisobutyl-Al, AlEt3 and/or a polyaluminoxane, for example poly(methylaluminoxane) (MAO).
The molar ratio of the alkyl-Al compound to the metallocene compound is greater than 2 and preferably between 5 and 5000, more preferably between 5 and 1000. The treatment stage (II) can be effected by suspending the polymer produced in stage (I) in hydrocarbon solvents containing dissolved therein the compound of the transition metal M, and optionally an Al-alkyl compound and/or a polyaluminoxane, generally working at tem-perature between 0 and 100C, preferably between 10 and 60C, and removing the solvent at the end of the treatment. Alter-natively, the polymer produced in (I) can be contacted with solutions of the compound of metal M cont~;n;ng the m; n;mum quantity of solvent for keeping said compound in solution.
Treatment stage (II) can be conveniently carried out in a loop reactor in the gas phase, in which the polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) is circulated by a stream of inert gas. Solutions of the compound of the transition metal M
are fed, for example with a sprayer, to the loop reactor in the gas phase, obt~;n;ng a free-flowing product at the end of the treatment.
The quantity of compound of transition metal M, expressed as metal, contalned in the product obtained from treatment stage (II), can vary over a very wide range depending on the W096t02583 PcT~Ps5lo28o8 compound of transition metal M used and on the relative amount of product that is desired to produce in the various stages.
Generally, such a quantity is between 1-10-7 and I lo-3 g of metal M/g of product, preferably between 5 1o-7 and 5 1o-4, more preferably between 1 1o-6 and 1 10-4. Larger amounts are, how-ever, possible.
The second stage of polymerization (III) can be carried out in the liquid phase or in the gas phase, working in one or more reactors. The liquid phase can consist of an inert hydro-carbon solvent (suspension process) or of one or more olefins CH2=CHR (liquid monomer process). Gas-phase polymerization can be effected in reactors with a fluidized bed or a mechanical-ly-stirred bed. During the second stage of polymerization (III) it is convenient to feed into the polymerization reactor an alkyl-Al compound selected from trialkyl-Al, in which the alkyl groups have 1-12 carbon atoms, and linear or cyclic aluminoxane compounds contA;n;ng the repeating unit -(R4)AlO-, in which R4 is an alkyl group with 1-8 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl or aryl group with 6-10 carbon atoms, the said aluminoxane compounds cont~;n;ng from 1 to 50 repeating units.
As a rule, the alkyl-Al compound is fed to polymerization stage (III) when the treatment stage (II) is carried out in the absence of alkyl-Al compounds.
A block diagram of the process of the invention is shown W096/02~83 2 ~ 718 3 ~ PCT~r9S/02808 ~
J in Fig. 1. Reference number 1 indicates the first stage of polymerization (I), in which one or more olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized in the presence of a catalyst comprising the prod-uct of the reaction between an alkyl-Al compound and a solid component comprising at least one compound of transition metal M1 not cont~;n;ng M1-~ bonds, obtA;n;ng a porous olefinic poly-mer; reference number 2 indicates the treatment stage (II), in which the porous polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization is contacted with a compound of a transition metal M cont~;n;ng M-~ bonds and optionally with an alkyl-Al compound; reference number 3 indicates the second stage of polymerization (III) in which one or more olefins CH~=CHR are polymerized in the presence of the product obtained from treatment stage (II) and optionally of an alkyl-Al compound.
The process of the invention can be used for preparing a wide range of olefinic polymer compositions. In particular, the process of the invention is particularly suitable for the preparation of high-impact polypropylene (heterophase copoly-mers of propylene). In fact, a further aspect of the present invention is a process for the preparation of heterophase copolymers of propylene comprising at least two stages of polymerization in which:
(A) in a first stage of polymerization, propylene or its mix-ture with ethylene and/or one or more olefins CH2=CHRn, w096/02s~3 1 7183S PLT~95/02808 where R~ is a hydrocarbon radical with 2-10 carbon atoms, is polymerized in one or more reactors in the presence of a catalyst comprising the product of the reaction between an alkyl-Al compound, optionally an electron-donor com-pound (external donor) and a solid component comprising at least one compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti or V and not cont~;n;ng MI-~ bonds, a halide of magnesium in active form and optionally an electron-donor compound (internal donor), obtaining an olefinic polymer having porosity, expressed as percentage of voids, greater than 5%, content of units derived from ethylene and/or from the CH2=CHR~ olefin less than 20% by weight, content of units derived from propylene greater than 80%
by weight and insolubiluty in xylene greater than 60~;
(B) a treatment stage, in which the product obtained in said first stage of polymerization (A) is contacted with a compound of a transition metal M selected from Ti, V, Zr and Hf containing at least one M-~ bond and optionally with an alkyl-Al compound;
(C) a second stage of polymerization, in which one or more olefins CH2=CHR, where R is hydrogen or an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical with 1-10 carbon atoms, are polymerized, in one or more reactors, in the presence of the product obtained in said treatment stage (B), obtain-W096/025~3 PCT~P95/02808 -2~7 1835 ing a substantially amorphous olefinic (co)polymer in a quantity between 20 and 80~ by weight relative to the total amount of polymer produced in stages (A) and (C).
The polymer produced in stage (A) is preferably a homo-polymer of propylene with high index of isotacticity, or a crystalline copolymer of propylene that has a content by weight of units derived from ethylene and/or from the CH2=CHR
olefin, less than 10%.
Non-limiting examples of substantially amorphous olefinic (co)polymers that can be prepared in stage (C) are the elasto-meric copolymers of ethylene and propylene and the elastomeric terpolymers of ethylene and propylene with smaller proportions of a diene, which have a content by weight of units derived from ethylene between about 30 and 70%; the elastomeric copo-lymers of ethylene and butene and the elastomeric terpolymers of ethylene, butene and propylene that have a content by weight of units derived from ethylene between about 30 and 70%; the atactic polypropylenes having high molecular weight (~ > 1). Examples of these copolymers are described in Euro-pean patent applications EP-A-586658 and EP-A-604917 and in Italian patent applications MI-93A000943, MI-93A001405, MI-93A001406, MI-93A001960 and MI-93A001963, to which reference is made for the part relating to the characteristics of the products and to the catalysts used in their preparation.
wos6l0~83 ~1 71 ~ ~ pCT~P95/02808 The first stage of polymerization (A) can be conveniently carried out in liquid propylene, working in one or more loop reactors, or in the gas phase, working in one or more reactors with a fluidized bed or a mechanically-stirred bed. The gas-phase technology with a fluidized bed is preferred.
The second stage of polymerization (C) is preferably carried out in one or more reactors in the gas phase with a fluidized bed. Other technologies (for example suspension polymerization or gas-phase polymerization with mechanically-stirred bed) can be used.
The porosity of the polymer produced in stage (A) is pre-ferably greater than 15% (expressed as percentage of voids) and more preferably greater than 20%. Values of porosity that reach 35-40~ or higher are possible. The distribution of pore radius is such that more than 40% of the porosity is due to pores with diameter greater than 10000 A. Preferably, and for high values of porosity, more than 90% of the porosity is due to pores with diameter greater than 10000 A.
The amount of polymer produced in stage (C) is preferably between 30~ and 75%, more preferably between 35% and 60% by weight relative to the total amount of polymer produced in stages (A) and (C).
The process is preferably effected continuously, working in both stages of polymerization (A) and (C) in fluidized-bed W096/02~83 2 ~ 718 3 ~ PCT~P95/02808 reactors in the gas phase, treatment stage (B) being effected in a loop reactor in the gas phase. The first stage of polyme-rization (A) is preferably preceded by a stage of prepolymeri-zation in which propylene or its mixtures with ethylene and/or olefins CH2=CHR~ are polymerized in the presence of the cata-lyst described in (A) in a quantity of between S and 500 g/g catalyst. A preferred flowsheet for the preparation of hetero-J phase copolymers of propylene is shown in Fig. 2. Referencenumber 10 indicates the prepolymerization reactor into which the catalyst (101) and the monomers (102) are fed; prepolyme-rization is preferably carried out in liquid propylene or in an inert hydrocarbon solvent, for example propane.
Reference number 20 indicates the first stage of polyme-rization (A), carried out in one or more fluidized-bed reac-tors in the gas phase, into which the prepolymer produced in 10 is fed, preferably continuously; recycled monomers (201), optionally a molecular weight regulator (202), an inert gas (203) and an alkyl-Al compound (204) are also fed to the first stage of polymerization (A). Reference number 30 indicates the treatment stage (B) which is preferably carried out in the gas phase in a loop reactor into which are fed, preferably con-tinuously, upon removal of the unreacted monomers, the porous polymer produced in 20, the compound of the transition metal M
(301) and optionally an alkyl-Al compound (302); in said loop W096/0~83 1~3s ~ PCT~P95/02~08 reactor, the polymer is circulated by a stream of inert gas (303). Reference number 40 indicates the second stage of poly-merization (C) carried out in one or more fluidized-bed reac-tors in the gas-phase, into which the product coming from stage 30 is fed, preferably continuously; recycled monomers (401) and optionally a molecular weight regulator (402), an inert gas (403) and an alkyl-Al compound (404) are fed to this stage of polymerization.
Preferably the same inert gas is used in the gas-phase polymerization reactors and in the gas-phase loop reactor of stage (B). Non-limiting examples of inert gases are N2 and alkanes with 3-5 carbon atoms and preferably propane.
The following examples are given for the purpose of bet-ter illustrating the invention but do not limit it.
The properties stated are determined using the following methods:
- Porosity and surface area with nitrogen: determined ac-cording to BET methodology (equipment used: SORPTOMATIC
1800 from Carlo Erba).
- Size of catalyst particles: is determined by a method based on the principle of optical diffraction of mono-chromatic laser light with the "Malvern Instr. 2600" ap-paratus. The mean size is stated as P50.
- Melt Index E (MIE): determined according to ASTM-D 1238, w096/02~83 2~ 3~ PCT~P9S/02808 -method E.
Melt Index F (MIF): determined according to ASTM-D 1238, method F.
Ratio of degrees (F/E): ratio between Melt Index F and Melt Index E.
Melt Index L (MIL): determined according to ASTM-D 1238, method L.
Flow~h;lity: is the time taken for 100 g of polymer to flow through a funnel whose discharge hole has a diameter of 1.25 cm and whose walls are inclined at 20 to the vertical.
Dens;ty: DIN 53194.
Morphology and ~ranulometric distr;hution of the polymer particles: ASTM - D 1921-63.
Fract;on soluble in xylene: measured by dissolving the polymer in boiling xylene and determining the insoluble residue after cooling to 25C.
Content of comonomer: percentage by weight of comonomer determined from IR spectrum.
Effective density: AS TM-D 7 9 2 .
Porosity: the porosity expressed as percentage of voids is determined by absorption of mercury under pressure.
The volume of mercury absorbed corresponds to the volume of the pores. For this determination, a calibrated dila-WO9G/0~83 1~3~ PCT~P9S/02808 tometer (diameter 3 mm) CD3 (Carlo Erba) connected to areservoir of mercury and to a high-vacuum pump (1-10-2 mba) is used. A weighed amount of sample (about 0.5 g) is placed in the dilatometer. The apparatus is then placed under high vacuum (<0.1 mmHg) and is kept in these condi-tions for 10 minutes. The dilatometer is then connected to the mercury reservoir and the mercury is allowed to ~low slowly into it until it reaches the level marked on the dilatometer at a height of 10 cm. The valve that con-r.ects the dilatometer to the vacuum pump is closed and the apparatus is pressurized with nitrogen (2.5 kg/cm2).
Under the effect of the pressure, the mercury penetrates into the pores and the level goes down according to the porosity of the material. Once the level at which the mercury has stabilized has been measured on the dilato-meter, the volume of the pores is calculated from the equation V=R2 ~-~H, where R is the radius of the dilato-.eter and ~H is the difference in cm between the initialand final levels of the mercury in the dilatometer. By weighing the dilatometer, dilatometer+mercury, dilatome-_er+mercury+sample, the value of the apparent volume V
o, the sample prior to penetration of the pores can be calculated. The volume of the sample is given by:
V1=[P1-(P2-P)]/D
W096/02583 2 ~ 7 ~ PCT~Pg5/02808 -where P is the weight of the sample in grams, P1 is the weight of the dilatometer+mercury in grams, P2 is the weight of the dilatometer+mercury+sample in grams, D is the density of mercury (at 25C = 13.546 g/cm3). The per-centage porosity is given by the relation X=(lOO V)/V1.
- Extractab;lity in hexane: determined by treating 50 g of polymer with 700 cm3 of n-hexane at the boiling point of the solvent for 1 hour.
EXAMPLES
Preparat;on of a solid catalytic component containing T;
A solid component cont~;n;ng titanium was prepared accor-ding to the procedure of Example 3 in patent EP-A-395083.
P~eparation of a homopolymer of propylene ~sta~e (I)]
In a 100 cm3 glaæs flask, previously purged with N2 at 90C for three hours, 0.0098 g of the above described compo-nent, 0.76 g of triethylaluminium (TEAL) and 0.313 g of cyclo-hexylmethyldimethoxysilane (CMMS) were precontacted in 10 cm3 of hexane for 5 minutes. The mixture was then fed into a four-litre steel autoclave, previously purged with N2 at 90 for 3 hours. Feed was effected at 30C in a propylene atmosphere. H2 ( 1000 cm3) and propylene (1.2 kg) were introduced and the auto-clave was heated to 70C. Polymerization was carried out for 2 hours, followed by degassing in a stream of N2 at 70C for 1 W096/02~83 PCT~P9~/02808 ~;7183S
hour. 238 g of spherical polymer with the following character-istics were obtained: MIL=3.5; porosity (% voids) = 24~.
Preparat;on of a mixture of methylalllm;noxane (M~O) and ~thylenebis(tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium ~;chloride (~BTHI-ZrCl 2 ) A 100 cm3 glass flask, previously purged with N2, was feed with 0.002 g of EBTHI-ZrCl2, 0.27 g of MAO and 50 cm3 of tolu-ene, stirring the solution at 20C for 30 minutes.
Treatment of the homopolymer with MAO/EBTHI-ZrCl2 m; ~ture [stage (II)]
A previously-purged steel autoclave was fed with 238 g of homopolymer obtained previously and the MAO/EBTHI-ZrCl2 sol-ution was introduced while stirring. The system was stirred continuously at 30C for about 30 minutes, and at the end, the solvent was removed in a stream of nitrogen at 50C.
Ethylene/propylene copolymerizat;on ~stage (III)~
After the treatment stage (II), in the same autoclave, an ethylene/propylene mixture was fed in a 60/40 ratio up to a total pressure of 9 bar and polymerization was carried out at 50C for three hours, keeping the pressure constant. 340 g of heterophase copolymer were obtained in the form of spheroidal particles which had good flowability and contained 30~ by weight of ethylene/propylene copolymer. The ethylene/propylene copolymer was separated from the homopolymer matrix by extrac-W0 96/~ 83 2 ~ 8 3 S P CT/EE'95/028~8 tion with n-hexane and was characterized. The copolymer had the following characteristics: [~]=1.1; Mw/Mn=2.
The Ti catalyst and the propylene homopolymer were pre-pared according to the procedure in Example 1.
Preparation of the mixture of methylalllm;noxane (M~0) and ethylenebis(tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium dichloride (~RTHI-zrCl2 ) 12.5 cm3 of M-MAO (modified MAO) in a solution of Isopar C, 0.01 g of EBTHI-ZrCl2 and 200 cm3 of anhydrous hexane were precontacted in a 250 cm3 flask, previously purged in N2 at 90C for 3 hours, and stirred continuously at 20C for 30 min.
Treatment of the homopolymer w;th MAO/EBTHI ZrCl2 mixture ~sta~e (II)]
A gas-phase loop reactor with a volume of 1000 cm3, pre-viously purged, was loaded with 100 g of homopolymer obtained previously, circulating it with a stream of nitrogen. The M-MAO/EBTHI-ZrCl2 solution was introduced, by means of a sprayer, over 90 minutes and at temperature of 30C, and at the end the polymer was obtained in the form of free-flowing particles.
Ethylene/propylene copolymer;zation [stage (III)]
100 g of polymer treated with the MAO/EBTHI-ZrCl2 mixture was fed into a gas-phase reactor with a total volume of 35 1 W096/0~83 1 835 . PCT~P95/02808 that had been previously purged with N2 at 90C for 3 hours.
The system was fluidized with 5 bar of propane and an ethyle--ne/propylene mixture (60/40 ratio) was introduced up to a pressure of 9 bar at 50C. Polymerization was carried out for 3 hours, keeping the pressure constant. 160 g of heterophase copolymer were obtained, cont~;n;ng 37.5% by weight of ethyle-ne/propylene copolymer, in the form of free-flowing spherical particles. The ethylene/propylene copolymer was separated from the homopolymer matrix by extraction with n-hexane and was then characterized. The ethylene/propylene copolymer had the following characteristics: [~]=1.5; ethylene=69%; Mw/Mn=2.8.
The Ti catalyst and the propylene homopolymer were pre-pared according to the procedure described in Example 1.
Preparation of the M~O r ethylene-bis-indenyl-zirconium-r~li chlo-ide (EBI), ~riisobutylaluminium (TIBAL) solution.
Into a 250 cm3 round bottomed flask, previously purged with ~, at 90C for 3 hour, 110 cm3 of anhydrous toluene, 1.4 g of MA0, 0.045 g of EBI and 14 cm3 of a 100 g/l solution of TIBAL in hexane were fed; the system was kept at 20C for 1 hour whilst stirring, until a clear solution was obtained.
Treatment of the homopolymer with the TIBAL/MAO/EBI solut;on 192 g of the above described homopolymer was added to the previously described TIBAL/MAO/EBI solution by the same method w096/02583 ~ PcT~p9slo28o8 described in example 2.
Copolymerization of ethylene/butene The polymer, pre-treated with the MAO/TIBAL/EBI solution, was fed into the gas phase reactor described in example 2. The system was fluidized with 5 bar of propane at 75C and 330 g of ethylene and 100 g of butene were fed until a total pres-sure of 15 bar was reached. The reaction was carried out for 3 hours. 620 g of a polymer blend in the form of spherical par-ticles were obtained.
The Ti catalyst was prepared acording to the process described in example 1.
Polymerizat;on using the Ti catalyst.
The above described catalyst was used in a polymerisation process carried out under the same conditions as in example 1, the only difference being that 10 g of ethylene were fed. 240 g of an ethylene/propylene random copolymer were obtained in the form of spherical particles with the following character-istics: MIL=4.5; C2=2.2%; porosity = 23%.
Preparation of the MAO/TIBAL/Ethylene-bis-4 7-dimethylindenyl zirconium dichloride (EBDMI) solution Into a 250 cm3 reactor, previously purged with nitrogen at 90 C for 3 hours, 150 cm3 of anhydrous toluene, 1.5 gr of TIBAL in hexane ([c]=lOOg/l), 0.02 g of EBDMI and 0.2 g of MAO
096/025~3 7183~ PCT~P95/02808 were fed. The system was kept stirred for 1 hour at 20C.
Treatment of the copolymer with the MAO/TIBAL/EBDMI solution 200 g of the above described copolymer were treated with the MAO/TIBAL/EBDMI solution under the same conditions as described in example 2.
Ethylene/butene copolymerization 176 g of copolymer treated with the MAO/TIBAL/EBDMI sol-ution were used in a polymerization process carried out as described in example 3, but feeding 335 g of ethylene and 200 g of butene. 310 g of a polymer blend in the form of spherical particles were obtained.
EXAMPLE S
The Ti catalyst was prepared according to the process described in example 1.
Polymerization using the Ti catalyst.
0.0116 g of the above described catalyst was precontacted with 0.25 g of TEAL in 25 cm3 of hexane for 5 minutes at 20C.
Subsequently it was fed into a 4 l steel autoclave contA;n;ng 800 g of propane at 20C. The whole was heated to 75C and 0.5 bar of H2 and 7 bar of ethylene were fed. Polymerization was carried out for 3 hours obt~;n;ng about 450 g of polyethylene in the form of spherical particles.
Preparation of the MAO/TIB~TJEBI solution Into a previously purged 250 cm3 reactor 100 cm3 of W096,Q2~83 ~7 ~3~ PCT~Pg5/02808 ~
toluene, 0.178 g MAO, 0.095 g EBI, 15 cm3 of a TIBAL solution in hexane ([c]=100 g/l) were fed, maintA;n;ng the mixture under nitrogen at 20 C for 1 hour.
Treatment of the polymer w;th the MAO/TIR~T,~EBI solutiQn 184 g of the above described polymer was treated with the MAO/TIBAL/EBI solution according to the procedure described in example 2.
Polymerization of ethylene 113 g of the above described treated polymer was fed into a gas-phase reactor and fluidized with 8 bar of propane and 7 bar of C2 at 75 C; polymerization was carried out for 3 hours. 206 g of spherical form polyethylene was obtained hav-ing the following properties: MIE=0.022; F/E=52. 3; [~]=3. 67;
MW/Mn=6.3.
that has porosity, expressed as percentage of voids, greater than 5%;
(II) a treatment stage, in which the polymer obtained in said first stage of polymerization (I) is contacted with a compound of a transition metal M selected from Ti, V, Zr and Hf containing at least one M-~ bond and optionally with an alkyl-Al compound;
(III) a second stage of polymerization, in which one or more of said olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized, in one or more reactors, in the presence of the product obtained in said treatment stage (II).
Preferably, the porosity of the polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) is greater than 10% and more preferably greater than 15%. Porosity values as high as 35-40%
or greater are possible.
Preferably the polymers produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) are characterized by the fact that they have macroporosity. In general, more than 40% of the porosity of said polymers is due to pores with diameter greater than 10000 A. When the porosity of the polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) is greater than 15%, the distribution of pore radius is preferably such that more than 90% of the porosity is due to pores with diameter greater than 10000 A.
W096/0~83 17~ pcT~rsslo2sos The porosity, expressed as percentage of voids, and the distribution of pore radius are determined by the mercury method described hereinafter.
Production of a porous polymer in stage (I) makes it pos-sible to obtain a product cont~;n;ng the compound of the tran-sition metal M in a significant amount and having particularly high activity in the second stage of polymerization (III).
Moreover, when a rubbery copolymer is produced in stage (III), the porosity of the polymer produced in stage (I) makes it possible to work in the gas phase without particular problems.
The same result cannot be obtained when the polymer produced in stage (I) is not porous.
The amount of polymer produced in stage (I) is generally greater than 2000 g/g of solid component, preferably greater than 3000 g/g, and more preferably greater than 5000 g/g.
The catalyst used in the first stage of polymerization (I) comprises the product of the reaction between:
(a) a solid component comprising a compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti or V and not cont~;n;ng MI_~
bonds, supported on magnesium halide in active form. The solid component can also comprise an electron-donor com-pound (internal donor). As a rule, the internal donor is used when the solid component is used for preparing cata-lysts for the stereospecific polymerization of propylene, W096/02~83 ~ 8 35 = PCT~Pg5/02808 l-butene and similar a-olefins, where high stereospecifi-city is necessary to obtain polymers with an isotactic index higher than 90;
(b) an alkyl-Al compound and optionally an electron-donor compound (external donor).
When stereoregular polymers are produced in stage (I), for example polymers of propylene with high isotactic index, the external donor is used for imparting the necessary high stereospecificity to the catalyst. However, when diethers of the type described in patent EP-A-361493 are used as internal donors, the stereospecificity of the catalyst is sufficiently high in itself and the external donor is not necessary.
The catalyst must be capable of giving a polymer with porosity greater than 5%.
The halides of magnesium, preferably MgCl2, in active form, used as support for Ziegler-Natta catalysts, are widely known from the patent literature. Patents USP 4,298,718 and USP 4,495,338 first described the use of these compounds in Ziegler-Natta catalysis. It is known from these patents that the halides of magnesium in active form used as support or co-support in components of catalysts for the polymerization of olefins are characterized by X-ray spectra in which the most intense diffraction line that appears in the spectrum of the non-active halide is ~im;n; shed in intensity and is replaced W096/02s83 171835 rcT~rs~02sos by a halo whose m~; mum intensity is shifted towards lower angles compared with that of the most intense line.
The compound of the transition metal MI is selected pre-ferably from the group consisting of: Ti halides, Ti halo-alkoxides, VCl3, VCl4, VOCl3, halo-alkoxides of vanadium.
Among the titanium compounds, the preferred are TiCl4, TiCl3 and the halo alkoxides of the formula Ti(oRI)mXn in which Rl lS a hydrocarbon radical with 1-12 carbon atoms or a -COR
group, X is a halogen and (m+n) is the valence of titanium.
The catalytic component (A) is advantageously used in the form of spherical particles having mean diameter between about 10 and 150 ~m. Suitable methods for the preparation of said components in spherical form are described for example in pat-ents EP-A-395083, EP-A-553805, EP-A-553806, whose description relating to the method of preparation and to the characteris-tics of the products is herein incorporated for reference.
Examples of internal donor compounds are ethers, esters, in particular esters of polycarboxylic acids, amines, ketones and 1,3-diethers of the type described in patent EP-A-361493.
The alkyl-Al compound (B) is generally selected from trialkylaluminiums such as AlEt3, triisobutyl-Al, tri-n-butyl-Al, tri-n-hexyl-Al and tri-n-octyl-Al. It is also possible to use mixtures of trialkyl-Al's with alkyl-Al halides or alkyl-Al sesquichlorides such as AlEt2Cl and Al2Et3Cl3.
w096/02~83 PCT~P95/02808 ~
83~
The external donor can be the same as or can be different from the internal donor. When the internal donor is an ester of a polycarboxylic acid, such as a phthalate, the external donor is preferably selected from silicon compounds of formula RlR2Si(OR)2, where R1 and R2 are alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl rad-icals with 1-18 carbon atoms. Examples of silanes are methyl-cyclohexyldimethoxysilane, diphenyldimethoxysilane, methyl-t-butyldimethoxysilane and dicyclopentyldimethoxysilane.
The compounds of the transition metal M used in treatment stage (II) are selected from compounds of Ti, V, Zr and Hf having at least one M-~ bond. Preferably, said compounds con-tain at least one ligand L, having a mono or polycyclic struc-ture cont~;n;ng conjugated ~ electrons, coordinated on the metal M.
Said compound of Ti, V, Zr or Hf is preferably selected from components having the following structure:
Cp MR "R bR c ( i ) CplCp~Rlz~R2b ( ii ) (Cp-~-CP )MR~R b ( iii ) in which M is Ti, V, Zr or Hf; Cpl and Cp~, equal or different, are cyclopentadienyl groups or substituted cyclopentadienyl groups; two or more substituents on said cyclopentadienyl groups can form one or more rings having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms; Rl, R2 and R3, equal or different, are hydrogen or W096/02~83 1 835 PCT~P95102808 halogen atoms or an alkyl or alkoxy group with 1-20 carbon atoms, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl with 6-20 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group with 1-20 carbon atoms, an allyl group, a substituent containing a silicon atom; A is an alkenyl bridge or one with structure selected from:
IRl Rl Rl ~1 Rl Rl --Ml-- , --Ml Ml-- , --O--MrO--/ --C -- Ml--, =BRl, AlRl, Rl R2 R2 R2 R2 R2 -Ge-, -Sn-, -O-, -S-, =SO, =SO2, =NR1, =PRl and =P(O)Rl, in which Ml is Si, Ge, or Sn; R1 and R2, equal or different, are alkyl groups with 1-4 carbon atoms or aryl groups with 6-10 carbon atoms; a, k and c are, independently, integers from 0 to 4; e is an integer from 1 to 6 and two or more of the rad-icals R1, R2 and R3 can form a ring. In the case where the Cp group is substituted, the substituent is preferably an alkyl group with 1-20 carbon atoms.
Examples of compounds of formula (I) are: (MesCp)MMe3, (MesCp)M(OMe)3, (MesCp)MCl3, (Cp)MCl3, (Cp)MMe3, (MeCp)MMe3, ~Me3Cp)MMe3, (Me4Cp)MCl3, (Ind)MBenz3, (H4Ind)MBenz3, (Cp)MBU3.
Examples of compounds of formula ~II) are: (Cp)2MMe2, (Cp)~Ph2, (Cp)2MEt2, (Cp)2MCl2, (Cp)2M(OMe)2, (Cp)2M(OMe)Cl, (MeCp),MCl2, (Me5Cp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2MMe2, (Me5Cp)2MMeCl, (1-MeFlu)2-MCl2, (Cp)(Me5Cp)MCl2, (BuCp)2MCl2, (Me3Cp)2MCl2, (Me4Cp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2M(OMe)2, (Me5Cp)2M(OH)Cl, (MesCp)2M(OH)2, (Me5Cp)2M(C6Hs)2, W096/02~83 PCT~P9S/02808 ~ ~83$
(MesCp)2M(CH3)Cl, (EtMe4Cp)2MCl2, [ (c6Hs)Me4cp]2Mcl2r (EtsCP)2Mcl2~
(MesCp)2M(C6Hs)Cl, (Ind)2MCl2, (Ind)2MMe2, (H4Ind)2MCl2, (H4Ind)2M-Me2, {[si(CH3)3]cP}2Mcl2~ {[Si(CH3)3]2Cp}2MCl2, (Me4Cp)(MesCp)MCl2.
Examples of compounds of formula (III) are: C2H4(Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(Ind)2MMe2, C2H4(H4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(H4Ind)2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MCl2,Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MMe2, Me2SiCp2MC12, Me2SiCp2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MMeOMe, Me2Si(Flu)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Et-5-iPrCp)2MCl2, Me2Si(H4Ind)2MCl2, Me2-Si(H4Flu)2MCl2, Me2SiCH2(Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(2--MeH4Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-MeInd)~MCl2, Me2Si(2-Et-5-iPrCp)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-5-EtCp)2MCl2, Me~Si(2,5-Me2Cp)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Me2Si-(4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-EtInd)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-iPrInd)2-MCl2, Me2Si(2-t-BuInd)MCl2, Me2Si(3-t-Bu-5-MeCp)2MCl2, Me2Si(3-t-Bu-5-MeCp)2MMe2, Me2Si(2-MeInd)2MCl2, Me2C(Flu)CpMCl2, C2H4(2-Me-4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Ph2Si(Ind)2MCl2, Ph(Me)Si(Ind)2MCl2, C2H4-(H4Ind)M(NMe2)OMe, isopropylidene(3-t-BuCp)(Flu)MCl2, Me2C-(Me4Cp)(MeCp)MCl2, MeSi(Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(Ind)2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2M-Cl(OEt), C2H4(Ind)2M(NMe2)2, C2H4(Me4Cp)2MCl2, Me2Si(3-MeInd)2MCl2, C,Me4(Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(3-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(4,7-Me~Ind),MCl2, C2H4(5,6-Me2Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2,4,7-Me3Ind)2MCl2, C2H4-(3,4,7-Me3Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2-MeH4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(4,7-Me2H4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2,4,7-Me3H4Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(4,7-Me2Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(5,6-Me2-Ind)~MCl2, Me2Si(2,4,7-Me3H4Ind)2MCl2.
In the simplified formulae given above, the symbols have the following meanings: Me=methyl, Et=ethyl, iPr=isopropyl, W096/U~83 ~ ; rcT~Pssl~28~8 Bu=butyl, Ph=phenyl, Cp=cyclopentadienyl, Ind=indenyl, H4Ind=4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl, Flu=fluorenyl, Benz=benzyl, M= Ti, Zr or Hf, preferably Zr.
Compounds of the type Me2Si(2-MeInd)2ZrCi2 and Me2Si(2-Me-H4Ind)ZrCl2 and their methods of preparation are described respectively in European applications EP-A-485822 and 485820, the description of which is included herein for reference.
Compounds of the type Me2Si(3-t-Bu-5-MeCp)2ZrCl2 and of the type Me2Si(2-Me-4,5-benzoindenyl)ZrCl2 and their method of preparation are described respectively in USP 5132262 and in patent application EP-A-549900, the description of which is included herein for reference.
The first stage of polymerization (I) can be carried out in liquid phase or in gas phase, working in one or more reac-tors. The liquid phase can consist of an inert hydrocarbon solvent (suspension process) or of one or more olefins CH2=CHR
(liquid monomer process). Gas-phase polymerization can be carried out using the known fluidized-bed technique or working in conditions in which the bed is agitated mechanically.
Treatment stage (II) can be carried out by contacting the polymer produced in stage (I) with solutions of the transition metal M in hydrocarbon solvents (benzene, toluene, heptane, hexane and the like). Preferably, the metallocene compound is used in solutions of hydrocarbon solvents also contA;n;ng an w096/0~83 PCT~Pg5/02808 ~
217183~ -alkyl-Al compound, such as triisobutyl-Al, AlEt3 and/or a polyaluminoxane, for example poly(methylaluminoxane) (MAO).
The molar ratio of the alkyl-Al compound to the metallocene compound is greater than 2 and preferably between 5 and 5000, more preferably between 5 and 1000. The treatment stage (II) can be effected by suspending the polymer produced in stage (I) in hydrocarbon solvents containing dissolved therein the compound of the transition metal M, and optionally an Al-alkyl compound and/or a polyaluminoxane, generally working at tem-perature between 0 and 100C, preferably between 10 and 60C, and removing the solvent at the end of the treatment. Alter-natively, the polymer produced in (I) can be contacted with solutions of the compound of metal M cont~;n;ng the m; n;mum quantity of solvent for keeping said compound in solution.
Treatment stage (II) can be conveniently carried out in a loop reactor in the gas phase, in which the polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) is circulated by a stream of inert gas. Solutions of the compound of the transition metal M
are fed, for example with a sprayer, to the loop reactor in the gas phase, obt~;n;ng a free-flowing product at the end of the treatment.
The quantity of compound of transition metal M, expressed as metal, contalned in the product obtained from treatment stage (II), can vary over a very wide range depending on the W096t02583 PcT~Ps5lo28o8 compound of transition metal M used and on the relative amount of product that is desired to produce in the various stages.
Generally, such a quantity is between 1-10-7 and I lo-3 g of metal M/g of product, preferably between 5 1o-7 and 5 1o-4, more preferably between 1 1o-6 and 1 10-4. Larger amounts are, how-ever, possible.
The second stage of polymerization (III) can be carried out in the liquid phase or in the gas phase, working in one or more reactors. The liquid phase can consist of an inert hydro-carbon solvent (suspension process) or of one or more olefins CH2=CHR (liquid monomer process). Gas-phase polymerization can be effected in reactors with a fluidized bed or a mechanical-ly-stirred bed. During the second stage of polymerization (III) it is convenient to feed into the polymerization reactor an alkyl-Al compound selected from trialkyl-Al, in which the alkyl groups have 1-12 carbon atoms, and linear or cyclic aluminoxane compounds contA;n;ng the repeating unit -(R4)AlO-, in which R4 is an alkyl group with 1-8 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl or aryl group with 6-10 carbon atoms, the said aluminoxane compounds cont~;n;ng from 1 to 50 repeating units.
As a rule, the alkyl-Al compound is fed to polymerization stage (III) when the treatment stage (II) is carried out in the absence of alkyl-Al compounds.
A block diagram of the process of the invention is shown W096/02~83 2 ~ 718 3 ~ PCT~r9S/02808 ~
J in Fig. 1. Reference number 1 indicates the first stage of polymerization (I), in which one or more olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized in the presence of a catalyst comprising the prod-uct of the reaction between an alkyl-Al compound and a solid component comprising at least one compound of transition metal M1 not cont~;n;ng M1-~ bonds, obtA;n;ng a porous olefinic poly-mer; reference number 2 indicates the treatment stage (II), in which the porous polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization is contacted with a compound of a transition metal M cont~;n;ng M-~ bonds and optionally with an alkyl-Al compound; reference number 3 indicates the second stage of polymerization (III) in which one or more olefins CH~=CHR are polymerized in the presence of the product obtained from treatment stage (II) and optionally of an alkyl-Al compound.
The process of the invention can be used for preparing a wide range of olefinic polymer compositions. In particular, the process of the invention is particularly suitable for the preparation of high-impact polypropylene (heterophase copoly-mers of propylene). In fact, a further aspect of the present invention is a process for the preparation of heterophase copolymers of propylene comprising at least two stages of polymerization in which:
(A) in a first stage of polymerization, propylene or its mix-ture with ethylene and/or one or more olefins CH2=CHRn, w096/02s~3 1 7183S PLT~95/02808 where R~ is a hydrocarbon radical with 2-10 carbon atoms, is polymerized in one or more reactors in the presence of a catalyst comprising the product of the reaction between an alkyl-Al compound, optionally an electron-donor com-pound (external donor) and a solid component comprising at least one compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti or V and not cont~;n;ng MI-~ bonds, a halide of magnesium in active form and optionally an electron-donor compound (internal donor), obtaining an olefinic polymer having porosity, expressed as percentage of voids, greater than 5%, content of units derived from ethylene and/or from the CH2=CHR~ olefin less than 20% by weight, content of units derived from propylene greater than 80%
by weight and insolubiluty in xylene greater than 60~;
(B) a treatment stage, in which the product obtained in said first stage of polymerization (A) is contacted with a compound of a transition metal M selected from Ti, V, Zr and Hf containing at least one M-~ bond and optionally with an alkyl-Al compound;
(C) a second stage of polymerization, in which one or more olefins CH2=CHR, where R is hydrogen or an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical with 1-10 carbon atoms, are polymerized, in one or more reactors, in the presence of the product obtained in said treatment stage (B), obtain-W096/025~3 PCT~P95/02808 -2~7 1835 ing a substantially amorphous olefinic (co)polymer in a quantity between 20 and 80~ by weight relative to the total amount of polymer produced in stages (A) and (C).
The polymer produced in stage (A) is preferably a homo-polymer of propylene with high index of isotacticity, or a crystalline copolymer of propylene that has a content by weight of units derived from ethylene and/or from the CH2=CHR
olefin, less than 10%.
Non-limiting examples of substantially amorphous olefinic (co)polymers that can be prepared in stage (C) are the elasto-meric copolymers of ethylene and propylene and the elastomeric terpolymers of ethylene and propylene with smaller proportions of a diene, which have a content by weight of units derived from ethylene between about 30 and 70%; the elastomeric copo-lymers of ethylene and butene and the elastomeric terpolymers of ethylene, butene and propylene that have a content by weight of units derived from ethylene between about 30 and 70%; the atactic polypropylenes having high molecular weight (~ > 1). Examples of these copolymers are described in Euro-pean patent applications EP-A-586658 and EP-A-604917 and in Italian patent applications MI-93A000943, MI-93A001405, MI-93A001406, MI-93A001960 and MI-93A001963, to which reference is made for the part relating to the characteristics of the products and to the catalysts used in their preparation.
wos6l0~83 ~1 71 ~ ~ pCT~P95/02808 The first stage of polymerization (A) can be conveniently carried out in liquid propylene, working in one or more loop reactors, or in the gas phase, working in one or more reactors with a fluidized bed or a mechanically-stirred bed. The gas-phase technology with a fluidized bed is preferred.
The second stage of polymerization (C) is preferably carried out in one or more reactors in the gas phase with a fluidized bed. Other technologies (for example suspension polymerization or gas-phase polymerization with mechanically-stirred bed) can be used.
The porosity of the polymer produced in stage (A) is pre-ferably greater than 15% (expressed as percentage of voids) and more preferably greater than 20%. Values of porosity that reach 35-40~ or higher are possible. The distribution of pore radius is such that more than 40% of the porosity is due to pores with diameter greater than 10000 A. Preferably, and for high values of porosity, more than 90% of the porosity is due to pores with diameter greater than 10000 A.
The amount of polymer produced in stage (C) is preferably between 30~ and 75%, more preferably between 35% and 60% by weight relative to the total amount of polymer produced in stages (A) and (C).
The process is preferably effected continuously, working in both stages of polymerization (A) and (C) in fluidized-bed W096/02~83 2 ~ 718 3 ~ PCT~P95/02808 reactors in the gas phase, treatment stage (B) being effected in a loop reactor in the gas phase. The first stage of polyme-rization (A) is preferably preceded by a stage of prepolymeri-zation in which propylene or its mixtures with ethylene and/or olefins CH2=CHR~ are polymerized in the presence of the cata-lyst described in (A) in a quantity of between S and 500 g/g catalyst. A preferred flowsheet for the preparation of hetero-J phase copolymers of propylene is shown in Fig. 2. Referencenumber 10 indicates the prepolymerization reactor into which the catalyst (101) and the monomers (102) are fed; prepolyme-rization is preferably carried out in liquid propylene or in an inert hydrocarbon solvent, for example propane.
Reference number 20 indicates the first stage of polyme-rization (A), carried out in one or more fluidized-bed reac-tors in the gas phase, into which the prepolymer produced in 10 is fed, preferably continuously; recycled monomers (201), optionally a molecular weight regulator (202), an inert gas (203) and an alkyl-Al compound (204) are also fed to the first stage of polymerization (A). Reference number 30 indicates the treatment stage (B) which is preferably carried out in the gas phase in a loop reactor into which are fed, preferably con-tinuously, upon removal of the unreacted monomers, the porous polymer produced in 20, the compound of the transition metal M
(301) and optionally an alkyl-Al compound (302); in said loop W096/0~83 1~3s ~ PCT~P95/02~08 reactor, the polymer is circulated by a stream of inert gas (303). Reference number 40 indicates the second stage of poly-merization (C) carried out in one or more fluidized-bed reac-tors in the gas-phase, into which the product coming from stage 30 is fed, preferably continuously; recycled monomers (401) and optionally a molecular weight regulator (402), an inert gas (403) and an alkyl-Al compound (404) are fed to this stage of polymerization.
Preferably the same inert gas is used in the gas-phase polymerization reactors and in the gas-phase loop reactor of stage (B). Non-limiting examples of inert gases are N2 and alkanes with 3-5 carbon atoms and preferably propane.
The following examples are given for the purpose of bet-ter illustrating the invention but do not limit it.
The properties stated are determined using the following methods:
- Porosity and surface area with nitrogen: determined ac-cording to BET methodology (equipment used: SORPTOMATIC
1800 from Carlo Erba).
- Size of catalyst particles: is determined by a method based on the principle of optical diffraction of mono-chromatic laser light with the "Malvern Instr. 2600" ap-paratus. The mean size is stated as P50.
- Melt Index E (MIE): determined according to ASTM-D 1238, w096/02~83 2~ 3~ PCT~P9S/02808 -method E.
Melt Index F (MIF): determined according to ASTM-D 1238, method F.
Ratio of degrees (F/E): ratio between Melt Index F and Melt Index E.
Melt Index L (MIL): determined according to ASTM-D 1238, method L.
Flow~h;lity: is the time taken for 100 g of polymer to flow through a funnel whose discharge hole has a diameter of 1.25 cm and whose walls are inclined at 20 to the vertical.
Dens;ty: DIN 53194.
Morphology and ~ranulometric distr;hution of the polymer particles: ASTM - D 1921-63.
Fract;on soluble in xylene: measured by dissolving the polymer in boiling xylene and determining the insoluble residue after cooling to 25C.
Content of comonomer: percentage by weight of comonomer determined from IR spectrum.
Effective density: AS TM-D 7 9 2 .
Porosity: the porosity expressed as percentage of voids is determined by absorption of mercury under pressure.
The volume of mercury absorbed corresponds to the volume of the pores. For this determination, a calibrated dila-WO9G/0~83 1~3~ PCT~P9S/02808 tometer (diameter 3 mm) CD3 (Carlo Erba) connected to areservoir of mercury and to a high-vacuum pump (1-10-2 mba) is used. A weighed amount of sample (about 0.5 g) is placed in the dilatometer. The apparatus is then placed under high vacuum (<0.1 mmHg) and is kept in these condi-tions for 10 minutes. The dilatometer is then connected to the mercury reservoir and the mercury is allowed to ~low slowly into it until it reaches the level marked on the dilatometer at a height of 10 cm. The valve that con-r.ects the dilatometer to the vacuum pump is closed and the apparatus is pressurized with nitrogen (2.5 kg/cm2).
Under the effect of the pressure, the mercury penetrates into the pores and the level goes down according to the porosity of the material. Once the level at which the mercury has stabilized has been measured on the dilato-meter, the volume of the pores is calculated from the equation V=R2 ~-~H, where R is the radius of the dilato-.eter and ~H is the difference in cm between the initialand final levels of the mercury in the dilatometer. By weighing the dilatometer, dilatometer+mercury, dilatome-_er+mercury+sample, the value of the apparent volume V
o, the sample prior to penetration of the pores can be calculated. The volume of the sample is given by:
V1=[P1-(P2-P)]/D
W096/02583 2 ~ 7 ~ PCT~Pg5/02808 -where P is the weight of the sample in grams, P1 is the weight of the dilatometer+mercury in grams, P2 is the weight of the dilatometer+mercury+sample in grams, D is the density of mercury (at 25C = 13.546 g/cm3). The per-centage porosity is given by the relation X=(lOO V)/V1.
- Extractab;lity in hexane: determined by treating 50 g of polymer with 700 cm3 of n-hexane at the boiling point of the solvent for 1 hour.
EXAMPLES
Preparat;on of a solid catalytic component containing T;
A solid component cont~;n;ng titanium was prepared accor-ding to the procedure of Example 3 in patent EP-A-395083.
P~eparation of a homopolymer of propylene ~sta~e (I)]
In a 100 cm3 glaæs flask, previously purged with N2 at 90C for three hours, 0.0098 g of the above described compo-nent, 0.76 g of triethylaluminium (TEAL) and 0.313 g of cyclo-hexylmethyldimethoxysilane (CMMS) were precontacted in 10 cm3 of hexane for 5 minutes. The mixture was then fed into a four-litre steel autoclave, previously purged with N2 at 90 for 3 hours. Feed was effected at 30C in a propylene atmosphere. H2 ( 1000 cm3) and propylene (1.2 kg) were introduced and the auto-clave was heated to 70C. Polymerization was carried out for 2 hours, followed by degassing in a stream of N2 at 70C for 1 W096/02~83 PCT~P9~/02808 ~;7183S
hour. 238 g of spherical polymer with the following character-istics were obtained: MIL=3.5; porosity (% voids) = 24~.
Preparat;on of a mixture of methylalllm;noxane (M~O) and ~thylenebis(tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium ~;chloride (~BTHI-ZrCl 2 ) A 100 cm3 glass flask, previously purged with N2, was feed with 0.002 g of EBTHI-ZrCl2, 0.27 g of MAO and 50 cm3 of tolu-ene, stirring the solution at 20C for 30 minutes.
Treatment of the homopolymer with MAO/EBTHI-ZrCl2 m; ~ture [stage (II)]
A previously-purged steel autoclave was fed with 238 g of homopolymer obtained previously and the MAO/EBTHI-ZrCl2 sol-ution was introduced while stirring. The system was stirred continuously at 30C for about 30 minutes, and at the end, the solvent was removed in a stream of nitrogen at 50C.
Ethylene/propylene copolymerizat;on ~stage (III)~
After the treatment stage (II), in the same autoclave, an ethylene/propylene mixture was fed in a 60/40 ratio up to a total pressure of 9 bar and polymerization was carried out at 50C for three hours, keeping the pressure constant. 340 g of heterophase copolymer were obtained in the form of spheroidal particles which had good flowability and contained 30~ by weight of ethylene/propylene copolymer. The ethylene/propylene copolymer was separated from the homopolymer matrix by extrac-W0 96/~ 83 2 ~ 8 3 S P CT/EE'95/028~8 tion with n-hexane and was characterized. The copolymer had the following characteristics: [~]=1.1; Mw/Mn=2.
The Ti catalyst and the propylene homopolymer were pre-pared according to the procedure in Example 1.
Preparation of the mixture of methylalllm;noxane (M~0) and ethylenebis(tetrahydroindenyl)zirconium dichloride (~RTHI-zrCl2 ) 12.5 cm3 of M-MAO (modified MAO) in a solution of Isopar C, 0.01 g of EBTHI-ZrCl2 and 200 cm3 of anhydrous hexane were precontacted in a 250 cm3 flask, previously purged in N2 at 90C for 3 hours, and stirred continuously at 20C for 30 min.
Treatment of the homopolymer w;th MAO/EBTHI ZrCl2 mixture ~sta~e (II)]
A gas-phase loop reactor with a volume of 1000 cm3, pre-viously purged, was loaded with 100 g of homopolymer obtained previously, circulating it with a stream of nitrogen. The M-MAO/EBTHI-ZrCl2 solution was introduced, by means of a sprayer, over 90 minutes and at temperature of 30C, and at the end the polymer was obtained in the form of free-flowing particles.
Ethylene/propylene copolymer;zation [stage (III)]
100 g of polymer treated with the MAO/EBTHI-ZrCl2 mixture was fed into a gas-phase reactor with a total volume of 35 1 W096/0~83 1 835 . PCT~P95/02808 that had been previously purged with N2 at 90C for 3 hours.
The system was fluidized with 5 bar of propane and an ethyle--ne/propylene mixture (60/40 ratio) was introduced up to a pressure of 9 bar at 50C. Polymerization was carried out for 3 hours, keeping the pressure constant. 160 g of heterophase copolymer were obtained, cont~;n;ng 37.5% by weight of ethyle-ne/propylene copolymer, in the form of free-flowing spherical particles. The ethylene/propylene copolymer was separated from the homopolymer matrix by extraction with n-hexane and was then characterized. The ethylene/propylene copolymer had the following characteristics: [~]=1.5; ethylene=69%; Mw/Mn=2.8.
The Ti catalyst and the propylene homopolymer were pre-pared according to the procedure described in Example 1.
Preparation of the M~O r ethylene-bis-indenyl-zirconium-r~li chlo-ide (EBI), ~riisobutylaluminium (TIBAL) solution.
Into a 250 cm3 round bottomed flask, previously purged with ~, at 90C for 3 hour, 110 cm3 of anhydrous toluene, 1.4 g of MA0, 0.045 g of EBI and 14 cm3 of a 100 g/l solution of TIBAL in hexane were fed; the system was kept at 20C for 1 hour whilst stirring, until a clear solution was obtained.
Treatment of the homopolymer with the TIBAL/MAO/EBI solut;on 192 g of the above described homopolymer was added to the previously described TIBAL/MAO/EBI solution by the same method w096/02583 ~ PcT~p9slo28o8 described in example 2.
Copolymerization of ethylene/butene The polymer, pre-treated with the MAO/TIBAL/EBI solution, was fed into the gas phase reactor described in example 2. The system was fluidized with 5 bar of propane at 75C and 330 g of ethylene and 100 g of butene were fed until a total pres-sure of 15 bar was reached. The reaction was carried out for 3 hours. 620 g of a polymer blend in the form of spherical par-ticles were obtained.
The Ti catalyst was prepared acording to the process described in example 1.
Polymerizat;on using the Ti catalyst.
The above described catalyst was used in a polymerisation process carried out under the same conditions as in example 1, the only difference being that 10 g of ethylene were fed. 240 g of an ethylene/propylene random copolymer were obtained in the form of spherical particles with the following character-istics: MIL=4.5; C2=2.2%; porosity = 23%.
Preparation of the MAO/TIBAL/Ethylene-bis-4 7-dimethylindenyl zirconium dichloride (EBDMI) solution Into a 250 cm3 reactor, previously purged with nitrogen at 90 C for 3 hours, 150 cm3 of anhydrous toluene, 1.5 gr of TIBAL in hexane ([c]=lOOg/l), 0.02 g of EBDMI and 0.2 g of MAO
096/025~3 7183~ PCT~P95/02808 were fed. The system was kept stirred for 1 hour at 20C.
Treatment of the copolymer with the MAO/TIBAL/EBDMI solution 200 g of the above described copolymer were treated with the MAO/TIBAL/EBDMI solution under the same conditions as described in example 2.
Ethylene/butene copolymerization 176 g of copolymer treated with the MAO/TIBAL/EBDMI sol-ution were used in a polymerization process carried out as described in example 3, but feeding 335 g of ethylene and 200 g of butene. 310 g of a polymer blend in the form of spherical particles were obtained.
EXAMPLE S
The Ti catalyst was prepared according to the process described in example 1.
Polymerization using the Ti catalyst.
0.0116 g of the above described catalyst was precontacted with 0.25 g of TEAL in 25 cm3 of hexane for 5 minutes at 20C.
Subsequently it was fed into a 4 l steel autoclave contA;n;ng 800 g of propane at 20C. The whole was heated to 75C and 0.5 bar of H2 and 7 bar of ethylene were fed. Polymerization was carried out for 3 hours obt~;n;ng about 450 g of polyethylene in the form of spherical particles.
Preparation of the MAO/TIB~TJEBI solution Into a previously purged 250 cm3 reactor 100 cm3 of W096,Q2~83 ~7 ~3~ PCT~Pg5/02808 ~
toluene, 0.178 g MAO, 0.095 g EBI, 15 cm3 of a TIBAL solution in hexane ([c]=100 g/l) were fed, maintA;n;ng the mixture under nitrogen at 20 C for 1 hour.
Treatment of the polymer w;th the MAO/TIR~T,~EBI solutiQn 184 g of the above described polymer was treated with the MAO/TIBAL/EBI solution according to the procedure described in example 2.
Polymerization of ethylene 113 g of the above described treated polymer was fed into a gas-phase reactor and fluidized with 8 bar of propane and 7 bar of C2 at 75 C; polymerization was carried out for 3 hours. 206 g of spherical form polyethylene was obtained hav-ing the following properties: MIE=0.022; F/E=52. 3; [~]=3. 67;
MW/Mn=6.3.
Claims (22)
1. Process for the polymerization of one or more olefins CH2=CHR, where R is hydrogen or an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical with 1-10 carbon atoms, characterized in that it comprises:
(I) a first stage of polymerization, in which one or more of said olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized, in one or more reactors, in the presence of a catalyst com-prising the product of the reaction between an Al-alkyl compound and a solid component comprising at least one compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti and V and not containing MI-.pi. bonds and a Mg halide in active form, said catalyst being capa-ble of producing an olefin polymer having porosity, expressed as percentage of voids, greater than 5%;
(II) a treatment stage, in which the product obtained in said first stage of polymerization (I) is contacted with a compound of a transition metal M selected from Ti, V, Zr and Hf containing at least one M-bond and optionally with an alkyl-Al compound;
(III) a second stage of polymerization, in which one or more of the said olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized, in one or more reactors, in the presence of the product obtained in said stage (II).
(I) a first stage of polymerization, in which one or more of said olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized, in one or more reactors, in the presence of a catalyst com-prising the product of the reaction between an Al-alkyl compound and a solid component comprising at least one compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti and V and not containing MI-.pi. bonds and a Mg halide in active form, said catalyst being capa-ble of producing an olefin polymer having porosity, expressed as percentage of voids, greater than 5%;
(II) a treatment stage, in which the product obtained in said first stage of polymerization (I) is contacted with a compound of a transition metal M selected from Ti, V, Zr and Hf containing at least one M-bond and optionally with an alkyl-Al compound;
(III) a second stage of polymerization, in which one or more of the said olefins CH2=CHR are polymerized, in one or more reactors, in the presence of the product obtained in said stage (II).
2. Process according to Claim 1, in which the porosity of the polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) is greater than 10%.
3. Process according to Claim 1, in which the porosity of the polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) is greater than 15%.
4. Process according to Claim 1, in which more than 40% of the porosity of the polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) is due to pores with diameter greater than 10000 .ANG..
5. Process according to Claim 3, in which more than 90% of the porosity of the polymer produced in the first stage of polymerization (I) is due to pores with diameter greater than 10000 .ANG..
6. Process according to Claim 1, in which the magnesium halide is MgCl2 and the compound of the transition metal Ml is selected from the group consisting of: Ti halides, Ti halo-alkoxides, VCl3, VCl4, VOCl3 and halo alkoxides of V.
7. Process according to Claim 6, in which the Ti compound is selected from the group consisting of: TiCl4, TiCl3 and halo alkoxides of the formula Ti(ORI)mXn, in which RI is a hydrocarbon radical with 1-12 carbon atoms or a -CORI
group, X is a halogen and (m+n) is the valence of the Ti.
group, X is a halogen and (m+n) is the valence of the Ti.
8. Process according to Claim 1, in which the solid compo-nent used in the first stage of polymerization (I) is in the form of spheroidal particles having mean diameter between 10 and 150 µm.
9. Process according to Claim 1, in which the compound of the transition metal M comprises at least one ligand L
coordinated on the metal, said ligand L having a mono- or polycyclic structure containing conjugated .pi. electrons.
coordinated on the metal, said ligand L having a mono- or polycyclic structure containing conjugated .pi. electrons.
10. Process according to Claim 9, in which the compound of the transition metal M is selected from:
CpIMR1aR2bR3c (i) CpICpIIMR1aR2b (ii) (CpI-Ae-CpII)MR1aR2b (iii) in which M is Ti, V, Zr or Hf; CpI and CpII, identical or different, are cyclopentadienyl groups or substituted cyclopentadienyl groups; two or more substituents on said cyclopentadienyl groups can form one or more rings having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms; R1, R2 and R3, same or differ-ent, are hydrogen or halogen atoms or an alkyl or alkoxy group with 1-20 carbon atoms, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl with 6-20 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group with 1-20 carbon atoms, an allyl group, a substituent containing a silicon atom; A is an alkenyl bridge or one with structure selected from:
, , , , =BR1, =AlR1, -Ge-, -Sn-, -O-, -S-, =SO, =SO2, =NR1, =PR1 and =P(O)R1, in which M1 is Si, Ge, or Sn; R1 and R2, equal or different, are alkyl groups with 1-4 carbon atoms or aryl groups with 6-10 carbon atoms; a, b and c are, indepen-dently, integers from 0 to 4; e is an integer from 0 to 6 and two or more of the radicals R1, R2 and R3 can form a ring.
CpIMR1aR2bR3c (i) CpICpIIMR1aR2b (ii) (CpI-Ae-CpII)MR1aR2b (iii) in which M is Ti, V, Zr or Hf; CpI and CpII, identical or different, are cyclopentadienyl groups or substituted cyclopentadienyl groups; two or more substituents on said cyclopentadienyl groups can form one or more rings having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms; R1, R2 and R3, same or differ-ent, are hydrogen or halogen atoms or an alkyl or alkoxy group with 1-20 carbon atoms, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl with 6-20 carbon atoms, an acyloxy group with 1-20 carbon atoms, an allyl group, a substituent containing a silicon atom; A is an alkenyl bridge or one with structure selected from:
, , , , =BR1, =AlR1, -Ge-, -Sn-, -O-, -S-, =SO, =SO2, =NR1, =PR1 and =P(O)R1, in which M1 is Si, Ge, or Sn; R1 and R2, equal or different, are alkyl groups with 1-4 carbon atoms or aryl groups with 6-10 carbon atoms; a, b and c are, indepen-dently, integers from 0 to 4; e is an integer from 0 to 6 and two or more of the radicals R1, R2 and R3 can form a ring.
11. Process according to Claim 9, in which the compound of the transition metal is selected from compounds having the structure:
(Me5Cp)MMe3, (Me5Cp)M(OMe)3, (Me5Cp)MCl3, (Cp)MCl3, (Cp)MMe3, (MeCp)MMe3, (Me3Cp)MMe3, (Me4Cp)MCl3, (Ind)MBenz3, (H4Ind)-MBenz3, (Cp)MBu3.
(Me5Cp)MMe3, (Me5Cp)M(OMe)3, (Me5Cp)MCl3, (Cp)MCl3, (Cp)MMe3, (MeCp)MMe3, (Me3Cp)MMe3, (Me4Cp)MCl3, (Ind)MBenz3, (H4Ind)-MBenz3, (Cp)MBu3.
12. Process according to Claim 9, in which the compound of the transition metal is selected from compounds having the structure:
(Cp)3MMe2, (Cp)2MPh2, (Cp)2MEt2, (Cp)2MCl2, (Cp)2M(OMe)2, (Cp)2M(OMe)Cl, (MeCp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2MMe2, (Me5Cp)2MMeCl, (Cp)(Me5Cp)MCl2, (1-MeFlu)2MCl2, (BuCp)2MCl2, (Me3Cp)2MCl2, (Me4Cp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2M(OMe) 2, (Me5Cp)2M(OH)Cl, (Me5Cp)2M(OH)2, (Me5Cp)2M(C6H5)2, (Me5Cp)2M(CH3)Cl, (EtMe4Cp)2-MCl2, [(C6H5)Me4Cp]2MCl2, (Et5Cp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2M(C6H5)Cl, (Ind)2MCl2, (Ind)2MMe2, (H4Ind)2MCl2, (H4Ind)2MMe2, {[Si(CH3)3]Cp}2MCl2, {[Si(CH3)3]2Cp}2MCl2, (Me4Cp)(Me5Cp)MCl2.
(Cp)3MMe2, (Cp)2MPh2, (Cp)2MEt2, (Cp)2MCl2, (Cp)2M(OMe)2, (Cp)2M(OMe)Cl, (MeCp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2MMe2, (Me5Cp)2MMeCl, (Cp)(Me5Cp)MCl2, (1-MeFlu)2MCl2, (BuCp)2MCl2, (Me3Cp)2MCl2, (Me4Cp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2M(OMe) 2, (Me5Cp)2M(OH)Cl, (Me5Cp)2M(OH)2, (Me5Cp)2M(C6H5)2, (Me5Cp)2M(CH3)Cl, (EtMe4Cp)2-MCl2, [(C6H5)Me4Cp]2MCl2, (Et5Cp)2MCl2, (Me5Cp)2M(C6H5)Cl, (Ind)2MCl2, (Ind)2MMe2, (H4Ind)2MCl2, (H4Ind)2MMe2, {[Si(CH3)3]Cp}2MCl2, {[Si(CH3)3]2Cp}2MCl2, (Me4Cp)(Me5Cp)MCl2.
13. Process according to Claim 9, in which the compound of the transition metal is selected from compounds having the structure:
C2H4(Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(Ind)2MMe2, C2H4(H4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(H4Ind)2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MCl2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MMe2, Me2SiCp2MCl2, Me2SiCp2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MMeOMe, Me2Si(Flu)2M-Cl2, Me2Si(2-Et-5-iPrCp)2MCl2, Me2Si(H4Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si-(H4Flu)2MCl2, Me2SiCH2(Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-H4Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-MeInd)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Et-5-iPr-Cp)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-5-EtCp)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-5-Me-Cp)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Me2Si(4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-EtInd)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-iPr-Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-t-BuInd)MCl2, Me2Si(3-t-Bu-5-MeCP)2MCl2, Me2Si(3-t-Bu-5-MeCp)2MMe2, Me2Si(2-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(2-Me-4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Me2C(Flu)CpMCl2, Ph2Si(Ind)2MCl2, Ph(Me)Si(Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(H4Ind)M(NMe2)OMe, isopropylidene-(3-t-BuCp)(Flu)MCl2, Me2C(Me4Cp)(MeCP)MCl2, MeSi(Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(Ind)2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4CP)2MCl(OEt), C2H4(Ind)2M(NMe2)2, C2H4(Me4Cp)2MCl2, C2Me4(Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(3-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(2-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(3-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(4,7-Me2Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(5,6-Me2Ind)2M-Cl2, C2H4(2,4,7-Me3Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(3,4,7-Me3Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2-MeH4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(4,7-Me2H4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2,4,7-Me3H4Ind)2M-Cl2, Me2Si(4,7-Me2Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(5,6-Me2Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si-(2,4,7-Me3H4Ind)2MCl2.
C2H4(Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(Ind)2MMe2, C2H4(H4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(H4Ind)2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MCl2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MMe2, Me2SiCp2MCl2, Me2SiCp2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4Cp)2MMeOMe, Me2Si(Flu)2M-Cl2, Me2Si(2-Et-5-iPrCp)2MCl2, Me2Si(H4Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si-(H4Flu)2MCl2, Me2SiCH2(Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-H4Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-MeInd)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Et-5-iPr-Cp)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-5-EtCp)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-5-Me-Cp)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-Me-4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Me2Si(4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-EtInd)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-iPr-Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(2-t-BuInd)MCl2, Me2Si(3-t-Bu-5-MeCP)2MCl2, Me2Si(3-t-Bu-5-MeCp)2MMe2, Me2Si(2-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(2-Me-4,5-benzoindenyl)2MCl2, Me2C(Flu)CpMCl2, Ph2Si(Ind)2MCl2, Ph(Me)Si(Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(H4Ind)M(NMe2)OMe, isopropylidene-(3-t-BuCp)(Flu)MCl2, Me2C(Me4Cp)(MeCP)MCl2, MeSi(Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(Ind)2MMe2, Me2Si(Me4CP)2MCl(OEt), C2H4(Ind)2M(NMe2)2, C2H4(Me4Cp)2MCl2, C2Me4(Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(3-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(2-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(3-MeInd)2MCl2, C2H4(4,7-Me2Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(5,6-Me2Ind)2M-Cl2, C2H4(2,4,7-Me3Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(3,4,7-Me3Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2-MeH4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(4,7-Me2H4Ind)2MCl2, C2H4(2,4,7-Me3H4Ind)2M-Cl2, Me2Si(4,7-Me2Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si(5,6-Me2Ind)2MCl2, Me2Si-(2,4,7-Me3H4Ind)2MCl2.
14. Process according to Claim 1, in which, in the product obtained from treatment stage (II), the compound of the transition metal M is present in a quantity of between 1 10-7 and 1 . 10-3 by weight expressed as metal.
15. Process according to Claim 14, in which, in the product obtained from treatment stage (II), the compound of the transition metal M is present in a quantity of between 1 10-6 and 1 . 10-4 by weight expressed as metal.
16. Process according to Claim 1, in which the catalyst used in the first stage of polymerization (I) comprises the product of the reaction between an Al-alkyl compound, an electron-donor compound and a solid component comprising at least one compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti and V and not containing MI-.pi. bonds, a magnesium halide in active form and an electron-donor compound.
17. Process according to Claim 1 in which, in the treatment stage (II), the product obtained in the first stage of polymerization (I) is treated with solutions containing the compound of the transition metal M and an alkyl-Al compound chosen from trialkyl-Al, in which the alkyl groups have from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and linear or cyc-lic aluminoxane compounds containing the repeating unit -(R4)AlO-, in which R4 is an alkyl group with 1-8 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl or aryl group with 6-10 carbon atoms, the said aluminoxane compounds containing from 1 to 50 repeating units.
18. Process according to Claim 1, in which, during the second stage of polymerization (III), at least one reactor is fed with the product obtained in the treatment stage (II) and, together or separately, an alkyl-Al compound selected from trialkyl-Al, in which the alkyl groups have from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and linear or cyclic alumin-oxane compounds containing the repeating unit -(R4)AlO-, in which R4 is an alkyl group with 1-8 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl or aryl group with 6-10 carbon atoms, the said aluminoxane compounds containing from 1 to 50 repeating units.
19. Process according to Claim 1, in which, the first stage of polymerization (I) is carried out in the liquid phase, the said liquid phase consisting of a hydrocarbon solvent or of one or more olefins CH2=CHR and in which, the sec-ond stage of polymerization (III) is carried out in the gas phase in at least one reactor with a fluidized bed or a mechanically-stirred bed.
20. Process according to Claim 1, in which, in both stages (I) and (III), polymerization is carried out in the gas phase in reactors with a fluidized bed or a mechanically-stirred bed.
21. Process according to Claim 1 in which, the treatment stage (II) is carried out in the gas phase in a loop reactor.
22. Process for the preparation of heterophase copolymers of propylene comprising at least two stages of polymerization in which:
(A) in at least one reactor, propylene or its mixtures with ethylene and/or one or more olefins CH2=CHRII, where RII is a hydrocarbon radical with 2-10 carbon atoms, are polymerized in the presence of a catalyst comprising the product of the reaction between an alkyl-Al compound, optionally an electron-donor com-pound and a solid component comprising at least one compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti and V and not containing MI-.pi. bonds, a halide of magnesium in active form and optionally an electron-donor compound obtaining an olefinic polymer having porosity, expressed as percentage of voids, greater than 5%, content of units derived from the ethylene and/or from the CH2=CHRII olefin less than 20% by weight, content of units derived from the propylene greater than 80% by weight and insolubility in xylene higher than 60%;
(B) the product obtained in said stage (A) is contacted with a compound of a transition metal M selected from Ti, V, Zr and Hf containing at least one M-.pi.
bond and optionally an alkyl-Al compound;
(C) in at least one reactor, one or more olefins CH2=CHR, where R is hydrogen or an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical with 1-10 carbon atoms, are polymerized in the presence of the product obtained in said stage (B), obtaining a substantially amor-phous olefinic (co)polymer in a quantity of between 20 and 80% by weight relative to the total amount of the polymer produced in stages (A) and (C).
(A) in at least one reactor, propylene or its mixtures with ethylene and/or one or more olefins CH2=CHRII, where RII is a hydrocarbon radical with 2-10 carbon atoms, are polymerized in the presence of a catalyst comprising the product of the reaction between an alkyl-Al compound, optionally an electron-donor com-pound and a solid component comprising at least one compound of a transition metal MI selected from Ti and V and not containing MI-.pi. bonds, a halide of magnesium in active form and optionally an electron-donor compound obtaining an olefinic polymer having porosity, expressed as percentage of voids, greater than 5%, content of units derived from the ethylene and/or from the CH2=CHRII olefin less than 20% by weight, content of units derived from the propylene greater than 80% by weight and insolubility in xylene higher than 60%;
(B) the product obtained in said stage (A) is contacted with a compound of a transition metal M selected from Ti, V, Zr and Hf containing at least one M-.pi.
bond and optionally an alkyl-Al compound;
(C) in at least one reactor, one or more olefins CH2=CHR, where R is hydrogen or an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical with 1-10 carbon atoms, are polymerized in the presence of the product obtained in said stage (B), obtaining a substantially amor-phous olefinic (co)polymer in a quantity of between 20 and 80% by weight relative to the total amount of the polymer produced in stages (A) and (C).
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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| ITMI94A001515 | 1994-07-20 | ||
| ITMI941515A IT1273660B (en) | 1994-07-20 | 1994-07-20 | PROCEDURE FOR THE PREPARATION OF AMORPHOUS PROPYLENE POLYMERS |
| PCT/EP1995/002808 WO1996002583A1 (en) | 1994-07-20 | 1995-07-18 | Multistage process for the (co)polymerization of olefins |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2171835A1 true CA2171835A1 (en) | 1996-02-01 |
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ID=11369316
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002171835A Abandoned CA2171835A1 (en) | 1994-07-20 | 1995-07-18 | Multistage process for the (co)polymerization of olefins |
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| US (1) | US5589549A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0720629B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP4131986B2 (en) |
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| CN (1) | CN1070504C (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE179724T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU693239B2 (en) |
| BG (1) | BG63015B1 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9506342A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2171835A1 (en) |
| CZ (1) | CZ290718B6 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69509488T2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK0720629T3 (en) |
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| FI (1) | FI961268A (en) |
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| IT1262934B (en) * | 1992-01-31 | 1996-07-22 | Montecatini Tecnologie Srl | COMPONENTS AND CATALYSTS FOR THE POLYMERIZATION OF OLEFINE |
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| IT1264483B1 (en) * | 1993-06-30 | 1996-09-23 | Spherilene Srl | ELASTOMERIC COPOLYMERS OF ETHYLENE WITH PROPYLENE |
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1994
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1995
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- 1995-07-18 CA CA002171835A patent/CA2171835A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-07-18 AU AU31132/95A patent/AU693239B2/en not_active Ceased
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1996
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