Trialkylaluminum treated supports

A process to prepare a supported transition metal catalyst compound comprising:

• 1) combining a support with first trialkylaluminum compound(s), where the alkyl groups have at least 2 carbon atoms;
• then
• 2) calcining the combination of the support and the trialkylaluminum compound(s);
• then
• 3) combining the calcined support with second trialkylaluminum compound(s), where the alkyl groups have at least 2 carbon atoms;
• where the first and second trialkylaluminm compounds may be the same or different;
• 4) combining the combination of the calcined support and the second trialkylaluminum compound(s) with a transition metal catalyst compound and, optionally, a solvent or diluent;
• then,
• 5) optionally, removing the solvent or diluent.

A method to polymerize olefins comprising:

• A) preparing a supported transition metal catalyst compound by a process comprising:
• 1) combining a support with a first trialkylaluminum compound, where the alkyl groups have at least 2 carbon atoms;
• 2) calcining the combination of the support and the trialkylaluminum;
• then
• 3) combining the calcined support with a second trialkylaluminum, where the alkyl groups have at least 2 carbon atoms;
• where the first and second trialkylaluminm compounds may be the same or different;
• 4) combining the combination of the calcined support and the second trialkylaluminum with a transition metal catalyst compound and, optionally, a solvent or diluent;
• then,
• 5) optionally, removing the solvent or diluent, then recovering the supported transition metal catalyst compound;
• then
• B) contacting the supported transition metal catalyst compound with one or more olefins.

A method for preparing an active supported catalyst comprising:

• a) removing polar surface groups by treatment with an aluminum alkyl and calcination;
• b) contacting the treated support with further aluminum alkyl;
• and
• c) contacting the aluminum alkyl treated support with a halogen-free transition metal catalyst compound.

A process to prepare a support comprising:

• 1) combining a support with first trialkylaluminum compound(s);
• then
• 2) calcining the combination of the support and the trialkylaluminum compound(s);
• then
• 3) combining the calcined support with second trialkylaluminum compound(s);
• where the first and second trialkylaluminum compound(s) may be the same or different.

A process to polymerize olefins comprising:

• A) preparing a supported transition metal catalyst compound by a process comprising:
• 1) combining a support with a first trialkylaluminum compound;
• then
• 2) calcining the combination of the support and the trialkylaluminum;
• then
• 3) combining the calcined support with a second trialkylaluminum;
• where the first and second trialkylaluminm compounds may be the same or different;
• 4) combining the combination of the calcined support and the second trialkylaluminum with a transition metal catalyst compound and, optionally, a solvent or diluent;
• then,
• 5) optionally, removing the solvent or diluent, then recovering the supported transition metal catalyst compound;
• then
• B) contacting the supported transition metal catalyst compound with one or more olefins.