Process for making ethylene homopolymers
AssigneeEquistar Chemicals, LP
InventorsMICHAEL W. LYNCH, MARK K. REINKING
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Abstract
A process for making an ethylene homopolymer in the presence of an oxide-supported chromium catalyst is disclosed. A small amount of an α-olefin contacted with the catalyst before polymerizing ethylene or introduced into an ethylene homopolymerization unexpectedly boosts process productivity. When used at part per million levels, the α-olefin improves productivity while maintaining desirable polymer properties. The invention is particularly valuable for making HDPE resins useful for blow molding applications.
Claims22
1-18. (canceled)
An article made from an ethylene homopolymer made by a process comprising polymerizing ethylene in a reactor in the presence of an oxide-supported chromium catalyst, a diluent, and an alpha olefin to produce an ethylene homopolymer;
- wherein the alpha olefin is used in an amount effective to increase the productivity of the process compared with the productivity of the process when performed in the absence of the alpha olefin.
An article made from an ethylene homopolymer made by a process comprising polymerizing ethylene in a slurry-loop reactor in the presence of a silica-supported chromium catalyst, a volatile aliphatic hydrocarbon diluent, and an alpha olefin selected from the group consisting of propylene, 1-butene, and isobutylene, to produce an ethylene homopolymer;
- wherein the alpha olefin is used in an amount within the range of 1 to 500 ppm based on the amount of diluent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.