Chemical composition based on titanium trihalide, a method for its preparation, and a process for the polymerization or copolymerization of unsaturated compounds which uses this composition

Abstract

This application relates to a process for the homopolymerization (or copolymerization) of unsaturated compounds, particularly ethylene and higher alpha olefines, to give homopolymers (or copolymers) having a wide molecular weight distribution. The polymerization yields are very high, even at relatively low pressures (10 bars), i.e. such as not to require scrubbing in order to remove the catalytic residue from the polymer. These results are obtained by using, in union with an organometallic aluminium compound, a catalyst in the form of a new titanium trihalide-based chemical composition satisfying the following formula: TiX.sub.3.mM'Y.sub.n.qM"Y'.sub.p.cAlY".sub.3-s R.sub.s in which X is a halogen; M' and M", which are different from each other, are metals chosen from Mg, Al, Ti, Zr, Mo, V, Mn, Cr, Fe and Zn; Y, Y', Y", which are the same or different from each other, are halogens which can be the same as or different from X; m and q can be zero or greater than zero, but cannot be both simultaneously equal to zero; c is always greater than zero; n and p represent the valencies of M' and M" respectively; s can assume all values from 0 to 3; and R is a hydrocarbon radical.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.