Process for producing starch/polyolefin polymer compositions
AssigneeCPC International Inc.
InventorWalter Kaminsky
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for producing starch/polyolefin polymer compositions by polymerization of at least one olefin in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The Ziegler-Natta catalyst used is obtained by contacting dried starch with an aluminum trialkyl followed by introducing a transition metal compound of the formula (cyclopentadienyl).sub.n MR.sub.m wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ti, V or Zr, R is a lower hydrocarbon radical or acetyl acetonate, and n and m are integers from 0 to 4 and n+m equals 2 to 4.
Claims24
A process for producing starch/polyolefin polymer compositions by polymerization of at least one olefin in an inert, liquid or gaseous reaction medium at a temperature from -50.degree. C. to 145.degree. C. in the presence of a halogen-free Ziegler-Natta catalyst by
- (a) contacting starch first with an aluminum trialkyl compound;
- and then with a halogen-free transition metal compound of the general formula (cyclopentadienyl).sub.n MR.sub.m wherein M is a metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ti, V or Zr;
- R is a lower hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or acetyl acetonate;
- and n and m are integers from 0 to 4 and the sum of n+m is sufficient to saturate M, wherein the molar ratio of said aluminum trialkyl compound to said halogen-free transition metal compound is from 2:1 to 1000:1;
- followed by
- (b) contacting said at least one olefin with the mixture of step (a).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.