Process for producing cycloolefin random copolymers
AssigneeMitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.
InventorsTakashi Hayashi, Shunyo Uesugi, Hiroo Wamura
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a process for the production of cycloolefin random copolymers comprising flash drying a solution of a cylcoolefin random copolymer in a hydrocarbon, said solution being obtained by copolymerization of ethylene and a specific cycloolefin in said hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst. Further proposed herein is a process for the production of cycloolefin random copolymers by copolymerization of ethylene with a specific cycloolefin of the in a hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst wherein said copolymerization is carried out in a polymerization reactor where a gas phase is not substantially present.
Claims6
A process for the production of a cycloolefin random copolymer comprising the steps of
- (a) admixing a first solution of a first cycloolefin random copolymer (B) in a first hydrocarbon and a second solution of a second cycloolefin random copolymer (C) in a second hydrocarbon to provide a mixed solution comprising from 5 to 100 parts by weight of said second cycloolefin random copolymer (C) based on 100 parts by weight of said first cycloolefin random copolymer (B) present therein;
- (b) pre-heating the mixed solution from step (a) to a temperature in the range of from about 150.degree. to about 280.degree. C.;
- (c) flash drying the pre-heated mixed solution from step (b) at a pressure and temperature at which solidification of copolymer (B) and copolymer (C) is substantially inhibited and the first and second hydrocarbons are substantially removed;
- and
- (d) passing the thus obtained cycloolefin random copolymer from step (c) through a vented extruder equipped with vacuum vents at a temperature higher than the boiling point of any unreacted cycloolefin monomer, whereby unreacted cycloolefin monomer is removed;
- said first solution being obtained by copolymerizing of ethylene and a cycloolefin of formula (I), given below, in said first hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst, said first cycloolefin random copolymer (B) having an intrinsic viscosity (.eta.) of from 0.05 to 10 dl/g measured in decalin at 135.degree. C. and a softening point (TMA) of at least 70.degree. C.;
- said second solution being obtained by copolymerizing ethylene, at least one .alpha.-olefin other than ethylene and a cycloolefin of formula (I), given below, said second cycloolefin random copolymer (C) having an intrinsic viscosity (.eta.) of from 0.01 to 10 dl/g measured in decalin at 135.degree. C. and a softening point (TMA) of less than 70.degree. C.;
- ##STR89## wherein n is O or a positive integer, and R.sup.1 to R.sup.12 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a hydrocarbon group, or R.sup.9 (or R.sup.10) and R.sup.11 (or R.sup.12), when taken together, may form a mono- or poly-cyclic ring.
A process for the production of a cycloolefin random copolymer comprising
- (a) admixing a first solution of a first cycloolefin random copolymer (B) in a first hydrocarbon and a second solution of a second cycloolefin random copolymer (D) in a second hydrocarbon to provide a mixed solution comprising from 5 to 100 parts by weight of said second cycloolefin random copolymer (D) based on 100 parts by weight of said first cycloolefin random copolymer (B) present therein,
- (b) pre-heating the mixed solution to a temperature in the range of about 150.degree. to about 280.degree. C.,
- (c) flash drying the pre-heated mixed solution at a pressure and temperature at which solidification of copolymer (B) and copolymer (D) is substantially inhibited and the first and second hydrocarbons are substantially removed, and,
- (d) passing the thus obtained cycloolefin random copolymer through a vented extruder equipped with vacuum vents at a temperature higher than the boiling point of any unreacted cycloolefin monomer, whereby unreacted cycloolefin monomer is removed, said first solution being obtained by copolymerizing ethylene and a cycloolefin of the general formula (I), given below, in said first hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst, said first cycloolefin random copolymer (B) having an intrinsic viscosity (.eta.) of from 0.05 to 10 dl/g measured in decalin at 135.degree. C., and a softening point (TMA) of at least 70.degree. C., said second solution being obtained by copolymerizing ethylene, at least one of propylene and butene, and a cycloolefin of the formula (I), noted below, in said second hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst, said second cycloolefin random copolymer (D) having an intrinsic viscosity (.eta.) of from 0.01 to 10 dl/g measured in decalin at 135.degree. C. and a softening point (TMA) of less than 70.degree. C.;
- ##STR90## wherein n is O or a positive integer, and R.sup.1 to R.sup.12 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a hydrocarbon group, or R.sup.9 (or R.sup.10) and R.sup.11 (or R.sup.12), when taken together, may form a mono- or poly-cyclic ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.