Process for transitioning between incompatible polymerization catalysts

A process for transitioning from a polymerization reaction catalyzed by at least one first catalyst to produce at least one first polymer to a polymerization reaction catalyzed by at least one second catalyst to produce at least one second polymer, said process comprising the steps of:

• a) discontinuing the introduction of the first catalyst into a reactor, wherein the first catalyst comprises a traditional Ziegler-Natta catalyst;
• b) introducing into and dispersing throughout the reactor a deactivating agent in an amount greater than 1 molar equivalent based on the total gram atom metal of the first catalyst in the reactor;
• c) purging the reactor;
• and
• d) introducing the second catalyst into the reactor in the absence of any scavenger, wherein the second catalyst comprises a metallocene catalyst;
• wherein the first catalyst in the presence of the second catalyst under the same reactive conditions reduces the activity of the second catalyst by greater than 50%.

A process for converting a continuous olefin polymerization reaction catalyzed by first catalyst that is a Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising a transition metal halide and an organometallic compound of Groups 1, 2 or 3 to a continuous olefin polymerization reaction catalyzed by a second catalyst that is a metallocene catalyst comprising a metallocene component and an activator, said process for converting comprising the steps of

• a) discontinuing the introduction of the first catalyst into a reactor;
• b) introducing into and dispersing throughout the reactor a deactivating agent in an mount greater than about 1 molar equivalent based on the total gram atom metal of the first catalyst in the reactor;
• c) purging the reactor;
• and
• d) introducing the second catalyst into the reactor in the absence of any scavenger.

A process for transitioning from a polymerization reaction catalyzed by a first catalyst to one catalyzed by a second catalyst wherein said first and second catalysts are incompatible, said process comprising the steps of:

• a) discontinuing the introduction of the first catalyst into a reactor, wherein the first catalyst comprises a traditional Ziegler-Natta catalyst;
• b) rendering the first catalyst substantially incapable of polymerization with the introduction into the reactor of a deactivating agent in an amount sufficient to inactivate substantially all of said first catalyst;
• c) purging the reactor;
• and
• d) introducing the second catalyst into the reactor in the absence of any scavenging material, wherein the second catalyst comprises a metallocene catalyst.