Process for the preparation of supported metallocene catalyst

A process for the preparation of a supported metallocene catalyst, which comprises preparing a precursor catalyst material, by preparing a solution (A) of a magnesium halide in an electron donor solvent in which the magnesium halide is completely soluble;

• heating the solution (A) to a temperature in the range of 20.degree. C. to the boiling point of the electron donor solvent for a period ranging between 10 to 60 minutes;
• separately preparing a solution (B) of a metallocene compound in the same electron donor solvent, heating the solution (B) to a temperature in the range of 25.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. for a period ranging between 0.1 to 0.5 hrs., mixing the two solutions (A) and (B) to obtain a homogenous solution of catalyst precursor compound;
• stirring and maintaining a resulting homogenous solution at a temperature in the range of 50.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. for a period of 0.5 to 2 hrs.;
• separately preparing a slurry of a support in a liquid hydrocarbon medium;
• heating the slurry to a temperature in the range of 50.degree. C. to 75.degree. C. and stirring for a period of 0.25 to 2 hrs.;
• mixing the homogenous solution of the catalyst precursor compound with the resulting slurry of the support to produce a product slurry, stirring the product slurry for 0.5 to 3 hrs at a temperature ranging between 50.degree. C. to 70.degree. C.;
• cooling the product slurry to room temperature under an inert atmosphere;
• separating the resulting solid supported metallocene catalyst from the solvents of the product slurry, washing the solid supported metallocene catalyst with a hydrocarbon solvent, and drying the catalyst under vacuum;
• wherein the metallocene has a transition metal selected from the group consisting of groups IIIB, IVB, VB, and VIB of the Periodic Table.