Process for polymerizing cationically polymerizable monomers
AssigneeExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
InventorsRobert Norman Webb, Michael Francis McDonald, David Yen-Lung Chung, Yuan-Ju Chen, Richard Dwight Hembree, John Patrick Soisson
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Abstract
The invention relates to a new catalyst system that improves the heat transfer capability of a butyl reactor slurry process system in the production of isobutylene-based polymers in continuous slurry polymerization processes. The process is carried out in an anhydrous polymerization system containing a mixture of the monomers in a polar diluent along with a Lewis acid and a C5 or greater initiator having a tertiary halide.
Claims21
A polymerization method for use in a continuous slurry polymerization reactor in preparing random copolymers of one or more isoolefin monomers and one or more conjugated diene monomers, the reacted monomers forming the slurry within the reactor, the method comprising reacting in a polar diluent the isoolefin and diene monomers, a Lewis acid, and an initiator, wherein the initiator has the formula:
- wherein X is a halogen;
- R1 is selected from the group consisting of C1 to C8 alkyl, and C2 to C8 alkenyl;
- R3 is selected from the group consisting of, C1 to C8 alkyl, C2 to C8 alkenyl and phenylalkyl;
- and R2 is selected from the group consisting of C4 to C200 alkyl, C2 to C8 alkenyl, phenyl phenylalkyl, alkylphenyl, C3 to C10 cycloalkyl, and
- wherein X is a halogen;
- R5 is selected from the group consisting of, C1 to C8 alkyl, and C2 to C8 alkenyl;
- R6 is selected from the group consisting of, C1 to C8 alkyl, C2 to C8 alkenyl and phenylalkyl;
- and R4 is selected from the group consisting of phenylene, biphenyl, α,ω-diphenylalkane and —(CH2)n—, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10;
- and wherein R1, R2, and R3 can also form adamantyl or bornyl ring systems, the X group being in a tertiary carbon position;
- and
- wherein the Lewis acid and the initiator are contacted with a contact time of from less than 60 s prior to contacting with the isoolefin and the diene monomers.
A continuous slurry polymerization process for preparing random copolymers of one or more isoolefin monomers and one or more para-alkylstyrene monomers comprising reacting in an anhydrous polymerization system of said monomers, a polar solvent, a Lewis acid, and an initiator, said polymerization system being capable of forming an in-situ electron pair donor initiator having the formula:
- wherein:
- R1 is an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, or aralkenyl group containing up to 30 carbon atoms but not less t learnt one olefinic unsaturation,
- R2 and R3 are alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl groups containing up to 30 carbon atoms and can be the same or different,
- x is a halogen or a carboxy, hydroxyl, or alkoxyl group, and
- n is a positive whole number;
- and
- wherein the Lewis acid and the initiator are contacted with a contact time of from less than 60 s prior to contacting with the isoolefin and the para-alkylstyrene monomers.
A polymerization method for use in a continuous slurry polymerization reactor in preparing a homopolymer of an isoolefin, the polymerization method comprising contacting isoolefin monomers, a Lewis acid, and an initiator, wherein the initiator has the formula:
- wherein X is a halogen;
- R1 is selected from the group consisting of C1 to C8 alkyl, and C2 to C8 alkenyl;
- R3 is selected from the group consisting of, C1 to C8 alkyl, C2 to C8 alkenyl and phenylalkyl;
- and R2 is selected from the group consisting of C4 to C200 alkyl, C2 to C8 alkenyl, phenyl, phenylalkyl. alkylphenyl, C3 to C10 cycloalkyl, and
- wherein X is a halogen;
- R5 is selected from the group consisting of, C1 to C8 alkyl, and C2 to C8 alkenyl;
- R6 is selected from the group consisting of, C1 to C8 alkyl, C2 to C8 alkenyl and phenylalkyl;
- and R4 is selected from the group consisting of phenylene, biphenyl, α,ω-diphenylalkane and —(CH2)n—, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10;
- and wherein R1, R2, and R3 can also form adamantyl or bornyl ring systems, the X group being in a tertiary carbon position;
- and
- wherein the Lewis acid and the initiator are contacted with a contact time of from less than 60 s prior to contacting with the isoolefin monomers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.