Activating supports for metallocene catalysis

A process for the preparation of an activated support suitable for supporting a metallocene complex comprising:

• a) providing a particulate support material comprising particles of a porous mineral oxide;
• b) contacting said porous mineral oxide particles with a fluorinated functionalizing agent to provide functionalized support particles;
• c) heating said functionalized support particles in an inert atmosphere and at an elevated temperature sufficient to effect pyrolysis of said support particles;
• d) subjecting the pyrolysed support particles of subparagraph c) to an oxidizing treatment in the presence of an oxygen containing gas at an elevated temperature effective to oxidize said support particles;
• and
• e) recovering active fluorinated support particles after said oxidizing treatment.