Claims
- 1. A solution polymerization process characterized by:A) polymerizing ethylene optionally with one or more C3-12 alpha olefins, in solvent in a first stirred polymerization reactor at a temperature of from 80 to 200° C. and a pressure of from 1500 to 5000 psi in the presence of (a) a catalyst which is an organometallic complex of a group 3, 4 or 5 metal, characterized by having at least one phosphinimine ligand; and (b) a cocatalyst which contains an alumoxane; and B) passing said first polymer solution into a second stirred polymerization reactor and polymerizing ethylene, optionally with one or more C3-12 alpha olefins, in said second stirred polymerization reactor in the presence of (a) a catalyst which is an organometallic complex of a group 3, 4 or 5 metal, characterized by having at least one phosphinimine ligand; and (b) a cocatalyst which contains an ionic activator.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said second polymerization reactor is operated at a higher temperature then said first polymerization reactor.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein said catalyst used in said first reactor is the same as said catalyst used in said second reactor and said catalyst is defined by the formula: wherein: (a) M is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Hf and Zr; (b) Pi is a phosphinimine ligand defined by the formula: wherein each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, C1-20 hydrocarbyl radicals which are unsubstituted by or further substituted by a halogen atom, a C1-8 alkoxy radical, a C6-10 aryl or aryloxy radical, an amido radical, a silyl radical of the formula:—Si—(R2)3 wherein each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C1-8 alkyl or alkoxy radical, C6-10 aryl or aryloxy radicals, and a germanyl radical of the formula:Ge—(R2)3 wherein R2 is as defined above (c) L is a ligand selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl, substituted cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, substituted indenyl, fluorenyl and substituted fluorenyl; (d) X is an activatable ligand, and wherein: m is 1; n is 1 and p is 2.
- 4. The process of claim 3 wherein said catalyst is defined such that said m is 1 and Pl is a trialkyl phosphinimine; n is 1 and L is selected from unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl, substituted cyclopentadienyl, unsubstituted indenyl and substituted indenyl; p is 2 and each X is independently selected from (a) an alkyl having from one to ten carbon atoms; or (b) a halide.
- 5. The process according to claim 4 wherein said catalyst is cyclopentadienyl titanium (tri (tertiary butyl) phosphinimine) dichloride.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2245375 |
Aug 1998 |
CA |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 09/364,703, filed Jul. 30, 1999. Now abandoned.
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/364703 |
Jul 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/702570 |
|
US |