Abstract: The present invention is directed to a supported metallocene catalyst useful in the polymerization of .alpha.-olefins which is obtained by tethering a metallocene catalyst component to the surface of a particulate, functionalized copolymeric support material.

Abstract: An improved gas-phase copolymerization process for producing copolymers of propylene and ethylene in multiple reactors using high activity Ti/Al catalysts is provided. The improvement consists of developing a control parameter derived from eight integral regions of the copolymer .sup.13 C NMR spectrum, defining the limits of the control parameter for the process, and operating the process to maintain the parameter within the defined limits. This is accomplished by adjusting the amount of ethylene in the primary and/or secondary reactor and adjusting other process variables as required.

Abstract: Useful stabilizer combinations and propylene polymer compositions stabilized therewith having improved resistance to discoloration upon processing are provided. The stabilizer combinations of the invention are comprised of a mixture of calcium salts of stearic acid and lactic acid and a tocopherol-containing mixture consisting essentially of .alpha.-tocopherol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 300 and glycerol monocaprylate. Propylene homopolymers and random, block and impact copolymers of propylene are stabilized in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: A vanadium-containing catalyst system particularly suited to the polymerization of blow moldable olefin polymers. The catalyst system includes a supported, first catalyst component prepared by contacting preheated silica, with (1) a compound or complex which includes at least one carbon to magnesium covalent bond and (2) a compound which includes at least one carbon to Group III metal covalent bond. The sequence of contact of the silica with compound or complex (1) and compound (2) is optional. However, unless the compound or complex (1) and the compound (2) contact the silica simultaneously, the product of this contact is next contacted with whichever of compound (1) or (2) does not initially contact the silica. The product of the step of contacting with compounds (1) and (2) is contacted with a vanadium compound which includes at least one halogen atom. Finally, the product of the vanadium compound contacting step is contacted with an alcohol.

Abstract: Anhydride-functionalized polymers are modified in accordance with the present invention by reacting all or a portion of the anhydride functionality with an aliphatic alcohol to convert the anhydride groups to half-esters. Half-esters produced by modifying maleic anhydride grafted ethylene polymers with alcohols are particularly useful. Adhesive blends obtained by combining the alcohol-modified polymers with one or more polyolefin base resins and composite structures wherein said adhesive blends are adhered to EVOH are also provided. Modification of the maleic anhydride grafts in accordance with the process of this invention makes it possible to produce films having improved optical quality.

Abstract: A process is provided to improve the properties of polyethylene resins obtained from chromium catalyzed polymerizations and blow molded bottles produced therefrom. The process entails modifying the polyethylene resin by contacting the resin in a molten state with an organic peroxide at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of peroxide. Polyethylene resins utilized for the process have specific densities, melt indexes, long chain branching indexes, unsaturation contents and molecular weight distributions. Blow molded bottles produced from the modified resins have significantly increased top load stress crack resistance and improved swell characteristics.

Abstract: A die for a blow molding machine has at least one circumferential rectangular cutout section contiguous with the die exit in at least the die ring or the mandrel. The rectangular cutout section expands the material flow channel between the die ring and the mandrel to increase the volume flow of material passing through the die exit at the rectangular cutout section. However, the constant length of the rectangular cutout section in a longitudinal direction maintains a constant linear velocity of material flowing through the die exit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a supported tungsten-based catalyst composition useful for the dimerization of alpha-olefins including ethylene. More particularly, the catalyst composition of the instant invention comprises an organic or inorganic support material that is contacted with a tungsten salt and an organic amine compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing high melt flow rate thermoplastic compositions that have improved impact and bruise-resistance properties and to the thermoplastic composition that are produced by the process of the instant invention. Specifically, the process comprises the steps of precontacting a non-crosslinked elastomeric polymeric component with a peroxide compound at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the peroxide and below the melting point of the non-crosslinked polymeric component to produce a peroxide adsorbed polymeric component; and melt mixing the aforementioned peroxide adsorbed polymeric component with a high propylene content polymeric component selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of propylene, block copolymers of propylene and ethylene, and thermoplastic olefin polymers at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the peroxide.

Abstract: Adhesive blends especially suitable for adhesion to one or more polypropylene substrates consisting essentially of a mixture of a modified impact copolymer and a graft reaction product of a propylene polymer and a carboxylic acid or derivative thereof are disclosed. Composite structures incorporating such blends are also disclosed.

Abstract: Flame retardant and abrasion resistant crosslinkable compositions useful as insulation for wire and cable are provided. The compositions contain an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl ester content of 5 to 12 wt. %, a halogenated compound, antimony trioxide and an organic peroxide. Use of specific halogenated compounds, particularly brominated aromatic compounds, with low vinyl acetate content ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers yield products which are highly resistant to abrasion after crosslinking.

Abstract: A polymeric composition including a first copolymer of ethylene and a higher .alpha.-olefin having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, said first copolymer having a density of between 0.880 g/cc. and about 0.949 g/cc. and a melt index of between about 0.01 and about 100, present in the polymeric composition in a concentration of between about 60% and about 95% by weight; and a second copolymer of ethylene-vinyl acetate having a vinyl acetate content of at least about 28% by weight, based on the total weight of the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, said second copolymer present in a concentration of between about 5% and about 40% by weight, said percentages by weight based on the total weight of the polymeric composition. This polymeric composition is particularly useful when fabricated into a film, which has excellent impact strength.

Abstract: A catalyst component useful in the polymerization of olefins is disclosed. The catalyst component comprises the product obtained by steps of (a) contacting silica with at least one hydrocarbon soluble magnesium-containing compound; (b) contacting the product of step (a) with component (1), a heterocyclic fused ring compound substituted with at least one oxygen atom, and component (2), a modifying compound selected from the group consisting of silicon halides, boron halides, aluminum halides, alkyl silicon halides and mixtures thereof, with the proviso that components (1) and (2) be present such that the molar ratio of component (2) to component (1) is at least about 4:1; and (c) contacting the product of step (b) with a titanium-containing compound having the structural formula TiX.sub.m (OR).sub.n, where X is halogen; R is hydrocarbyl; m is an integer of 1 to 4; and n is 0 or an integer of 1 to 3 with the proviso that the sum of m and n is 4.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process to simultaneously reactor-fill polyolefins and to a compatibilized, reactor-filled polyolefin composite produced by the process of the instant invention. More specifically, the instant invention provides a process to simultaneously reactor-fill-polyolefins comprising the steps of (a) treating a filler with a catalytic amount of an organometallic compound prior to using the filler for in-situ polymerization; (b) contacting the product of step (a) in random order of no specific sequence with a high activity polymerization catalyst, a cocatalyst, and, if necessary a cocatalyst modifier such that said contacting results in the formation of an interpenetrating, compatibilizing polymer in the pores and surface of the filler when exposed to a monomer; and (c) adding an alpha-olefin under olefin polymerization reaction conditions to the reaction product of step (b) to form a reactor-filled composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to reactor-fill polyolefins and to reactor-filled composites obtained from the instant method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method to reactor-fill polyolefins comprising the steps of (a) adding a catalytic amount of a low activity catalyst to a filler material either during or before polymerization to initiate the formation of atactic polyolefin on the surface and in the pores of the filler; (b) contacting the product of step (a) in no specific order with a high activity catalyst, a cocatalyst, and, if necessary a cocatalyst modifier; and (c) adding an alpha-olefin under olefin polymerization reaction conditions to the reaction product of step (b) to form a reactor-filled composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flame retardant insulation and jacketing compositions useful for wire and cable products which exhibit improved adhesion to the metal conductor. This is achieved by the use of a specific stabilizer package comprised of three specific antioxidants and by varying their relative proportions. The compositions are based on ethylene-vinyl esters and ethylene-alkyl acrylate copolymers and are formulated with a hydrated inorganic filler, an alkoxy silane, a crosslinking agent and the three-component stabilizer package. Antioxidants utilized for the three-component stabilizer package include tetrakis[methylene(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate)]methane, pentaerythritol tetrakis(betalaurylthiopropionate) and thiodiethylene bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process to in-situ reactor-fill polyolefins. More specifically, the instant invention provides a process to reactor-fill polyolefins comprising the steps of (a) adding a sufficient amount of alpha-olefin to a filler prior to using the filler for in-situ polymerization; (b) prepolymerizing the mixture of step (a) by contacting the treated filler in random order of no specific sequence with a high activity polymerization catalyst, a cocatalyst, and, if necessary a cocatalyst modifier; and (c) adding an alpha-olefin under olefin polymerization reaction conditions to the reaction product of step (b) to form a reactor-filled composite. The prepolymerization step results in the formation of a sticky prepolymer on the surface and in the pores of the filler.The present invention further relates to reactor-filled polyolefin composites obtained from the process of the present invention.

Abstract: Catalysts useful in olefin polymerization are a mixture of (a) a titanium-containing compound which is (i) Ti(Z.sup.1).sub.t (OZ.sup.2).sub.p-t, (ii) the product of reacting Z.sup.3 --Mg--N(--Z.sup.5)--Si(Z.sup.4).sub.3 or Z.sup.3 --Mg--N(--Z.sup.5)--Si(Z.sup.4).sub.2 --N(--Z.sup.5)--Mg--Z.sup.3 with Ti(Z.sup.1).sub.t (OZ.sup.2).sub.p-t, or (iii) the product of reacting Mg metal, Mg dihalide and Ti(OZ.sup.2).sub.4, wherein Z.sup.1 is halide, Z.sup.2 is C.sub.1-18 hydrocarbyl, p is 3-4, t is 0-p, and Z.sup.3, Z.sup.4 and Z.sup.5 can be C.sub.1-18 alkyl or C.sub.6-14 aryl, and Z.sup.4 can be hydrogen, and Z.sup.5 can be --Si(Z.sup.4).sub.3 ; (b) one or more of V(X.sup.2).sub.c (OR.sup.2).sub.b-c, VO(X.sup.3).sub.d (OR.sup.3).sub.3-d, or VO(X.sup.4).sub.2, wherein X.sup.2, X.sup.3 and X.sup. 4 are halogen, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are C.sub.1-18 hydrocarbyl, b is 3-4, c is 0-b, and d is 0-3; and (c) Zn(X.sup.1).sub.2.2Al(R.sup.1).sub.3 and/or both of Zn(X.sup.1).sub.2 and one or more of M(R.sup.5).sub.e (X.sup.5).

Abstract: Improved flame retardant moisture curable insulation compositions are comprised of an ethylene-alkoxysilane copolymer, a halogenated anhydride and antimony trioxide provided. The compositions have good processability and can be moisture cured to provide products which meet all of the requirements for SAE J-1128 low tension primary cable. The halogenated anhydride imparts flame retardancy to the compositions and also promotes cure by catalyzing the hydrolysis/condensation reaction of the silane copolymer. Optionally there may be included in the composition antioxidants, silanol condensation catalysts, organic halogen containing flame retardant compounds and other conventional compounding ingredients.

Abstract: Phillips' process high density polyethylene resin compositions having improved processing stability are obtained using a combination of stabilizers comprised of a hindered phenol and a phosphite compound having three cyclic phosphite moieties linked via a nitrogen atom. More specifically, the phosphite compound is 2, [[2,4,8,10-tetrakis(1,1-dimethylethyl)dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]-dioxaphosphepin- 6-yl]oxy]-N,N-bis [2-[[2,4,8,10-tetrakis (1,1-dimethylethyl) dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphenpin-6-yl]oxy]-ethyl]ethanamine. With the HDPE compositions stabilized in accordance with the invention, it is possible to eliminate undesirable rapid changes in melt viscosity which can occur when Phillips' process HDPE resins are processed under conditions of high shear.