Abstract: Processes for forming a polypropylene composition are provided herein comprising the steps of making a first propylene-based copolymer having a molecular weight distribution between 3 to 8.5, and making a second propylene-based polymer in the presence of the first propylene-based polymer to produce the polypropylene composition having a high molecular weight tail in the amount of between 1.0 wt. % and 10.0 wt. %. The polypropylene compositions produced have a broad molecular weight distribution and high molecular weight tail to provide improved stiffness while retaining toughness.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for producing an olefin polymer by contacting a C3-C40 olefin, ethylene and a diene with a catalyst system including an activator and a metallocene catalyst compound comprising a substituted or unsubstituted indacenyl group and obtaining a C3-C40 olefin-ethylene-diene terpolymer typically comprising from 1 to 35 mol % of ethylene, from 98.9 to 65 mol % C3-C40 olefin, and, optionally, from 0.1 to 10 mol % diene. Preferably, a propylene-ethylene-ethylidene norbornene is obtained.

Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of catalyst inactivating agent that is present in a liquid fraction recovered from a slurry-based polymer production process, the liquid fraction comprising diluent used in the polymer production process, is disclosed. The method includes steps for controlling the pressure over the liquid fraction collected during diluent recovery so as to minimize the concentration of catalyst inactivating agent that is retained in the recovered liquid fraction. Embodiments of apparatus suitable for conducting the disclosed method are also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to base stocks comprising a C28-C32 hydrocarbon fraction and optionally a C42-C48 hydrocarbon fraction produced by dimerization and trimerization of a linear C14 mono-olefin, a linear C16 mono-olefin, or a mixture thereof, in the presence of a Lewis acid, oil compositions comprising such base stock(s), and processes for making such base stocks.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for at least partially deactivating at least one component of a reactor effluent from gas phase polyolefin polymerization processes utilizing at least one glycol.

Abstract: A process for producing an ethylene copolymer, the process including: (a) contacting ethylene with at least one polar comonomer in the presence of at least one modifier and at least one free radical initiator in a tubular reactor under polymerization conditions including a pressure of from 225 to 270 MPa; (b) injecting the at least one free radical initiator into the reactor at a plurality of reaction zones spaced along the length of the reactor, wherein each reaction zone comprises an inlet and an outlet; (c) maintaining the temperature at the inlet of each reaction zone at 150° C. or less, and the temperature at the outlet of each reaction zone is at least 177° C.; (d) controlling the modifier flow at a rate of from 0.02 to 0.986 wt % of the copolymer; and (e) recovering the ethylene copolymer from the tubular reactor, is provided.

Abstract: In some examples, hydrocarbon feed and a diluent such as steam are mixed, and heated. A vapor phase product and a liquid phase product can be separated from the heated mixture. The liquid phase product can be hydroprocessed to produce a first hydroprocessed product. A pitch and one or more hydrocarbon products can be separated from the first hydroprocessed product. The pitch can be contacted with a diluent to produce a pitch-diluent mixture. The pitch-diluent mixture can be hydroprocessed to produce a second hydroprocessed product. A hydroprocessor heavy product and a utility fluid product can be separated from the second hydroprocessed product. The diluent can be or include at least a portion of the utility fluid product. The vapor phase product can be steam cracked to produce a steam cracker effluent. A tar product and a process gas that can include ethylene and propylene can be separated from the steam cracker effluent.

Abstract: Provided are methods for producing bimodal polyolefins comprising the steps of contacting ?-olefin monomers with a catalyst in slurry polymerization conditions in the presence of zero to minimum hydrogen to produce a high molecular weight polyolefin and contacting additional ?-olefin monomers in gas phase polymerization conditions and the high molecular weight polyolefin and the catalyst to produce bimodal polyolefin having high stiffness and broad molecular weight distribution. An additional step of polymerizing the bimodal polyolefin with a comonomer in a second gas phase can provide a bimodal impact copolymer having high stiffness and broad molecular weight distribution. Among the advantages of the present methods, bimodal polyolefins can be produced in a continuous process between a slurry polymerization reactor and a gas phase polymerization reactor without a venting step in between and with minimal hydrogen in the slurry polymerization reactor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides borate or aluminate activators comprising cations having linear alkyl groups, catalyst systems comprising, and methods for polymerizing olefins using such activators.

Abstract: In a process for producing an olefin polymer, at least one olefin monomer is polymerized in a polymerization reactor to produce a particulate polymer product containing hydrocarbon impurities including unreacted monomer and other C1 to C8 hydrocarbons. The polymer product is contacted with a gas-containing stream in a stripping vessel under conditions effective to strip hydrocarbon impurities from the polymer product and produce a stripped particulate polymer product and a gaseous first effluent stream containing inert gas and hydrocarbon impurities. The stripped particulate polymer product is recovered and the atmosphere adjacent the stripped particulate polymer product is sensed with a photoionization detector configured to ionize C4 to C8 hydrocarbons. The amount of the gas-containing stream supplied to the stripping vessel is then adjusted based upon such sensing.

Abstract: In some embodiments, ethylene-propylene random copolymers as viscosity modifiers were synthesized with pyridyldiamido catalyst systems and a chain transfer agent. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides for ethylene-propylene random copolymers having an ethylene content between about 45 wt % and about 55 wt %. In some embodiments, the ethylene-propylene random copolymer is used as a viscosity modifier in a lubricating composition and a fuel composition.

Abstract: A polypropylene composition suitable for foaming having improved processability but maintained strain hardening and the process to produce the polypropylene composition comprising combining a linear polypropylene having a melt strength within a range from 10 to 40 cN (190° C.) with an organic peroxide to obtain a branched polypropylene having a melt strength within a range from 20 to 80 cN (190° C.), wherein the melt strength of the branched polypropylene is greater than the melt strength of the linear polypropylene; and combining the branched polypropylene having a melt flow rate within a range of 0.1 to 20 g/10 min and an Mw/Mn of at least 5 with within a range from 5 to 40 wt % of a low molecular weight polyolefin having a melt flow rate of at least 50 g/10 min and an Mw/Mn of less than 5 to obtain the polypropylene composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for introducing an activator to a polymerization reactor. The methods may include introducing liquid activator to a mixing vessel or an inline mixer and mixing aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent to form an activator solution which is introduced to a polymerization reactor. The systems may include a storage vessel, a mixing vessel or inline mixer configured to mix a liquid activator with a hydrocarbon solvent, and a polymerization reactor. The present disclosure also provides a process for producing a polyolefin. The process may include introducing liquid activator to an inline mixer and mixing an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent with the liquid activator to form an activator solution. The process may include introducing the activator solution, a catalyst, and an olefin feed to a polymerization reactor.

Abstract: Many linear alpha olefin (LAO) syntheses form a range of LAO products when oligomerizing ethylene in the presence of a Ziegler-type catalyst. The range of products typically requires a plurality of distillation columns to separate the LAO products up to a desired carbon count, but such approaches may be energy- and capital-intensive. LAO product separation using at least one dividing wall column may lessen these burdens. Methods for separating LAOs may comprise: providing a pre-processed product stream comprising Cg+ linear alpha olefins (LAOs) to a first of a series of distillation columns, at least one member of the series of distillation columns comprising a dividing wall column; and separating an overhead stream comprising a first LAO from the dividing wall column and one or more side streams from the dividing wall column, each side stream comprising a different LAO that also differs from the first LAO.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to polymer compositions, articles formed from polymer compositions, methods of making polymer compositions, and methods of making articles including polymer compositions. In at least one embodiment, a composition includes: (1) an ethylene polymer, (2) a vinyl alcohol polymer or a polyamide, and (3) a polar polymer or a grafted polyolefin. A composition of the present disclosure may further include a polypropylene polymer. A polar polymer may be an ethylene-acrylic-acid-copolymer, ethylene acrylate copolymer, a polyvinyl acetate, or combination(s) thereof. In at least one embodiment, a film includes a composition having: (1) an ethylene polymer, (2) a vinyl alcohol polymer or a polyamide, and (3) a polar polymer or a grafted polyolefin.

Abstract: Described herein are fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and other nonwoven articles comprising a blend of at least one propylene-based elastomer and an impact copolymer. The impact copolymer is a reactor blend and comprises a propylene homopolymer component and a copolymer component, where the copolymer component comprises less than about 55 wt % ethylene-derived units, based on the weight of the copolymer component.

Abstract: A polypropylene comprising within a range from 0.1 wt % to 4 wt % ethylene and/or C4 to C12 ?-olefin derived units, one or more clarifiers, or both; wherein the polypropylene has a flexural modulus of at least 200 kpsi (0.05 in/min ASTM D790(A)) and an Mz/Mw of at least 4. The polypropylenes may be made by combining propylene and a comonomer with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst and at least two external electron donors, wherein the concentration of the electron donors is within a range from 1 to 100 ppm. The concentration of electron donors may be decreased to control the haze level of the polypropylene, and/or the level of comonomer derived units may be controlled to reduce the haze level of the polypropylene.

Abstract: This disclosure provides improved processes for converting aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene/toluene, alkylation, transalkylation, or isomerization. In an embodiment, a process comprises utilizing a passivated reactor to reduce deactivation of a molecular sieve catalyst. Additional measures such as the use of an auxiliary catalyst and/or an elevated reactor pressure may be used to further reduce deactivation of the molecular sieve catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the suitability of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, for upgrading using hydroprocessing without excessive fouling of the hydroprocessing reactor. A pyrolysis tar is sampled, the sample is analyzed to determine one or more characteristics of the tar related to tar reactivity, and the analysis is used to determine conditions under which the tar can be blended, pre-treated, and/or hydroprocessed.

Abstract: A method for producing a polyolefin with a wide molecular weight distribution can comprise: polymerizing one or more monomers in the presence of a catalyst system in a loop reactor to produce a polyolefin product having a polydispersity index of 2.5 to 8, wherein the loop reactor comprises two or more reactors in series, and wherein the loop reactor has a loop thermal gradient of 50° C. to 150° C. and/or a standard deviation of inter-component thermal gradients along the loop reactor of 10° C. to 50° C.