Abstract: A sheet set for encapsulating a solar battery including a first encapsulating sheet and a second encapsulating sheet which are disposed between a light-incident surface protective member and a back surface protective member, and are used to encapsulate solar battery elements is provided. When the first encapsulating sheet and the second encapsulating sheet are subjected to a heating and pressurization treatment in which the first encapsulating sheet and the second encapsulating sheet are heated and depressurized under defined conditions, a volume resistivity of the first encapsulating sheet measured under defined conditions, is higher than a volume resistivity of the second encapsulating sheet. The first encapsulating sheet is disposed between the light-incident surface protective member and the solar battery elements. The second encapsulating sheet has at least one polar group selected from a carboxyl group, an ester group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, and an acetal group.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for oligomerizing ethylene by contacting a catalyst system, ethylene, and optionally hydrogen to form an oligomer product in a reaction zone, wherein the catalyst system comprises: a chromium component comprising an N2-phosphinyl amidine chromium compound complex, an N2-phosphinyl formamidine chromium compound complex, and/or an N2-phosphinyl guanidine chromium compound complex, and an aluminoxane; wherein the aluminoxane is characterized by 400 MHz proton NMR in which: (a) the ratio of peaks found in the range of ?0.86 ppm to ?0.74 ppm to peaks found in a range of ?0.03 ppm to 0.07 ppm is less than or equal to 2.8:1; (b) the ratio of peaks found in the range of ?0.03 ppm to 0.025 ppm to peaks found in a range of 0.025 ppm to 0.07 ppm is less than or equal to 15:1; and/or (c) the ratio of peaks found in a range of ?0.86 ppm to ?0.78 ppm to peaks found in the range of ?0.78 ppm to ?0.74 ppm is less than or equal to 6.5:1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of a monomer selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene and isoprene, and a monomer of formula I wherein R1 is a covalent bond, phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R2 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and X is a sulfur atom or a structure of formula II or III, wherein when X is of formula III, the S atom of formula III is adjacent to the phenyl ring of formula I and the N atom of formula III is adjacent to R1

Abstract: The invention relates to neodymium-catalyzed polybutadienes (NdBR) comprising >95 wt % of cis-1,4 units and <1 wt % of 1,2-vinyl content, based on the neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene, wherein the NdBR evinces a molar mass breakdown of not less than 25%.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for achieving a step increase in the Mooney viscosity in production of high-molecular-weight polybutadiene having >95% by weight content of cis-1,4 units and <1% by weight 1,2-vinyl content, characterized in that 1) at least one monomer selected from butadiene and/or isoprene is polymerized at temperatures of from ?20° C. to 150° C. in the presence of at least one inert, organic solvent and in the presence of at least one catalyst based on neodymium carboxylate, 2) the polymerization is then terminated by addition of protic compounds and 3) then sulphur chlorides are added to the polymer, and prior to addition these sulphur chlorides are treated with a carboxylic acid, fatty acid and/or fatty acid ester.

Abstract: The polymerization catalyst composition includes: Component (A): a rare earth element compound of formula (i): M-(NQ1)(NQ2)(NQ3) (where M is at least one selected from lanthanoid, scandium, and yttrium, and NQ1, NQ2 and NQ3 are amide groups and each have a M-N bond; Component (B): a hydrocarbyl aluminoxane compound having a C1-20 hydrocarbon group; and Component (C): a compound of formula (X): YR1aR2bR3c (where Y is a metal selected from groups 1, 2, 12 and 13 in a periodic table, R1 and R2 are C1-10 hydrocarbon groups or hydrogen atoms and R3 is a C1-10 hydrocarbon group).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the purification of isoprene, such as the purification of a bioisoprene composition from fermentor off-gas. The apparatus includes two columns that process the fermentor off-gas, which includes isoprene and various impurities. A solvent is added to the off-gas in the first column, and the isoprene is stripped from the solvent in the second column. Also provided is a downstream further purification process. Also provided are the resulting purified isoprene compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preparation method of olefin polymers using a catalyst composition containing a transition metal compound. In detail, the present invention provides a preparation method of olefin polymer using a catalyst composition comprising a transition metal compound, wherein the preparation method comprises introducing a scavenger to a continuous solution polymerization reactor in a specific range of amount to give the olefin polymer with good productivity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-molecular-weight, linear, neodymium-catalysed polybutadiene having a high proportion, >95%, of cis-1,4 units having a low proportion, <1%, of 1,2-vinyl content, and also having a small molar-mass-polydispersity index (MPI), characterized in that Mooney viscosity (ML1+4 100° C.) of the polybutadiene is from 70 to 90 and The molar-mass-polydispersity index of the polybutadiene is smaller than 10.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer derived from an acyclic conjugated diene monomer and a 1-vinylcycloalkene monomer of formula I where n is an integer ranging from 0 to 4, R is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group of one to four carbon atoms, with the proviso that R may be appended at the 3 to (n+5) positions on the carbon ring.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a metallocene catalyst system and a process for preparing the system. The metallocene catalyst system comprises a support and metallocene bound substantially throughout the support. The selection of certain supports facilitates the production of metallocene catalyst systems having increased catalytic activity than previously recognized.

Abstract: A cycloolefin-based copolymer and a hydrogenation process are disclosed, wherein the cycloolefin-based copolymer is prepared by using: a monomer which can be easily and economically obtained by hydrogenating dicyclopentadiene that occupies much of C5 fractions from naphtha cracking; or a monomer which can be obtained by chemically bonding three molecules of cyclopentadiene via Diels-Alder reactions and then hydrogenating the cyclopentadiene. The copolymer can be used in various fields as an amorphous transparent resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ethylene-based polymer composition characterized by a Comonomer Distribution Constant in the range of from greater than 45 to less than 400, wherein the composition has less than 120 total unsaturation unit/1,000,000C, and method of producing the same.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of polybutadiene effected by the polymerization of butadiene in an aliphatic and/or cyclo-aliphatic solvent in the presence of a catalytic system prepared in situ which comprises: (i) a carboxylate of neodymium soluble in the process solvent containing a variable quantity of water, the H2O/Nd molar ratio ranging from 0.001/1 to 0.50/1; (ii) an alkyl compound of aluminum; (iii) an alkyl compound of aluminum in which at least one bond of Al consists of an Al—Cl bond; The total Al/Nd molar ratio ranging from 4/1 to 12/1, and the Cl/Nd molar ratio ranging from 2/1 to 6/1.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing takes place within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, and where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system that includes the combination of or reaction product of ingredients including (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an aluminoxane, (c) an organoaluminum compound other than an aluminoxane, and (d) a bromine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of elemental bromine, bromine-containing mixed halogens, and organic bromides.

Abstract: The present invention discloses catalyst compositions employing transition metal complexes with a thiolate ligand. Methods for making these transition metal complexes and for using such compounds in catalyst compositions for the polymerization of olefins also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a polymer comprising repeat units derived from 1,3-butadiene and a substituted butadiene of formula I or II wherein R is hydrogen, an alkyl group, aryl group, or a fused cyclic group; and wherein at least 95 percent by weight of the repeat units have a cis-1, 4 microstructure. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition and pneumatic tire comprising the polymer, and a method for making the polymer using a neodymium catalyst system.

Abstract: Methods for removing polymer skins or build-up from reactor walls in polymerization reactor systems containing a loop slurry reactor are disclosed. Such methods can employ removing some or all of the comonomer from the reactor system in combination with increasing the polymerization temperature of the loop slurry reactor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a metallocene catalyst system comprising an inert silica support having pores with a peak pore volume of greater than about 0.115 mL/g at a pore diameter between about 250 Angstroms and about 350 Angstroms, and an alumoxane activator, with the metallocene being bound substantially throughout the support. The activator is grafted to the support in a solvent at a reflux temperature of toluene to obtain an aluminoxane on silica, and a metallocene component is added to make a MCS having a metallocene loading of about 2 wt %. This facilitates the production of metallocene catalyst systems having increased catalytic activity than previously recognized that is at least about 20 percent higher than the catalytic activity for a metallocene loading of about 1 wt % where the activator is grafted to the support at room temperature.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of aluminum alkyl activators and co-catalysts to improve the performance of chromium-based catalysts. The aluminum alkyls allow for the variable control of polymer molecular weight, control of side branching while possessing desirable productivities, and may be applied to the catalyst directly or separately to the reactor. Adding the alkyl aluminum compound directly to the reactor (in-situ) eliminates induction times.

Abstract: This invention relates to the oligomerisation of olefinic compounds in the presence of an oligomerisation catalyst activated in two stages by two catalyst activators According to the invention there is provided a process for activating an oligomerisation catalyst by contacting the catalyst with i) a first activator component selected from the group consisting of the aluminoxanes and a mixture of at least one aluminoxane and at least one organylaluminium compound, and ii) a second activator component which is an organylaluminium compound, the process being characterised therein that the oligomerisation catalyst is first contacted with one of the first activator component or second activator component, and the resulting mixture is thereafter contacted with the other of the first activator component or second activator component.

Abstract: A process for producing a syndiotactic ?-olefin polymer having high racemic diad fraction and high molecular weight with excellent polymerization activity through a method permitting high-temperature polymerization. The production process comprises polymerizing a monomer that comprises at least one C3-10 ?-olefin and a small amount of ethylene, in the presence of an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising a transition metal compound (A) represented by the general formula [1], at least one compound (B) selected from an organoaluminum oxy-compound (b-1), a compound (b-2) that reacts with the transition metal compound (A) to form an ion pair and an organoaluminum compound (b-3), which process for producing a syndiotactic ?-olefin polymer satisfies the relationship: 0.001?PE/PO?0.030, provided that the molar amounts of ethylene and an ?-olefin having 3 to 10 carbon atoms that are fed into a polymerization reactor under a polymerization temperature of not lower than 25° C. are PE and PO, respectively.

Abstract: Process for polymerization of ethylene using a catalyst system including (i) a solid catalyst of Ti, Mg and halogen, (ii) a first activator which is at least one trialkylaluminium compound of the formula AlR3, where each R is independently a C2 to C20 alkyl radical, and (iii) a second activator which is at least one alkylaluminium chloride of the formula AlR?2Cl, where each R? is independently a C2 to C20 alkyl radical. The second activator is introduced directly into the polymerization reactor, without precontact with the solid catalyst, continuously or semi-continuously, and at a maximum rate of introduction at any time corresponding to less than 10 ppm by weight of chlorine relative to the rate of polyethylene production.

Abstract: The present techniques relate to catalyst compositions, methods, and polymers encompassing a Group 4 metallocene compound comprising bridged ?5-cyclopentadienyl-type ligands, typically in combination with a cocatalyst, and an activator. The bridged ?5-cyclopentadienyl-type ligands are connected by a cyclic substituent.

Abstract: A Ziegler-Natta procatalyst composition in the form of solid particles and comprising magnesium, halide and transition metal moieties, said particles having an average size (D50) of from 10 to 70 ?m, characterized in that at least 5 percent of the particles have internal void volume substantially or fully enclosed by a monolithic surface layer (shell), said layer being characterized by an average shell thickness/particle size ratio (Thickness Ratio) determined by SEM techniques for particles having particle size greater than 30 ?m of greater than 0.2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a homogeneous catalyst system for producing an ethylene homopolymer or an ethylene copolymer with ?-olefin. Specifically, this invention pertains to a transition metal catalyst which has stability under high temperature solution polymerization at 120˜250° C., in which a cyclopentadiene derivative and an electron donating substituent, both of which are bonded to a Group IV transition metal acting as a central metal, are crosslinked through a silyl derivative substituted with a cyclohexyl, to a catalyst system including such a transition metal catalyst and an aluminoxane cocatalyst or a boron compound cocatalyst, and to a method of producing an ethylene homopolymer or an ethylene copolymer with ?-olefin, having high molecular weight, using the catalyst system under conditions of high-temperature solution polymerization.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system.

Abstract: The present techniques relate to catalyst compositions, methods, and polymers encompassing a Group 4 metallocene compound comprising bridged ?5-cyclopentadienyl-type ligands, typically in combination with a cocatalyst, and an activator. The bridged ?5-cyclopentadienyl-type ligands are connected by a cyclic substituent.

Abstract: Supported catalysts systems and method of forming the same are described herein. The method generally includes providing a support material, providing a single site transition metal catalyst compound, contacting the transition metal catalyst compound with triisobutyl aluminum (TiBAl) to form a modified catalyst compound and contacting the support material with the modified catalyst compound to form a supported catalyst system.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing takes place within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, and where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system that includes the combination of or reaction product of ingredients including (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an aluminoxane, (c) an organoaluminum compound other than an aluminoxane, and (d) a bromine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of elemental bromine, bromine-containing mixed halogens, and organic bromides.

Abstract: A nickel-carbene polymerization catalyst system for preparing high cis polydienes is provided. The catalyst system comprises (a) a nickel N-heterocyclic carbene complex, (b) an organoaluminum compound, (c) a fluorine-containing compound, and (d) optionally, an alcohol. Also provided is a process for producing a polydiene comprising reacting a conjugated diene in the presence of a polymerization catalyst comprising (a) a nickel N-heterocyclic carbene complex, (b) an organoaluminum compound, (c) a fluorine-containing compound, and (d) optionally, an alcohol.

Abstract: A terpolymer containing: a) from 90% to 50% by weight; preferably from 90% to 70% by weight of ethylene derived units; b) from 5% to 40% by weight; preferably from 5% to 20% by weight of derived units of alpha olefin of formula CH2?CHA wherein A is a C1-C20 alkyl radical; c) from 2% to 30% by weight, preferably from 5% to 20% by weight of cycloolefins derived units. Said terpolymer being characterized by the following features i) distribution of molecular weight Mw/Mn lower than 3.5; preferably lower than 3; more preferably lower than 2.7 ii) solubility in xylene at 25° C.

Abstract: A supported catalyst system comprises (a) a dehydrated support material, (b) a transition metal compound, and (c) an activator and is characterised in that the support material has been pretreated with at least two different organoaluminum compounds prior to content with either or both the transition metal-compound or the activator. The prefer transition metal compound is a metallocene and the supported catalyst systems are suitable for the preparation of polymers having broad molecular weight distributions and improved melt strength.

Abstract: The present techniques relate to catalyst compositions, methods, and polymers encompassing a Group 4 metallocene compound comprising bridged ?5-cyclopentadienyl-type ligands, typically in combination with a cocatalyst, and a activator. The bridged ?5-cyclopentadienyl-type ligands are connected by a cyclic substituent. The catalysts of the present techniques may be more effective at the incorporation of comonomers into the backbone of a polyolefin polymer.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a butadiene-based polymer having a high cis-1,4 bond content, a low vinyl bond content and a molecular weight distribution of a specified range, and more particularly a butadiene-based polymer having a 1,3-butadiene monomer unit, characterized in that a cis-1,4 bond content and a vinyl bond content in the 1,3-butadiene monomer unit as measured by a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is not less than 98.0% and not more than 0.3%, respectively, and a ratio (Mw/Mn) of weight average molecular weight (Mw) to number average molecular weight (Mn) is 1.6-3.5.

Abstract: A catalyst composition for polymerizing olefins to polymers having bimodal molecular weight distribution comprises two transition metal-containing metallocene compounds, a magnesium compound, an alcohol, an aluminum containing co-catalyst and a polymeric support. The transition metal in one of the metallocene compounds is zirconium and the transition metal in the second metallocene compound is selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium and hafnium. Polyolefin polymers made using the catalyst composition have broad molecular weight distributions and are useful in film and blow molding applications.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing a conjugated diene-containing polymer wherein a stream comprising conjugated diene monomer and a specified catalyst, that includes a lanthanide compound and an aluminoxane, is passed through an orifice into the reaction zone of a polymerization vessel, maintained under specific pressure conditions to form a cement having a viscosity that allows the cement to be conveyed through a devolatilization zone, where desired.

Abstract: A polar group-containing olefin copolymer having excellent adhesion properties to metals or polar resins and excellent compatibility therewith, a process for preparing the copolymer, a thermoplastic resin composition containing the copolymer, and uses thereof. The polar group-containing olefin copolymer comprises a constituent unit derived from an ?-olefin of 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and a constituent unit derived from a straight-chain, branched or cyclic polar group-containing monomer having at the end a polar group such as a hydroxyl group or an epoxy group and/or a constituent unit derived from a macromonomer having at the end a polymer segment obtained by anionic polymerization, ring-opening polymerization or polycondensation. The polar group-containing olefin copolymer can be prepared by polymerizing the ?-olefin with the polar group-containing monomer and/or the macromonomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a catalyst system includes the steps of combining a Lewis base, an organic compound having at least one functional group containing active hydrogen, and an organometallic component with a particulate support material to provide an intermediate composition, and then combining the intermediate composition with one or more metallocene compound. The catalyst system is advantageously used for olefin polymerization.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing an ultra-high molecular weight, linear low density polyethylene with a catalyst system that comprises a bridged indenoindolyl transition metal complex, a non-bridged indenoindolyl transition metal complex, an alumoxane activator and a boron-containing activator. The ultra-high molecular weight, linear low density polyethylene has a weight average molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 and a density less than 0.940 g/cm3.

Abstract: A method for preparing a diene elastomer, such as a butadiene homopolymer or copolymer, in particular, a polybutadiene, with a high level of cis-1,4 linkages that has both a Mooney viscosity greater than or equal to 40 and a polydispersity index of less than 2.1. The method comprises a reaction of a catalyst system with at least one conjugated diene monomer to be polymerized and the catalyst system is based on at least: optionally one preforming conjugated diene; one salt of one or more rare earth metals; an inert hydrocarbon-based solvent; an alkylating agent comprising an allyl derivative of aluminum of formula R?nAlR?3-n, where R? is a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or else a hydride, where R? is an allyl group and where n is an integer inclusively between 1 and 3; and a halogen donor that belongs to the family of alkylaluminum halides, excluding alkylaluminum sesquihalides.

Abstract: A process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of a catalyst system which comprises a bridged indenoindolyl transition metal complex on a support material, an alkylalumoxane, a titanium tetralkoxide, and a branched alkyl aluminum compound. The process provides polyethylenes with low density from ethylene alone.

Abstract: Supported catalyst systems, methods of forming polyolefins and the formed polymers are generally described herein. The methods generally include identifying desired polymer properties, providing a transition metal compound and selecting a support material capable of producing the desired polymer properties, wherein the support material includes a bonding sequence selected from Si—O—Al—F, F—Si—O—Al, F—Si—O—Al—F and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method for preparing a cis-1,4-polybutadiene with a controlled molecular weight distribution, comprising polymerizing butadiene monomers using a rare-earth catalyst system comprising: (a) at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon-soluble organometallic compound comprising at least one metal element chosen from the elements of atomic numbers 51-71 in the periodic table; (b) at least one organoaluminum compound of the formula: AlR1R22, (c) at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon-soluble halogen-containing compound; (d) optionally at least one alkylaluminum alkoxide; and (e) at least one conjugated double bond-containing organic compound, and methods of preparing the rare-earth catalyst system.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a catalyst system includes the steps of combining a Lewis base, an organic compound having at least one functional group containing active hydrogen, and an organometallic component with a particulate support material to provide an intermediate composition, and then combining the intermediate composition with one or more metallocene compound. The catalyst system is advantageously used for olefin polymerization.

Abstract: A two-step catalyst preparation method is disclosed. First, a support is combined with an indenoindolyl Group 3-10 metal complex and a first activator comprising an alkyl alumoxane to give a supported complex. The supported complex is subsequently combined with a second activator comprising an ionic borate to produce a borate-treated supported complex. Activating indenoindolyl metal complexes in this sequence surprisingly provides an exceptional activity boost compared with other ways of activating them with either or both types of activators.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions that are highly tolerant of catalyst poisons for use in addition polymerizations comprising a catalytic derivative of a Group 4 metal complex, a cocatalyst, and a Group 13 metal amide compound.

Abstract: A process for producing an olefin polymer with high polymerization activity without using an expensive co-catalyst or using a limited amount of the co-catalyst, more particularly a process for producing a high molecular weight (co)polymer with high polymerization activity even at a high polymerization temperature which is more practical. At least one olefin is polymerized by means of a polymerization catalyst comprising at least one transition metal compound selected from transition metal compounds which have a substituted indenyl group, represented by a certain specific chemical formula, and an organoaluminum compound represented by the formula Al(R)3.

Abstract: A copolymer of ethylene and a higher alpha olefin, preferably 1-hexene, can be produced using an activated chromium containing catalyst system and a cocatalyst selected from the group consisting of trialkylboron, trialkylsiloxyalutninum, and a combination of trialkylboron and thalkylaluminum compounds. The polymerization process must be carefully controlled to produce a copolymer resin having an exceptionally broad molecular weight distribution, extremely high PENT ESCR values, and a natural branch profile that impacts branching preferably into the high molecular weight portion of the polymer. The resulting copolymer resin is especially useful in high stiffness pipe applications.