Abstract: A polyolefin composition is provided which consists essentially of isotactic polypropylene and, optionally, one or more comonomers, wherein the total comonomer content of the polyolefin composition is from 0 to 20 mole percent, and further, wherein the weight average branching index g′ for the lower molecular weight region of the polyolefin composition is less than 0.93. Additionally, a process is provided for producing a polyolefin composition comprising: a) contacting, in solution, at a temperature from about 90° C. to about 120° C.

Abstract: The present invention is broadly directed to a process for copolymerizing one or more alpha-olefins and one or more di-olefin monomers in the presence of at least one stereospecific metallocene catalyst system and at least one non-stereospecific metallocene catalyst system. Crosslinking of at least a portion of the mixture of polymer segments is accomplished during the polymerization of the composition by incorporation of single di-olefin comonomers into two polymer segments.

Abstract: The invention is directed to olefin polymerization processes using bridged hafnocene catalyst complexes that are surprisingly stable under high temperature olefin polymerization processes such that olefin copolymers can be prepared with high molecular weights and catalyst activities. More specifically, the invention is a polymerization process for ethylene copolymers having a melt index of about 0.850 to about 0.930 comprising contacting, under homogeneous polymerization conditions at a reaction temperature at or above 60° C. to 250° C.

Abstract: A process for polymerizing olefins, diolefins, cyclic olefins or acetylenically unsaturated monomers, either alone or in combination with each other or with other polymerizable monomers with a catalyst system comprising a Group 4 transition metal cation having bonded thereto (1) a mono cyclopentadienyl ligand or polycyclic derivative thereof, (2) a Group 15 or 16 heteroatom ligand, said mono cyclopentadienyl ligand or polycyclic derivative and said heteroatom ligand being covalently bound and bridged, and (3) at least one other ligand; (b) a compatible non-coordinating anion; and a (c) a Group 13 element, hydrolyzable Lewis acid compound is disclosed.

Abstract: An activated tridentate-, monoanionic-ligand-based transition metal catalyst in a reduced oxidation state for olefin polymerization is disclosed. Transition metal catalyst precursors for these catalysts have the formulae: in which M is a transition metal from Groups 4-9 in a reduced oxidation state, X is a mono anionic ligand, L is a neutral donor group, E is a neutral donor group from Groups 15 and 16, E′ is a monoanionic donor group from Group 15, T is a bridging group, n is 1-3 as needed to balance the charge on M, p is 0-3 and q is 1-2. Olefin polymerization is exemplified.

Abstract: Hyperbranched copolymers comprising at least one C2-C20 &agr;-monoolefin monomers and 0.2 to 20 mole % of at least one &agr;,&ohgr;-non-conjugated diene monomers having 5 to 18 carbon atoms are prepared by coordination (metallocene) copolymerization of the monomers and quenching the reaction prior to the formation of a gelled product. The building blocks of the products are characterized by a number average molecular weight less than 5 times the entanglement molecular weight of a homopolymer prepared using the same catalyst but in the absence of the diene component.

Abstract: The present invention is broadly directed to a polyolefin polymer composition produced by copolymerizing one or more alpha-olefins and one or more di-olefin monomers in the presence of at least one stereospecific metallocene catalyst system and at least one non-stereospecific metallocene catalyst system. The polymer composition so produced contains amorphous polymer segments and crystalline polymer segments in which at least some of the segments are crosslinked. Both the amorphous and the crystalline polymer segments are copolymers of one or more alpha-olefins and one or more di-olefin monomers. Crosslinking of at least a portion of the mixture of polymer segments is accomplished during the polymerization of the composition by incorporation of single di-olefin comonomers into two polymer segments.

Abstract: An ionic polymerization catalyst system component comprising a stable and bulky anion containing a plurality of boron atoms, such as those selected from the group consisting of polynuclear boranes, carboranes, and metallacarboranes useful for polymerizing olefins, diolefins, or acetylenically unsaturated monomers, either alone or in combination with each other or with other polymerizable monomers is disclosed. A method of using the anion to stabilize ionic catalyst systems during polymerization is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention addresses Group 5 metal compounds suitable as polymerization catalysts characterized by comprising one Group 15 element polyanionic ancillary ligand and three single or multidentate univalent ligands comprising Group 14-16 elements bound to the Group 5 metal, but excluding cyclopentadienyl ligands. The invention Group 5 metal compounds can be generically represented by the chemical symbols [RJ]MR′3,   (1) and [(RJ)Yn(X)]MR′2  (2) where M is a Group 5 transition metal, preferably vanadium; J is a Group 15 heteroatom ligand covalently bound to M, preferably nitrogen; R is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, hydrocarbyl or organometalloid group covalently bound to J; each R′ is, independently, a uninegative ligand, e.g.

Abstract: Ionic catalyst compositions can be prepared by combining two components. The first component is a bis(cyclopentadienyl) Group IV-B metal complex containing at least one ligand which will combine irreversibly with the second component or at least a portion thereof such as a cation portion thereof. The second component comprises a cation which will irrevesibly react with at least one ligand on the Group IV-B metal complex and a non-coordinating anion. The combination of the two components produces an ionic catalyst composition comprising a cationic bis(cyclopentadienyl) Group IV-B metal complex which has a formal coordination number of 3 and a 4+ valence charge and the aforementioned non-coordinating anion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catalyst system comprising a substituted, bridged bisindenyl metallocene supported on a polymeric support wherein the metallocene is activated for polymerization by an ionizing reaction and stabilized in cationic form with a noncoordinating anion. A protonated ammonium salt of a noncoordinating amine is covalently bonded to the support. Propylene polymers produced by these supported catalyst systems have melting points and polymer microstructures similar to propylene polymers produced using analogous unsupported catalyst systems.

Abstract: Plastics toughened plastics are metallocene catalyzed polyethylenes (mPE) and isotactic polypropylene (iPP). These plastic toughened plastics are useful in molded articles, most especially automotive interior trim parts. The mPE can be present in such toughened plastics from 5-40 weight percent, the iPP from 60-95 weight percent. The toughened plastics will have an excellent balance of tensile toughness, elongation and modulus at −10° C. Generally the tensile toughness will be 25-250% greater than the tensile toughness of a similarly proportioned blend of Ziegler-Natta catalyst produced polyethylene/iPP.

Abstract: The invention is a polymerization process for ethylene copolymers having a density less than 0.915 comprising contacting ethylene, one or more &agr;-olefin monomer, and optionally one or more diene monomer, with a catalyst composition comprising the reaction product of at least one organometallic Group 4 metallocene compound derived from a bridged, fused-ring ligand containing biscyclopentadienyl hafnocene, said bridge being a substituted or unsubstituted carbon or silicon atom connecting the biscyclopentadienyl ligands, and a salt of a Group 13 element anionic complex having halogenated aromatic ligands in an essentially tetrahedral structure wherein the aromatic groups are polycyclic fused or pendant aromatic rings. The process is particularly suitable for the preparation of high comonomer content and high molecular weight ethylene-&agr;-olefin plastomers and ethylene-propylene or ethylene-propylene-diene monomer elastomers.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer is provided comprising a branched olefin polymer having crystalline sidechains and an amorphous backbone wherein at least 90 mole percent of the sidechains are isotactic or syndiotactic polypropylene and at least 80 mole percent of the backbone is atactic polypropylene. Additionally, a process is provided for producing a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising: a) contacting, in solution, at a temperature from about 90° C. to about 120° C., propylene monomers with a catalyst composition comprising a chiral, stereorigid transition metal catalyst compound capable of producing isotactic or syndiotactic polypropylene; b) copolymerizing the product of a) with propylene and, optionally, one or more copolymerizable monomers, in a polymerization reactor using an achiral transition metal catalyst capable of producing atactic polypropylene; and c) recovering a branched olefin polymer.

Abstract: Stabilized alumoxane solutions are provided as well as a method for producing such solutions. The method generally involves the use of metallocene catalyst component(s) that when mixed with alumoxane solutions reduce the tendency for such solutions to form gels.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a polymerization process comprising contacting ethylene, and optionally, one or more olefinically unsaturated comonomers, with an active supported Group 3, 4, 5, or 6 metallocene catalyst system having an unsubstituted or substituted fused-ring cyclopentadienyl ligand, preferably indenyl or fluorenyl, and a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligand under gas-phase or slurry polymerization conditions. The process is suitable for the production of high-density polyethylene homopolymers and copolymers. The benefits to industrial practice are both the ease of preparation and low-cost of the precursor metallocene compound and the commercially feasible polymerization activity levels in stable, low fouling level reactor conditions surprisingly associated with it. Additionally, the polymers made under the invention process conditions have narrow molecular weight distributions, low MI, and low values for MIR.