Abstract: This invention is directed to reduced oxidation state Group 4-6 metal compounds, preferably the first row metals in those groups, suitable for activation as polymerization catalysts and characterized by comprising a substituted hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ancillary ligand and a plurality of single or multidentate uninegative ligands, excluding cyclopentadienyl ligands. The invention includes a polymerization process characterized by comprising contacting one or more monomers polymerizable by coordination or insertion polymerization under suitable polymerization conditions with these catalyst compositions.

Abstract: A catalyst system comprising a Group 4 transition metal cation having bonded thereto (1) a single cyclopentadienyl ligand or polycyclic derivative thereof, (2) a Group 15 or 16 heteroatom ligand, said single cyclopentadienyl ligand or polycyclic derivative and said heteroatom ligand being covalently bound and bridged to each other, and (3) at least one other ligand selected from the group consisting of hydride, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, and hydrocarbyl substituted organonometalloid radicals; (b) a compatible non-coordinating anion; (c) a Group 13 element, hydrolyzable Lewis acid compound. The catalyst system is useful for polymerizing olefins, diolefins, cyclic olefins or acetylenically unsaturated monomers, either alone or in combination with each other or with other polymerizable monomers.

Abstract: The invention is directed to essentially saturated hydrocarbon polymer composition comprising essentially saturated hydrocarbon polymers having A) a backbone chain, B) a plurality of essentially hydrocarbyl sidechains connected to A), said sidechains each having a number-average molecular weight of from 2500 Daltons to 125,000 Daltons and a MWD by SEC of 1.0-3.5; and having A) a Newtonian limiting viscosity (&eegr;0) at 190° C. at least 50% greater than that of a linear olefinic polymer of the same chemical composition and weight average molecular weight, preferably at least twice as great as that of said linear polymer, B) a ratio of the rubbery plateau modulus at 190° C. to that of a linear polymer of the same chemical composition less than 0.5, preferably <0.3, C) a ratio of the Newtonian limiting viscosity (&eegr;0) to the absolute value of the complex viscosity in oscillatory shear (&eegr;*)at 100 rad/sec at 190° C.

Abstract: Improved thermoplastic polymer soft elastic fiber blend compositions including a crystalline isotactic polypropylene component and a crystallizable alpha-olefin and propylene copolymer component, the copolymer comprising crystallizable alpha-olefin sequences. In a preferred embodiment, improved thermoplastic polymer blends are provided prepared from 0% to 95%, preferably 2% to 40% of the crystalline isotactic polypropylene and from 5% to 100%, preferably 60% to 98% of a crystallizable ethylene and propylene copolymer, wherein said copolymer comprises isotactically crystallizable propylene sequences and is predominately propylene. The resultant blends manifest unexpected compatibility characteristics, increased tensile strength, and, improved resistance to elastic deformation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for melt extruding a film layer of a thermoplastic olefin which comprises extruding the film having physical characteristics under process conditions selected by reference to the Draw ratio Dr and the Aspect ratio A such that draw resonance is avoided in which in addition the process conditions are defined by reference to the Deborah number such that the molten polymer is extruded at a Draw ratio of at least 30 in a high elasticity region at a &lgr;c value of characteristic time as defined herein of from 0.001 to 0.6 s, a Deborah number as defined herein in excess of 0.005 and an A value as defined herein lower than 0.8. Narrower ranges of these parameters may be defined for application of the invention to different polymer types.

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: The invention is directed to olefin polymerization processes using bridged hafnocene catalyst complexes comprising highly substituted noncoordinating anions that are surprisingly stable under high temperature olefin polymerization processes such that olefin copolymers having significant amount of incorporated comonomer can be prepared with high molecular weights. More specifically, the invention is a polymerization process for ethylene copolymers having a melt index of about 0.87 to about 0.930 comprising contacting, under homogeneous polymerization conditions at a reaction temperature at or above 140° C. to 225° C.

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: 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: 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: Branched polypropylene compositions which have improved melt strength and good processability are provided. The branched polypropylene compositions of the present invention have a polydispersity of less than 4.0 and a melt point greater than 90° C. Further, the weight average branching index g of the polypropylene compositions is less than 0.95. Additionally, a novel process is provided for efficiently producing a branched polypropylene composition comprising: a) contacting propylene monomers in a reactor with an inert hydrocarbon solvent or diluent and a catalyst composition comprising one or more single site catalyst compounds capable of producing stereospecific polypropylene at a temperature from about 40° C. to about 120° C., wherein the ratio in the reactor of the propylene monomers to the inert hydrocarbon solvent or diluent is less than 9.

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: This invention relates to isotactic propylene homopolymer compositions obtained from metallocene catalysis wherein the polymer has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) in the range of from about 2.5 to about 20.0. The isotactic propylene homopolymer composition may be prepared in a multiple stage polymerization process using the same metallocene component in at least two stages.

Abstract: The invention encompasses a mixed transition metal olefin polymerization catalyst system suitable for the polymerization of olefin monomers comprising one late transition metal catalyst system and at least one different catalyst system selected from the group consisting of late transition metal catalyst systems, transition metal metallocene catalyst systems or Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems. Preferred embodiments include at least one late transition metal catalyst system comprising a Group 9, 10, or 11 metal complex stabilized by a bidentate ligand structure and at least one transition metal metallocene catalyst system comprising a Group 4 metal complex stabilized by at least one ancillary cyclopentadienyl ligand. The polymerization process for olefin monomers comprises contacting one or more olefins with these catalyst systems under polymerization conditions.

Abstract: Described are certain monocyclopentadienyl Group IV B metal compounds, catalyst systems comprising such monocyclopentadienyl metal compounds and an activator, and a process using such catalyst systems for the production of polyolefins, particularly high molecular weight ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymers having a high level of .alpha.-olefin incorporation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a branched olefin copolymer derived from olefinically unsaturated monomers capable of insertion polymerization having A) a T.sub.g as measured by DSC less than or equal to 10.degree. C.; B) T.sub.m greater than 80.degree. C.; C) an elongation at break of greater than or equal to 300%; D) a tensile strength of greater than or equal to 1,500 psi (10,300 kPa); and E) an elastic recovery of greater than or equal to 50%. The invention also relates to process for preparing the invention composition comprising: A) polymerizing ethylene or propylene and optionally, one or more copolymerizable monomers in a polymerization reaction under conditions sufficient to form copolymer having greater than 40% chain end-group unsaturation; B) copolymerizing the product of A) with ethylene and one or more comonomers so as to prepare said branched olefin copolymer.

Abstract: This invention relates to single site catalyst systems comprising activated bimetallocyclic transition metal compounds, and the use of these catalyst systems for the polymerization of ethylenically and acetylenically unsaturated monomers. The bimetallocyclic compounds comprise two metal atoms, selected from the group consisting of Group 4 or Group 5 metal atoms, connected through two covalent bridging links so as to form a cyclic compound having delocalized bonding in the cyclic structure. The exemplary bimetallocyclic compound bis-M-(trimethylsilyl-methylidyne) tetrakis-(trimethylsilylmethyl) ditantalum activated with alumoxane and borate compounds is shown to be useful for preparing ethylene polymers having M.sub.n of at least 267,000 and MWD of about 2.3.

Abstract: A polymerization process with ionic polymerization catalyst systems comprising a stable group 4 metal cation and bulky Group 13 metal or metalloid anion containing at least one fluorinated naphthyl or anthracenyl ligand useful for olefins, diolefins, or acetylenically unsaturated monomers, either alone or in combination with each other or with other polymerizable monomers is disclosed.