Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out chemical and physical processes, wherein flowable substances are mixed together, comprising a vertical, cylindrical vessel with inlets and outlets, as well as a central shaft and radial agitator blades arranged on the said central shaft and extending close to the wall. In this context, viewed in the peripheral direction, the agitator blades are curved and are combined in pairs of agitator elements one above the other to form groups, the blades of one element of the group being curved in a radially concave manner and the blades of the other element being curved in a radially convex manner.

Abstract: A catalyst system includes a metallocene compound having the formula R9 L1 L2 M1 R1 R2 wherein R9 is a bridge between ligands L1 and L2 and M1 is a metal of Group IVB of the Periodic Table such as titanium, zirconium and hafnium and R1 and R2 can be hydrogen or aliphatic or aromatic groups. Bridge R9 can include silicon, germanium or tin. The metallocene compound of the invention as synthesized has a racemic to meso isomer ratio of greater than 5 to 1, thereby precluding the need for subsequent separation of the meso isomer.

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 process for the preparation of a catalyst system includes the steps of combining a support material with a first composition which includes at least one aluminoxane in a first solvent to provide an aluminoxane loaded support; and, contacting the aluminoxane loaded support with a second composition which includes at least one metallocene compound, a second solvent, and a cocatalyst, wherein the cocatalyst includes a second portion of the at least one aluminoxane alone or in combination with an ionic compound and/or a Lewis acid.

Abstract: A method for making a Ziegler-Natta catalyst support includes the steps of contacting a fumed silica with a surface modifying agent such as a compound having the formula RMgX MgR?R? wherein R, R? and R? are each individually a moiety selected from an alkyl group, cycloalkyl, aryl or alkaryl group, and X is a halogen selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine and iodine, to provide a pretreated silica seeding agent. The pretreated silica seeding agent is then dispersed in a non-aqueous liquid magnesium halide/alkanol complex, and the magnesium halide is crystallized onto the silica particles to form catalyst support particles especially suitable for Ziegler-Natta catalysts.

Abstract: Propylene homopolymers, wherein, in their separation according to tacticity by first dissolving the polymers in boiling xylene, then cooling the solution to 25° C. at a cooling rate of 10° C./h and then, with ascending temperature, separating the propylene homopolymers into fractions of different tacticity, either one or more of the conditions that i) the fraction of propylene homopolymers which remains undissolved on heating the cooled propylene homopolymer solution to 112° C. is greater than 20% by weight or ii) the fraction of propylene homopolymers which remains undissolved on heating the cooled propylene homopolymer solution to 117° C. is greater than 8% by weight or iii) the fraction of propylene homopolymers which remains undissolved on heating the cooled propylene homopolymer solution to 122° C. is greater than 1% by weight, are satisfied.

Abstract: A method for making a solid catalyst component for use in a Ziegler-Natta catalyst includes combining a porous particulate support with a magnesium source in a hydrocarbon solvent to form a mixture, the magnesium source including a hydrocarbon soluble organomagnesium compound and a hydrocarbon insoluble anhydrous inorganic magnesium-halogen compound. The organomagnesium compound is halogenated and the mixture is reacted with a titanium compound or vanadium compound to form the solid catalyst component. The solid catalyst component is then recovered and combined with an organoaluminum cocatalyst to form a Ziegler-Natta catalyst which is advantageously used for the polymerization of olefins, particularly alk-1-enes such as ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, and the like. The catalyst can optionally include internal and external electron donors.