Abstract: Methanol is converted to acetic acid by reaction with carbon monoxide in the presence of an improved carbonylation system which comprises a rhodium catalyst component and a liquid reaction medium containing water in low levels, acetic acid, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, and at least one pentavalent Group VA oxide wherein the concentration of pentavalent Group VA oxide to rhodium is greater than about 60:1. The present carbonylation system not only increases the yields and reaction rates but also serves to stabilize the rhodium catalyst component in an active form.

Abstract: Methanol is converted to acetic acid by reaction with carbon monoxide in the presence of an carbonylation system which comprises a rhodium catalyst component and a liquid reaction medium containing acetic acid, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, and at least one pentavalent Group VA oxide and water in specific concentrations. The present carbonylation system not only increases the yields and reaction rates but also serves to stabilize the rhodium catalyst component in an active form.

Abstract: Semiconductive polyolefin formulations are provided which are readily extrudable into films and coatings having low surface resistivity. The formulations of the invention are comprised of a polyethylene resin with 6 to 15 weight percent of a mixture of two different conductive carbon blacks. The conductive blacks have different structures as defined by their BET surface areas and dibutyl phthalate adsorption numbers. The extrudable semiconductive compositions of the invention have complex viscosities of 3000 to 10000 poise and dispersion numbers from 50 to 600. Extruded films having surface resistivities of less than 10 log ohms produced from the above-identified polyolefin compositions are also provided.

Abstract: An improved gas-phase polymerization process for producing in-situ thermoplastic polyolefins in multiple reactors using high activity Ti/Al catalysts is provided. The improvement consists of developing a control parameter derived from eight integrated regions of the copolymer .sup.13 C NMR spectrum, defining the limits of the control parameter for the process, and operating the process to maintain the parameter within the defined limits. This is accomplished by adjusting the amount of ethylene fed to the secondary reactor and adjusting other process variables as required. Thermoplastic polyolefins, i.e., modified polypropylenes, having reduced hexane extractables and improved paint adhesion are also disclosed.

Abstract: Terpolymers of ethylene, vinyl acetate and isobutylene as flow improvers in distillate fuels. The terpolymers have number average molecular weights in the range of about 1,600 to about 3,000, and weight average molecular weights in the range of about 4,000 to about 18,000. These terpolymers provide improved low temperature flow characteristics in middle distillate fuels.

Abstract: A vanadium-containing catalyst system particularly suited to the polymerization of olefin polymers. The catalyst system includes a supported, first catalyst component prepared by contacting silica with hexaalkyldisilazane and thereupon with (1) a compound or complex which includes at least one carbon to magnesium covalent bond and (2) a compound which includes at least one carbon to Group 13 metal covalent bond. The sequence of contact of the silica with compound or complex (1) and compound (2) is optional. However, unless the compound or complex (1) and the compound (2) contact the silica simultaneously, the product of this contact is next contacted with whichever of compound (1) or (2) does not initially contact the silica. The product of the step of contacting with compounds (1) and (2) is washed and then contacted with a vanadium compound which includes at least one halogen atom. Finally, the product of the vanadium compound contacting step is contacted with an alcohol.

Abstract: A catalyst component useful in the polymerization of olefins which includes a support formed of a copolymer of an olefin and a silane monomer having at least one unsaturated hydrocaryl substitutent. A process for making the catalyst component as well as a catalyst composition which includes the catalyst component is also set forth.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a process for preparing peroxide modified polypropylene/polyethylene blends that have superior extrusion coating properties. More specifically, the peroxide modified PP/PE blends produced by the instant invention exhibit a pronounced viscosity upturn at low frequencies (about <1.0 rad/sec) in the dynamic rheological data. Specifically, the blends show an increase in their dynamic complex viscosity, .eta.*, and dynamic storage modulus, G' values at frequencies of less than about 1.0 rad/sec. The present invention also relates to peroxide modified PP/PE blends that are produced from the process of the instant invention. Such polymeric blends that are produced from the inventive method exhibit superior dynamic theological properties, especially melt strength, compared with prior art blends. Moreover, the peroxide modified PP/PE blends of the present invention show markedly reduced draw resonance behavior.

Abstract: A new catalyst useful in the polymerization of at least one olefin is disclosed. The catalyst comprises the product obtained by contacting silica, in random order, with (1) at least one hydrocarbon soluble magnesium-containing compound; and (2) a first modifying compound selected from the group consisting of silicon halides, boron halides, aluminum halides and mixtures thereof followed by a second modifying compound selected from the group consisting of halides having the structural formula SiH.sub.r X.sup.2.sub.s, where X.sup.2 is halogen; r is an integer of 1 to 3; and s is an integer of 1 to 3 with the proviso that the sum of r and s is 4, a hydrogen halide and mixtures thereof. The product of this step is contacted with a first titanium-containing compound having the structural formula Ti(OR).sub.m X.sub.n, where R is hydrocarbyl or cresyl; X is halogen; m is an integer of 1 to 4; and n is 0 or an integer of 1 to 3, with the proviso that the sum of m and n is 4.

Abstract: Adhesive blends having special utility in the formation of composite structures with LDPE, EVOH, and impact-modified polystyrene comprise a mixture of an ethylene/ester copolymer such as EVA, polystyrene, such as impact-modified polystyrene, and a functionalized SEBS block copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a supported metallocene catalyst useful in the polymerization of .alpha.-olefins which is obtained by tethering a metallocene catalyst component to the surface of a particulate, functionalized copolymeric support material.

Abstract: An improved gas-phase copolymerization process for producing copolymers of propylene and ethylene in multiple reactors using high activity Ti/Al catalysts is provided. The improvement consists of developing a control parameter derived from eight integral regions of the copolymer .sup.13 C NMR spectrum, defining the limits of the control parameter for the process, and operating the process to maintain the parameter within the defined limits. This is accomplished by adjusting the amount of ethylene in the primary and/or secondary reactor and adjusting other process variables as required.

Abstract: A vanadium-containing catalyst system particularly suited to the polymerization of blow moldable olefin polymers. The catalyst system includes a supported, first catalyst component prepared by contacting preheated silica, with (1) a compound or complex which includes at least one carbon to magnesium covalent bond and (2) a compound which includes at least one carbon to Group III metal covalent bond. The sequence of contact of the silica with compound or complex (1) and compound (2) is optional. However, unless the compound or complex (1) and the compound (2) contact the silica simultaneously, the product of this contact is next contacted with whichever of compound (1) or (2) does not initially contact the silica. The product of the step of contacting with compounds (1) and (2) is contacted with a vanadium compound which includes at least one halogen atom. Finally, the product of the vanadium compound contacting step is contacted with an alcohol.

Abstract: Anhydride-functionalized polymers are modified in accordance with the present invention by reacting all or a portion of the anhydride functionality with an aliphatic alcohol to convert the anhydride groups to half-esters. Half-esters produced by modifying maleic anhydride grafted ethylene polymers with alcohols are particularly useful. Adhesive blends obtained by combining the alcohol-modified polymers with one or more polyolefin base resins and composite structures wherein said adhesive blends are adhered to EVOH are also provided. Modification of the maleic anhydride grafts in accordance with the process of this invention makes it possible to produce films having improved optical quality.

Abstract: A process is provided to improve the properties of polyethylene resins obtained from chromium catalyzed polymerizations and blow molded bottles produced therefrom. The process entails modifying the polyethylene resin by contacting the resin in a molten state with an organic peroxide at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of peroxide. Polyethylene resins utilized for the process have specific densities, melt indexes, long chain branching indexes, unsaturation contents and molecular weight distributions. Blow molded bottles produced from the modified resins have significantly increased top load stress crack resistance and improved swell characteristics.

Abstract: A die for a blow molding machine has at least one circumferential rectangular cutout section contiguous with the die exit in at least the die ring or the mandrel. The rectangular cutout section expands the material flow channel between the die ring and the mandrel to increase the volume flow of material passing through the die exit at the rectangular cutout section. However, the constant length of the rectangular cutout section in a longitudinal direction maintains a constant linear velocity of material flowing through the die exit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a supported tungsten-based catalyst composition useful for the dimerization of alpha-olefins including ethylene. More particularly, the catalyst composition of the instant invention comprises an organic or inorganic support material that is contacted with a tungsten salt and an organic amine compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing high melt flow rate thermoplastic compositions that have improved impact and bruise-resistance properties and to the thermoplastic composition that are produced by the process of the instant invention. Specifically, the process comprises the steps of precontacting a non-crosslinked elastomeric polymeric component with a peroxide compound at a temperature below the decomposition temperature of the peroxide and below the melting point of the non-crosslinked polymeric component to produce a peroxide adsorbed polymeric component; and melt mixing the aforementioned peroxide adsorbed polymeric component with a high propylene content polymeric component selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of propylene, block copolymers of propylene and ethylene, and thermoplastic olefin polymers at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the peroxide.

Abstract: Flame retardant and abrasion resistant crosslinkable compositions useful as insulation for wire and cable are provided. The compositions contain an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl ester content of 5 to 12 wt. %, a halogenated compound, antimony trioxide and an organic peroxide. Use of specific halogenated compounds, particularly brominated aromatic compounds, with low vinyl acetate content ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers yield products which are highly resistant to abrasion after crosslinking.

Abstract: Adhesive blends especially suitable for adhesion to one or more polypropylene substrates consisting essentially of a mixture of a modified impact copolymer and a graft reaction product of a propylene polymer and a carboxylic acid or derivative thereof are disclosed. Composite structures incorporating such blends are also disclosed.