Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid catalyst component for &agr;-olefin polymerization having a narrow particle size distribution of not less than 6.0 in terms of the value of N in a Rosin-Rammler function of particle size distribution and giving a catalytic activity of not less than 10,000 ((g-polymer produced/g-solid catalyst component)/hour) in polymerization. The catalyst component is obtained by a process which comprises reducing a titanium compound with an organomagnesium compound in the presence of an organosilicon compound and an ester to obtain a solid product, then treating the solid product with: (a) a mixture of titanium tetrachloride and an ether, (b) an organic acid halide, and (c) a mixture of titanium tetrachloride and an ether optionally containing an ester.

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: 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.

Abstract: Isospecific and/or syndiospecific catalysts and processes for the propagation of an isotactic and/or syndiotactic polymer chain derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which contains 3 or more carbon atoms or is a substituted vinyl compound. The catalysts comprise a stereorigid, stereodirected and stereolocked metallocene and/or metallocene cation catalysts, characterized by having &bgr; stereodirecting substituents and &agr; stereolocking substituents such that the catalysts have overall either Cs or C2 (or pseudo-Cs or C2) symmetry and such that the substituents define the orientation of the growing polymer chain end and resulting in tactioselectivity of successive monomer additions. Methods are also described for the preparation and use of these unique catalysts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a supported catalyst system which comprises at least one metallocene component and at least one cocatalyst component and at least one modified inorganic oxide of silicon, aluminum or mixtures thereof, wherein the modified oxide contains organic silicon radicals containing at least one of the groups nitrogen, fluorine, phosphorus or sulfur.

Abstract: A resist material having a resist and particles mixed into the resist, a major component of the particles being a cluster of carbon atoms, is provided. A method for fabricating a resist material is also provided, the method repeatedly performing: a first step of coating a substrate with a resist film; and a second step of depositing particles whose major component is a cluster of carbon atoms on the resist film. Accordingly, a resist film with high etching resistance can be obtained, and it is possible to realize a reduction in the thickness of the resist film, improvements of contrast of resist patterns; resist sensitivity; heat resistance of resist films; mechanical strength of resist patterns; and further, stabilization of resist sensitivity. Therefore, highly precise fine pattern fabrication can be realized.

Abstract: Bridged metallocenes of Group IVb metals provide improved results when the bridge comprises a neutral electron-donor substituent of general formula R′″ZR″″j wherein R′″ is a rigid unsaturated hydrocarbon radical between Z and the bridge, such that Z is separated from the bridge by 2 to 5 carbon atoms Z is nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen or sulphur, R″″ is H or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl having a maximum of 15 carbon atoms, each R″″ being the same or different, j is 1 when Z=O or S and 2 when Z=N or P.

Abstract: A new synthesis of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst uses a multi-step preparation which includes treating a soluble magnesium compound with successively stronger chlorinating-titanating reagents. The catalyst may be used in polymerization of olefins, particularly ethylene, to produce a polymer with low amount of fines, large average fluff particle size and narrow molecular weight distribution. The catalyst has high activity and good hydrogen response.

Abstract: Polyolefin compositions obtained by mixing: (A) A heterogeneous polyolefin composition itself comprising a fraction (A1) which is insoluble in xylene and a fraction (A2) which is soluble in xylene; (B) a polyolefin composition comprising a low density ethylene copolymer (B1) and a propylene copolymer (B2) of relatively high insolubility in xylene; and, optionally, (C) a branched propylene polymer. The films obtained with the said compositions show improved mechanical properties and impact strength when compared with polyethylene-based films.

Abstract: An olefin-polymerizing catalyst which comprises (A) a transition metal compound having at least one cyclic amide ligand and (B) an organoaluminum compound and/or an aluminoxane compound with or without (C) an ionic compound, the catalyst component of which is simple to synthesize, and which can polymerize an olefin at a lower temperature at a lower pressure than conventional catalysts, and particularly is high in copolymerizability of &agr;-olefins, and is particularly effective in producing ethylene/polar group-containing cyclic olefin copolymers.

Abstract: A method for producing a low density copolymer of ethylene and 1-hexene having a density in the range of about 0.915 to about 0.930 grams/cc in a continuous loop reactor under slurry phase reactor conditions in the presence of a liquid diluent comprising (a) using a prepolymerized solid particulate metallocene catalyst system, (b) combining the catalyst system with a liquid diluent, and (c) agitating the mixture of (b) to form a liquid mixture containing catalyst system particles that are substantially uniform in size, (d) passing this liquid mixture into the loop reactor, (e) not adding any hydrogen, (f) employing the temperature in the range of about 170.degree. F. to about 180.degree. F., (g) employing ethylene in an amount equal to about 5 to about 6 weight % of the liquid diluent and the loop reactor, and (h) employing 1-hexene in an amount equal to about 1.5 to about 2.5 weight % of the liquid diluent in the loop reactor.

Abstract: A highly crystalline polypropylene having a degree of crystallinity of at least 50.5% calculated from the heat of melting; and a relationship between a proportion f(R)of R-lamella with respect to spherulites and a weight-average molecular weight Mw which satisfies the following Formula (II). The above-mentioned proportion f(R) of R-lamella spherulites is calculated using the following Formula (I) from the birefringence .DELTA.n of crystallized spherulites obtained by melting said highly crystalline polypropylene at 230.degree. C. for 5 minutes, cooling to a temperature of 132.degree. C. at a cooling rate of 20.degree. C./minute, and then maintaining said temperature for 90 minutes.

Abstract: Novel onium borates of an element of Groups 15 to 17 of the Periodic Table, or borates of an organometallic complex of an element of Groups 4 to 10 of the Periodic Table, well suited for the photochemical/electron beam cationic initiation of polymerization/crosslinking, the anionic borate moiety of which having the formula:[BX.sub.a R.sub.b ].sup.-in which a and b are integers ranging from 0 to 4 and a+b=4; the symbols X are each a halogen atom when a ranges up to 3 and an OH functional group when a ranges up to 2; and the symbols R, which may be identical or different, are each a phenyl radical substituted by at least one element or electron-withdrawing substituent or by at least two halogen atoms, or an aryl radical containing at least two aromatic ring members, or such aryl radical bearing at least one electron-withdrawing substituent.

Abstract: Propylene may be polymerized by contacting it with certain iron complexes of selected 2,6-pyridinecarboxaldehydebis(imines) and 2,6-diacylpyridinebis(imines). The polymers produced are useful as molding resins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst system and a process suited for the preparation of a rubbery copolymer of ethylene, one or more .alpha.-olefins and optionally one or more polyunsaturated compounds, in which the catalyst system comprises a vanadium compound, an organometal compound and optionally a promoter, characterized in that the organometal complex in the catalyst system is an imido complex that satisfies the general formula(R.sub.u -X.sup.1.sub.v -Me.sup.1).sub.n =NR.sup.1 (I)where each individual Me.sup.1 is a metal chosen from group 1, 2, 12 or 13 of the Periodic System of Elements, each individual R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group having 1-20 C atoms, N--R.sup.1 is an imido group where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group having 1-20 C atoms or a group with the general formula MR.sup.3.sub.3, where M is an element chosen from group 14 of the Periodic System of Elements, each individual R.sup.3 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group having 1-20 C atoms or a heteroatom-containing group, X.sup.