Abstract: Polyethylene composition having a density of 950-960 kg/m3, a SHI(1,100) of 4-12, a melt index MI2 between 0.2 and 2 g/10 min, and a relationship between spiral flow ‘SF’ (measured in mm at 250° C./1000 bar/100 mm/s) and ESCR ‘E’ (measured in hours) of E>200?SF. The composition contains 48-62 wt % of an ethylene polymer (A) and 38-52 wt % of an ethylene copolymer (B). Copolymer (B) has a higher weight average molecular weight than polymer (A), and both of fractions (A) and (B) have a reverse comonomer distribution such that comonomer content increases with increasing molecular weight in the individual fraction.

Abstract: Silica supported catalyst composition useful in olefin polymerization, having a SiO2 content not more than 70 weight %, a transition metal (M) content between 2.5 and 9.1 weight %, a magnesium content between 0.5 and 3.3 weight %, an aluminium content between 0.3 and 5 weight % and a chlorine content between 5 and 30 weight %. The silica support has, prior to addition of catalytically active ingredients, a residual surface hydroxyl content between 0.6 and 2 mmole/g of silica, and the molar ratio of transition metal (M) to magnesium is between 0.3 and 2.5.

Abstract: A polyethylene composition suitable for making into caps and closures is described, which has a density of 950-960 kg/m3, a SHI(1/100) of 4-12, a melt index MI2 between 0.2 and 2 g/10 min, and a relationship between spiral flow ‘SF’ (measured in mm at 250° C./1000 bar/100 mm/s) and ESCR ‘E’ (measured in hours) of E>200?SF, or alternatively has a density of 950-960 kg/m3, a SHI(1/100) of 4-12, a melt index MI2 between 0.2 and 2 g/10 min, and a relationship between spiral flow ‘SF’, ESCR ‘E’ and melt index ‘MI2’ (measured in g/10 min according to ISO 1133 at 190° C. at load of 2.16 kg) of E>(9800?36SF?1000MI2)/60.

Abstract: Process for polymerizing ethylene in a reactor system containing one or more reactors in series, having a characteristic such that the average polymerization productivity [kgPE/kgcata] per unit ethylene per hour a1 during operation at any first residence time r1 is less than 1.7 (a2r2?a1r1)/(r2?r1), where a2 is the average polymerization productivity [kgPE/kgcata] per unit ethylene per hour during operation at any second residence time r2 where r2>r1, a2 and r2 being measured either in the same reactor in the case of a single reactor polymerization, or in a reactor subsequent to the reactor in which a1 and r1 are measured in the case where the polymerization takes place in more than one reactor. The specific yield of the reactor system is greater than 0.3 tonnes/m3. Operating the system under the above conditions results in improved productivity/unit ethylene.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new process for preparing a catalyst for the gas phase polymerization of olefins wherein the sequence of addition of the catalyst components and the selection of the said components provides a catalyst composition which exhibits a superior response to hydrogen, a surprisingly high productivity and an improved activity profile. The catalyst consists of compounds of a group IV transition metal, Mg, C1 and A1 supported on a silica support.

Abstract: Copolymers of ethylene and ?-olefins having (a) a density (D) in the range 0.900-0.940 g/cm3, (b) a melt index MI2 (2.16 kg, 190° C.) in the range of 0.01-50 g/10 min, (c) a melt index MI2 (2.16 kg, 190° C.) and Dow Rheology Index (DRI) satisfying the equation [DRI/MI2]>2.65, and (d) a Dart Drop Impact (DDI) in g of a blown film having a thickness of 25 ?m produced from the copolymer satisfying the equation DDI?1900×{1?Exp [?750(D?0.908)2]}×{Exp [(0.919?D)/0.0045]}. The copolymers may be prepared using metallocene catalysis and are preferably prepared in multistage processes carried out in loop reactors in the slurry phase. The copolymers exhibit long chain branching as defined by Dow Rheology Index (DRI) and exhibit unexpected improvements in mechanical properties, in particular dart drop impact, when extruded into blown films.

Abstract: A slurry process for the polymerisation of ethylene is disclosed, which takes place in a reactor system comprising one or more reactors in series, having a characteristic such that the average polymerisation productivity [kg PE/kgcata] per unit ethylene per hour aI during operation at any first residence time rI is less than 1.7 (a2r2 ?aIrI)/(r2?rI), where a2 is the average polymerisation productivity [kgPE/kgcata] per unit ethylene per hour during operation at any second residence time r2 where r2>rI, a2 and r2 being measured either in the same reactor in the case of a single reactor polymerisation, or in a reactor subsequent to the reactor in which aI and rI are measured in the case where the polymerisation takes place in more than one reactor, and wherein the specific yield of the reactor system is greater than 0.

Abstract: A polyethylene composition having a good balance of strength, flexibility and processability is disclosed, comprising (a) 40-55 wt % of a copolymer fraction (A) comprising ethylene and a C4-C10 alpha-olefin, and having an MI2 of from greater than 300 to 800 g/10 min or a Mw of 15 to 35 kDa; and (b) 45-60 wt % of a copolymer fraction (B) comprising ethylene and a C4-C10 alpha-olefin, wherein the composition has an unpigmented density of 940 to 956 kg/m3 and an MI5 of 0.1 to 1 g/10 min.

Abstract: Copolymers of ethylene and ?-olefins are provided having (a) a density (D) in the range 0.900-0.940 g/cm3, (b) a melt index MI2 (2.16 kg, 190° C.) in the range of 0.01-50 g/10 min, (c) a melt index MI2 (2.16 kg, 190° C.) and Dow Rheology Index (DRI) satisfying the equation [DRI/MI2]>2.65, and (d) a Dart Drop Impact (DDI) in g of a blown film having a thickness of 25 ?m produced from the copolymer satisfying the equation DDI?1900×{1?Exp[?750(D?0.908)2]}×{Exp[(0.919?D)/0.0045]}. The copolymers may suitably be prepared by use of metallocene catalysis and are preferably prepared in multistage processes earned out in loop reactors in the slurry phase. The copolymers exhibit long chain branching as defined by Dow Rheology Index (DRI) and exhibit unexpected improvements in mechanical properties, in particular dart drop impact, when extruded into blown films.

Abstract: Process for producing a multimodal polyethylene in at least two reactors connected in series, in which 20-80 wt % of a first polymer is made in suspension in a first reactor and 80-20 wt % of a second polymer is made in suspension in a second reactor in the presence of the first polymer, and a stream or slurry containing the resulting polymer is withdrawn from the second reactor and transferred to a flash tank operating at a pressure and temperature such that at least 50 mol % of the liquid component of the slurry, or the non-polymer component of the stream entering the flash tank, is withdrawn from the flash tank as a vapour, wherein the concentration in the stream or slurry entering the flash tank of components having a molecular weight below 50 g/mol, Clights (mol %), satisfies the equation Clights<7+0.07(40?Tc)+4.4(Pc?0.8)?7(CH2/CEt) where Tc and Pc are respectively the temperature (in ° C.

Abstract: Process for producing a multimodal polyethylene in at least two loop reactors connected in series. In the process 20-80 wt % of a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer is made in suspension in a first reactor and 20-80 wt % of a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer is made in suspension in a second reactor, one polymer being made in the presence of the other in either order. The ratio of the average activity in the LMW reactor to the average activity in the HMW reactor is from 0.25 and 1.5, where average activity in each reactor is defined as the rate of polyethylene produced in the reactor (kgPE/hr)/[ethylene concentration in the reactor (mol %)×residence time in the reactor (hours)×feed rate of catalyst into the reactor (g/hr)], residence time being defined as the mass of the polymer in the reactor (kg)/the output rate of polymer from the reactor (kg/hr), and the volumes of the two reactors differ by less than 10%.

Abstract: Process for producing a multimodal polyethylene in at least two reactors connected in series, in which 20-80 wt % of a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer is made in suspension in a first reactor and 20-80 wt % of a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer is made in suspension in a second reactor in the presence of the HMW polymer, wherein the solids concentration in the second LMW reactor, defined as the mass of polymer divided by the total mass of slurry, is at least 35 wt %, most preferably between 45 wt % and 60 wt %, and/or the ratio of solids concentration in the first reactor to that in the second reactor is maintained at less than 1.0, preferably between 0.6 and 0.8, and further wherein the volume of the second reactor is at least 10%, preferably at least 30% and more preferably at least 50% greater than the volume of the first reactor.

Abstract: Process for producing a multimodal polyethylene in at least two reactors connected in series, in which 20-80 wt % of a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer is made in suspension in a first reactor and 20-80 wt % of a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer is made in suspension in a second reactor. The ratio of the average activity in the LMW reactor to the average activity in the HMW reactor is from 0.25 and 1.5, where average activity in each reactor is defined as the rate of polyethylene produced in the reactor (kgPE/hr)/[ethylene concentration in the reactor (mol %)×residence time in the reactor (hours)×feed rate of catalyst into the reactor (g/hr)], residence time being defined as the mass of the polymer in the reactor (kg)/the output rate of polymer from the reactor (kg/hr). The volume of the second reactor is at least 10% greater than the volume of the first reactor, and the ratio of length to diameter of the first reactor, L/D(1), is greater than that of the second reactor, L/D(2).

Abstract: Polymerisation process in which polyethylene is produced in slurry in a polymerisation reactor in the presence of a Ziegler Natta catalyst and an activator, and a stream or slurry containing the polymer is withdrawn from the reactor and transferred to a flash tank operating at a pressure and temperature such that at least 50 mol % of the liquid or non-polymer component of the stream entering the flash tank or slurry is withdrawn from the flash tank as a vapour and at least 98 mol % of the vapour withdrawn from the flash tank is capable of being condensed at a temperature of between 15 and 50° C., without compression. A by-product suppressor, which reduces the amount of by-product formed per unit of polyethylene produced by at least 10%, compared with an identical polymerisation process where the by-product suppressor is not present, is used in the reactor. The molar ratio of the by-product suppressor added to the reactor to titanium added to the reactor is between 0.2 and 1.

Abstract: Process for producing a multimodal polyethylene in at least two loop reactors connected in series, in which 20-80 wt % of a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer is made in suspension in a first reactor and 20-80 wt % of a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer is made in suspension in a second reactor, one polymer being made in the presence of the other in either order, wherein the ratio of the average activity in the LMW reactor to the average activity in the HMW reactor is from 0.25 and 1.5, where average activity in each reactor is defined as the rate of polyethylene produced in the reactor (kgPE/hr)/[ethylene concentration in the reactor (mol %)×residence time in the reactor (hours)×feed rate of catalyst into the reactor (g/hr)], residence time being defined as the mass of the polymer in the reactor (kg)/the output rate of polymer from the reactor (kg/hr), and the volumes of the two reactors differ by less than 10%.

Abstract: Process for producing a multimodal polyethylene in at least two reactors connected in series, in which 20-80 wt % of a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer is made in suspension in a first reactor and 20-80 wt % of a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer is made in suspension in a second reactor, wherein the ratio of the average activity in the LMW reactor to the average activity in the HMW reactor is from 0.25 and 1.

Abstract: Process for producing a multimodal polyethylene in at least two reactors connected in series, in which 20-80 wt % of a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer is made in suspension in a first reactor and 20-80 wt % of a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer is made in suspension in a second reactor in the presence of the HMW polymer, wherein the solids concentration in the second LMW reactor, defined as the mass of polymer divided by the total mass of slurry, is at least 35 wt %, most preferably between 45 wt % and 60 wt %, and/or the ratio of solids concentration in the first reactor to that in the second reactor is maintained at less than 1.0, preferably between 0.6 and 0.8, and further wherein the volume of the second reactor is at least 10%, preferably at least 30% and more preferably at least 50% greater than the volume of the first reactor.

Abstract: Process for producing a multimodal polyethylene in at least two reactors connected in series, in which 20-80 wt % of a first polymer is made in suspension in a first reactor and 80-20 wt % of a second polymer is made in suspension in a second reactor in the presence of the first polymer, and a stream or slurry containing the resulting polymer is withdrawn from the second reactor and transferred to a flash tank operating at a pressure and temperature such that at least 50 mol % of the liquid component of the slurry, or the non-polymer component of the stream entering the flash tank, is withdrawn from the flash tank as a vapour, wherein the concentration in the stream or slurry entering the flash tank of components having a molecular weight below 50 g/mol, Clights (mol %), satisfies the equation Clights<7+0.07(40?Tc)+4.4(Pc?0.8)?7(CH2/CEt) where Tc and Pc are respectively the temperature (in ° C.

Abstract: A polymerisation process is disclosed in which polyethylene is produced in slurry in a polymerisation reactor in the presence of a Ziegler Natta catalyst and an activator, and slurry containing the polymer is withdrawn from the reactor and transferred to a flash tank operating at a pressure and temperature such that at least 50 mol % of the liquid component of the slurry is withdrawn from the flash tank as a vapour and at least 98 mol %, more preferably at least 98.5 mol %, and most preferably at least 99.5 mol %, of the vapour withdrawn from the flash tank is capable of being condensed at a temperature of between 15 and 40C without compression, wherein a by-product suppressor, which reduces the amount of by-product formed per unit of polyethylene produced by at least 10% compared with an identical polymerisation process where the by-product suppressor is not present, is used in the reactor.

Abstract: The olefin polymerization catalyst comprises a supported transition metal, magnesium and halogen; the support comprises aluminum phosphate and at least one oxide of silica or alumina. The catalyst is formed by impregnating the support with a liquid complex formed by reacting a magnesium compound and a transition metal compound, which can contain either oxygen or halogen, and then precipitating the complex on the support with an organoaluminum compound which may be halogenated. The catalyst is used with an organometallic cocatalyst.