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: 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: This invention relates to a method of making polymer compositions, e.g. EPDM compositions, in a multistage reactor with monomers chosen from ethylene, C3-C8 alpha olefins, and a non conjugated diene. In particular, the invention relates to a process for improving diene conversion during the manufacture of the aforementioned polymer compositions by use of a multistage reactor and a metallocene catalyst system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making polymer blends using series reactors and a metallocene catalyst. Monomers used by the invention are ethylene, a higher alpha-olefin (propylene most preferred), and optionally, a non-conjugated diene (ethylidene norbornene, i.e., ENB, most preferred). More specifically, this invention relates to making blends of EP (ethylene-propylene) copolymers in which the blend components differ in any of the following characteristics: 1) composition 2) molecular weight, and 3) crystallinity. We use the terminology EP copolymer to also include terpolymers that contain varying amounts of non-conjugated diene. Such terpolymers are commonly known as EPDM.

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: Bulky noncoordinating anions that are surprisingly stable under olefin polymerization conditions such that olefin polymers can be prepared with unexpectedly high molecular weights at high catalyst efficiencies. Thus the invention is directed to an olefin polymerization process comprising contacting under polymerization conditions one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers with a catalyst composition comprising at least one organometallic transition metal compound activated to a cationic state and a stabilizing, compatible non-coordinating Group 13 anionic complex having halogenated aromatic ligands in an essentially tetrahedral structure wherein the aromatic groups are polycyclic fused or pendant aromatic rings.

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: The invention provides a continuous process for catalytically polymerizing a monomer feed of ethylene and at least one comonomer which comprises introducing a catalyst including a bulky ancillary ligand transition metal compound and monomer feed in an upstream reaction zone for polymerization, introducing further catalyst in a downstream reaction zone for further polymerization, the peak temperature in the downstream reaction zone being at least 50.degree. C. higher than in the upstream zone and being above 150.degree. C. The process economically produces polymer of good properties which is melt processable.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for polymerizing olefins at high pressures in a polymerization medium at high temperature utilizing an ionic olefin polymerization catalyst derived from the reaction of a cyclopentadienyl-containing transition metal compound having a hydrolyzable alkyl or hydride ligand with an ion exchange activator. The ionic catalyst system has been found to be highly active at temperatures of 160.degree. C. or greater, to provide a process capable of producing polymer products of desired chemical and physical properties at high production rates.