Abstract: A method for making a solid catalytic component for a Ziegler-Natta catalyst includes contacting a particulate porous support with a solution of a hydrocarbon soluble organomagnesium precursor compound in a hydrocarbon solvent; and reacting said hydrocarbon soluble organo-magnesium precursor compound with an amount of aliphatic or aromatic alcohol, said amount being within an acceptable range of a molar equivalent of aliphatic or aromatic alcohol calculated according to formula (I): Equ Alkanol = 2 · [ ( mmole ? ? ? MgR / g ? ? ? support ) - 2.1 - 0.

Abstract: A method for making a solid catalytic component for a Ziegler-Natta catalyst includes contacting a particulate porous support with a solution of a hydrocarbon soluble organomagnesium precursor compound in a hydrocarbon solvent; and reacting said hydrocarbon soluble organo-magnesium precursor compound with an amount of aliphatic or aromatic alcohol, said amount being within an acceptable range of a molar equivalent of aliphatic or aromatic alcohol calculated according to formula (I): Equ Alkanol = 2 ? ? · [ ( mmole ? ? ? MgR ? / ? g ? ? ? support ) - 2.1 - 0.

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: A method for making magnesium-halide supports of a specified particle shape, average diameter and particle diameter distribution comprises providing a non-aqueous solution of a magnesium-halide containing silica particles dispersed therein, and crystallizing the magnesium-halide about the silica particles to provide the magnesium-halide support, wherein the magnesium-halide support has an approximately spherical shape, an average particle diameter from about 2 to about 120 microns, and a particle diameter distribution from about 1 to about 200, are provided. The invention further provides methods for making catalysts and using same in polymerization reactions. Catalyst supports and catalysts are also provided.