Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process including introducing a feed to a catalyst and an activator to provide a solution in a continuous or semi-continuous reactor. The feed can include a solvent, and a first monomer that is propylene. The reactor can include polymerization conditions including a pressure of about 1 MPa to about 5 MPa and/or a temperature of about 60° C. to about 120° C. The solution can be circulated to form a biphasic product including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a propylene based polymer having a polydispersity index of about 1.5 to about 15, and weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 50,000 g/mol or greater, according to GPC-4D.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a reactor includes a reactor body. A first internal heat exchanger and a second internal heat exchanger are within the reactor body. One or more slabs of one or more static inserts are disposed between the first internal heat exchanger and the second internal heat exchanger. A plurality of flow paths is defined between the plurality of flow channels of the first internal heat exchanger and the plurality of flow channels of the second internal heat exchanger. Each static insert is configured to rotate or translate a flow path so that on average, the existing boundary layers formed in the first heat exchanger are moved away from the channel walls by a distance of equal or greater than the thickness of the boundary layers at the exit of the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: Methods and systems for solution polymerization. The method can include forming a first mixture stream consisting essentially of at least one catalyst and a process solvent, and forming a second mixture stream consisting essentially of at least one activator and the process solvent. The first mixture stream and the second mixture stream can be fed separately to at least one reaction zone comprising one or more monomers dissolved in the process solvent where the at least one monomers can be polymerized within the at least one reaction zone in the presence of the catalyst, activator and process solvent to produce a polymer product.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a reactor includes a reactor body. A first internal heat exchanger and a second internal heat exchanger are within the reactor body. One or more slabs of one or more static inserts are disposed between the first internal heat exchanger and the second internal heat exchanger. A plurality of flow paths is defined between the plurality of flow channels of the first internal heat exchanger and the plurality of flow channels of the second internal heat exchanger.

Abstract: Methods and systems for solution polymerization. The method can include forming a first mixture stream consisting essentially of at least one catalyst and a process solvent, and forming a second mixture stream consisting essentially of at least one activator and the process solvent. The first mixture stream and the second mixture stream can be fed separately to at least one reaction zone comprising one or more monomers dissolved in the process solvent where the at least one monomers can be polymerized within the at least one reaction zone in the presence of the catalyst, activator and process solvent to produce a polymer product.

Abstract: Provided is a vacuum devolatilizer for use in a polymer manufacturing or processing plant. The devolatilizer comprises a vacuum chamber having an inlet for a polymer melt, an outlet for a polymer melt, a vacuum port through which volatiles may be removed and a stirrer shaft port for the entry of a stirrer shaft. The stirrer shaft passes through the at least one stirrer shaft port and extends into the vacuum chamber and carries an agitation means. The stirrer shaft seal is associated with each stirrer shaft port for sealing against the stirrer shaft and each stirrer shaft seal has an external portion outside the vacuum chamber. The devolatilizer is provided with a motor located outside of the vacuum chamber for rotating shaft and comprises means for blanketing the external portion of the stirrer shaft seal with a low oxygen content gas or vapor, e.g., nitrogen, helium, steam, or carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for forming a fiber, the method comprising charging to a reactive extruder a first polymer and a second polymer to form an initial blend, where the first polymer is a propylene-based elastomer including up to 35% by weight ethylene-derived units and a heat of fusion, as determined according to DSC procedures according to ASTM E-793, of less than 80 J/g and a melt temperature of less than 110° C., where the second polymer is a propylene-based polymer having a melt temperature in excess of 110° C. and a heat of fusion in excess of 80 J/g, and introducing the reactive blend to a spinneret to form a fiber or extruding the reacted blend through a plurality of die capillaries to form molten threads or filaments which are attenuated in a gas stream to form meltblown fibers.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a plant for the continuous solution polymerization of a feed comprising one or more olefin monomers in a solvent, e.g., hydrocarbon solvent, in which the plant comprises means for separating solvent from the polymer including a flash tank and a vacuum devolatilizer. The plant also includes in a first aspect stabilizer addition means for adding a stabilizer to the concentrated polymer fines at a location downstream of the flash and upstream of the vacuum devolatilizer. In another aspect the plant comprises means to add a molten stabilizer to the polymer at a location downstream of the reactors.

Abstract: Described herein in one embodiment is a plant for the continuous solution polymerization of one or more monomers in a solvent, e.g., a hydrocarbon solvent. In one aspect, the plant comprises a high pressure pump and at least one heat exchanger downstream of the pump. In another aspect a feed is cooled by three heat exchangers which are refrigerated by means of a common three stage compressor. In another aspect, the plant comprises a primary reactor and a secondary reactor arranged to operate in parallel, in which the ratio of volume of the primary reactor to the secondary reactor is in the range of 60:40 to 95:5. In another aspect, a method of defouling a heat exchanger is provided in which the level of liquid refrigerant in the heat exchanger is temporarily lowered.

Abstract: A method for forming a polymer blend, the method comprising charging to a reactive extruder a first polymer and a second polymer to form an initial blend, where the first polymer is a propylene-based elastomer including up to 35% by weight ethylene-derived units and a heat of fusion, as determined according to DSC procedures according to ASTM E-793, of less than 80 J/g and a melt temperature of less than 110° C., where the second polymer is a propylene-based polymer having a melt temperature in excess of 110° C. and a heat of fusion in excess of 80 J/g.

Abstract: A method for forming a polymer blend, the method comprising charging to a reactive extruder a first polymer and a second polymer to form an initial blend, where the first polymer is a propylene-based elastomer including up to 35% by weight ethylene-derived units and a heat of fusion, as determined according to DSC procedures according to ASTM E-793, of less than 80 J/g and a melt temperature of less than 110° C., where the second polymer is a propylene-based polymer having a melt temperature in excess of 110° C. and a heat of fusion in excess of 80 J/g.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a plant for the continuous solution polymerization of a feed comprising one or more olefin monomers in a solvent, e.g., hydrocarbon solvent, in which the plant comprises means for separating solvent from the polymer including a flash tank and a vacuum devolatilizer. The plant also includes in a first aspect stabilizer addition means for adding a stabilizer to the concentrated polymer fines at a location downstream of the flash and upstream of the vacuum devolatilizer. In another aspect the plant comprises means to add a molten stabilizer to the polymer at a location downstream of the reactors.

Abstract: Described herein in one embodiment is a plant for the continuous solution polymerization of one or more monomers in a solvent, e.g., a hydrocarbon solvent. In one aspect, the plant comprises a high pressure pump and at least one heat exchanger downstream of the pump. In another aspect a feed is cooled by three heat exchangers which are refrigerated by means of a common three stage compressor. In another aspect, the plant comprises a primary reactor and a secondary reactor arranged to operate in parallel, in which the ratio of volume of the primary reactor to the secondary reactor is in the range of 60:40 to 95:5. In another aspect, a method of defouling a heat exchanger is provided in which the level of liquid refrigerant in the heat exchanger is temporarily lowered.

Abstract: Provided is a vacuum devolatilizer for use in a polymer manufacturing or processing plant. The devolatilizer comprises a vacuum chamber having an inlet for a polymer melt, an outlet for a polymer melt, a vacuum port through which volatiles may be removed and a stirrer shaft port for the entry of a stirrer shaft. The stirrer shaft passes through the at least one stirrer shaft port and extends into the vacuum chamber and carries an agitation means. The stirrer shaft seal is associated with each stirrer shaft port for sealing against the stirrer shaft and each stirrer shaft seal has an external portion outside the vacuum chamber. The devolatilizer is provided with a motor located outside of the vacuum chamber for rotating shaft and comprises means for blanketing the external portion of the stirrer shaft seal with a low oxygen content gas or vapor, e.g., nitrogen, helium, steam, or carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A compound represented by the formula: where: M is a transition metal selected from group 4 of the periodic table; each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl and functional group, and any two R1 groups may be linked, provided that if the two R1 groups are linked, then they do not form a butadiene group when M is Zr; R3 is carbon or silicon; R4 is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or a functional group; R5 is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or a functional group, R4 and R5 may be bound together to form a ring; R6 is carbon or silicon; each R7 is hydrogen; each R8 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl and the isomers thereof; R10 is -M2(R16)h— where M2 is B, Al, N, P, Si or Ge, h is 1 or 2; each R9, R11, R13 and R14 and R16 is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or a functional group, and two R16 groups may be linked together to f