Abstract: An improvement in a process for the preparation of an ethylene homopolymer or a copolymer of ethylene with an .alpha.-olefin containing 3 to 15 carbon atoms by contacting the monomer or mixture of monomers in solution, suspension or in gas phase at 20.degree. to 250.degree. C. at a pressure of 1 to 50 bar with a mixed catalyst comprising a chlorine containing titanium (III) compound and an organoaluminum compound in the presence of hydrogen, the improvement residing in employing as the organoaluminum compound a trialkylaluminum compound in an amount of 0.1 to 20 mol per mol titanium (III) compound and including in the polymerization mixture oxygen at a concentration of 0.001 to 0.1 volume percent based upon the amount of ethylene. By carrying out the polymerization by including oxygen in the polymerization reaction mixture and employing trialkylaluminum compound as the organoaluminum compound the mean molecular weight of the polymer can be regulated while obtaining a desired molecular weight distribution.

Abstract: A solid transition metal compound is ground with an organo-sulphur compound which is a defined aromatic sulphone, sulphonamide or sulphide such as diphenylsulphone, N,N-diethyl-4-phenoxy benzenesulphonamide or phenoxathiin. A Lewis Acid such as titanium tetrachloride can be present during the grinding operation. Alternatively there may be present, during the grinding, an oxidizing agent capable of generating tetravalent titanium in the presence of titanium trichloride, for example carbon tetrachloride or gaseous oxygen. The grinding can be effected in a ball-mill or a vibrating mill. The materials may be added during the grinding and the temperature may be varied during the grinding. A liquid which is a solvent for the organo-sulphur compound or complexes thereof with aluminum chloride may be present during a part of the grinding.

Abstract: Improved catalysts are disclosed for producing highly crystalline alpha-olefin polymers and highly crystalline copolymers of an alpha-olefin with ethylene or other olefins. Such catalysts can reduce the amount of coproduced amorphous polymer formed without substantial adverse effect on polymerization yield. These novel catalysts involve improving an alkylaluminum component-titanium chloride catalyst by using such catalyst in combination with effective amounts of sulfur dioxide and certain amines. Such catalyst compositions are useful in slurry polymerization, bulk polymerization and, particularly, vapor phase polymerization.

Abstract: Propylene is polymerized with an improved titanium chloride catalyst. The improved titanium chloride catalyst is prepared by treating TiCl.sub.4 with an aluminum alkyl and treating the resulting titanium chloride catalyst with carbon dioxide and a Lewis base, such as di(n-butyl) ether in a hydrocarbon medium at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: Novel catalysts and processes are disclosed for producing highly crystalline polypropylene and highly crystalline copolymers of propylene with ethylene or propylene with other alpha-olefins. Such catalysts can reduce the amount of low-molecular-weight and, particularly, amorphous polymers formed without serious effect on the polymerization yield. These novel catalysts and processes involve improving an alkyl-aluminum compound-titanium chloride catalyst by using in combination small amounts of sulfur dioxide and isobutylvinyl ether. Such catalyst systems are useful in slurry polymerization, bulk polymerization and techniques in which polymerization is accomplished utilizing monomer substantially in the vapor phase.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of homopolymers and copolymers of .alpha.-monoolefins by polymerizing the monomer or monomers at relatively low temperatures under relatively low pressures by means of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising (I) a titanium chloride component and (II) an aluminumalkyl component, wherein the titanium chloride component (I) employed is obtained by exposing a conventional catalyst component consisting, or substantially consisting, of titanium trichloride or titanium tetrachloride, to a carbon dioxide atmosphere under specific conditions. Catalysts obtained from titanium chloride components (I) which have been treated in this way exhibit a relatively long induction period.

Abstract: A method for preparing copolymers of a bicycloheptene and 1,3-butadiene is described. The method comprises polymerizing said monomers in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of a catalyst mixture comprising:(a) at least one organoaluminum compound of the formula R.sub.3 Al or R.sub.2 AlX wherein R is an alkyl radical containing from one to about 12 carbon atoms, and X is a halogen, and(b) at least one molybdenum salt.These copolymers can be oil extended and vulcanized to high strength rubbers.

Abstract: In an alpha-olefin polymerization process using a transition metal halide-aluminum alkyl catalyst system, addition of minor, effective amounts of alkyl orthoformates, thiophosphates and borates decreases the amount of low molecular weight or amorphous polymer produced.

Abstract: 1,3-Butadiene is polymerized in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising:(a) a cobalt-containing component;(b) R.sub.2 AlX wherein R is a hydrocarbon radical of 1-8 atoms, and X is halogen or hydrogen, and(c) COS.The cobalt-containing component may be a cobalt salt, such as a cobalt halide, carboxylate, thiocarboxylate, carbonate, thiocarbonate, etc. or a complex of such a salt with an oxygen-containing or nitrogen-containing group either in the same compound or in a separate compound. Typical aluminum compounds that may be used are dibutyl aluminum chloride, dipropyl aluminum chloride, diethyl aluminum chloride, bibutyl aluminum hydride, diamyl aluminum hydride, dipropyl aluminum hydride, etc. When the temperature for polymerization is maintained at -30.degree. to 30.degree. C., the resultant polymers have at least 40% syndiotactic-1,2 and with higher temperatures the syndiotactic-1,2 proportion increases until at 70.degree. C.

Abstract: In an alpha-olefin polymerization process using a transition metal halide-aluminum alkyl catalyst system, addition of minor, effective amounts of a sterically hindered 5- or 6-membered cyclic ether decreases the amount of low molecular weight or amorphous polymer produced.

Abstract: Titanium chloride catalysts having improved activity to polymerize propylene are prepared by treating TiCl.sub.4 with an aluminum alkyl and treating the resulting titanium chloride catalysts with carbon dioxide and a Lewis base such as di(n-butyl) ether at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: Solid supported catalysts which can be employed for the polymerization of .alpha.-olefins are prepared by (A) reacting in the presence of a diluent such as n-hexane a mixture of (1) the reaction product of (a) an organo magnesium compound such as dibutyl magnesium and (b) at least one of water, carbon dioxide or an organic, oxygen-containing compound such as n-propyl alcohol; and (2) a transition metal halide such as titanium tetrachloride and (B) recovering the solid precipitate such as by decanting and (C) washing the solid with a solvent such as n-hexane. The resultant solid supported catalyst contains sufficient transition metal which when activated with a suitable activating agent serves as a polymerization catalyst for .alpha.-olefins. The polymers prepared employing these catalysts have a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution and low residual amounts of transition metal and halides.

Abstract: Solid supported catalysts which can be employed for the polymerization of .alpha.-olefins are prepared by (A) reacting in the presence of a diluent such as n-hexane a mixture of (1) the reaction product of (a) an organo magnesium compound such as dibutyl magnesium and (b) at least one of water, carbon dioxide or an organic, oxygen-containing compound such as n-propyl alcohol; and (2) a transition metal halide such as titanium tetrachloride and (B) recovering the solid precipitate such as by decanting and (C) washing the solid with a solvent such as n-hexane. The resultant solid supported catalyst contains sufficient transition metal which when activated with a suitable activating agent serves as a polymerization catalyst for .alpha.-olefins. The polymers prepared employing these catalysts have a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution and low residual amounts of transition metal and halides.

Abstract: A propylene polymerization catalyst is formed by incorporation into a catalytic mixture, comprising a transition metal compound and an organoaluminum compound, effective amounts of Group Va or Group VII oxygen mineral acids whereby the amount of n-hexane-soluble polymeric product is decreased.

Abstract: In a process for preparing polyolefin by polymerizing an olefin in the presence of a catalyst system combining an organoaluminum compound and a titanium-containing solid catalytic component prepared by mixing (a) water and/or a hydroxy compound, (b) a Grignard reagent and (c) a titanium tetrahalide, the components (a) (b) or (c) or the reaction mixture of two or three components thereof is contacted with (d) one or more electron donor selected from the group consisting of amines, carboxylic acid amides, phosphines, phosphine oxides, phosphoric esters, phosphorous esters, phosphoric acid amides, ketones and carboxylic esters. The polyolefin having high isotactic index can be obtained.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of homopolymers and copolymers of .alpha.-monoolefins by polymerizing the monomer or monomers at relatively low temperatures under relatively low pressures by means of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising (I) a titanium trichloride component and (II) an aluminum-alkyl component, wherein the titanium trichloride component (I) employed is obtained by exposing a conventional catalyst component consisting, or substantially consisting, of titanium trichloride, to a carbon monoxide atmosphere under specific conditions. Catalysts obtained from titanium trichloride components (I) which have been treated in this way exhibit a relatively long induction period.

Abstract: A propylene polymerization catalyst is formed by incorporation into a catalytic mixture, comprising a transition metal compound and an organoaluminum compound, effective amounts of Group Va or Group VII oxygen mineral acids whereby the amount of n-hexane-soluble polymeric product is decreased.

Abstract: A process for preparing a modified titanium chloride component for a titanium-containing Ziegler olefin polymerization catalyst comprising (1) treating an ether-free organo-magnesium compound with an oxygen-containing organic compound other than an ether, or with carbon dioxide or oxygen under anhydrous conditions and (2) reacting the product with titanium tetrachloride.

Abstract: In an alpha-olefin polymerization process using a transition metal halide-aluminum alkyl catalyst system, addition of minor, effective amounts of aromatic amines or amine N-oxides substituted with electron withdrawing groups decreases the amount of low molecular weight or amorphous polymer produced.

Abstract: A propylene polymerization catalyst is formed by incorporation into a catalytic mixture, comprising a transition metal compound and an organoaluminum compound, effective amounts of hexavalent sulfur mineral acid or anhydride whereby the amount of n-hexane-soluble polymeric product is decreased.

Abstract: A 1,3-cyclodiene comonomer and a linear conjugated diene comonomer are copolymerized employing a catalyst formed from a mixture comprising a triorganoaluminum compound, a nickel (II) compound and a Friedel-Crafts type cocatalyst. Also, a catalyst and a method for the production thereof which is useful in the copolymerization is provided.

Abstract: Compositions exhibiting high catalytic activity in the polymerization of .alpha.-olefins, particularly higher olefins, are provided by reacting a trivalent titanium halide complex such as an alcohol complex of titanium trichloride, an organomagnesium component such as a hydrocarbon soluble complex of dialkyl magnesium and an alkyl aluminum and halide source such as a hydrogen halide or an alkyl aluminum halide. Polymerization processes employing this catalyst composition do not require conventional catalyst removal steps in order to provide polymers having suitable color and other physical characteristics.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a process for preparing polyolefins which comprises polymerizing or copolymerizing olefins using as catalyst a component consisting of a solid carrier and a titanium compound and/or a vanadium compound supported thereon, and an organometallic compound, said solid carrier consisting of a product obtained by mixing and heating an aluminum oxide and an ammonium sulfate.

Abstract: A process is described wherein polyethylenes having molecular weights greater than 500,000 are prepared and in which the formation of polymer film and lumps in the polymerization reactor is virtually eliminated. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of a solvent, a titanium (III) halide/aluminum alkyl catalyst and a mono-or polyhydric alcohol, the ethylene having an oxygen content of less than 5 ppm.

Abstract: Method of polymerizing conjugated diolefinic monomers containing from 4 to about 12 carbon atoms to high molecular weight polymers by bringing said monomers into contact with a catalyst system consisting of (1) an iron-containing compound, (2) an organometallic reducing agent from Groups I and III of the Periodic Table, and (3) a nitrogen-containing ligand.

Abstract: Low molecular weight polybutadiene, polyisoprene and other hydrocarbon polymers having a high vinyl and a low 1,4-trans-double bond content, which are useful in varnishes and impregnating compositions, are produced employing as catalyst system (a) a cobalt compound; (b) a halogen-containing organoaluminum compound; and (c) an organic phosphite of the formula PR.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are alkoxy, alkenyloxy or monocyclic aryloxy; and optionally (d) an H-acidic compound, e.g., water.