Process for manufacturing high to ultra high molecular weight polymers using novel bridged metallocene catalysts

• Main Authors: DICKNER TIM, PANITZKY JENS, SCHOTTEK JOERG, EHLERS JENS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.10.2011
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVINGCARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

The present invention relates to a process of manufacturing high, very high, and ultra high molecular weight polymers comprising predominantly ethylene monomers. Ethylene is reacted in the presence of a catalyst system to produce a polymer having a viscosimetrically-determined molecular weight of at least 0.7×106 g/mol. The catalyst system generally includes a bridged metallocene catalyst compound, optionally with a co-catalyst. The catalyst is characterized by a zirconium dichloride central functionality and a dimethyl silandiyl bridge between five-membered rings of indenyl groups. Both rings of the metallocene compound are substituted at the 2-position with respect to the dimethyl silandiyl bridge with a C1-C20 carbonaceous group.