IP Library Granted Patent US 9,718,898
Granted Patent B1
US 9,718,898 · App. 15/365,848 · Granted Aug 1, 2017

Homogeneous polymerization catalyst for alpha olefins

Inventors: Willie Charles Burton (Geismar, LA); David G. Ward (Geismar, LA)
Assignee: Lion Copolymer Geismar, LLC
C08F4/6592C08F2/06C08F4/65908C08F4/65912C08F10/14
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,718,898
App. No.
15/365,848
Granted
Aug 1, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

A homogeneous polymerization catalyst system for polymerization or copolymerization of at least one alpha olefin has a Lewis acid, an alkyl aluminum in a hexane or a heptane, and at least one dry metallocene. The at least one dry metallocene has a transition metal compound. The Lewis acid is capable of forming an ion pair with the at least one dry metallocene. The homogeneous polymerization catalyst system produces a poly alpha olefin from alpha olefin monomers or mixed alpha olefins. A produced poly alpha olefin has a kinematic viscosity at 100 degrees Celsius ranging from 1 cSt to 1000 cSt.

Claims (11)

1. A homogeneous polymerization catalyst system for polymerization or copolymerization of at least one alpha olefin prepared by contacting:

a. a coordination complex (B) selected from the group consisting of: a ferrocenium tetraphenylborate, dimethylferrocenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, ferrocenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, decamethylferrocenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, acetylferrocenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, formylferrocenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, cyanoferrocenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, silver tetraphenylborate, silver tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, trityl tetraphenylborate, trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and silver tetrafluoroborate, trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisopropylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, dimethylaluminum chloride, diethylaluminum chloride, methylaluminum dichloride, ethylaluminum dichloride, dimethylaluminum fluoride, diisobutylaluminum hydride, diethylaluminum hydride, and ethylaluminum sesquichloride;

b. an alkyl aluminum (C) in hexane or heptane; and

c. at least one dry metallocene (A), wherein the molar ratio of the metallocene to the coordination complex is from 1:1.5 to 1:3 and the molar ratio of the metallocene to the alkyl aluminum, is from 1:15 to 1:500, wherein the metallocene is an unbridged or a bridged metallocene complex; and

wherein the metallocene is capable of forming an ion pair with the coordination complex, and wherein the amount of the coordination complex is 1 mol to 3.0 mol, based on 1 mol of the metallocene, and the amount of hexane or heptane is 100 parts by mass to 100,000 parts by mass, based on 1 part by mass of the coordination complex for producing a polyalpha-olefin with a kinematic viscosity at 100 degrees Celsius ranging from 1 cSt to 1000 cSt.

2. The homogeneous polymerization catalyst system of claim 1 , wherein the alpha olefin for polymerization has from 8 carbon atoms to 20 carbon atoms.

3. The homogeneous polymerization catalyst system of claim 1 , further comprising a Zeigler-Natta catalyst blended with homogeneous metallocene catalyst system.

4. The homogeneous polymerization catalyst system of claim 1 , wherein the unbridged metallocene complex is selected from the group consisting of: biscyclopentadienylzirconium dichloride, bis(n-butylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride, bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride, bisindenyizirconium dichloride, and bis(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride.

5. The homogeneous polymerization catalyst system of claim 1 , wherein the bridged metallocene complex is selected from the group consisting of: dimethylsilylene(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-2-phenoxy)zirconium dichloride, dimethylsilylene(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)(tert-butylamido)zirconium dichloride, dimethylsilylenebis(2-methyl-4,5-benzoindenyl)zirconium dichloride, dimethylsilylenebis(2-methyl-4-phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride, dimethylsilylenebis(2-methyl-4-naphthylindenyDzirconium dichloride, dimethylsilylenebis(2-methylindenyl)zirconium dichloride, ethylenebis(2-methylindenyl)zirconium dichloride, and ethylenebisindenylzirconium dichloride.

6. The homogeneous polymerization catalyst system of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl aluminum is selected from the group consisting of: trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisopropylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, dimethylaluminum chloride, diethylaluminum chloride, methylaluminum dichloride, ethylaluminum dichloride, dimethylaluminum fluoride, diisobutylaluminum hydride, diethylaluminum hydride, and ethylaluminum sesquichloride.

7. The homogeneous polymerization catalyst system of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl aluminum is selected from the group consisting of: tetramethyldialumoxane, tetraisobutyldialumoxane, methylalumoxane, ethylalumoxane, butylalumoxane, and isobutylalumoxane.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2023
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: LION COPOLYMER HOLDINGS, LLC; LION COPOLYMER GEISMAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 065109/0547 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 7, 2017
From: LION COPOLYMER GEISMAR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 044387/0654 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2017
From: LION COPOLYMER HOLDINGS, LLC
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043996/0218 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2016
From: BURTON, WILLIE CHARLES; WARD, DAVID G.
To: LION COPOLYMER GEISMAR, LLC
Reel/Frame 040472/0419 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 15247630 · Aug 25, 2016
Continuation In Part 14081937 · Nov 15, 2013
Provisional Application 61728607 · Nov 20, 2012