High tensile strength amorphous 1-butene/propylene and ethylene/propylene copolymers

• US 5,681,913 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rextac Llc
• Original Assignee: Rexene Corp. (Huntsman Corporation)
• Inventors: Allen, George C., Sustic, Andres
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US08/473,288
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 526/125.3, 526/348.6
• US Class Current: 526/348.6
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 210/06 Propene
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 210/08 Butenes
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 210/16 Copolymers of ethene with alpha-alkenes, e.g. EP rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2500/16 Syndiotactic
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2500/17 Viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2500/20 Activation energy or enthalpy
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 4/6465 containing silicium
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 4/6555 and magnesium or compounds thereof

Abstract

Amorphous propylene/1-butene and ethylene/propylene copolymers having increased tensile properties produced by the process comprising:

reacting propylene and 1-butene monomers or ethylene and propylene monomers in the presence of a catalyst system comprising:

(a) a solid supported catalyst component is prepared by the method comprising: (i) co-comminuting magnesium halide support base and aluminum trihalide in a molar ratio from about 8:0.5 to about 8:3 in the absence of added electron donor; and (ii) then co-comminuting the product of step (i) in the absence of added electron donor with sufficient titanium tetrahalide to provide a molar ratio of magnesium halide to titanium tetrahalide from about 8:0.1 to about 8:1.0;

(b) a trialkylaluminum co-catalyst, having from 1 to 9 carbon atoms in each alkyl group in an amount such that the Al/Ti ratio is between about 50:1 and about 500:1; and

(c) an alkoxy silane component of the formula R_n Si(OR'"'"')_4-n where n=1-3, R=aryl or alkyl and R'"'"'=C_1-3 alkyl.

Claims

1. An amorphous 1-butene/propylene copolymer comprising:

from 25 to 50 wt % propylene and from 75 to 50 wt % 1-butene, the copolymer containing no heptane insolubles and having a glass transition temperature between -35°

C. and -39°

C., no determinable heat of fusion, a tensile strength of between 300 psig and 900 psig, and an elongation at break between 300% and 669%.

2. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the copolymer has a storage modulus between 10 and 14.

3. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the copolymer contains between 28% and 40% BB dyads.

4. An amorphous 1-butene/propylene copolymer comprising:

from 25 to 50 wt % propylene and from 75 to 50 wt % 1-butene, the copolymer containing no heptane insolubles and having a glass transition temperature between -35°

C. and -39°

C., a melt viscosity at 375°

F. between 5900 and 12050 cps, no determinable heat of fusion, a tensile strength of between 300 psig and 900 psig, and an elongation at break between 300% and 669%.

5. The copolymer of claim 4 wherein the copolymer has a ring and ball softening point between 193°

F. and 240°

F.

6. The copolymer of claim 4 wherein the copolymer has a storage modulus between 10 and 14.

7. The copolymer of claim 4 wherein the copolymer contains between 28% and 40% BB dyads.

8. An amorphous 1-butene/propylene copolymer comprising:

from 25 to 50 wt % propylene and from 75 to 50 wt % 1-butene, the copolymer containing no heptane insolubles and having a glass transition temperature between -35°

C. and -39°

C., a ring and ball softening point between 193°

F. and 240°

F., no determinable heat of fusion, a tensile strength of between 300 psig and 900 psig, and an elongation, at break between 300% and 669%.

9. The copolymer of claim 8 wherein the copolymer has a storage modulus between 10 and 14.

10. The copolymer of claim 8 wherein the copolymer contains between 28% and 40% BB dyads.