초록 ▼

This invention is directed to processes of making polymer in the presence of a hydrofluorocarbon or perfluorocarbon and recovering the polymer. The processes provided enable polymerization processes to be practiced with minimal fouling in the reaction system, and to the recovery of the hydrofluoroca

This invention is directed to processes of making polymer in the presence of a hydrofluorocarbon or perfluorocarbon and recovering the polymer. The processes provided enable polymerization processes to be practiced with minimal fouling in the reaction system, and to the recovery of the hydrofluorocarbon and other hydrocarbons such as hydrocarbons for reuse in the process or hydrocarbon by-products from the polymerization process. The invention is particularly beneficial in the production of ethylene based polymers using bulky ligand metallocene-type catalyst systems.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A process for producing polymer comprising polymerizing ethylene and optionally one or more comonomers at a temperature of from 30° C. to 200° C. in the presence of a supported bulky ligand metallocene-type catalyst system and a diluent to form a slurry of polymer solids, whe

We claim: 1. A process for producing polymer comprising polymerizing ethylene and optionally one or more comonomers at a temperature of from 30° C. to 200° C. in the presence of a supported bulky ligand metallocene-type catalyst system and a diluent to form a slurry of polymer solids, wherein the diluent comprises at least 5 volume percent of a fluorinated hydrocarbon based on the total volume of the diluent, wherein the fluorinated hydrocarbon is not a perfluorocarbon, and wherein the bulky ligand metallocene-type catalyst system comprises an activator and a bulky ligand metallocene-type compound is represented by the formula: LALBMQn  (I) or LAALBMQn  (II) where M is a metal from Group 3 to 12 of the Periodic Table of Elements, LA and LB are selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl ligands, cyclopentaphenanthreneyl ligands, indenyl ligands, benzindenyl ligands, fluorenyl ligands, octahydrofluorenyl ligands, cyclooctatetraendiyl ligands, cyclopentacyclododecene ligands, azenyl ligands, azulene ligands, pentalene ligands, pyrrolyl ligands, pyrozolyl ligands, carbazolyl ligands, borabenzene ligands and hydrogenated versions thereof; Q is a monoanionic labile ligand having a sigma-bond to M, and depending on the oxidation state of M, the value for n is 0, 1 or 2 such that Formula I or II above represents a neutral bulky ligand metallocene-type catalyst compound; and A is a bridging group containing carbon, germanium or silicon. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the bulky ligand metallocene-type catalyst system comprises a Group 3-6 metal, biscyclopentadienyl or substituted biscyclopentadienyl compound. 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluorinated hydrocarbon consists essentially of at least one carbon atom and at least one fluorine atom, and optionally at least one hydrogen atom. 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluorine containing hydrocarbon is represented by the formula: CxHyFz wherein x is an integer from 1 to 40, and y and z are integers of at least one. 5. The process of claim 4 wherein y and z are integers equal to or greater than 1. 6. The process of claim 4 wherein x is an integer in the range of from 1 to 10. 7. The process of claim 2 wherein the molar ratio of the fluorinated hydrocarbon to the Group 3-6 metal is greater than 100:1. 8. The process of claim 1 wherein the diluent further comprises at least one C1 to C40 alkane, preferably at least one C1 to C20 alkane, or more preferably at least one C1 to C8 alkane. 9. The process of claim 1 wherein the diluent comprises a mixture of at least one saturated hydrocarbon and at least one fluorinated hydrocarbon wherein the mixture has a density in the range of from 0.2 g/cc less than to 0.2 g/cc greater than the density of the polymer. 10. The process of claim 9 wherein the mixture has a density in the range of from 0.1 g/cc less than to 0.1 g/cc greater than the density of the polymer. 11. The process of claim 10 wherein the mixture has a density in the range of from 0.05 g/cc less than to 0.05 g/cc greater than the density of the polymer. 12. The process of claim 1 wherein the diluent comprises a mixture of at least one saturated hydrocarbon and at least one fluorinated hydrocarbon and the fluorinated hydrocarbon comprises greater than 1 weight percent of the mixture. 13. The process of claim 12 wherein the fluorinated hydrocarbon comprises greater than 5 weight percent of the mixture. 14. The process of claim 13 wherein the fluorinated hydrocarbon comprises greater than 10 weight percent of the mixture. 15. The process of claim 1 wherein the diluent comprises a mixture of at least one saturated hydrocarbon and at least one fluorinated hydrocarbon and the fluorinated hydrocarbon comprises greater than 1 volume percent of the mixture. 16. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluorinated hydrocarbon comprises greater the 10 volume percent of the mixture. 17. The process of claim 1 wherein ethylene comprises 50 weight % or more of the total weight of ethylene and comonomer polymerized. 18. The process of claim 1 wherein ethylene comprises 75 weight % or more of the total weight of ethylene and comonomer polymerized. 19. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer has a melting temperature of greater than or equal to 75° C. 20. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer has a heat of fusion greater than or equal to 10 J/g. 21. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer has a heat of fusion greater than or equal to 40 J/g. 22. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer has a composition distribution breadth index of greater than or equal to 60%. 23. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer has a Mw/Mn in the range of from 1.5 to 4.0. 24. The process of claim 1 wherein the comonomers are selected from linear, branched, or ring-containing olefins having up to 30 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof. 25. The process of claim 1 wherein the activator is an alkylalumoxane. 26. The process of claim 1 wherein the activator is a noncoordinating anion activator. 27. The process of claim 1 wherein the process is carried out in a loop reactor. 28. The process of claim 1 wherein the process is carried out in a stirred tank reactor. 29. The process of claim 1 further comprising continuously discharging a portion of the slurry from the reactor as polymerization effluent. 30. The process of claim 29 further comprising flashing the polymerization effluent in a first flash to vaporize from about 50% to about 100% of the liquid medium to produce concentrated polymer effluent and vaporized liquid. 31. The process of claim 30 further comprising condensing the vapor obtained in the first flash without compression. 32. The process of claim 31 further comprising operating the reactor at a space time yield greater than 2.6 lbs/hr-gal (0.316 kg/hr-l). 33. The process of claim 30 further comprising discharging from the first flash polymer solids to a second flash through a seal chamber of sufficient dimension such as to maintain a volume of polymer solids/slurry in the seal chamber sufficient to maintain a pressure seal. 34. The process of claim 9 wherein the volume percent solids in the polymerization slurry in the reactor is greater than 50. 35. The process of claim 30 wherein the first flash is operated at from about 140 psia (965 kPa) to about 315 psia (2172 kPa). 36. The process of claim 30 wherein the concentrated polymer effluent and vaporized liquid are continuously separated. 37. The process of claim 30 wherein the concentrated polymer effluent slurry is flashed in a second flash to vaporize liquid. 38. The process of claim 30 wherein the vapor from the first flash is condensed by heat exchange. 39. The process of claim 27, wherein the polymerization slurry is circulated within the loop reactor by multiple pumps and wherein the reactor volume is greater than 20,000 gallons (75.7 kiloliters). 40. The process of claim 30 further comprising heating the polymerization effluent. 41. The process of claim 40 wherein the polymerization effluent is heated to a temperature below the fusion temperature of the polymer. 42. The process of claim 41 wherein the quantity of heat supplied to the polymerization effluent is at least equal to that quantity of heat which equals the heat of vaporization of the liquid medium which is to be flashed in the first flash. 43. The process of claim 29 wherein the polymer solids are separated from the diluent with a centrifuge apparatus. 44. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymerization is carried out at a temperature of from 0° C. to about 200° C. 45. The process of claim 1 wherein the polymerization is carried out at a pressure of from 1 to 100 atmospheres. 46. The process of claim 1, wherein the diluent comprises a mixture of at least one saturated hydrocarbon and at least one fluorinated hydrocarbon wherein the mixture has a density in the range of from 0.1 g/cc less than to 0.1 g/cc greater than the density of the polymer. 47. The process of claim 1, wherein the comonomers are selected from linear or branched C3 to C20 alpha olefins. 48. The process of claim 1, wherein the comonomers are selected from linear C3 to C40 alpha olefins. 49. The process of claim 1, wherein the comonomers include at least one polyene. 50. The process of claim 1 wherein LA and LB are selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl ligands, indenyl ligands and fluorenyl ligands. 51. The process of claim 1 wherein LA and LB are indenyl ligands. 52. The process of claim 51 wherein LA and LB are substituted with a combination of substituent groups R, said R groups being selected from hydrogen, linear alkyl radicals, branched alkyl radicals, alkenyl radicals, alkynyl radicals, cycloalkyl radicals, aryl radicals, acyl radicals, aroyl radicals, alkoxy radicals, aryloxy radicals, alkylthio radicals, dialkylamino radicals, alkoxycarbonyl radicals, aryloxycarbonyl radicals, carbomoyl radicals, alkyl-carbamoyl radicals, dialkyl-carbamoyl radicals, acyloxy radicals, acylamino radicals, aroylamino radicals, straight alkylene radicals, branched alkylene radicals, cyclic alkylene radicals, and combinations thereof. 53. The process of claim 51 wherein LA and LB are substituted with a combination of substituent groups R, said R groups being selected from hydrogen, halogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl, phenyl, and their isomers. 54. The process of claim 1 wherein the fluorinated hydrocarbon comprises 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane, octafluorocyclobutane, and 2,3-dihydrodecafluoropentane.