HERSTELLUNG VON POLYETHYLEN MIT BIMODALER MOLEKULARGEWICHTSVERTEILUNG

摘要

A process for producing high density polyethylene having a large molecular weight distribution, in particular a bimodal molecular weight distribution. The process comprises polymerisation ethylene or copolymerising ethylene and an alpha-olefinic comonomer comprising from 3 to 10 carbon atoms in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a chromium-based catalyst and an alkyl metal oxane. The alkyl metal oxane may comprise methyl aluminium oxide in an amount of around 2ppm based on the weight of the chromium-based catalyst. The chromium-based catalyst may comprise an activated chromium oxide on a support comprising silica and titania, the catalyst comprising around 1wt% chromium. The polymerisation or copolymerisation is preferably performed at a temperature of around 85 DEG C at a pressure of around 24 bar. There is further provided a catalyst system for polymerising ethylene or copolymerising ethylene and an alpha-olefinic comonomer to produce high density polyethylene, the catalyst system comprising in combination the chromium-based catalyst and the alkyl metal oxane. There is further provided the use of the catalyst system for increasing the bimodality of the molecular weight distribution of a high density polyethylene.