Patent ID: 6586541
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: C08F

Abstract:
A process for the production of a branched polyethylene comprising the steps of contacting, under polymerization conditions:(a) ethylene; (b) an oligomerization catalyst that oligomerizes ethylene to one or more &agr;-olefins of the formula R20CH&boxH;CH2, wherein R20 is n-alkyl containing an even number of carbon atoms, and (c) a transition metal polymerization catalyst that copolymerizes ethylene and one or more of the &agr;-olefins produced by the oligomerization catalyst, to produce a first product comprising a predominant amount of a branched polyethylene, a first residual &agr;-olefin content and, optionally, an amount of unreacted ethylene; then(2) allowing the first product to further react under conditions to (co)polymerize at least a portion of the first residual &agr;-olefin content, in the substantial absence of added ethylene, to result in a second product comprising a branched polyolefin having a second residual &agr;-olefin content, provided that said second residual &agr;-olefin content is at least 20% less than said first residual &agr;-olefin content.