Process for polybutadiene production using catalyst with high activity

US5428119A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Polysar Rubber Corporation · CA

Inventors

• Thomas Knauf · Dormagen, DE
• Akhtar Osman · Sarnia, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 9, 1993
• Grant date: Jun 27, 1995
• Expiry date: Nov 9, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08F136/06
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for producing high cis-1,4-polybutadienes using a catalyst system based on a rare earth compound that exhibits improved catalytic activity is provided which process comprises polymerizing 1,3-butadiene in a polymerization medium comprising a hydrocarbon solvent at a temperature of from about 0.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst system which is a mixture of (1) a rare earth carboxylate selected from the group of neodymium carboxylates wherein the carboxylate has from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, (2) an alkyl aluminum chloride selected from the group of compounds represented by the formulae R.sup.2 AlCl.sub.2, R.sup.2.sub.3 Al.sub.2 Cl.sub.3 and R.sup.2.sub.2 AlCl wherein R.sup.2 is a hydrocarbon residue having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and (3) an organo aluminum compound of the formula R.sup.3.sub.2 AlH wherein R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, the ratio of the mols of the rare earth carboxylate to the mols of (2) plus (3) is in the range from about 1:1.5 to about 1:100, to the desired conversion.