Process for reducing sheeting during polymerization of alpha-olefins

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PROCESS FOR REDUCING SHEETING DURING POLYMERIZATION OF ALPHA-OLEFINS

תהליך לחפחתה היוצרות דפים נמשך פולימריזציה 0ל אלפא-אולפינים

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PROCESS FOR REDUCING SHEETING

DURING POLYMERIZATION OF ALPHAOLEFINS

Conventional low density polyethylene has been historically polymerized in heavy vailed autoclaves or tubular reactors at pressures as high as 50,000 psi and temperatures up to 300*C. or higher. The molecular structure of high pressure, low density polyethylene (HP-LDPE) is highly complex. The permutations in the arrangement of their .imple building blocks are essentially infinite. HP-LDPE’s are characterized by an intricate long chain branched molecular architecture. These long chain branches have a dramatic effect on the melt rheology of these resins. HP-LDPE’s also possess a spectrum of short chain branches, generally 1 to 6 carbon atoms in length. These short chain branches disrupt crystal formation and depress resin density.

More recently, technology has been provided whereby low density polyethylene can be produced by fluidized bed techniques at low pressures and temperatures by copolymerizing ethylene with various alpha olefins. These low pressure LDPE (LP-LDPE) resins generally possess little, if any, long chain branching and are sometimes referred to as linear LDPE resins. They are short chain branched with branch length and

13904 frequency controlled by the type .nd .mount of comonomer used during polymerisation.

As is well known to those skilled in the .rt, low pressure, high or low density polyethylenes can now be conventionally provided by a fluidized bed process utilizing several families of catalysts to produce « full range of low density and,high -density products. The appropriate selection of catalysts to be utilized depends in part upon the type of end pro10 duct desired, i.e., high density, low density, extra.ion grade, film grade resins and other criteria.

The various types of catalysts which may be used to produce polyethylenes in fluid bed reactors 9 can generally be typed as follows:

Type I» The ¹silyl chromate catalysts disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,324,101 to Baker and Carrick and U.S. Patent No. 3,324,095 to Carrick, Karapinka and Turbet. The silyl chromate catalysts are characterized by the presence therein of a group of the formula:

<img file="IL75152A_D0001.tif" />

wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 14 carbon atoms. The preferred silyl chromate catalysts are the bisCtriarylsilyl) chromates and more preferably bisariphenylsilyl) chromate.

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This catalyst is used on a support such as silica, alumina, thoria, rirconia and the like, other supports such as carbon black, micro-crystalline cellulose, the non-sulfonated ion exchange resins and the like may be used.

Type II. Ths bis(cyclopentadienyl) chromium (II) compounds disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,879,368. These bis(cyclopentadienyl) chromium (II) compounds have the following formula:

<img file="IL75152A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="IL75152A_D0003.tif" />

wherein R' and R may be the same or different to Cjq, inclusive, hydrocarbon radicals, and n’ and n may be the same or different integers of 0 to 5, Inclusive. The R’ and R hydrocarbon radicals may be saturated or unsaturated, and can include aliphatic, 20 alicyclic and aromatic radicals such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, allyl, phenyl and naphthyl radicals.

These.catalysts are used on a support as heretofore described.

Type III. The catalysts as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,011,382. These catalysts contain chromium and

13094 titanium in the form of oxides and, optionally, fluorine and a support. The catalysts contain, based on the combined weight of the support and the chromium, titanium and fluorine, about 0.05 to 3.0. and preferably about 0.2 to 1.0, weight percent of chromium (calculated as Cr), about 1.5 to 9.0. and preferably about 4.0 to 7.0. weight percent of titanium (calculated as Ti). and 0.0 to about 2.5. and preferably about 0.1 to 1.0 weight percent of 10 fluorine (calculated as F).

The chromium compounds which may be used for the Type III catalysts include CrOj, or any compound of chromium which is oxidizable to CrO^ under the activation conditions employed. At least a portion of the chromium in the supported, activated catalyst must be in the hexavalent state. Chromium compounds other than CrO^ which may be used are disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,825,721 and U.S. Patent 3,622,521 and include chromic acetyl acetonate, chromic nitrate, 20 chromic acetate, chromic chloride, chromic sulfate, and ammonium chromate.

The titanium compounds which may be used Include all those which are oxidizable to Ti02 under the activation conditions employed, and include those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,622,521 and Ncthcrl-arrtfy־“ P-a-t-ont Application 72—108^817־.

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The fluorine compounds which nay be used include HF, or any compound of fluorine which will yield HF under the activation conditions employed. Fluorine compounds other than HF which nay be used are disclosed in Netherlands Patent Application 72-10881.

The inorganic oxide naterials which nay be used as a support in the catalyst compositions are porous naterials having a high surface area, that is, a surface area in the range of about 50 to about 1000 square meters per gram, and an average particle size of about 20 to 200 microns. The inorganic oxides which may be used include silica, alumina, thoria, zirconia and other comparable inorganic oxides, as well as mixtures of such oxides.

Type The catalysts as described in U.S. Patent/(-302566 Application, Serial No. 092.,325, filed 011 Max eh JI, •1078, in tlie-irauies of F.J. Karol et al, and cntitledr ^,,Preparation of Ethylghfe Copolymeru in Fluid Bed RfetmtlOl¹¹ H11 In rnmo acc-lg-n_?a ac thp ^re*eM==npplXcA£Lon. These catalysts comprise at least one titanium compound, at least one magnesium compound, at least one electron donor compound, at least one activator compound and at least one inert carrier material.

The titanium compound has the structure

TKOR)^ wherein R is a C| to aliphatic or aromatic

13094 hydrocarbon radical, or COR* where R' 18 a to aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical;

X is Cl, Br, or I; a is 0 or 1; b is 2 to 4 inclusive; and a + b &lt;3 ״ or 4.

The titanium compounds can be used individually or in combination thereof, and would include TiCl₃, TiCl^, Ti(OCH₃)Cl₃, Ti(OC₆H₅)Cl_3> ־’ Ti(OCOCH₃)Cl₃ and Ti(OCOC₆H₅)Cl_3>

The magnesium compound has the structure

MgX₂ wherein X is Cl, Br, or I. Such magnesium compounds can be used individually or in combinations thereof and would include MgCl₂, ־MgBr₂ and Mg!₂. Anhydrous MgC!₂ is the preferred magnesium compound.

The titanium compound and the magnesium com* pound are generally used in a form which will facilitate their dissolution in the electron donor compound.

The electron donor compound is an organic compound which is liquid at 25°C and in which the 20 titanium compound and the magnesium compound are partially or completely soluble. The electron donor compounds are known as such or as Lewis bases.

The electron donor compounds would include such compounds as alkyl esters of aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids, aliphatic ethers, cyclic ethers and aliphatic ketones.

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The catalyst may be modified with a boron halide compound having the atructure

BR_X‘, _r c J־c wherein R is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms or OR’. wherein R' is also an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms , X' is selected from the group consisting of Cl and Br, or mixtures thereof, and c is 0 or 1 when R is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon and 0, 1 or 2 when R is OR'.

The boron halide compounds can be used individually or in combination thereof, and would include BClj, BBr^, B(C₂H₃)C1₂, B(OC₂H₃)C1₂, b(0c₂h₅)₂c1, b(c₆h₅)c1₂, b(0c₆h₅)c1₂, b(c₆h₁₃)c1₂, B(OC₆H₁₃)Cl₂, and B(OC₆H₅)₂C1. Boron trichloride is the particularly preferred boron compound.

The activator compound has the structure

Al(R״)_cX’_dH_e wherein X’ is Cl or OR₁; Rj and R are the same or different and are C_x to C₁₄ saturated hydrocarbon radicals, d is 0 to 1.5, e is 1 or 0, and c + d + e - 3.

Such activator compounds can be used individually or in combinations thereof.

The carrier materials are solid, particulate materials and would include inorganic materials such as oxides of silicon and aluminum and molecular sieves, and organic materials such as olefin polymers, e.g., polyethylene.

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In general, the above catalysts are intron duced together with the polymerizable materials, into a reactor having an expanded section above a straightaided section. Cycle gas entprs the-bottom of the reactor and passes upward through a gas distributor plate into a fluidized bed located in the straightsided section of the vessel. The gas distributor plate serves to ensure proper gas distribution and to support the resin bed when gas flow is stopped.

IQ Gas leaving the fluidized bed entrains resin particles. Most of these particles are disengaged as the gas passes through the expanded section where its velocity is reduced.

The operating difficulties associated with the utilization of catalyst types I through III in the above described reactors have been substantially eliminated, resulting in the economic and efficient production of low pressure, low or high density polyethylene resins which have a wide variety of uses.

2q In order to satisfy certain end use applications for ethylene resins, such as for film, injec. tion molding and roto molding applications, catalyst type IV has been used. However, attempts to produce certain ethylene resins utilizing the type IV catalysts supported on a porous silica substrate in

13094 certain fluid bed reactors, have not been entirely satisfactory from a practical commercial atandpoint. This is primarily due to the formation of sheets in the reactor after a brief period of operation. The sheets can be characterized as constituting a fused polymeric material.

The sheets vary widely in size, but are aimilar in most respects. They are usually about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick and are from about one to five feet 10 long, with a few apecimens even longer. They have a width of about 3 inches to more than 18 inches. The sheets have a core composed of fused polymer which is oriented in the long direction of the sheets and their surfaces are covered with granular resin which has fused to the core. The edges of the sheets have a hairy appearance from strands of fused polymer.

After a relatively abort period of time during polymerization, aheets begin to appear in the reactor, and these sheets plug product discharge systems 20 forcing shutdown of the reactor.

Accordingly, it will be seen that there presently exists a need to improve the polymerizetion techniques necessary for the production of polyolefin products utilizing titanium based catalysts in fluidized bed reactors.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a process to substantially reduce or eliminate the amount of sheeting which occurs during the lower pressure fluidized bed polymerization of alpha olefins utilizing titanium based compounds as catalyst.

Another object is to provide a process for treating fluidized bed reactors utilized for the production of polyolefin resins utilizing titanium based catalyst or other catalysts which result in similar sheeting phenomena.

These and other objects will become readily apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which generally indicates a typical gas phase fluidized bed polymerization process for producing high density and low density polyolefins.

Broadly contemplated, the present invention provides an improvement in the method for polymerization of alpha olefins in a fluid bed reactor utilizing titanium based catalysts or other catalysts prone to cause. sheeting during said polymerization, the improvement comprising maintaining the static electric charge in said reactor at the site of possible sheet formation below static voltage levels which would otherwise cause sheet formation, by introducing a ־ 11 chromium containing compound into said reactor in such manner as to contact the surfaces of said reactor, said chromium in said chromium containing compound being present in a valence state of 2 or 3.

A particularly preferred technique generally involves treating the reactor vessel prior to polymerization by introducing a chromium containing compound into the reaction vessel in a non-reacting atmosphere.

U.S. Patent 3,995,097 relates to the prevention of fouling in polymerization reactors. The reference in effect teaches that reactor fouling in the slurry polymerization of polyethylene (in a hydrocarbon diluent) can be reduced or eliminated by addition to the reaction medium of a mixture of Al or Cr salt of salicylic acid and an alkali metal alkyl sulfosuccinate.

In effect, this reference concerns slurry or suspension Oolymerization utilizing a hydrocarbon diluent and a chromium based catalyst. No titanium based catalysts are employed for the polymerizatin and in fact this reference confirms applicant's statements appearing in applicant's specification. More significantly, chromium containing catalysts behave differently in slurry or suspension polymerization than in gas phase polymerization as evidenced by the teachings of the cited references and applicant's specification.

- Ila U.S. Patent 4,068,054 relates to the prevention of fouling in polymer reactors and anti-static agents. This reference is restricted to slurry polymerization as indicated in column 2, lines 28-52.

Thus neither of said patents teaches or suggests the subject matter of the present invention.

Referring particularly to the sole figure of the drawing, a conventional fluidized bed reaction system for polymerizing alpha-olefins includes a reactor 10 which consists of a reaction zone * and a velocity reduction zone 14.

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The reaction zone 12 includes a bed of growing polymer particles, formed polymer particles and a minor amount of catalyst particles fluidized by the continuous flow of polymerizable and modifying gaseous components in the form of make-up feed and recycle gas through the reaction zone. To maintain a viable fluidized bed, the mass gas flow rate through the bed is normally maintained above the minimum flow required for fluidization, and preferably from about

1.5 to’about 10 times G^ and more preferably from about 3 to about 6 times G_mf. is used in the accepted form as the abbreviation for the minimum gas flow required to achieve fluidization, C. Y. Wen and Y. H. Yu, ”Mechanics of Fluidization, Chemical Engineering Progress Symposium Series, Vol. 62, p. 100111 (1966).

It is highly desirable that the bed always contains particles to prevent the formation of localized ”hot spots” and to entrap and distribute the 2q particulate catalyst throughout the reaction zone. On etart up, the reactor is usually charged with a base of particulate polymer'particles before gas flow is initiated. Such particles may be identical in nature

13094 to the polymer to be formed or different therefrom.

When different, they .re withdrawn with the desired formed polymer particles as the first product.

Eventually, a fluidized bed of the desired polymer particles supplants the .tart-up bed.

The appropriate catalyst used in the fluidized bed is preferably stored for service in a reservoir 16 under a blanket of a gas which is inert to the stored material, .uch as nitrogen or argon.

Fluidization is achieved by a high rate of gas recycle to .nd through the bed, typically in the order of about 50 times the rate of feed of make-up gas. The fluidized bed has the general appearance of a dense mass of viable particles in possible freevortex flow as created by the percolation of gas through the bed. The pressure drop through the bed is equal to or slightly greater than the mass of the bed divided by the cross-sectional area. It is thus dependent on the geometry of the reactor.

Make-up gas is fed to the bed at a rate equal to the rate at which particulate polymer product is withdrawn. The composition of the make-up gas is determined by a gas analyzer 18 positioned above the bed. The gas analyzer .determines the composition of the gas being recycled and the composition of the make-up gas is adjusted accordingly to maintain an

13094 essentially steady state gaseous composition within the reaction sone.

To insure complete fluidization, the recycle gas and, where desired, part or all of the make-up gas are returned to the reactor at base 20 below the bed. Gas distribution plate 22 positioned above the point of return ensures proper gas distribution and also supports the resin bed when gas flow is stopped.

The portion of the gas stream which does not 10 react in the bed constitutes the recycle gas which is removed from the polymerization sone, preferably by passing it into velocity reduction zone 14 above the bed where entrained particles are given an opportunity to drop back into the bed.

The recycle gas is then compressed in a compressor 24 and thereafter passed through a heat exchanger 26 wherein it is stripped of heat of reaction before it is returned to the bed. By constantly removing heat of reaction, no noticeable temperature gradient appears to exist within the upper portion of the bed. A temperature gradient will exist in the bottom of the bed in a layer of about 6 to 12 inches, between the temperature of the inlet gas and the temperature of the remainder of the bed. Thus, it has been observed that the bed acts to almost immediately adjust the temperature of the recycle gas above this bottom layer of the bed zone to make it conform to the temperature of the remainder of the bed thereby maintaining itself at an essentially constant temperature under steady conditions. The recycle is then returned

13094 to the reactor at its base 20 and to the fluidized bed through distribution plate 22. The compressor can also be placed downstream of heat exchanger

26.

Hydrogen may be used as a chain transfer agent for conventional polymerization reactions of the types contemplated herein. In the case where ethylene is used as a monomer the ratio of hydrogen/ethylene employed will vary between about 0 to about 2.0 moles 10 of hydrogen per mole of the monomer in the gas stream.

Any gas inert to the catalyst and reactants can also be present in the gas-stream. The cocatalyst is added to the gas recycle stream upstream of its connection with the reactor as from dispenser 28 through line 30.

As is well known, it is essential to operate the fluid bed reactor at a temperature below the sintering temperature of the polymer particles. Thus to insure that sintering will not occur, operating 20 temperatures below sintering temperature are desired.

For the production of ethylene polymers an operating temperature of from about 90 to 100*C is preferably used to prepare products having a density of about 0.94 to 0.97 while a temperature of about 75* to 95*C is preferred for products having a density of about .91 to .94.

Normally the fluid bed reactor is operated at pressures of up to about 1000 psi, and is preferably

13094 operated at a pressure of from about 150 to 350 psi, with operation at the higher pressures in such ranges favoring heat transfer since an Increase in pressure Increases the unit volume heat capacity of the gas. The catalyst is injected into the bed at a rate equal to its consumption at a point 32 which 16 above the distribution plate 22. A gas which is inert to the catalyst such as nitrogen or argon is used to carry the catalyst into the bed. Injecting 10 the catalyst at a point above distribution plate 22 is an important feature, Since the catalysts normally used are highly active, Injection into the area below the distribution plate may cause polymerization to begin there and eventually cause plugging of the distribution plate. Injection into the viable bed, instead, aids in distributing the catalyst throughout the bed and tends to preclude the formation of localized spots of high catalyst concentration which may result in the 20 formation of '^,hot spots״.

Under a given set of operating conditions, the fluidized bed is maintained at essentially a con־ stant height by withdrawing a portion of the bed as product at a rate equal to the rate of formation of the particulate polymer product. Since the rate of heat generation is directly related to product forma־ tion, a measurement of the temperature rise of the

13094 gas across the reactor (the difference between inlet gas temperature and exit gas temperature) is determine־ tive of the rate of particulate polymer formation.at a constant gas velocity.

The particulate polymer product is pre־ ferably withdrawn at a point 34 at or close to distribution plate 22. The particulate polymer pro־ duct is conveniently and preferably withdrawn through the aequential operation of a pair of timed valves

36 and 38 defining a segregation zone 40. While valve is closed, valve 36 is opened to emit a plug of gas and product to the zone 40 between it and valve 36 which is then closed. Valve 38 is then opened to deliver the product to an external recovery zone and after delivery, valve 38 is then closed to await the next product recovery operation.

Finally, the fluidized bed reactor is equipped with an adequate venting system to allow venting the bed during the atart up and shut down. The reactor 20 does not require the use of stirring means and/or wall scraping means.

The reactor vessel is normally constructed of carbon steel and is designed for the operating condi־ tions stated above.

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In order to better illustrate the problems incident to the utilization of the type IV catalysts, reference is again made to the drawing. The titanium based catalyst (type IV) is introduced into the reactor 10 at point 32. Under conventional operations on certain resins, after a brief period of time, i.e. in the order of about 36 to 72 hours, sheets begin to form . « in reactor 10, at a site in the reactor proximate the wall of the reactor and located about a distance of one-half 10 the reactor diameter up from the base of the fluid bed. The sheets of fused resin begin to appear in segregation zone 40, rapidly plugging the system, causing the reactor to be shut down. More characteristically the sheeting begins after production equivalent to 6 to 10 times the weight'of the bed of resin in reactor

10.

Many possible causes were Investigated in attempting to discover and eliminate the sheeting. In the course of the investigation, thermocouples were Installed just inside the reactor walls at elevations of 1/4 and 1/2 reactor diameter above the gas distributor plate. Under conventional operations, *'akin thermocouples indicate temperatures equal to the temperature of the fluidized bed. When sheeting occurs, these thermocouples indicate « temperature excursions of up to 20’C above the temperature of the fluidized bed thus providing .18

13094 reliable indication of the occurrence of sheeting. In addition, an electrostatic voltmeter was used to measure voltage on a 1/2 inch spherical electrode located in the fluid bed 1 inch radially from the reactor wall and 1/2 reactor diameter above the gas distributor plate. The location was selected because sheet formation was observed to initiate in a band ranging from 1/4 to 3/4 reactor diameter in elevation above the base of the fluid bed. As is 10 well known for deep fluidised beds, this corresponds to the region of least mixing intensity near the wall,

i.e. a null zone where particle motion near the wall changes from generally upward to generally downward. The possible causes investigated included factors affecting mixing in the fluidized bed, reactor operating conditions, catalyst and resin particle size, particle size distribution, and others. A correlation was found between sheeting and buildup of static electric charge on the resin particles proximate the reactor walls. When the static voltage level of resin particles at particular sites proximate the reactor wall in a fluidized bed reactor is low, the reactor runs normally and no sheets are formed. When the static voltage level exceeds a critical level at those sites, uncontrolled sheeting occurs and the reactor must be shut down.

Surprisingly sheeting had not occurred to any significant degree on any resin utilizing the type IV catalysts in reactors which had previously utilized type Πcatalysts or in reactors that had utilized type I through III catalysts.

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It was further discovered that sheeting could be substantially reduced ״nd in some cases entirely eliminated by controlling static voltage in the fluidised bed at a site proximate the reactor walls below the critical level for sheet formation. This critical level for sheet formation is not a fixed value, but 18 a complex function dependent on variables including resin sintering temperature, operating temperature, drag forces in the fluid bed, resin particle else distribution and recycle gas composition.

The critical voltage level Vc for sheeting of 10 ethylene homopolymers and ethylene-butene copolymers is primarily a function of the resin sintering temperature, the reactor bed temperature and the concentration of hydrogen in the recycle gas. The relationship can be expressed as:

Vc - -8000 50 ״ Ts + 90[H₂l + 150 To where Vc . voltage below which sheeting will not occur, volts;

Ts sintering temperature of resin under 20 reactor operating conditions, in *C;

To . temperature of reactor, in *C and [ H^| mole percent hydrogen in recycle gas

The sintering temperature of the resin under reactor operating conditions is the temperature at which a settled bed of resin in contact with a gas having the same composition as!¹ the reactor recycle gas used in producing the resin will sinter and form

13094 aggolomerates when refluidization is attempted after allowing the bed to remain aettled for fifteen minutes.

The sintering temperature is decreased by decreasing the resin density, by increasing the melt index and by Increasing the amount of dissolved monomers.

The constants in the equation were determined from data collected during reactor operation when the reactor just began to exhibit sheeting symptoms through akin thermocouple temperature excursions above the bed temperature. The voltage indicated on the voltage probe described earlier varies with time due to the random nature of a fluidized bed. Thus the critical voltage, Vc, is expressed as a time averaged voltage. Voltage measurements are difficult to interpret because additional static electric charge is generated when a sheet, formed because of a static charge, separates from the reactor wall. In addition, the sheeting phenomena can start as a very local phenomenon and spread further clouding interpretation of voltage readings.

Although the sheeting mechanism is not fully understood, it is believed that static electricity generated in the fluid bed charges resin particles. When the charge on the particles reaches the level where the electrostatic forces trying ^t0hold the charged particle near the reactor wall exceed the drag forces in the bed trying to move the particle away from the wall, a layer of catalyst containing, polymerizing resin particles forms a non-fluidized layer

13094 near the reactor wall. Heat remove1 from this layer 18 not sufficient to remove the heat of polymerization because the non-fluidized layer near the wall has less contact with the fluidizing gas than do particles in the fluidized portion of the bed. The heat of polymeriration Increases the temperature of the nonfluidized layer near.the reactor wall until the particles melt and fuse. At this point other particles from the fluidized bed will stick to the 10 fused layer and it will grow in size until it comes loose from the reactor wall. The separation of a dielectric from a conductor (the sheet from the reactor wall) is known to generate additional static electricity thus accelerating subsequent sheet formation.

The art teaches various processes whereby static voltage can be reduced or eliminated. These comprise (1) reducing the rate of charge generation, (2) increasing the rate of discharge of electrical charge, 20 and (3) neutralization of electrical charge. Some processes suited for use in a fluidized bed comprise (1) use of an additive to increase the conductivity of the particles thus providing a path for discharging, (2) installation of grounding devices in a fluidized bed to provide additional area for discharging electrostatic

13094 charges to ground, (3) ionisation of gas or particles by electrical discharge to generate ions to neutralize electrostatic charges on the particles, and (4) the use of radioactive aources to produce radiation that vill create ions to neutralize electrostatic charges on the particles. The application of these techniques to a commercial scale, fluidized bed, polymerization reactor may not be feasible or practical. Any additive used must not act as a poison to the polymerize10 tion catalyst and must not adversely affect the quality of the product. Thus water, the most widely used additive to reduce static on particles, cannot be used since it is a severe catalyst poison. The installation . of grounding, devices may actually generate additional electrostatic charge since the friction of resin particles on metal surfaces creates electrostatic charges on the resin particles. The use of ion generators and radiation sources pose severe problems of scale. The ions generated by electric discharge or radiation will be attracted to the reactor walls and other grounded objects and will travel only a limited distance before contacting a grounded object. Thus the ions may not travel far enough from the site of ion generation to discharge the region of the bed where sheeting occurs. Generation of ions within the fluid bed is severely limited by the quenching effect of the cloud of charged particles which form around

13094 an ion generator. Thus the number of ion generation sources required may be high adding to the complexity and danger of radiation sources or electrical dis־ charge generators in or near a pressurized, hydrocarbon containing reactor. In the course of the investigation, it vas discovered that an effective process for treating the vails of the reactor vessel to reduce static charge generation comprises operation of the reactor for*a abort, i.e. tvo veek, period utilizing a chromium containing catalyst (type I through III) vhere the chromium is in the 2 or 3 valence state during at least part of its residence time in the reactor.

Surprisingly, however, it was also discovered that if the walls of the reactor vessel are treated prior to the commencement of polymerization with a chromium containing compound wherein the chromium is present in the reactor at a valence of 2 or 3, then the formation of sheeting during polymerizetion is substantially reduced and in some cases entirely eliminated.

The chromium containing compounds contempiated for use in the present invention are as explained previously those in which the chromium is present in the reactor at a valence of 2 or 3. Merely as illustrative the following compounds would be suitable for the present invention:

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The bis (cyclopentadienyl) chromium (II) compounds having the following formula:

<img file="IL75152A_D0004.tif" />

wherein R* and R may be the same or different to C2q׳ inclusive, hydrocarbon radicals, and n' and n. 10 umy be the same or different integers of 0 to 5, inclusive. The R' and R” hydrocarbon radicals can be saturated or unsaturated, and can include aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic radicals such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, allyl, phenyl and naphthyl radicals. Other specific compounds which are suitable include chromic acetyl acetonate, chromic nitrate, chromous or ¹chromic acetate, chromous or chromic chloride, chromous or chromic bromide, chromous or chromic fluoride, chromous or chromic sulfate, and polymerization catalysts produced from chromium com* pounds where the chrome 16 in the plus 2 or 3 valence state.

Bis(cyclopentadienyl) chromium(chromocene) is the preferred chromium containing compound because of the excellent results achieved, e

In general, the chromium containing compound is introduced into the reactor prior to polymerization and can be introduced in any manner such that the surface of the walls of the reactor is contacted with the chromium compound.

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In a preferred technique, the chromium com־ pound is dissolved in a suitable solvent and is intro־ duced into the reactor in an inert or non-reactive atmosphere. A resin bed may be employed to help dis־ perse the chromium compound through the reactor.

Suitable solvents for this purpose include but are not limited to benzene, toluene, isopentane, hexane and water. The choice and use of a solvent is dependent on the form of the chrome containing compound and the 10 method of application selected. The function of the advent is to carry and aid in the dispersion of the chrome containing compound. Suitable inert or non* reactive gases include but are not limited to nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane and air.

The amount of chromium compound utilized in the process should be sufficient to effect the desired result, and the amount can be generally determined by one skilled in the art. In general, however, an amount of at least 3,5x10’^ pound moles chromium per square foot 20 of .urface to be treated, preferably 1.0x10 ® to about 5x10*5 p_Quncj ₀1_״βε per square foot of surface to be treated is preferred.

The polymers .to which the present invention is primarily directed and which cause the sheeting problems above referred to in the presence of titanium catalysts are linear homopolymers of ethylene or linear copolymers of a major mol percent 907.) of ethylene, and a minor mol percent (- 10Z) of

13094 one or more C₃ to Cg alpha olefins. The Cj to Cg alpha olefins should not contain any branching on any of their carbon atoms which is closer than the fourth carbon atom. The preferred C₃ to Cg alpha olefins are propylene, butene-1, pentene-1, hexene-1, 4-methylpentene-l, heptene-1 and octene-1. This description is not intended to exclude the use of. this invention with alpha olefin homopolymer and copolymer resins in which ethylene is not a monomer.

The homopolymers and copolymers have a density ranging from about 0.97 to 0.91. The density of the copolymer, at a given melt index level Is primarily regulated by the amount of the C״ to C_fi comonomer which is copolymerized with the ^{3 ט} Ή ethylene. Thus, the addition of progressively larger amounts of the comonomers to the copolymers results in a progressive lowering of the density of the copolymer. The amount of each of the various C₃ to Cg comonomers needed to achieve the same result will vary from monomer to monomer, under the same reaction conditions. In the absence of the comonomer, the ethylene would homopolymerize.

The melt index of a homopolymer or copolymer is a reflection of its molecular weight. Polymers having a relatively high molecular weight, have relatively high viscosities and low melt index.

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Xn a typical node of utilizing the aubject invention to reduce sheeting, s reactor vessel such as shown in Figure 1 and which 16 susceptible to sheeting problems by the polymerization of the above described materials utilizing type IV catalysts is partially filled with granular polyethylene resin which is purged with a non-reactive gas such as nitrogen and is fluidized by circulating said non-reacting gas through the reactor at a velocity above the minimum fluidizing velocity (Gmf) of the granular polyethylene and preferably at 3 to 5 Gmf. It is to be understood that the use of a fluidized bed of resin is a convenience in said process and is not essential to the process. While the nonreactive gas is being circulated, a chromium-containing compound such as chromocene either neat or preferably dissolved in an inert solvent such as toluene is introduced into the reactor. The concentration of the chromium-containing chemical in the inert sol20 vent is not critical to the process but can be selected by one skilled in the art so as to assure that the chromium-containing chemical is completely dissolved in the solvent. For the preferred case, a solution containing 6 to 8 percent by weight of chromocene in .toluene is typical. Approximately 4.0xl0’⁵pound moles of the chromium-containing chemical is injected into the reactor for every square foot of surface to be treated. The non-reacting gas is circulated to bring the chromium-containing chemical in contact with the metal surfaces in the system. The

13094 treatment it carried out for aufficient time to achieve the desired result, typically several hours to several days. In other modes of treatment, the chemical solution could be applied to the metal surfaces by painting, spraying, or other application methods familiar to one skilled in the art. After treatment the reactor is now ready to begin poly* merization in the usual manner.

Having set forth the general nature of 10 the Invention, the following examples Illustrate some specific embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that this Invention is not limited to the examples, since the invention may be practiced by the use of various modifications.

I Examples 18־ were conducted in a fluidized bed reactor as described in Figure 1. The catalyst used was a Ziegler type, titanium based catalyst supported on porous silica produced as described earlier as type IV. The cocatalyst used was triethyl 20 aluminum. The products made in the examples were copolymers of ethylene and 1-butene. Hydrogen was used as a chain transfer agent to control the melt index of the polymer. The reactors of Example 1 and 2, had not been used to produce polyethylene with any catalyst except those of the type described earlier as type IV.

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EXAMPLE 1

A fluidized bed reaqtor was started up *t operating conditions designed to produce a film grade low density ethylene copolymer product having a density of 0.918, a melt index of 1.0, and a atlcklng temperature of 104*C. The reaction was started by feeding catalyst to. a reactor precharged with a bed of granular resin similar to the product to be made. The catalyst was a mixture of 5.5 parts 10 titanium tetrachloride, 8.5 parts magnesium chloride and 14 parts tetrahydrofuran deposited on 100 parts Cavis on grade 952 silica which had been dehydrated at 800’C and treated with four parts triethylaluminum prior to deposition and was activated with thirty five parts tri-n-hexyl aluminum subsequent to deposition. Prior to starting catalyst feed, the reactor and resin bed were brought up to the operating temperature of 85°C, were purged of impurities by circulating nitrogen through the resin bed. Ethylene, butene and hydrogen 20 concentrations were established at 53, 24, and 11% respectively. Cocatalyst was fed at a rate of 0.3 parts trlethylamunimum per part of catalyst.

Reactor start-up was normal. After producing product for 29 hours and equivalent to 6-1/2 times the weight of the fluidized bed, temperature excursions of 1 to 2*C above bed temperature were observed using thermocouples located just inside the reactor wall at an elevation of 1/2 reactor diameter • w

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13094 above the gas distributor plate. Prior experience had shown that such temperature excursions are a positive indication that sheets of resin are being formed in the fluidized bed. Concurrently, bed voltage (measured using an electrostatic voltmeter connected to a 1/2 inch diameter spherical electrode located one inch from the reactor wall at an elevation of 1/2 reactor diameter above the gas distributor plate) increased from a reading of approximately +1500 to +2000 volts to a reading of over +5000 volts and then dropped back to +2000 volts over a 3 minute period. Temperature and voltage excursions continued for approximately 12 hours and increased in frequency and magnitude. During this period, sheets of fused polyethylene resin began to show up in the resin product. Evidence of sheeting became more severe, i.e. temperature excursions increased to as high as 20°C above bed temperature and stayed high for extended periods of time and voltage excursions also became more frequent. The reactor was shut down because of the extent of sheeting.

EXAMPLE 2

The fluidized bed reactor used in Example 1 was started up and operated to produce a linear low density ethylene copolymer suitable for extrusion or rotational molding and having a density of 0.934, a melt index of 5 and a sticking temperature of 118°C. The reaction was started by feeding catalyst similar

13094 to the catalyst In Example 1 except activated with 28 parta tri-n-hexy!aluminum, to the reactor precharged with a bed of granular reain aimilar to the product to be made. Prior to atarting catalyst feed the reactor and reain bed were brought up to the operating temperature of 85*0., and yere purged of impurities with nitrogen. The concentrations of ethylene (52X), butene (14Z), hydrogen (21%) were introduced into the reactor. Cocatalyst triethyl10 aluminum was fed at 0.3 parts per part of catalyst. The reactor was operated continuously for 48 hours and during that period produced resin equivalent to 9 times the amount of resin contained in the bed. After this 48 hour period of amooth operation, sheets of fused resin began to come out of the reactor with the normal, granular product. At this time voltages measured 1/2 reactor diameter above the distributor plate averaged +2000 volts and ranged from 0 to +10,000 volts, while the skin thermocouples at the 20 same elevation indicated excursions of >15״C above the bed temperature. Two hours after the first sheets were noted in the product from the reactor, it was necessary to stop feeding catalyst and cocatalyst to the reactor to reduce the resin production rate because sheets were plugging the resin discharge system. One hour later, catalyst and cocatalyst feeds were

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restarted. The production of sheets continued and after two hours catalyst and cocatalyst feed were again stopped and the reaction was terminated by injecting carbon nonoxide. The voltage at this time was >+12,000 volts and the thermocouple excursions continued until the poison was injected. In total, the reactor was operated for 53 hours and produced 10-1/2 bed volumes of resin before the reaction was stopped due to sheeting.

EXAMPLE 3

The reactor of Examples 1 and 2 was treated as follows: The treatment comprised charging a bed of granular resin and purging and drying the bed with high purity nitrogen to a vapor water concentration of less than 10 ppnrv. The bed was thereafter fluidized by circulating nitrogen. Chromocene [bis(cyclopentadienyl)chromium] in toluene solution was injected into the bed. 4,3x10*5 pound moles of chromocene were added for each square foot of steel surface in the system. The bed was heated to °C and nitrogen was circulated for 24 hours. After the treatment was completed, the bed was cooled to 40°C and 20 standard cubic feet of air was injected for each pound of chromocene in the system to oxidize the chromocene before removing the resin from the reactor.

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The treated reector was then ׳.;.a.-ged with a bed of resin similar to that described in Example 1. lhe bed was brought up to 85*C, purged,and the ethylene, butene, hydrogen, and cocatalyst concentrations were established at the aame concentrations of Example 1, prior to injection of the aame catalyst as Example 1. The reactor started up at operating conditions designed to produce a film grade low density polyethylene copolymer product having a density of 0.918, a melt index of 10 1.0, and a sintering temperature of 104®C as in Example

1. The reactor ran for 90 hours, producing approximately 3 times as much product as in Example 1, after which it was .hut down for routine inspection and maintenance. No temperature excursions were noted and no resin sheets were formed. -At the end of the run, the voltage measured near the wall at an elevation 1/2 * reactor diameter above the gas distributor plate had stabilized at about >100 volts and no major voltage excursions were observed at any time during the run.

²⁰ EXAMPLE 4

The reactor utilized for Example 3 was subsequently charged with a bed of resin similar to that described in Example 2. The bed was heated to 90’C, purged and the ethylene (51Z), butene (137.) and hydrogen (18Z) and cocatalyst (0.3 parts per part of catalyst) were established prior to injection of catalyst. The reaction started smoothly and produced linear low-density polyethylene resin with a density of 0.934, a melt index of 5, and a sintering temperature of 118*C.

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The reactor operated continuously for 80 hours and produced resin equivalent to twenty times the weight of the resin bed before it was transitioned to another product grade. The thermocouples located near the surface of the reactor wall 1/4 and 1/2 the reactor diameter above the distributor showed a few brief (1 minute) temperature excursions. Voltage measured near the wall at an elevation of 1/2 reactor diameter above the gas distributor plate averaged 10 41200־ volts and ahowed voltage oscillation from 0 to as high as +8,000 volts. Some pieces of resin typically 1/4 by 1 by 1 inch with the appearance of aintered fine particles appeared in the product discharge tank and constituted &lt;0.01 percent of the resin produced. These did not reduce the production rate of the reaction system nor did they harm the quality of the resin produced.

As will be seen from the above, the following data corresponds to the Vc formula expressed 20 previously:

Vc . -8000 -50 (sintering temp.) +90 (hydrogen concentration) +150 (operating temperature)

- -8000 - .50(118*0 +90(18%) +150(90*0 • +1220 volts

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EXAMPLES 5-8

Four runs were made utilizing the reactor and procedure of Examples 1 &amp; 2 to determine critical voltage. Various ethylene, butene«! copolymers and/or ethylene homopolymers were used for each run as shown in Table I.

The critical voltages, Vc, were the voltage level measured near the reactor wall (one half the reactor diameter above the distributor 10 plate) when the reactor showed symptons of initiation of sheeting (normally small skin thermocouple excursions above bed temperature). The sticking temperatures were estimated from tests in which a reaction was terminated, the bed allowed to settle for 15 minutes and then refluidized.

The results are indicated in Table I below.

TABLE I

<td> Example</td><td> Li</td><td> Ethylene Concentretion Hole 1</td><td> Butene Concentretion Hole 1</td><td> Catalyst of Example</td><td> Reeln Helt Index</td><td> Reeln Penalty</td><td colspan="2"> Sintering Operating Temp, ^flC Temp, *C</td><td> Vc Volt»</td>

<td> 5</td><td> 11</td><td> 53</td><td> 24</td><td> 1</td><td> 1.0</td><td> .918</td><td> 104</td><td> 85</td><td> ♦200 to ♦1000</td>

<td> 6</td><td> u</td><td> 51</td><td> 23</td><td> 1</td><td> 2.0</td><td> ,918</td><td> 102</td><td> 85</td><td> ♦200 to ♦1000</td>

<td> ו</td><td> 30</td><td> 50</td><td> ו</td><td> 2</td><td> 12.</td><td> .926</td><td> 101</td><td> 85</td><td> +2100</td>

<td> 8</td><td> 21</td><td> 65 ’</td><td> 0</td><td> 2</td><td> L5</td><td> .965</td><td> 125♦</td><td> 110</td><td> ♦4100</td>

ω χ! .

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As will be noted from Table I, for Example 5, sheeting begins to occur over +1000 volts. Moreover, from the above Table I It will be seen that the critical voltage is dependent on the resin sintering temperature, the operating temperature and the hydrogen concentration in the recycle gas.