Butene Polymers

Abstract

Polybutylene (PB) refers to a series of commercial semicrystalline resins derived from high molecular weight, predominantly isotactic poly(1‐butene) homopolymer or copolymer. 1‐Butene is manufacture by the catalytic oligomerization of ethylene. It can also be manufactured from mixed butylenes streams: acid extraction, the Sorbutene process, and the methyl tert ‐butyl ether process. Isotactic poly (1‐butene) is manufactured by a stereospecific Zeigler‐Natta polymerization. In melt processing of commercial PB resins, two crystal forms are encountered. PB pipe can be fabricated by extrusion, PB film is produced by a blown film process. Other processing systems are also discussed. The most important commercial outlet for PB resins is in pipe with applications that include cold‐water service and cold‐ and hot‐ water plumbing. Some other pipe applications include well piping, heat‐pump piping, and fire‐sprinkler piping. The advantages of PB in pipe applications include flexibility, toughness, resistance to creep, environmental stress cracking, wet abrasion, and chemicals. PB can also be used in seals on containers and packages since it has the ability to peel with controllable force. Data are also given on specifications and analytical methods. 1‐Butene is flammable. It is not toxic at moderate concentrations, higher concentrations cause an anesthetic effect,

Metallocene Catalysts for 1‐Butene Polymerization

“…1 H NMR (tcde), d ¼ 1.41 (s, 3H, Si-CH 3 ); 1.42 (s, 3H, Si-CH 3 ); 2.17 (s, 3H, CH 3 in 4); 2.32 (s, 3H, CH 3 in 2); 2.66 (s, 3H, CH 3 in 7); 6.59 (d, J ¼ 6.85 Hz, H6); 6.72 (d, J ¼ 6.85 Hz, H5); 6.69 (s, 1H, H3); 6.99 (dd, J ¼ 7.63, 8 …”

“…[1] The key aspect of iPB production is that it is a solution-bulk process, since this polyolefin is soluble in liquid 1-butene, in the temperature range 40-90 8C, up to concentrations of about 40 wt.-%.…”

“…[1,2,3] Following the acquisition of the isotactic poly(1-butene) business from Shell, Basell Polyolefins has recently started production of iPB in a new plant with a capacity of 45 kTon Á a À1 in the Netherlands. [4] This production is based on a tworeactor cascade process, [5] and uses a ZN catalyst largely improved [6] with respect to earlier ZN catalysts used for polybutene.…”

“…[4] This production is based on a tworeactor cascade process, [5] and uses a ZN catalyst largely improved [6] with respect to earlier ZN catalysts used for polybutene. [1,2,7] Much less information is available on PB produced with metallocene catalysts. In the case of poly(propylene), metallocene catalysts can produce almost any type of chain microstructure.…”

Catalytic Olefin Polymerization is a Mature Field. Isn't it?

“…[14] iPB is a high margin polyolefin with a relatively small world production (ca 50 kt/yr), which is however five-fold larger with respect to the market size in the 1980s; its properties and applications, and the production process based on ''classical'' heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts, have been reviewed. [15] The key aspect of iPB production is that it is a solution bulk process, since the polymer is soluble in liquid 1-butene in the temperature range of 40-90 8C up to concentrations of about 40% by weight. This makes the application of homogeneous catalysts particularly advantageous because the control of polymer morphology is not an issue, of course provided that catalysts with an adequate stereoselectivity and molecular mass capability are available.…”