The present invention relates to an aqueous composition with enhanced stability for hard surface applications containing at least one lipophilic compound and at least one copolymer, in which the at least one copolymer is a comb-type branched copolymer exhibiting an alternating sequence of monomeric units (a) having at least one hydrophilic group and monomeric units (b) having at least one lipophilic side chain. Moreover, a method for producing said composition as well as the use of the composition is concerned.

Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

Modified thermoplastic hydrocarbon thermoplastic resins are provided, as well as methods of their manufacture and uses thereof in rubber compositions. The modified thermoplastic resins are modified by decreasing the relative quantity of the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer oligomers as compared to the corresponding unmodified thermoplastic resin polymers, resulting in a product that exhibits a greater shift in the glass transition temperature of the elastomer(s) used in tire formulations. This translates to better viscoelastic predictors of tire tread performance, such as wet grip and rolling resistance. The modified thermoplastic resins impart remarkable properties on various rubber compositions, such as tires, belts, hoses, brakes, and the like. Automobile tires incorporating the modified thermoplastic resins are shown to possess excellent results in balancing the properties of rolling resistance, tire wear, snow performance, and wet braking performance.

[Problem to be Solved]

There is provided a process for producing an olefin polymer that is capable of producing an olefin polymer having high heat resistance and high molecular weight with excellent catalytic activity.

[Solution to Problem]

The process for producing an olefin polymer includes a step of polymerizing at least one olefin selected from ethylene and α-olefins having 4 to 30 carbon atoms in the presence of an olefin polymerization catalyst containing a transition metal compound represented by the general formula [I], the olefin polymer including constituent units derived from ethylene and α-olefins having 4 to 30 carbon atoms in a total amount between more than 50 mol % and not more than 100 mol %,

##STR00001##

[in the formula [I], R.sup.1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 to R.sup.16 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or the like; R.sup.2 is a hydrocarbon group or the like; R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom; M is a transition metal of Group IV; Q is a halogen atom or the like; and j is an integer of 1 to 4].

[Problem to be Solved]

There is provided a process for producing an olefin polymer that is capable of producing an olefin polymer having high heat resistance and high molecular weight with excellent catalytic activity.

[Solution to Problem]

The process for producing an olefin polymer includes a step of polymerizing at least one olefin selected from ethylene and α-olefins having 4 to 30 carbon atoms in the presence of an olefin polymerization catalyst containing a transition metal compound represented by the general formula [I], the olefin polymer including constituent units derived from ethylene and α-olefins having 4 to 30 carbon atoms in a total amount between more than 50 mol % and not more than 100 mol %,

##STR00001##

[in the formula [I], R.sup.1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 to R.sup.16 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or the like; R.sup.2 is a hydrocarbon group or the like; R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom; M is a transition metal of Group IV; Q is a halogen atom or the like; and j is an integer of 1 to 4].

The present disclosure relates to processes to produce a poly alpha-olefin (PAO) composition. In some embodiments, a process includes introducing a first C6-C32 alpha-olefin, a second C6-C32 alpha-olefin different than the first C6-C32 alpha-olefin, and a first catalyst system comprising an activator and a metallocene compound into a first reactor, wherein a molar ratio of the first C6-C32 alpha-olefin to the second C6-C32 alpha-olefin is from about 1:5 to about 5:1, by total moles of the first and second C6-C32 alpha-olefin; obtaining a first effluent including a PAO dimer; introducing the first effluent, a third C6-C32 alpha-olefin, and a second catalyst system to an oligomerization unit, wherein the third C6-C32 alpha-olefin is the same or different than the first C6-C32 alpha-olefin and/or second C6-C32 alpha-olefin; obtaining a second effluent; and hydrogenating the second effluent to form the PAO composition.

The present disclosure relates to processes to produce a poly alpha-olefin (PAO) composition. In some embodiments, a process includes introducing a first C6-C32 alpha-olefin, a second C6-C32 alpha-olefin different than the first C6-C32 alpha-olefin, and a first catalyst system comprising an activator and a metallocene compound into a first reactor, wherein a molar ratio of the first C6-C32 alpha-olefin to the second C6-C32 alpha-olefin is from about 1:5 to about 5:1, by total moles of the first and second C6-C32 alpha-olefin; obtaining a first effluent including a PAO dimer; introducing the first effluent, a third C6-C32 alpha-olefin, and a second catalyst system to an oligomerization unit, wherein the third C6-C32 alpha-olefin is the same or different than the first C6-C32 alpha-olefin and/or second C6-C32 alpha-olefin; obtaining a second effluent; and hydrogenating the second effluent to form the PAO composition.

An apparatus for preparing polyalpha-olefins has an input unit (1), a microchannel reactor (2), and a post-treatment unit (3) that are successively connected. The input unit has a mixer and/or pipeline(s) for delivering an olefin raw material, an auxiliary feed and a BF.sub.3 catalyst to the microchannel reactor (2). The apparatus and process that utilizes the apparatus allow flexible and rapid mixing of the catalyst, the auxiliary feed and the olefin raw material, and have the advantages of high polymerization reaction speed, good mass and heat transfer effects, high reaction conversion, good product selectivity and excellent performance, thereby being suitable for large-scale industrial production.

An apparatus for preparing polyalpha-olefins has an input unit (1), a microchannel reactor (2), and a post-treatment unit (3) that are successively connected. The input unit has a mixer and/or pipeline(s) for delivering an olefin raw material, an auxiliary feed and a BF.sub.3 catalyst to the microchannel reactor (2). The apparatus and process that utilizes the apparatus allow flexible and rapid mixing of the catalyst, the auxiliary feed and the olefin raw material, and have the advantages of high polymerization reaction speed, good mass and heat transfer effects, high reaction conversion, good product selectivity and excellent performance, thereby being suitable for large-scale industrial production.

An apparatus for preparing polyalpha-olefins has an input unit (1), a microchannel reactor (2), and a post-treatment unit (3) that are successively connected. The input unit has a mixer and/or pipeline(s) for delivering an olefin raw material, an auxiliary feed and a BF.sub.3 catalyst to the microchannel reactor (2). The apparatus and process that utilizes the apparatus allow flexible and rapid mixing of the catalyst, the auxiliary feed and the olefin raw material, and have the advantages of high polymerization reaction speed, good mass and heat transfer effects, high reaction conversion, good product selectivity and excellent performance, thereby being suitable for large-scale industrial production.