Title of Invention

PROPYLENE-BUTENE RANDOM COPOLYMER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME IN THE PRESENCE OF A METALLOCENE CATALYST

Abstract PROPYLENE-BUTENE RANDOM COPOLYMER PRODUCED IN THE PRESENCE OF A METALLOCENE CATALYST Propylene copolymer (a) comprising at least 1-butene as a comonomer, (b) having a comonomer content in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 wt.-%, (c) having a xylene soluble fraction equal or below 2.5 wt.-%, and (d) being partially crystallized in the β-modification.
Full Text The present invention relates to a propylene/1-butene copolymer, a method for its
preparation, and its use for pipes, in particular pressure pipes.
Polymer materials are frequently used for the preparation of pipes for various purposes, such
as fluid transport, e.g. water or natural gas. The transported fluid may be pressurized and
have varying temperature, usually within the range of about 0°C to about 70°C. Such pipes
are typically made of polyolefins. Because of the high temperatures involved, hot water
pipes made from polyolefins have to meet specific requirements. The temperature in a hot
water pipe might range from 30°C to 70°C. However, peak temperature can be up to 100°C.
To secure long term use, the selected pipe material must be able to withstand a temperature
exceeding the range mentioned above, According to the standard DIN 8078, a hot water pipe
made of propylene homo- or copolymer must have a run time of at least 1000 h without
failure at 95°C and a pressure of 3.5 MPa.
Due to its high thermal resistance, if compared to other polyolefins, polypropylene is
particularly useful for applications at increased temperature, such as hot water pipes.
However, besides thermal resistance, a polypropylene useful for pipe applications needs to
have high stiffness in combination with high resistance to slow crack growth.
There are two different cracking modes of polypropylene pipes: ductile or brittle failure.
Ductile failure is associated with macroscopic yielding, i.e. there is a large material pull out
adjacent to the location of failure.
However, the majority of cracking taking place in polypropylene pipes is of brittle type and
does not exhibit large deformation. Brittle failure usually occurs under low stress and takes a
long time to propagate through the material via the process of slow crack growth. Such type
of failure is the least-desirable since it is difficult to detect at an early stage.
Thus, for any polypropylene being useful for pipe applications, in particular pressure pipe
applications, it is desired to have a beneficial compromise between high resistance to slow
crack growth, thermal resistance, rigidity, and impact strength. However, quite frequently it

turns out that one of these properties can only be achieved on the expense of the other
properties.
Pipes made of propylene homopolymer show high thermal resistance in combination with
high rigidity whereas resistance to slow crack growth is lowered. Slow crack growth
properties can be improved by using propylene copolymers. However, the incorporation of
comonomers into the polypropylene chain has a detrimental impact on thermal resistance
and rigidity, an effect that needs to be compensated by mixing with an additional propylene
homopolymer component. Furthermore, the higher the comonomer content, the higher is the
risk that polymeric material is washed out by the transport fluid.
WO 2005/040271 A1 discloses a pressure pipe comprising a resin formed from (i) a random
copolymer comprising units of propylene and a C2 to C10 alpha-olefin, and (ii) a propylene-
ethylene elastomer.
WO 2006/002778 Al discloses a pipe system having at least one layer comprising a semi-
crystalline random copolymer of propylene and 1 -butene. The copolymer exhibits a broad
monomodal molecular weight distribution and has a rather high xylene solubles content.
WO 03/042260 discloses a pressure pipe made from a propylene copolymer which is at least
partially crystallized in the β-modification.
Considering the requirements of pressure pipe materials discussed above, it is an object of
the present invention to provide a polypropylene having a high resistance to slow crack
propagation while still keeping thermal resistance and rigidity on a high level. Furthermore,
it is desired to minimize the potential risk of washing out polymeric material from the pipe
by the pressurized fluid.
The finding of the present invention is to provide a β-nucleated propylene 1-butene
copolymer with low amounts of xylene solubles.

Thus the object outlined above is in particular solved by a propylene copolymer (A)
(a) comprising at least 1-butene as a comonomer,
(b) having a comonomer content in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 wt.-%,
(c) having a xylene soluble fraction (XCS) equal or below 2.5 wt.-%, more preferably
having a xylene soluble fraction (XCS) equal or below 1.5 wt.-%, like equal or
below 1.0 wt.-%, and
(d) being partially crystallized in the β-modification.
Preferably the propylene copolymer (A) comprises a β-nucleating agent (B). Even more
preferably the propylene copolymer (A) has a polydispersity index (PI) of equal or below 4.0
Pa-1. yet more preferably equal or below 3.5 Pa"1, still more preferably equal or below 2.9 Pa"
1. like equal or below 2.7 Pa-1. Still more preferably the propylene copolymer (A) is featured
by the fact that the part of the propylene copolymer (A)
(i) crystallized in the α-modification has a melting temperature below 150 °C, more
preferably below 148 °C and/or
(ii) crystallized in the p-modification has a melting temperature below 138 °C, more
preferably below 136 °C.
Yet more preferably the propylene copolymer (A) according to this invention fulfils the
equation

wherein
[XCS] is the amount of xylene soluble fraction (XCS) of the propylene copolymer (A)
given in weight percent, and
[C] is the amount of comonomer of the propylene copolymer (A) in weight percent.
Surprisingly it has been found out that with the propylene copolymer (A) according to the
invnetion pipes are obtainable having superior slow crack propagation performance

compared to pipes being state of the art. Moreover not only the slow crack propagation
performance of the pipes based on the inventive propylene copolymer (A) according to the
invention is outstanding but additionally also the stiffness and the impact performance of the
pipe and of the propylene copolymer (A) are excellent. In particular the Izod impact
resistance at low temperatures and the flexural modulus are above average (compare table 2).
In the following the invention is described in more detail.
One important requirement of the present invention is that the propylene copolymer (A) has
a rather low xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS).
Xylene solubles are the part of the polymer soluble in cold xylene determined by dissolution
in boiling xylene and letting the insoluble part crystallize from the cooling solution (for the
method see below in the experimental part). The xylene solubles fraction contains polymer
chains of low stereo-regularity and is an indication for the amount of non-crystalline areas.
Accordingly it is preferred that the xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS) of the inventive
propylene copolymer (A) is equal or less than 2.5 wt.-%, more preferably less than 2.0 wt-
%, still more preferably less than 1.5 wt.-%, yet more preferably less than 1.0 wt.-%. In
preferred embodiments the xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS) are in the range of 0.1 to
1.5 wt.-% and more preferably in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 wt.-%.
As further requirement of the present invention is the inventive propylene copolymer (A)
must be B-nucleated, i.e. the propylene copolymer (A) must be partially crystallized in the B-
modification. Thus it is preferred that the amount of B-modification of the propylene
copolymer (A) is at least 50 %, more preferably at least 60 %, still more preferably at least
65 %, yet more preferably at least 70 %, still yet more preferably at least 80 %, like about
90 % (determined by DSC using the second heat as described in detail in the example
section).

Of course the propylene copolymer (A) may also comprise β-nucleating agents (B). As β-
nucleating agent (B) any nucleating agent can be used which is suitable for inducing
crystallization of the propylene copolymer (A) in the hexagonal or pseudo-hexagonal
modification. Preferred β-nucleating agents (B) are those listed below, which also includes
their mixtures.
Suitable types of β-nucleating agents (B) are
• dicarboxylic acid derivative type diamide compounds from C5 to C8-cycloalkyl
monoamines or C6 to C12-aromatic monoamines and C5 to C8-aliphatic, C5 to C8-
cycloaliphatic or C6 to C12-aromatic dicarboxylic acids, e.g.
• N, N'-di-C5-C8-cycloalkyl-2, 6-naphthalene dicarboxamide compounds such
as N, N'-dicyclohexyl-2, 6-naphthalene dicarboxamide and N, N'-
dicyclooctyl-2, 6-naphthalene dicarboxamide,
• N,N-di-C5-C8-cycloalkyl-4,4-biphenyldicarboxamide compounds such as N,
N'-dicyclohexyl-4, 4-biphenyldicarboxamide and N, N'-dicyclopentyl-4, 4-
biphenyldicarboxamide,
• N, N'-di-C5-C8-cycloalkyl-terephthalamide compounds such as N, N'-
dicyclohexylterephthalamide and N, N'-dicyclopentylterephthalamide,
• N, N'-di-C5-Cg-cycloalkyl-l, 4-cyclohexanedicarboxamide compounds such
as N, N'-dicyclo-hexyl-l,4-cyclohexanedicarboxamide and N, N'-
dicyclohexyl-1,4-cyclopentanedicarboxamide,
• diamine derivative type diamide compounds fromC5-C8-cycloalkyl monocarboxylic
acidsor C6-C12-aromatic monocarboxylic acids and C5-C8-cycloaliphatic or C6-C12-
aromatic diamines, e. g.
• N,N-C6-C12-arylene-bis-benzamide compounds such as N,N'-p-phenylene-
bis-benzamide and N,N'-l,5-naphthalene-bis-benzamide,
• N,N'-C5-C8-cycloalkyl-bis-benzamide compounds such as N,N'-1,4-
cyclopentane-bis-benzamide and N,N'-l,4-cyclohexane-bis- benzamide,
• N,N-p-C6-C12-arylene-bis-C5-C8-cycloalkylcarboxamide compounds such as
N,N'-l,5-naphthalene-bis-cyclohexanecarboxamide and N,N'-l,4-phenylene-
bis-cyclohexanecarboxamide, and

• N,N'-C5-C8-cycloalkyI-bis-cyclohexanecarboxamide compounds such as
N,N'-l,4-cyclopentane-bis-cyclohexanecarboxamide and N,N'-1,4-
cyclohexane-bis-cyclohexanecarboxamide,
• amino acid derivative type diamide compounds from amidation reaction of C5-C8-
alkyl, C5-C8-cycloalkyl-or C6-C12-arylamino acids,C5-C8-alkyl-, C5-C8-cycloalkyl-or
C6-C12-aromatic monocarboxylic acid chlorides and C5-C8-alkyl-, C5-C8-cycloalkyl-
or C6-C12-aromatic mono-amines, e.g.
• N-phenyl-5-(N-benzoylamino)pentaneamide and N-cyclohexyl-4-(N-
cyclohexyl-carbonylamino)benzamide.
Further suitable of p-nucleating agents (B) are
• quinacridone type compounds, e.g.
quinacridone, dimethylquinacridone and dimethoxyquinacridone,
• quinacridonequinone type compounds, e. g.
quinacridonequinone, a mixed crystal of 5,12-dihydro(2,3b)acridine-7,14-dione with
quino(2,3b)acridine-6,7,13,14-(5H, 12H)-tetrone and
dimethoxyquinacridonequinone and
• dihydroquinacridone type compounds, e. g.
dihydroquinacridone, dimethoxydihydroquinacridone and
dibenzodihydroquinacridone.
Still further suitable p-nucleating agents (B) are
• dicarboxylic acid salts of metals from group IIa of periodic system, e. g. pimelic acid
calcium salt and suberic acid calcium salt; and
• mixtures of dicarboxylic acids and salts of metals from group IIa of periodic system.
Still further suitable β-nucleating agents (B) are
• salts of metals from group IIa of periodic system and imido acids of the formula


wherein x = 1 to 4; R = H,-COOH, C1-C12-alkyl, C5-C8-cycloalkyl or C6-C12-aryl,
and Y =C1-C12-alkyl, C5-C8-cycloalkyl or C5-C12-aryl-substituted bivalent C6-C12-
aromatic residues, e. g.
calcium salts of phthaloylglycine, hexahydrophthaloylglycine, N-phthaloylalanine
and/or N-4-methylphthaloylglycine.
Preferred B-nucleating agents (B) are any one or mixtures of N, N'-dicyclohexyl-2, 6-
naphthalene dicarboxamide, quinacridone type or pimelic acid calcium-salt (EP 0 682 066).
The amount of B-nucleating agents (B) within the propylene copolymer (A) is preferably up
to 2.0 wt.-%, more preferably up to 1.5 wt.-%, like 1.0 wt.-%. Thus it is appreciated that the
B-nucleating agents (B) are present within the propylene copolymer (A) from 0.0001 to
2.0000 wt.-%, more preferably from 0.005 to 0.5000 wt.-%.
In this context it is mentioned that the polypropylene copolymer (A) may comprise additives
as usual in the art. However, the polypropylene copolymer (A) does not comprise further
other polymer types. Thus the propylene copolymer (A) can be seen as a composition of said
propylene polymer (A) and the B-nucleating agents (B) and optionally further additives, but
without other polymers.
Accordingly the propylene polymer (A) may comprise up to 10 wt.-% additives, which
includes the mandatory fl-nucleating agents (B) but optionally also fillers and/or stabilizers
and/or processing aids and/or antistatic agents and/or pigments and/or reinforcing agents.
Further it is mandatory that the polypropylene copolymer (A) comprises at least 1-butene as
comonomer.

However, the propylene copolymer (A) may comprise further α-olefin(s), like C2, C5 to C10
a-olefin(s). In such a case ethylene is in particular preferred. Thus in one preferred
embodiment the propylene copolymer (A) is a terpolymer comprising propylene, 1-butene
and ethylene. However, it is more preferred that the propylene copolymer (A) does not
comprise further comonomer(s), i.e. 1-butene is the only comonomer of the propylene
copolymer (A) (binary propylene-butene copolymer).
Thus the binary propylene-1-butene copolymer is particularly preferred.
More preferably the above defined propylene copolymer (A) is a random copolymer. Thus a
random propylene copolymer according to the present invention is a random propylene
copolymer produced by statistical insertion of units of 1-butene (if present with units of
ethylene or a C5 to C10 α-olefin, preferably ethylene, to give a random terpolymer). The
Randomness indicates the amount of isolated comonomer units, i.e. those which have no
other comonomer units in the neighbour, compared to the total amount of comonomers in the
polymer chain. In a preferred embodiment, the randomness of the propylene copolymer (A)
is at least 30 %, more preferably at least 50 %, even more preferably at least 60 %, and still
more preferably at least 65 %.
The type of comonomer has a significant influence on a number of properties like
crystallization behaviour, stiffness, melting point or flowability of the polymer melt Thus to
solve the objects of the present invention, in particular to provide an improved balance
between stiffness, impact resistance and slow crack propagation performance it is necessary
that the propylene copolymer comprises 1-butene as a comonomer at least in a detectable
manner, in particular of at least 1.0 wt.-%. On the other hand the increase of the comonomer
content, in particular of 1-butene, in the propylene copolymer (A) may drop the stiffness.
Thus, it is appreciated that the propylene copolymer (A) comprises preferably not more than
up to 3.0 wt.-% comonomer, in particular 1-butene, based on the weight of the propylene
copolymer (A). As stated above the comonomer 1-butene is mandatory whereas other a-

olefins can be additionally present. However the amount of additional α-olefins shall
preferably not exceed the amount of 1-butene in the propylene copolymer (A). More
preferably the amount of comonomer, in particular of 1-butene, within the propylene
copolymer is equal or below 2.2 wt-%, still more preferably equal or below 2.0 wt.-% and
yet more preferably equal or below 1.8 wt-%. Accordingly the amount of comonomer, in
particular 1-butene, within the propylene copolymer (A) is from 1.0 to 3.0 wt-%, more
preferably from 1.0 to 2.2 wt.-%, still more preferably from 1.0 to 2.0 wt.-%, yet more
preferably of 1.0 to 1.9 wt.-%, yet still more preferably of 1.0 to 1.8 wt.-%. In a particular
preferred embodiment the amount of comonomer, in particular 1-butene, is 1.0 to 1.8 wt.-%,
more preferred 1.1 to 1.6 wt.-%.
In case the propylene copolymer (A) is a binary propylene-1-butene copolymer - an
embodiment which is particularly preferred - the ranges as defined in the previous paragraph
refer to 1-butene only.
The comonomer content of the propylene copolymer (A) can be determined with FT infrared
spectroscopy, as described below in the examples.
One remarkable improvement in the present invention is that comonomers, like 1-butene,
can be inserted in the propylene copolymer chain without significantly increasing the xylene
cold soluble fraction (XCS), an undesired phenomena observed by propylene copolymers
produced in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
Accordingly a particular finding is that the propylene copolymer (A) satisfies the formula



wherein
[XCS] is the amount of xylene soluble fraction (XCS) of the propylene copolymer (A)
given in weight percent, and
[C] is the amount of comonomer of the propylene copolymer (A) in weight percent.
Additionally it is preferred that the propylene copolymer (A) is an isotactic propylene
copolymer. Thus it is preferred that the propylene copolymer has a rather high pentad
concentration, i.e. higher than 90 %, more preferably higher than 92 %, still more preferably
higher than 95 % and yet more preferably higher than 98 %.
Further it is preferred that the propylene copolymer (A) is not chemically modified as it is
known for instance from high melt strength polymers (HMS-polymer). Thus the propylene
copolymer (A) is not cross-linked. The impact behaviour can normally also improved by
using branched polypropylenes as for instance described in EP 0 787 750, i.e. single
branched polypropylene types (Y-polypropylenes having a backbone with a single long side-
chain and an architecture resembles a "Y"). Such polypropylenes are characterized by rather
high melt strength. A parameter of the degree of branching is the branching index g'. The
branching index g' correlates with the amount of branches of a polymer. The branching index
g' is defined as g'=[IV]br/[IV]tin in which g' is the branching index, [IVbr] is the intrinsic
viscosity of the branched polypropylene and [IV]tin is the intrinsic viscosity of the linear
polypropylene having the same weight average molecular weight (within a range of ±10 %)
as the branched polypropylene. Thereby, a low g'-value is an indicator for a high branched
polymer. In other words, if the g'-value decreases, the branching of the polypropylene
increases. Reference is made in this context to B.H. Zimm and W.H. Stockmeyer, J. Chem.
Phys. 17,1301 (1949). This document is herewith included by reference. Thus it is preferred
that the branching index g' of the propylene copolymer (A) shall be at least 0.85, more
preferably at least 0.90, yet more preferably at least 0.95, like 1.00.

A further essential aspect of the instant invention is that the propylene copolymer (A) has a
rather low melting temperature compared to known Ziegler-Natta polypropylene
counterparts. Accordingly the inventive propylene copolymer (A) is preferably further
characterized in that the part of the propylene copolymer (A)
(i) crystallized in the a-modification has a melting temperature below 150 °C, more
preferably below 152 °C, yet more preferably below 151 °Cand/or
(ii) crystallized in the p-modification has a melting temperature below 141 °C, more
preferably below 140 °C, yet more preferably below 139 °C.
Accordingly it is in particular appreciated that the part of the propylene copolymer (A)
(i) crystallized in the a-modification has a melting temperature of 135 to 152 °C, more
preferably 138 to 151 °C, yet more preferably 140 to 150 °C and/or
(ii) crystallized in the P-modification has a melting temperature 128 to 142 °C, more
preferably 130 to 141 °C, yet more preferably 132 to 140 °C.
The melting temperature of the part of the propylene copolymer (A) crystallized in the a-
modification has a higher melting temperature compared to part of the propylene copolymer
(A) crystallized the P-modification. The measuring method is defined in the example sectioa
It is further important requirement is that the propylene copolymer (A) must show a rather
narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD).
The molecular weight distribution (MWD) can be measured by SEC (also known as GPC),
whereby it is expressed as Mw/Mn, or by a rheological measurement, like Polydispersity
Index (PI) - measurement or Shear Thinning Index (SHI) - measurement. In the present case
primarily the Polydispersity Index (PI) is used as measurement. All the measurements are
known in art and further defined below in the example section.
Thus the propylene copolymer (A) has preferably a Polydispersity Index (PI) of equal or
below 4.0 Pa-1, preferably of equal or below 3.5 Pa-1 more preferably of equal or below 3.0
Pa-1, still more preferably of equal or below 2.8 Pa1, like equal or below 2.5 Pa-1. Lower

values of the Polydispersity Index (PI) may be 1.0 Pa-1, like 1.5 Pa-1. Thus the Polydispersity
Index (PI) of the propylene copolymer (A) is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 4.0 Pa-1, more
preferably in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 Pa-1, yet more preferably in the range of 1.0 to 2.9, like
1.3 to 2.6 Pa-1.
Moreover the propylene copolymer (A) can be unimodal or multimodal, like bimodal in
view of the molecular weight distribution and/or the comonomer content distribution.
When the matrix is unimodal with respect to the molecular weight distribution and/or
comonomer content, it may be prepared in a single stage process e.g. as slurry or gas phase
process in a slurry or gas phase reactor. Preferably, the unimodal propylene copolymer (A) is
polymerized as a slurry polymerization. Alternatively, the unimodal propylene copolymer
(A) may be produced in a multistage process using at each stage process conditions which
result in similar polymer properties.
The expression "multimodal" or "bimodal" used herein refers to the modality of the polymer,
i.e.
the form of its molecular weight distribution curve, which is the graph of the
molecular weight fraction as a function of its molecular weight,
or more preferably
the form of its comonomer content distribution curve, which is the graph of the
comonomer content as a function of the molecular weight of the polymer fractions.
As will be explained below, the polymer components of the propylene copolymer (A) can be
produced in a sequential step process, using reactors in serial configuration and operating at
different reaction conditions. As a consequence, each fraction prepared in a specific reactor
will have its own molecular weight distribution and/or comonomer content distribution.
When the distribution curves (molecular weight or comonomer content) from these fractions
are superimposed to obtain the molecular weight distribution curve or the comonomer
content distribution curve of the final polymer, these curves may show two or more maxima

or at least be distinctly broadened when compared with curves for the individual fractions.
Such a polymer, produced in two or more serial steps, is called bimodal or multimodal,
depending on the number of steps.
Accordingly the propylene copolymer (A) may be multimodal, like bimodal, in view of the
comonomer content and/or molecular weight.
In any case the Polydispersity Index (PI) and/or the comonomer content of the propylene
copolymer (A) as defined in the instant invention refer(s) to the total propylene copolymer
(A) be it monomodal or multimodal, like bimodal.
Further it is preferred that the propylene copolymer (A) has a rather low melt flow rate. The
melt flow rate mainly depends on the average molecular weight. This is due to the fact that
long molecules render the material a lower flow tendency than short molecules. An increase
in molecular weight means a decrease in the MFR-value. The melt flow rate (MFR) is
measured in g/10 min of the polymer discharged through a defined die under specified
temperature and pressure conditions and the measure of viscosity of the polymer which, in
turn, for each type of polymer is mainly influenced by its molecular weight but also by its
degree of branching. The melt flow rate measured under a load of 2.16 kg at 230 °C
(ISO 1133) is denoted as MFR2 (230 °C).
Thus it is required that propylene copolymer (A) has a melt flow rate (MFR2 (230 C)) equal
or below 0.8 g/10min, more preferred of equal or less than 0.5 g/10min, still more preferred
equal or less than 0.4 g/10min. On the other hand the MFR2 (230 °C) should be more than
0.05 g/10min, more preferably more than 0.1 g/10min.
In case the melt flow rate is measured under a load of 5 kg the following is preferred.
The propylene copolymer (A) has preferably a melt flow rate (MFR5 (230 C)) equal or
below 4.0 g/l0min, more preferred of equal or less than 2.5 g/10min, still more preferred
equal or less than 1.8 g/10min. On the other hand the MFR2 (230 °C) should be more than

0.1 g/10min. more preferably more than 0.3 g/10min. Accordingly a preferred range is from
0.3 to 1.8g/10min.
Additionally it is appreciated that the propylene copolymer (A) enables to provide pipes with
a rather high resistance to deformation, i.e. have a high stiffness. Accordingly it is preferred
that the propylene copolymer (A) in an injection moulded state and/or the pipes based on
said material has(have) a flexural modulus measured according to ISO 178 of at least
1000 MPa, more preferably of at least 1150 MPa.
Furthermore it is appreciated that the propylene copolymer (A) enables to provide pipes
having a rather high impact strength. Accordingly it is preferred that propylene copolymer
(A) in an injection moulded state and/or the pipes based on said material has(have) an impact
strength measured according the Charpy impact test (ISO 179 (leA)) at 23 °C of at least
50.0 kJ/m2, more preferably of at least 53.0 U/m2, yet more preferably of at least 55.0 kJ/m2
and/or an high impact strength measured according the Charpy impact test (ISO 179 (leA))
at -20°C of at least 1.5 kJ/m2, more preferably of at least 2.0 kJ/m2, yet more preferably of at
least 2.5 kJ/m2.
The instant propylene copolymer (A) has been in particular developed to improve the
properties of pipes, in particular in terms of very good slow crack propagation performance
by keeping the other properties, like resistance to deformation and impact strength, on a high
level. Thus the instant invention is also directed to the use of the propylene copolymer (A)
for a pipe, like a pressure pipe, or for parts of a pipe, like a pressure pipe, and for the
manufacture of pipes.
In addition it is appreciated that the propylene copolymer (A) enables to provide pipes
having a very good slow crack propagation performance. Thus it is preferred that the
propylene copolymer (A) and/or the pipes based on said material has(have) a slow crack
propagation performance measured according to the full notch creep test (FNCT) (ISO
16770; at 80 °C and applied stress of 4.0 MPa) of at least 1200 h.

The propylene copolymer (A) may comprise - in addition to the P-nucleating agents - further
additives, like fillers not interacting with the P-nucleating agents, e.g. mica and/or chalk
Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to pipes and/or pipe fittings, in particular
pressure pipes, comprising the propylene copolymer (A) as defined in the instant invention.
These pipes, in particular pressure pipes, are in particular characterized by the flexural
modulus, impact strength and slow crack propagation performance as defined in the previous
paragraphs.
The term "pipe" as used herein is meant to encompass hollow articles having a length greater
than diameter. Moreover the term "pipe" shall also encompass supplementary parts like
fittings, valves and all parts which are commonly necessary for e.g. a hot water piping
system.
Pipes according to the invention also encompass single and multilayer pipes, where for
example one or more of the layers is a metal layer and which may include an adhesive layer.
The propylene copolymer (A) used for pipes according to the invention may contain usual
auxiliary materials, e. g. up to 10 wt.-% fillers and/or 0.01 to 2.5 wt.-% stabilizers and/or
0.01 to 1 wt.-% processing aids and/or 0.1 to 1 wt.-% antistatic agents and/or 0.2 to 3 wt.-%
pigments and/or reinforcing agents, e. g. glass fibres, in each case based on the propylene
copolymer (A) used (the wt.-% given in this paragraph refer to the total amount of the pipe
and/or a pipe layer comprising said propylene copolymer (A)). In this respect, it has to be
noted, however, that any of such of auxiliary materials which serve as highly active a-
nucleating agents, such as certain pigments, are not utilized in accordance with the present
invention.
The propylene copolymer (A) as defined above is preferably produced in the presence of the
catalyst system as defined below. Furthermore, for the production of propylene copolymer
(A) as defined above, the process as stated below is preferably used.

Thus the manufacture of the inventive propylene copolymer (A) comprises the steps of:
(a) producing a propylene copolymer (A) as defined herein, preferably in a multistage
process and subsequently
(b) treating the propylene copolymer (A) with a β-nucleating agent (B), preferably at
temperatures in the range of 175 to 300 °C, and
(c) cooling and crystallizing the propylene copolymer (A) composition.
In the following the process and the catalyst system employed therein will be described in
more detail.
The catalyst system used to obtain the propylene copolymer (A) according to this invention
is defined as follows.
A solid catalyst system comprising a
(a) an organo-zirconium compound of formula (I)

wherein
each " Li" can be the same or different and is an alkyl residue,
each "L2" can be the same or different and is a substituted aromatic residue
selected from the group consisting of


"L3" is an alkyl residue,
"Y" is a bridging group linking the indenyl ligands,
"R1" and "R2" are organic residues,
"X" is a ligand with a 0-bond to the zirconium (Zr),
(b) a cocatalyst (Co) comprising an element (E) of group 13 of the periodic table
(IUPAC),
wherein the catalyst system has a porosity of less than 1.40 ml/g measured according to
DIN 66135 and/or a surface area of lower than 25 m2/g measured according to ISO 9277.
Preferably this catalyst system for the preparation of the propylene copolymer (A) is itself
polymerized thus obtaining a polymerized solid catalyst composition as defined in more
detail below.
It has been surprisingly found out that with this specific solid catalyst system successfully,
i.e. with high productivity, the propylene copolymer (A) according to this invention is
obtainable (see examples).
Preferably the residues L1 and L2 of the indenyl rings of the organo-zirconium compound are
identical.
Further, the residue "L1" is preferably a C1 to C10 alkyl residue, more preferably a C1-C6
alkyl residue, e.g. methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, still more preferably methyl or ethyl, i.e. methyl.
The residues "L2" are substituted aromatic ring systems, preferably the residues "L2" are
selected from the group consisting of substituted phenyl, substituted naphthyl and substituted
anthracenyl. More specifically the residues "L2" are selected from the group consisting of


wherein "L3" is an alkyl residue.
More preferably the residue "L3" is a C1 to C10 alkyl residue, still more preferably the
residue "L3" is a C1 to C6 alkyl residue, like methyl, ethyl iso-propyl, tert-butyl, 2-methyl-
butyl. yet more preferably the "L3" is selected from the group consisting of iso-propyl, tert-
butyl, 2-methyl-butyl, e.g. tert-butyl.
Accordingly in a preferred embodiment the residues "L2" are a phenyl residues selected from
the group consisting of

Most preferably the residues "L2" are 4-tert-butyl-phenyl.
A further essential requirement is that the indenyl residues of the organo-zirconium
compound are linked via a bridge. More specifically the two five member rings of the
indenyl rings are linked together via a bridge. Preferably the residue "Y" is C, Si or Ge, more
preferably Si. The residues "Ri" and "R2" of "Y" can be identical or different. However it is
especially appreciated that the residues "R1" and "R2" are different.
The residues "Rf and "R2" can independently selected from the group consisting of C1 to
C20 alkyl. C1 to C20 cycloalkyl, C6 to C12 aryl, C7 to Cl2 arylalkyl, or trimethylsilyl. More

preferably the residues "R1" and "R2" are different and selecteted from the group consisting
of C1 to C20 alkyl, C1 to C20 cycloalkyl, C6 to C12 aryl, C7 to C12 arylalkyl, or trimethylsilyl.
In a preferred embodiment the residues "Ri" and "R2" are idenpendently selected from the
group consisting of C1 to C2o alkyl and C1 to C20 cycloalkyl. Even more preferred the
residues "R]" and "R2" are different and selected from the group consisting of C1 to C2o alkyl
and C1 to C2o cycloalkyl. In a preferred embodiment "R1" is C1 to C2o alkyl, like methyl,
ethyl or propyl, and "R2" is C1 to C20 cycloalkyl, like cyclohexyl or cyclohcptyl.
The ligands "X" can independently be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen,
halogen. C1 to C20 alkyl, C1 to C20 alkoxy, C2 to C20 alkenyl, C2 to C20 alkynyl,C3 to
C12 cycloalkyl, C6 to C20 aryl, C6 to C20 aryloxy, C7 to C20 arylalkyl, C7 to C20
arylalkenyl, -SR", -PR"3, -SiR"3, -OSiR"3 and -NR"2,
wherein each R" is independently hydrogen, C1 to C20 alkyl, C2 to C20 alkenyl, C2 to C20
alkynyl. C3 to C12 cycloalkyl or C6 to C20 aryl. In a preferred embodiments the ligands "X"
are identical and either halogen, like CI, or benzyl.
Considering the statements above, especially suitable for the preparation of a propylene
copolymer (A) according to this invention is an organo-zirconium compound having the
formula (II)

wherein "Y" is C, Ge, or Si, preferably Si.
As a further requirement the solid catalyst system for the preparation of the propylene
copolymer (A) according to this invention must comprise a cocatalyst (Co) comprising an

element (E) of group 13 of the periodic table (IUPAC), for instance the cocatalyst (Co)
comprises a compound of Al.
Examples of such cocatalyst (Co) are organo aluminium compounds, such as
trialkylaluminium compound and/or aluminoxane compound.
Aluminoxane cocatalysts are inter alia described in WO 94/28034 which is incorporated
herein by reference. These are linear or cyclic oligomers of having up to 40, preferably 3 to
20, -(Al (R"')O)- repeating units (wherein R"' is hydrogen, C1 to C10-alkyl (preferably
methyl) or C6 to C18-aryl or mixtures thereof).
Such compounds of Al, preferably aluminoxanes, can be used as the only compound in the
cocatalyst (Co) or together with other cocatalyst compound(s). Thus besides or in addition to
the compounds of Al, i.e. the aluminoxanes, other cation complex forming cocatalyst
compounds, like boron compounds can be used. Said cocatalysts are commercially available
or can be prepared according to the prior art literature. Preferably however in the
manufacture of the solid catalyst system only compounds of Al as cocatalyst (Co) are
employed.
In particular preferred cocatalysts (Co) are the aluminoxanes, in particular the C1 to C10-
alkylaluminoxanes, most particularly methylaluminoxane (MAO).
Especially good results are achievable in case the mol ratio of element (E) of the cocatalyst
(Co) and zirconium, preferably the mol ratio of Al of the cocatalyst (Co) and zirconium, are
kept in a specific ratio. Accordingly it is appreciated that mol ratio of element (E) of the
cocatalyst (Co) and zirconium [E/Zr], preferably the mol ratio of Al of the cocatalyst (Co)
(like aluminoxanes, such as methylaluminumoxane (MAO)) and zirconium [Al/Zr], is in a
range of 100 to 800 mol/mol, more preferably in a range of 150 to 600 mol/mol, yet more
preferably in a range of 200 to 400 mol/mol, like 200 to 350mol/mol.

Preferably, the organo-zirconium compound of formula (I) and the cocatalyst (Co) of the
solid catalyst system represent at least 70 wt%, more preferably at least 80 wt%, even more
preferably at least 90 wt%, even further preferably at least 95 wt% of the solid catalyst
system. Thus it is appreciated that the solid catalyst system is featured by the fact that it is
self-supported, i.e. it does not comprise any catalytically inert support material, like for
instance silica, alumina or MgCl2 or porous polymeric material, which is otherwise
commonly used in heterogeneous catalyst systems, i.e. the catalyst is not supported on
external support or carrier material. As a consequence that the solid metallocene catalyst
system is self-supported it has a rather low surface area.
A low surface area is insofar appreciated as therewith the bulk density of the produced
propylene copolymer (A) can be increased enabling a high throughput of material. Typically
the solid catalyst system has a surface area measured according to the commonly known
BET method with N2 gas as analysis adsorptive of less than 25 m2/g, more preferably of less
than 20 m2/g, yet more preferably of less than 15 m2/g, still yet more preferably of less than
10 m2/g. In some embodiments, the solid catalyst system used for the preparation of the
propylene copolymer (A) shows a surface area of 5 m2/g or less, i.e. a surface area is below
the detection limit.
The solid catalyst system can be additionally or alternatively defined by the pore volume, i.e.
porosity. Thus it is appreciated that the catalyst particle has a porosity of less than 1.40 ml/g,
more preferably of less than 1.00 ml/g, still more preferably of less than 0.50 ml/g and even
less than 0.20 ml/g. In another preferred embodiment the porosity is not detectable when
determined with the method applied as defined in the example section.
Moreover the solid catalyst system typically has a mean particle size of not more than
500 μm, i.e. preferably in the range of 2 to 500 μm, more preferably 5 to 200 μm. It is in
particular preferred that the mean particle size is below 80 μm, still more preferably below
70 μm. A preferred range for the mean particle size is 5 to 70 μm, more preferred 10 to
60 μm.

The solid metallocene catalyst system is preferably obtained by the emulsion solidification
technology as described in WO 03/051934. This document is herewith included in its
entirety by reference.
Hence the solid catalyst system is preferably obtainable by a process by converting a
solution (A) comprising the organo-zirconium compound and the cocatalyst (Co) to solid
particles comprising the steps of
(a) generating a liquid/liquid emulsion by dispersing the solution (A) in a solvent (S)
immiscible with said solution (A), wherein
(i) the solvent (S) constitutes the continuous phase of the emulsion and
(ii) the solution (A) constitutes in form of droplets the dispersed phase of the
emulsion,
(iii) the organo-zirconium compound and the cocatalyst (Co) are present in the
droplets, and
(b) solidifying said dispersed phase to convert said droplets to solid particles.
More precisely the solid catalyst system is preferably obtainable by a process comprising the
steps of
(a) preparing a solution (A) of the components of the solid catalyst system, wherein the
solution (A) comprises at least a solvent (A'), the organo-zirconium compound and
the cocatalyst (Co) as defined in the instant invention,
(b) dispersing said solution (A) in a solvent (B) immiscible therewith and optionally in
the presence of a surfactant (S) to form an emulsion in which said components are
present in the droplets of the dispersed phase, and
(c) solidifying said dispersed phase to convert said droplets to solid particles and
recovering said particles to obtain said solid catalyst system.
Preferably an organic solvent (A') is used to form said solution (A). Still more preferably the
organic solvent (A') is selected from the group consisting of a linear alkane, cyclic alkane,
linear alkene, cyclic alkene, aromatic hydrocarbon, like toluene, and halogen-containing

hydrocarbon. Toluene is in particular preferred as a solvent (A') to form the solution (A)
with the components of the solid catalyst system.
Moreover the immiscible solvent (B) forming the continuous phase is an inert solvent, more
preferably the immiscible solvent (B) comprises a fluorinated organic solvent and/or a
functionalized derivative thereof, still more preferably the immiscible solvent (B) comprises
a semi-, highly- or perfluorinated hydrocarbon and/or a functionalized derivative thereof. It
is in particular preferred, that said immiscible solvent (B) comprises a perfluorohydrocarbon
or a functionalized derivative thereof, preferably C3 to C30 perfluoroalkanes, -alkenes or -
cycloalkanes, more preferred C4 to C10 perfluoro-alkanes, -alkenes or -cycloalkanes,
particularly preferred perfluorohexane, perfluoroheptane, perfluorooctane or perfluoro
(methylcyclohexane) or a mixture thereof.
Perfluorinated hydrocarbon denotes a hydrocarbon compound, where all hydrogen atoms are
replaced with fluorine atom. Highly fluorinated hydrocarbon denotes a hydrocarbon
compound, where at least half of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine atom.
Furthermore it is preferred that the emulsion comprising said continuous phase and said
dispersed phase is a bi-or multiphasic system as known in the art.
A surfactant can be used for forming the emulsion. After the formation of the emulsion
system, said catalyst is formed in situ from catalyst components in said solution.
In principle, the surfactant may be any suitable agent which contributes to the formation
and/or stabilization of the emulsion and which does not have any adverse effect on the
catalytic activity of the catalyst. The surfactant is based on hydrocarbons optionally
interrupted with (a) heteroatom(s), preferably halogenated hydrocarbons optionally having a
functional group, preferably semi-, highly- or perfluorinated hydrocarbons as known in the
art, e.g. (2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,-heptadecafluoronoyl)oxirane.

Alternatively, the surfactant may be prepared during the emulsion preparation, e.g. by
reacting a surfactant precursor with a compound of the catalyst solution. Said surfactant
precursor may be a halogenated hydrocarbon with at least one functional group, e.g. a highly
fluorinated C1 to C30 alcohol, (such as C4 - C2o, or C5 - C10 alcohol, like heptanol, octanol or
nonanol). For instance in preferred embodiments 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,-
dodecafluoroheptanol and 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,9-heptadecafluorononylnonanol are
is used as a surfactant precursors.
Suitable processes for dispersing the solution (A) within the solvent (B) is the use of
mechanical as well as of ultrasound for mixing, as known to the skilled person. The process
parameters, such as time of mixing, intensity of mixing, type of mixing, power employed for
mixing, such as mixer velocity or wavelength of ultrasound employed, viscosity of solvent
phase, are used for adjusting the size of the solid catalyst system.
In principle any solidification method can be used for forming the solid catalyst system from
the dispersed droplets. According to one preferable embodiment the solidification is effected
by a temperature change treatment. Hence the emulsion subjected to gradual temperature
change of up to 10 °C/min, preferably 0.5 to 6 °C/min and more preferably 1 to 5 °C/min.
Even more preferred the emulsion is subjected to a rapid temperature change of more than
35 °C. preferably more than 40 °C. Depending on the type and size of the apparatus the
temperature change can vary, e.g. within less than 10 seconds, preferably less than 6
seconds.
For further details, embodiments and examples of the continuous and dispersed phase
system, emulsion formation method, and solidification methods reference is made e.g. to the
above cited international patent application WO 03/051934.
It has been additionally discovered that further improvement in the preparation of the
propylene copolymer (A) can be achieved in case the solid catalyst system is protected
against the reaction medium used for instance in slurry reactors. A protection of the solid
catalyst system reduces sheeting in the reactor vessel and thus increases the output rate and

the properties of the produced propylene copolymer (A). An effective protection can be
accomplished in case the solid catalyst system is polymerized. Thus it is in particular
appreciated that in the preparation of the propylene copolymer (A) a solid catalyst
composition is employed, said solid catalyst composition comprises a polymer matrix and
distributed therein a catalyst system as defined in detail above, wherein the weight ratio of
the polymer matrix and the catalyst system [weight polymer matrix/weight catalyst system]
in the solid catalyst composition is below 25.0.
The solid catalyst composition is in particular featured by the fact the catalyst systems is
dispersed in a polymeric matrix material, i.e. the catalyst system is distributed within the
polymer matrix. The term "distributed" shall preferably indicate that the catalyst system is
not concentrated at one place within the matrix but (evenly) dispersed within the matrix. This
has the advantage that - contrary to commercially available supported catalyst systems -an
overheating at the beginning of the polymerization process due to "hot spots" areas caused
by concentration of catalytic species at one place is diminished which in turn supports a start
of the polymerization in a controlled way under mild conditions. The even distribution of
catalyst system in the polymer matrix is mainly achieved due to the preparation of the solid
catalyst composition as described in detail below. One remarkable feature of the process
defined in detail below is that the catalyst composition is obtained by heterogeneous
catalysis.
As stated above the polymer matrix of solid catalyst composition shall protect the catalytic
active species within the solid catalyst composition against any possible dissolution
phenomena in a slurry reactor, i.e. in low molar mass hydrocarbons, like propane, i-butane,
pentane, hexane or propylene. On the other hand the protection of the catalyst system should
be not too massive otherwise the catalytic activity of the active species might be deteriorated.
In the present invention the conflicting interests one the one hand of high catalytic activity of
the catalyst system and on the other hand of the solid stability of the catalyst system in the
polymerization medium of the slurry reactor is achieved by protecting the catalyst system by
a matrix wherein the matrix is present in rather low amounts within the solid catalyst
composition. It has been surprisingly found out that a rather low weight ratio of polymer

matrix to solid catalyst system [weight polymer matrix/weight solid catalyst system], leads to
a satisfactory protection against dissolution by keeping the catalyst activity on high levels.
Accordingly it is appreciated that the weight ratio of the solid composition [weight polymer
matrix/weight solid catalyst system] is below 25.0, more preferably below 15.0, yet more
preferably below 10.0, still yet more preferably below 5.0. On the other hand to achieve a
reasonable protection against dissolution the polymerization degree shall preferably exceed a
value of 0.5, more preferably of 0.7, yet more preferably of 1.0. Preferred ranges of the
polymerization degree shall be 0.7 to 10.0, more preferably 1.0 to 8.0, yet more preferably
1.0 to 6.0. still more preferably 1.0 to 5.0, still yet more preferably of 2.0 to 5.0.
The polymer matrix can be any type of polymer as long as it prevents the dissolution of the
catalyst system in the polymerization medium of a slurry reactor, i.e. low molar mass
hydrocarbons, like propane, i-butane, pentane, hexane or propylene, and is catalytically inert.
Accordingly the polymer matrix is preferably based on olefin monomers, like a-olefin
monomers, each having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. The olefin, like a-olefin, can be linear or
branched, cyclic or acyclic, aromatic or aliphatic. Preferred examples are ethylene,
propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 2-methyl-l-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-hexene, 2-methyl-
1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 2-ethyl-l-butene, 2,3-dimethyl-l-
butene. 1-octene, styrene, and vinylcyclohexane.
It is in particular preferred that the polymer matrix corresponds to the propylene copolymer
(A) according to the present invention.
Further it is appreciated that the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymer
matrix is rather low. Thus it is preferred that the polymer matrix has weight average
molecular weight (Mw) of below or equal 300,000 g/mol, more preferably below 50,000
g/mol. In preferred embodiments the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polymer
matrix is in the range of 3,000 to 30,000 g/mol, more preferably in the range of 5,000 to
20.000 g/mol.

Concerning the indenyl ligands and/or the bridging groups (Y) of the organo-zirconium
compound as defined in detail above it is preferred that do not form a chemical entity with
the polymer matrix. Thus it is in particular preferred that the indenyl ligands and/or the
bridging groups (Y) do not comprise a polymerizable residue. A polymerizable residue
according to this invention is any functional group which enables the covalent bonding of the
organo-zirconium compound via the indenyl ligands and/or the bridging groups (Y) with the
polymer matrix. Accordingly it is in particular preferred that the indenyl ligands and/or the
bridging groups (Y) of the organo-zirconium compound as defined in the instant invention
do not comprise polymerizable olefinic groups, like olefinically unsaturated substituents.
Examples of such polymerizable olefinic groups are substituents having the formula (III)

wherein
R" is a hydrocarbyl diradical having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; more preferably 2 to 10,
n is 1 or 0, and
each R' is individually selected from the group consisting of organo radicals having 1 to 10
carbon atoms and hydrogen.
Most preferably R" has at least two carbons in its main alkylene chain, i.e. it is a divalent
ethylene radical or a higher homolog thereof.
Accordingly it is in particular preferred that of the indenyl ligands and/or the bridging groups
(Y) do not comprise polymerizable olefinic groups having the formula (III).
As a consequence of the previous paragraph it is preferred that the polymer matrix is not
covalent bonded to the organo-zirconium compound via the indenyl ligands and/or the
bridging groups (Y).
The solid catalyst composition as preferably used in the instant invention is preferably as
follows obtained.

The solid catalyst composition is produced by polymerizing olefin monomers, like a-olefins,
in the presence of the above defined solid catalyst system, i.e. preferably in the presence of a
self-supported solid catalyst system comprising an organo-zirconium compound of formula
(I) and a cocatalyst (Co). Thus the polymerization is a heterogeneous polymerization. As a
consequence of the polymerization process the catalyst system will be dispersed in the
growing polymer matrix. To avoid an overheating during the polymerization and a
dissolving of the catalyst system the polymerization is run preferably in a diluent.
Accordingly the process for the preparation of the solid catalyst composition comprises the
steps of
(a) forming in a vessel a catalyst diluent slurry comprising the catalyst system as defined
in detail above and a diluent,
(b) feeding at least one olefin monomer, preferably at least one a-olefin monomer, into
the vessel,
(c) operating the vessel under such conditions that the at least one olefin monomer is
polymerized by the catalyst system, producing thereby a solid catalyst composition
comprising a polymer matrix in which the catalyst system is dispersed,
(d) terminating the polymerization of step (c) before the weight ratio of the polymer
matrix and the catalyst system [weight polymer matrix (A)/weight catalyst system]
in the solid catalyst composition is 25.0 or more.
Preferred is that the termination of the polymerization of step (c) is accomplished so that the
weight ratio of the polymer matrix and the catalyst system [weight polymer matrix/weight
catalyst system] in the solid catalyst composition is from 0.5 to 10.0, more preferably from
1.0 to 8.0, yet more preferably from 1.0 to 6.0, still more preferably from 1.0 to 5.0 and still
yet more preferably of from 2.0 to 5.0.
The vessel used in the manufacture of the present invention is preferably stirred well in order
to facilitate the dissolution of the gaseous monomer and keeping the monomer concentration
constant in the oil.

The diluent to be used must be inert towards the catalyst. This means that it must preferably
not contain components having tendency to react with the catalyst system, such as groups
containing atoms selected from oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine
and so on. Also groups containing double bonds or triple bonds should be avoided.
Especially the presence of compounds like water, alcohols, organic sulphides, ketones,
carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and acetylenic compounds should be avoided.
Examples of useful diluents are oils, like hydrocarbon oil or silicon oil, more preferably
hydrocarbon oil, or fluorinated hydrocarbons.
It is in particular preferred that said diluents contain less than 100 parts per million (ppm) of
compounds containing groups as mentioned in the previous paragraph. More preferably the
content of such compounds is less than 50 ppm, still more preferably less than 10 ppm, yet
more preferably below the detection limit.
The viscosity of the oil during the catalyst polymerisation into the matrix can be within
reasonable broad ranges. As preferably the reaction mixture is stirred during this step,
settling is of no problem, even if low viscosity oils are used. After the desired catalyst
composition of polymer matrix and catalyst system is obtained, the catalyst composition-oil
slurry should be readily transportable into the polymerisation reactor. If desired, the viscosity
of the slurry can be adjusted, i.e. increased afterwards by adding some more viscous
material, e.g. grease, like vaseline into the system. The optimal viscosity of the catalyst
composition-oil-slurry depends on the catalyst feeding systems in the process. If the
viscosity will be kept too low, it might cause some settling problems during any storage
time. However, if stirring systems are in use, this is not a problem. Very high viscosities of
the slurry require special dosing systems.
Thus it is appreciated that the dynamic viscosity of the oil is from 5 to 3000 mPa.s at the
operating temperature of the vessel, more preferably at temperature range from room-
temperature (20 °C) to 70 °C. Preferably the dynamic viscosity is from 10 to 1500 mPa.s,

more preferably from 20 to 990 mPa.s, when measured at the operating temperature of the
vessel, more preferably at temperature range from room-temperature to 70 °C.
Moreover it is appreciated that the oil, preferably in case white oil is used, has density
measured according to DIN EN ISO 12185 from 750 to 900 kg/m3.
Additionally it is preferred that the solubility of the catalyst system within the oil is rather
low. Thus the oil shall be preferably selected in such a manner that the catalyst system has a
solubility in the oil [amount of catalyst system solved in 100 g oil] below 0.1 g. I.e. catalyst
system is dissolved not more than 0.1 wt-%, preferable less than 0.08 wt-%.
Examples of suitable oils are mineral oils and synthetic oils comprising essentially
hydrocarbons containing from about 15 to about 100 carbon atoms, like Synton PAO 100,
which is a synthetic oil supplied by Crompton Petroleum Additives, Shell Cassida HF 15,
Shell Cassida HF 32, Shell Cassida 46, Shell Cassida HF 68 and Shell Cassida HF 100,
which are synthetic oils supplied by Shell, Drakeol 35, which is a synthetic oil supplied by
Penreco. Ondina 68, which is a mineral oil supplied by Shell and Primol 352, which is
supplied by ExxonMobil. From the commercial products in particular Primol products, like
Primol 352, are preferred.
If fluorinatcd hydrocarbon component(s) are used as diluent they can be used individually or
as mixtures, and can be included in a mixture with non-fluorinated hydrocarbon compounds
if desired, however, preferably fluorinated hydrocarbons are used alone.
The fluorinated hydrocarbon compounds have at least one carbon atom and at least one
fluorine atom The fluorinated hydrocarbon compounds can be perfluorinated hydrocarbon
compounds or the fluorinated hydrocarbon compounds can optionally include one or more
hydrogen atom(s). A perfluorinated hydrocarbon compound is a fluorocarbon compound in
which the hydrogen directly attached to the carbon atom(s) is completely replaced by
fluorine. See Hawley 's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Thirteenth Edition, Van Nostrand

Renhold, 1997. Examples of preferred perfluorocarbons include linear branched or cyclic, C1 to C40 perfluoroalkanes.
In one embodiment, the fluorinated hydrocarbon compounds are represented by the formula
(V)
CxHyFz (V)
wherein x is an integer from 1 to 40, preferably from 4 to 30, more preferably from 4 to 20,
yet more preferably from 1 to 10, like from 4 to 6, wherein
y is greater than or equal to 0, and
z is an integer and at least one,
more preferably y and z are integers and at least one.
In a preferred embodiment z is 4 or more.
Non-limiting examples of fluorinated hydrocarbon compounds include 1-fluorobutane, 2-
fluorobutane, 1,1-difluorobutane, 1,2-difluorobutane, 1,3-difluorobutane, 1,4-
difluorobutane, 2,2-difluorobutane, 2,3-difluorobutane, 1,1,1-trifluorobutane, 1,1,2-
trifluorobutane, 1,1,3-trifluorobutane, 1,1,4-trifluorobutane, 1,2,2- trifluorobutane, 1,2,3-
trifluorobutane, 1,3,3-trifluorobutane, 2,2,3-trifluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2-tetrafiuorobutane, 1,1,1
.3-tetrafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,4-tetrafluorobutane, 1 , 1 ,2,2-tetrafluorobutane, 1 , 1 ,2,3-
tctrafluorobutane, 1 , 1 ,2,4-tetrafluorobutane, 1 , 1 ,3 ,3 -tetrafluorobutane, 1,1,3 ,4-
letrafluorobutane, 1 , 1 ,4,4-tetrafluorobutane, 1 ,2,2,3-tetrafluorobutane, 1 ,2,2,4-
tetrafluorobutane, 1 ,2,3,3-tetrafluorobutane, 1 ,2,3 ,4-tetrafluorobutane, 2,2,3,3-
tetrafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2,2-pentafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2,3-pentafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2,4-
pentafluorobutane, 1,1,1,3,3- pentafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,3 ,4-pentafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,4,4-
pentafluorobutane, 1 , 1 ,2,2,3-pentafiuorobutane, 1 ,1 ,2,2,4-pentafluorobutane, 1 ,1 ,2,3,3-
pentafiuorobutane, 1 ,1 ,2,4,4-pentafluorobutane, 1 , 1 ,3,3,4-pentafluorobutane, 1 ,2,2,3,3-
pentafluorobutane, 1 ,2,2,3,4-pentafluorobutane, 1,1,1,2,2,3-hexafluorobutane, 1,1,1,2,2,4-
hexafiuorobutane, 1.1,1,2,3,3 -hexafluorobutane, 1,1,1,2,3 ,4-hexafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2,4,4-
hexafluorobutane, 1 , 1 , 1 ,3 ,3 ,4-hexafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,3,4,4-hexafluorobutane, 1,1,1
.4,4,4-hexafluorobutane, 1 , 1 ,2,2,3,3-hexafluorobutane, 1, 1,2,2,3 ,4-hexafluorobutane, 1 ,
1 .2.2.4,4- hexafluorobutane, 1,1,2,3,3,4-hexafluorobutane, 1,1,2,3,4,4-hexafluorobutane, 1

.2.2.3 .3 ,4-hexafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2,2,3 ,3-heptafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2,2,4,4-
heptafluorobutane. 1,1,1,2,2,3,4-heptafluorobutane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,4- heptafluorobutane, 1,1,1,
2.3. 4.4-heptafluorobutane, 1,1,1,2,4,4,4- heptafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,3 ,3 ,4,4-
heptafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2,2,3 ,3 ,4- octafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2,2,3,4,4-octafluorobutane,
1.1.1 .2.3 ,3.4.4- octafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2,2,4,4,4-octafluorobutane, 1,1,1,2,3 ,4,4,4-
octafluorobutane, 1,1,1 ,2,2,3,3,4,4-nonafluorobutanc, 1,1,1 ,2,2,3,4,4,4- nonafluorobutane,
l-fluoro-2-methylpropane, l,l-difluoro-2-methyl[rho]ropane, 1,3- difluoro-2-methylpropane,
1.1.1 -trifluoro-2-methylpropane, 1,1,3 -trifluoro-2- methylpropane, 1 ,3-difluoro-2-
(fluoromelhyl)propane, 1,1,1 ,3-tetrafluoro-2- methylpropane, l,l,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-
methylpropane, l,l,3-trifluoro-2-(fluoromethyl)propane, 1,1,1 ,3 ,3-pentafluoro-2-
methylpropane, 1 , 1 ,3,3- tetrafluoro-2-(fluoromethyl)propane, 1,1,1 ,3-tetrafluoro-2-
(fluoromethyl)propane, fluorocyclobutane, 1,1-difluorocyclobutane, 1,2-
difluorocyclobutane, 1,3- difluorocyclobutane, 1,1,2-trifluorocyclobutane, 1,1,3-
trifluorocyclobutane, 1,2,3- trifluorocyclobutane, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluorocyclobutane, 1,1,3,3-
tetrafluorocyclobutane, 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluorocyclobutane, 1,1,2,3,3- pentafluorocyclobutane,
1.1.2.2.3.3-hexafluorocyclobutane, 1,1,2,2,3,4- hexafluorocyclobutane, 1 , 1 ,2,3,3,4-
hexafluorocyclobutane, 1 , 1 ,2,2,3 ,3 ,4- heptafluorocyclobutane, perfluorodecalin,
perfluoroheptane, perfluorohexane, perfluoromethylcyclohexane, perfluorooctane, perfluoro-
1,3-dimethylcyclohexane, perfluorononane and perfluorotoluene. In addition to those
fluorinated hydrocarbons described herein, those fluorinated hydrocarbons described in
Raymond Will. et. al., CEH Marketing Report, Fluorocarbons, Pages 1- 133, by the
Chemical Economics Handbook-SRI International, April 2001, which is fully incorporated
herein by reference, are included.
In a particular preferred embodiments the fluorinated hydrocarbon compound is selected
from the group consisting of perfluorinated C1 to C15 alkane, perfluorodecalin,
perfluoroheptane, perfluorohexane, perfluoromethylcyclohexane, perfluorooctane, perfluoro-
1.3-dimethylcyclohexane, perfluorononane and perfluorotoluene. The most preferred
fluorinated hydrocarbon compound is perfluoro-l,3-dimethylcyclohexane.

Most preferably the fluorinated hydrocarbon compound is perfluoro-1,3-
dimethylcyclohexane.
The diluent slurry may be formed in any method known in the art. According to a preferred
method, the solid catalyst system is introduced into the diluent under agitation. The slurry
may be prepared in the vessel or it may be prepared in advance and then transferred into the
vessel. Further, the solid catalyst system may also be delivered into the vessel as
concentrated slurry, which may then be diluted with the diluent in the vessel.
The diluent slurry may be homogenised by agitation. The agitation can be obtained by
circulating the diluent slurry by using a circulation pump and pipes connecting the pump to
the vessel. Alternatively, the vessel is equipped with an agitator, which keeps the diluent
slurry within the vessel in motion, and facilitates the dissolution of gaseous monomer into
the diluent. Preferably the vessel is equipped with an agitator. The elements of the agitator
should be chosen so that uniform stirring in the whole volume of the vessel is obtained and
no dead spots where the catalyst system could settle exist. These stirrer elements, such as
anchor type elements and axial and radial impellers are well known in the art and a person
skilled in the art can choose a suitable combination for each geometry of the vessel. The
vessel may also be equipped with baffles, which are known in the art to further improve the
stirring.
As monomers preferably olefins, like a-olefins, are employed. More preferably the olefins,
like a-olefins, have 2 to 20 carbon atoms. The olefins, like a-olefins, can be linear or
branched, cyclic or acyclic, aromatic or aliphatic. Preferred examples are ethylene,
propylene. 1-butene, 1-pentene, 2-methyl-l-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-hexene, 2-methyl-
1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl- 1-pentene, 2-ethyl-l-butene, 2,3-dimethyl-l-
butene, 1-octene, slyrene, and vinylcyclohexane. Most preferably the monomer is propylene.
The temperature of the slurry within the vessel during polymerization in step (c) depends on
the catalyst system used as well as on the monomers chosen. Thus it is appreciated that the
reaction temperature is equal or below 70 °C, more preferably below 65 °C. Of course also

to loo low temperatures might cause problems because the viscosity might be too high then.
Thus the temperature may be selected from the range of from -30 to 70 °C, more preferably
from 0 to 65 °C, yet more preferably from 20 to 55 °C.
The pressure within the vessel at step (c) of the polymerization process shall be kept in a
certain range. It is desired that the pressure in the vessel is higher than the atmospheric
pressure to minimise the eventual leaks of air and/or moisture into the catalyst feed vessel.
Thus it is appreciated that the pressure is in the range of at least 0.2 to 15 bar, more
preferably in the range of 1 to 10 bar, even more preferred in the range of 2.5 to 8 bar.
The vessel shall be maintained in inert atmosphere. Especially, the presence of oxygen and
moisture should be avoided.
The gas phase in the vessel should preferably consist of nitrogen, argon and similar inert
gases, or their mixtures. Also, the vessel should be equipped with possibility to flush the
vessel with inert gas, preferably with nitrogen. Of course in addition to the used monomers,
in gaseous form, also hydrogen, used as molecular weight controlling agent is preferably fed
into the vessel.
After the desired polymerization degree the polymerization is terminated (step (d)). The
termination is preferably achieved by degassing the vessel.
After the termination of the polymerization the oil slurry preferably comprises at least
20 wt.-%, more preferably up to 25 wt.-% of the produced solid catalyst composition.
Preferably, the oil slurry is removed from the vessel after the termination of the
polymerization process. The thus obtained solid catalyst composition can be, if desired,
extracted from the oil. However, it is also possible to use the prepared catalyst composition-
oil slurry as such in the polymerisation process as defined in more detail below, without any
extraction or drying steps.

Accordingly the present invention is also directed to a process for the preparation of the
propylene copolymer (A) according to this invention comprising the steps of
(a) optionally polymerizing a solid catalyst system to a solid catalyst composition, and
(b) polymerizing in the presence of said solid catalyst system or said solid catalyst
composition propylene, 1-butene and optionally ethylene and/or C5 to C10 α-
olefin(s) obtaining a propylene copolymer according to this invention as defined in
detail above.
Preferably the polymerization step (b) is conducted in a reactor system comprising at least
one slurry rector, preferably at least one loop reactor, and/or at least one gas phase rector. It
is in particular appreciated that the preparation of the polypropylene is conducted in a
multistage polymerization, i.e. the polypropylene is first polymerized in the slurry reactor
and subsequently in at least one further slurry reactor and/or at least one gas phase reactor.
Even more preferably the polypropylene is produced first in a slurry reactor, i.e. loop reactor,
and subsequently in at least one gas phase reactor, preferably in one or two gas phase
reactors.
A preferred multistage process is a "loop-gas phase"-process, such as developed by Borealis
(known as BORSTAR® technology) described e.g. in patent literature, such as in
EP 0887 379 or EP 517 868.
Optionally, the process can further comprise a prepolymerisation step in a manner known in
the field, which prepolymerisation step may precede the first actual polymerization step and
may be in particular suitable in case the solid catalyst system as such is intended to be used
in the polymerization process.
If the polypropylene composition is multimodal at least with respect to the molecular weight
distribution (MWD), then the lower molecular weight (LMW) component and the higher
molecular weight (HMW) component are made in different steps (b1) and (b2), in any order.
The LMW fraction is preferably component (i) produced in step (bl) and the HMW fraction

is component (ii) which is produced in a subsequent step (b2) in the presence of component
(i) as obtained from the first reactor (step (b1)).
The process of the invention is preferably a continuous process.
Temperature conditions in the reactor system for producing the propylene copolymer (A) is
in the range of 40°C to 130°C, more preferably in the range of 50 to 110 °C.
Therefore the conditions for the slurry reactor, preferably loop reactor, of step (bl) may be as
follows:
the temperature is within the range of 40°C to 110°C, preferably between 60°C and
100°C or 70 to 95°C,
the pressure is within the range of 20 bar to 80 bar, preferably between 30 bar to 60
bar.
hydrogen can be added for controlling the molar mass in a manner known per se
the residence time is typically 0.5 to 5 hours, e.g. 0.5 to 2 hours.
In gas phase reactor (step (b2)) the conditions are preferably as follows:
the temperature is within the range of 50°C to 130°C, preferably between 60°C and
100 °C,
the pressure is within the range of 5 bar to 50 bar, preferably between 15 bar to 35 bar,
hydrogen can be added for controlling the molar mass in a manner known per se,
the residence time is typically 1 to 8 hours.
The gas phase polymerisation may be conducted in a manner known in the art, such as in a
fluidised bed or in an agitated bed. Also fast fluidisation may be utilised.
The amount of propylene, 1-butene and optionally ethylene and/or C5 to C10 α-olefin(s) fed
during the total process depends very much on the desired end product. The same applies for
hydrogen feed, temperature and pressure used in the polymerization steps (b1) to (b2) as
long as the above predefined ranges are considered. This exact amount and ratios needed for

the polymerization of the respective polypropylene can be easily determined by a person
skilled in the art.
Scavengers can be also used in the polymerization. As catalyst scavengers Al compounds,
like Al alkyl compounds, e.g. triethyl aluminium, and tri-i-butyl aluminium are used.
Preferably in the polymerization of the polypropylene (steps (bl) and (b2)) an antifouling
composition can be fed. The antifouling composition according to this invention comprises
an organic compound which has at least 14 carbon atoms and comprises at least one polar
functional group.
Preferably, the polar functional group is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl
including phenolic groups, carboxylic acid, ketone, aldehyde, ester, ether, thioether, amine,
epoxy. thiol, or any combination thereof.
Preferably, the organic compound comprises a hydrocarbyl group having at least 5 carbon
atoms. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrocarbyl group having at least 5 carbon atoms is
selected from linear or branched C10 to C22 hydrocarbyl groups, which may optionally
include one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.
In a preferred embodiment, the organic compound may comprise at least one substituted or
unsubstituted cyclic moiety having at least 5 ring atoms. Preferably, said cyclic moiety is a
tetrahydrofuranyl ring having at least one, preferably two hydroxyl groups attached to the
ring.
Preferably, the organic compound is selected from sterically hindered phenols, ethoxylated
amines, ethoxylated amides, sorbitan ester compounds, thioether compounds, or mixtures
thereof.

Preferably, the sorbitan ester is a sorbitan C8 to C2o fatty acid ester. More preferably, the
sorbitan fatty acid ester is selected from sorbitan stearate, sorbitan monooleate, or mixtures
thereof
After the polymerization the propylene copolymer (A) is blended with the p-nucleating agent
(B) as defined above to obtain the propylene copolymer (A). The mixing can be carried out
by methods known per se, e.g. by mixing the propylene copolymer (A) with the P-nucleating
agent (B) in the desired weight relationship using a batch or a continuous process. As
examples of typical batch mixers the Banbury and the heated roll mill can be mentioned.
Continuous mixers are exemplified by the Farrel mixer, the Buss co-kneader, and single- or
twin-screw extruders.
In case pipes shall be produced of the propylene copolymer (A) than after the manufacture of
the inventive material the following steps follow. In general the inventive propylene
copolymer (A) is extruded and subsequently formed into a pipe.
Accordingly the inventive pipe is preferably produced by first plasticizing the propylene
copolymer (A) of the instant invention in an extruder at temperatures in the range of from
200 to 300 °C and then extruding it through an annular die and cooling it.
The extruders for producing the pipe can be single screw extruders with an L/D of 20 to 40
or twin screw extruders or extruder cascades of homogenizing extruders (single screw or
twin screw). Optionally, a melt pump and/or a static mixer can be used additionally between
the extruder and the ring die head. Ring shaped dies with diameters ranging from
approximately 16 to 2000 mm and even greater are possible.
The melt arriving from the extruder is first distributed over an annular cross-section via
conically arranged holes and then fed to the core/die combination via a coil distributor or
screen. If necessary, restrictor rings or other structural elements for ensuring uniform melt
flow may additionally be installed before the die outlet. After leaving the annular die, the

pipe is taken off over a calibrating mandrel, usually accompanied by cooling of the pipe by
air cooling and/or water cooling, optionally also with inner water cooling.
The present invention will now be described in further detail by the examples provided
below.
EXAMPLES
Definitions/Measuring Methods
The following definitions of terms and determination methods apply for the above general
description of the invention as well as to the below examples unless otherwise defined.
Melting temperature and degree of crystallinity
Melting temperature Tm, crystallization temperature Tcr, and the degree of crystallinity were
measured with Mettler TA820 differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) on 5 to 10 mg,
typically 8±0.5 mg samples Both crystallization and melting curves were obtained during
10°C/min cooling and heating scans between 30°C and 225°C. Melting and crystallization
temperatures were taken as the peaks of endotherms and exotherms. The degree of
crystallinity was calculated by comparison with heat of fusion of a perfectly crystalline
polypropylene, i.e. 209 J/g.
Randomness
In the FTIR measurements, films of 250 -mm thickness were compression moulded at
225 °C and investigated on a Perkin-Elmer System 2000 FTIR instrument. The ethylene
peak area (760-700 cm-1) was used as a measure of total ethylene content. The absorption
band for the structure -P-E-P- (one ethylene unit between propylene units), occurs at 733
cm-1 This band characterizes the random ethylene content. For longer ethylene sequences
(more than two units), an absorption band occurs at 720 cm-1. Generally, a shoulder
corresponding to longer ethylene runs is observed for the random copolymers. The
calibration for total ethylene content based on the area and random ethylene (PEP) content
based on peak height at 733 cm-1 was made by 13C-NMR. (Thermochimica Acta, 66 (1990)
53-68).

Number average molecular weight (M„), weight average molecular weight (Mw) and
molecular weight distribution (MWD) are determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography
(GPC) according to the following method:
The weight average molecular weight Mw and the molecular weight distribution (MWD =
Mw/Mn wherein Mn is the number average molecular weight and Mw is the weight average
molecular weight) is measured by a method based on ISO 16014-1:2003 and ISO 16014-
4:2003. A Waters Alliance GPCV 2000 instrument, equipped with refractive index detector
and online viscosimeter was used with 3 x TSK-gel columns (GMHXL-HT) from TosoHaas
and 1.2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB, stabilized with 200 mg/L 2,6-Di tert butyl-4-methyl-
phenol) as solvent at 145 °C and at a constant flow rate of 1 mL/min. 216.5 uL of sample
solution were injected per analysis. The column set was calibrated using relative calibration
with 19 narrow MWD polystyrene (PS) standards in the range of 0.5 kg/mol to 11 500
kg/mol and a set of well characterised broad polypropylene standards. All samples were
prepared by dissolving 5 -10 mg of polymer in 10 mL (at 160 °C) of stabilized TCB (same
as mobile phase) and keeping for 3 hours with continuous shaking prior sampling in into the
GPC instrument.
Rheology: Dynamic rheological measurements were carried out with Rheometrics RDA-II
QC on compression molded samples under nitrogen atmosphere at 200°C using 25 mm -
diameter plate and plate geometry. The oscillatory shear experiments were done within the
linear viscoelastic range of strain at frequencies from 0.01 to 500 rad/s. (IS06721-1)
The values of storage modulus (G), loss modulus (G"), complex modulus (G*) and complex
viscosity (n*) were obtained as a function of frequency (ω).
The Zero shear viscosity (n0) was calculated using complex fluidity defined as the reciprocal
of complex viscosity. Its real and imaginary part are thus defined by


The polydispersity index, PI, is calculated from cross-over point of G'(ω) and G"(ω).
There is a linear correlation between f and f' with zero ordinate value of 1 /η0 (Heino et al.1 )
For polypropylene this is valid at low frequencies and five first points (5 points/decade) are
used in calculation of η0
Shear thinning indexes (SHI), which are correlating with MWD and are independent of
MW, were calculated according to Heino 1'2) (below).
SHI
SHI is calculated by dividing the Zero Shear Viscosity by a complex viscosity value,
obtained at a certain constant shear stress value, G*. The abbreviation, SHI (0/50), is the
ratio between the zero shear viscosity and the viscosity at the shear stress of 50 000 Pa.
1) Rheological characterization of polyethylene fractions. Heino, E.L.; Lehtinen, A; Tanner,
J.: Seppala, J. Neste Oy, Porvoo, Finland. Theor. Appl. Rheol., Proc. Int. Congr. Rheol., 11th
(1992), 1 360-362
2) The influence of molecular structure on some rheological properties of polyethylene.
Heino. Eeva-Leena. Borealis Polymers Oy, Porvoo, Finland. Annual Transactions of the
Nordic Rheology Society, 1995
NMR-spectroscopy measurements:
The l3C-NMR spectra of polypropylenes were recorded on Bruker 400MHz spectrometer at
130 °C from samples dissolved in l,2,4-trichlorobenzene/benzene-d6 (90/10 w/w). For the
pentad analysis the assignment is done according to the methods described in literature: (T.
Hayashi. Y. Inoue, R. Chiijo, and T. Asakura, Polymer 29 138-43 (1988).and Chujo R, et al,
Polymer 35 339 (1994).
The NMR-measurement was used for determining the mmmm pentad concentration in a
manner well known in the art.
Melt Flow Rate (MFR2)
The melt flow rates were measured with a load of 2.16 kg at 230 °C. The melt flow rate is
that quantity of polymer in grams which the test apparatus standardized to ISO 1133
extrudes within 10 minutes at a temperature of 230 °C under a load of 2.16 kg.

Comonomer content
The comonomer contents of the copolymer was determined by quantitative Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) calibrated to results obtained from quantitative C NMR
spectroscopy.
Thin films were pressed to a thickness of between 300 to 500 μm at 190 °C and spectra
recorded in transmission mode. Relevant instrument settings include a spectral window of
5000 to 400 wave-numbers (cm1), a resolution of 2.0 cm-1 and 8 scans.
The butene content of a propylene-butene copolymer was determined using the baseline
corrected peak maxima of a quantitative band at 767 cm-1, with the baseline defined from
780-750 cm-1.
The 1-butene content of a propylene-butene copolymer was determined using the baseline
corrected peak maxima of a quantitative band at 727 cm-1, with the baseline defined from
758.5 to 703.0 cm-1)
The comonomer content(C) was determined using a film thickness method using the
intensity of the quantitative band l(q) and the thickness of the pressed film T using the
following relationship: f I(q) / T ]m + c = C where m and c are the coefficients determined
from the calibration curve constructed using the comonomer contents obtained from 13C
NMR spectroscopy.
Content of β-modification:
The β-crystallinity is determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). DSC is run
according to ISO 3146/ part 3 /method C2 with a scan rate of 10 °C/min. The amount of β-
modification is calculated from the second heat by the following formula:
β-area/(a-area + β-area)
Since the thermodynamical β-modification starts to be changed into the more stable α-
modification at temperatures above 150 °C, a part of the β-modification is transferred within
the heating process of DSC-measurement. Therefore, the amount of β-PP determined by
DSC is lower as when measured according to the method of Turner-Jones by WAXS (A.
Turner-Jones et. al., Makromol. Chem 75 (1964) 134).
"Second heat" means that the sample is heated according to ISO 3146 / part 3 / method C2
for a first time and then cooled to room temperature at a rate of 10 °C/min. The sample is

then heated a second time, also according to ISO 3146 / part 3 / method C2. This second heat
is relevant for measurement and calculation.
During the "first heat" all thermal history of the sample giving rise to different crystalline
structure, which typically comes from different processing conditions and/or methods, is
destroyed. Using the second heat for determination of ft-crystallinity, it is possible to
compare samples regardless of the way the samples were originally manufactured.
The xylene solubles (XS, wt.-%):
Analysis according to the known method (ISO 6427): 2.0 g of polymer is dissolved in 250
ml p-xylene at 135°C under agitation. After 30±2 minutes the solution is allowed to cool for
15 minutes at ambient temperature (21 °C) and then allowed to settle for 30 minutes at
25±0.5°C. The solution is filtered and evaporated in nitrogen flow and the residue dried
under vacuum at 90 °C until constant weight is reached.
XS% = (100 x m1 x v0) / (m0 x V1), wherein
m„ = initial polymer amount (g)
m1 = weight of residue (g)
v0, = initial volume (ml)
V1 = volume of analyzed sample (ml)
Intrinsic viscosity is measured according to DIN ISO 1628/1, October 1999 (in Decalin at
135 °C).
Charpy impact strength
Charpy impact strength was determined according to ISO 179:2000 on V-notched samples at
23 °C (Charpy impact strength (23°C) and -20 °C (Charpy impact strength (-20°C) by
using injection moulded test specimens as described in EN ISO 1873-2 (80x10x4 mm).
Flexural modulus
Flexural modulus: was measured according to ISO 178 (room temperature, if not otherwise
mentioned) by using injection moulded test specimens as described in EN ISO 1873-2
(80x10x4 mm).
FNCT
Is determined according ISO 16770. The test specimens are compression moulded plates
(thickness 10 mm). The lest specimens are stressed in an aqueous solution at 80 °C and 4

N/mm2. For each sample 3 specimens are tested and reported individually, indicated by
FNCT/1. FNCT/2 and FNCT/3.
Density
Density of the oil was measured according to ISO 12185.
Dynamic viscosity
Dynamic viscosity of the oil was obtained as the product of the kinematic viscosity and the
density.
Kinematic viscosity
Kinematic viscosity of the oil was measured according to ISO 3104.
Porosity: BET with N2 gas, ASTM 4641, apparatus Micromeritics Tristar 3000;
sample preparation (catalyst and poymer): at a temperature of 50 °C, 6 hours in vacuum.
Surface area: BET with N2 gas ASTM D 3663, apparatus Micromeritics Tristar 3000:
sample preparation (catalyst and poymer): at a temperature of 50 °C, 6 hours in vacuum.
Mean particle size is measured with Coulter Counter LS200 at room temperature with n-
heptane as medium.
Median particle size (d50) is measured with Coulter Counter LS200 at room temperature
with n-heptane as medium
Bulk density BD of the polymer powder was determined according to ASTM Dl895-96,
method A.
ICP analysis
The elemental analysis of a catalyst was performed by taking a solid sample of mass, M,
cooling over dry ice. Samples were diluted up to a known volume, V, by dissolving in nitric
acid (HN03, 65 %, 5 % of V) and freshly deionised (DI) water (5 % of V). The solution was
then added to hydrofluoric acid (HF, 40 %, 3 % of V), diluted with DI water up to the final
volume, V, and left to stabilise for two hours.
The analysis was run at room temperature using a Thermo Elemental IRIS Advantage XUV
Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Excitation Spectrometer (ICP-AES) which was
calibrated immediately before analysis using a blank (a solution of 5 % HNO3, 3 % HF in DI
water), a low standard (10 ppm Al in a solution of 5 % HNO3, 3 % HF in DI water), a high
standard (50 ppm Al, 50 ppm Hf, 20 ppm Zr in a solution of 5 % HNO3, 3 % HF in DI

water) and a quality control sample (20 ppm Al, 20 ppm Hf, 10 ppm Zr in a solution of 5 %
HN03, 3 % HF in DI water).
The content of hafnium was monitored using the 282.022 nm and 339.980 nm lines and the
content for zirconium using 339.198 nm line. The content of aluminium was monitored via
the 167.081 nm line, when Al concentration in ICP sample was between 0-10 ppm and via
the 396.152 nm line for Al concentrations between 10-100 ppm.
The reported values, required to be between 0 and 100, or further dilution is required, are an
average of three successive aliquots taken from the same sample and are related back to the
original catalyst using equation 1.

wherein
C is the concentration in ppm, related to % content by a factor of 10,000
R is the reported value from the ICP-AES
V is the total volume of dilution in ml
M is the original mass of sample in g
If dilution was required then this also needs to be taken into account by multiplication of C
by the dilution factor.
Inventive Example 1 (E 1)
Preparation of the solid catalyst system
In a 50-mL glass reactor, equipped with an overhead stirrer, a liquid-liquid 2-phase system
was generated at 0 °C from 40 mL of hexadecafluoro-l,3-dimethylcyclohexane (PFC) and a
catalyst solution based on 89 mg of rac-cyclohexyl(methyl)silanediylbis[2-methyl-4-(4'-tert-
butylphenyl)indenyl]zirconium dichloride contacted with 5 mL of a 30 wt-%
methylaluminoxane (MAO) solution in toluene for 30 min. To that mixture, 0.4 mL of
(2.2,3.3.4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,9-heptadecafluorononyl)oxirane (PFPO) solution in PFC
[prepared by mixing 0.5 mL (2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,9-heptadecafluorononyl)oxirane
+ 4.5 mL PFC] was added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 3 min, emulsion stability
was verified, and stirring (570 rpm) was continued still for 15min at 0 °C, after which the
emulsion was transferred via cannula under stirring to 100 mL of hot PFC (heated up with an

oil bath at 90 °C, and stirred at 400 rpm). Stirring was continued for 15 min, after which the
oil bath was taken down and the mixing speed was reduced to 300 rpm and finally switched
off. The catalyst was let to float by waiting for 45 min, after which PFC was syphoned away.
The solid powder was dried for 2 hours at 50 °C under argon flow.
The mean particle size of the powder was measured by Coulter counter to be 13 pm.
Porosity and surface area were both below the measurement limit.
Al content 33,1 wt-%
Zr content 0,55 wt-%
Al/Zr mol/mol ratio 200 mol/mol
1-butene/propylene polymer polymerization (E 1):
A 20-L autoclave equipped with an anchor stirrer is evacuated and flushed repeatedly with
nitrogen at elevated temperature (155 °C). The reactor is filled with 58 g 1-butene and 3562
g propylene, temperature is set to 30 °C and triethylaluminum (TEA) solution (1 molar) in
n-hexane (5.8 ml) is fed to the reactor with 250 g propylene. Subsequently 24 mmol
hydrogen is spilled with 500 g propylene into the reactor. The mixture is stirred for at least
15 min before the catalyst as obtained above (395 mg) is contacted with 5 ml
hexadecafluoro-l,3-dimethyl-cyclohexane (1.5 bar N2-pressure used for transfer to catalyst
feeder) for 10 sec before this slurry is injected into the reactor at stirring speed of 150 rpm
with 100 g propylene. After increasing the stirring speed to 350 rpm the internal temperature
of the reactor is raised to the desired polymerisation temperature of 70 °C within about 15
minutes. The polymerisation time is counted to start from the moment when the internal
temperature of 68 °C is reached after which the polymerisation is allowed to proceed for 30
minutes. The polymerisation is stopped by flashing the monomer and cooling down the
reactor. The reactor is purged with nitrogen before discharging the polymer. A small part of
the polymer has been dried in a hood over night and additionally in a vacuum oven for 3
hours at 60 °C for analysis of butene-1 content. The main part has been dried over night in a
hood at room temperature. Weight of total polymer was 1405 g. The catalyst activity was 7.1
[kg/(gcat*h)].
1400 g of E 1 has been compounded with Irganox 1010 FF (0.2 wt.-%), Ca-stearate (0.07
wt-%). Irgafos 168 FF (0.1 wt-%), Irganox 1330 (0.5 wt-%) and EMB250 grey 7042 from

Mastertec GmbH (masterbatch with fl-nucleating agent) (2.0 wt.-%) using a 2-screw extruder
Prism TSE16. EMB250 grey 7042 contains the following compounds:
49.2 wt.-% RE 216 CF (CAS-no 9010-79-1) [random copolymer of Borealis]
47.0 wt-% P. White 7 (CAS-no 1314-98-3)
0.5 wt.-% P. Black 7 (CAS-no 1333-86-4)
2.0 wt.-% P. Green 17 (CAS-no 1308-38-9)
1.3 wt.-% P. Blue 28 (CAS-no 1345-16-0)
0.25 wt-% P. Orange 48 (CAS-no 1503-48-6)
This granulate has been used for characterisation (except for butene-1 content) and in sample
preparation for mechanical testing (DMTA, flexural properties, impact properties and
FNCT-test).
Inventive Example 2 (E 2)
The polymerisation procedure and testing of material is done as in Example 1, but with
following changes of parameters in polymerisation:
Amount of 1-butene: 120 g
Amount of Propylene (1st filling step of reactor): 3500 g
Amount of H2: 10 mmol
Amount of catalyst: 356 mg
The yield of polymer was 1440 g, the catalyst activity 8.1 [kgPP/(gcat*h)].
Comparative Example 1 (CE1)
In CE1. a beta-nucleated propylene homopolymer in combination with a propylene/butene
copolymer (C4 comonomer content: 4.3 wt%) was used. The composition was prepared
using a Ziegler-Natta catalyst.







WE CLAIM:
1. Propylene copolymer (A)
(a) comprising at least 1-butene as a comonomer.
(b) having a comonomer content in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 wt.-%.
(c) having a xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS) equal or below 2.5 wt.-%. and
(d) being partially crystallized in the β-modification.
2. Propylene copolymer according to claim 1, wherein the propylene copolymer (A)
fulfills the equation (1.1)

wherein
[XCS] is the amount of xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS) of the
propylene copolymer (A) given in weight percent, and
[C] is the amount of comonomer of the propylene copolymer (A) in
weight percent.
3. Propylene copolymer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the propylene copolymer
(A) has polydispersity index (PI) of equal or below 4.0 Pa-1.
4. Propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
part of the copolymer (A) crystallized
(ii) in the α-modification has a melting temperature below 152 °C. and/or
(iii) in the β-modification has a melting temperature below 141 °C.
5. Propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
copolymer (A) comprises a β-nucleating agent (B).
6. Propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein
propylene copolymer (A) has a MFR2 (230 °C) of not more than 0 8 g/10min
measured according to ISO 1133.

7. Propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
1-butene content of the propylene copolymer (A) is in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 wt.-%.
8. Propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
propylene copolymer (A) is only constituted by propylene and 1 -butene units.
9. Propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
comonomer content of the propylene copolymer (A) is in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 wt.-
%.
10. Propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
amount of the β-modification of the propylene copolymer (A) is at least 50 %.
11. Propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
propylene copolymer (A) has a flexural modulus measured according to ISO 178 of
at least 1000 MPa.
12. Propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
propylene copolymer (A) has an impact strength measured according the Charpy
impact test (ISO 179 (1eA)) at 23 °C of at least 50.0 kJ/m2 and/or an impact strength
measured according the Charpy impact test (ISO 179 (leA)) at -20°C of at least
2.0 kl/m2.
13. Propylene copolymer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
propylene copolymer (A) has a FNCT measured according to ISO 16770 (at 80 °C
and applied stress of 4.0 MPa) of more than 1200 h.
14. Use of a propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding claims for
pipes or parts of pipes.

15. Process for the manufacture of the propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of
the preceding claims 1 to 13, wherein the propylene copolymer (A) is produced in
the presence of a metalallocene catalyst and subsequently β-nucleated.
16. Pipe comprising a propylene copolymer (A) according to any one of the preceding
claims 1 to 13.
17. Pipe according to claim 16, wherein the pipe is a pressure pipe.


PROPYLENE-BUTENE RANDOM COPOLYMER PRODUCED IN THE PRESENCE OF
A METALLOCENE CATALYST
Propylene copolymer
(a) comprising at least 1-butene as a comonomer,
(b) having a comonomer content in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 wt.-%,
(c) having a xylene soluble fraction equal or below 2.5 wt.-%, and
(d) being partially crystallized in the β-modification.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=GT8h/nTOFGa1ZtbICZ4Jdw==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==


Patent Number 272922
Indian Patent Application Number 1368/KOLNP/2011
PG Journal Number 19/2016
Publication Date 06-May-2016
Grant Date 03-May-2016
Date of Filing 31-Mar-2011
Name of Patentee BOREALIS AG
Applicant Address IZD TOWER WAGRAMERSTRAßE 17-19 A-1220 VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 BERNREITNER KLAUS ZAUBERTALSTRAßE 1, 4010 LINZ
2 STADLBAUER MANFRED RÜCKERTSTRAßE 1, 90419 NÜRNBERG, GERMANY
3 TÖLTSCH WILFRIED EFERDINGERSTRASSE 5, A-4614 MARCHTRENK, AUSTRIA
4 HAFNER, NORBERT HAUPTPLATZ 15, TOP 23, A-4020 LINZ, AUSTRIA
PCT International Classification Number C08F 210/06
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2009/065193
PCT International Filing date 2009-11-16
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 08169376.4 2008-11-18 EUROPEAN UNION