GB1028159A - Improvements in or relating to a process for the preparation of curable amorphous linear terpolymers from ethylenepropylene and fulvene derivatives obtained thereby - Google Patents

Abstract

A terpolymer comprising units of ethylene, propylene and a cyclic olefine of the formula <FORM:1028159/C3/1> where R1 and R2 are hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, is made by contacting the monomers with a binary catalytic system comprising (a) a compound of a transition, metal of Group IV(a), or V(a) of the Mendeleef's Periodic Table; (b) an aluminium hydride which is soluble in organic solvents and has the formula HAlXY, wherein X and Y are hydrogen, halogen, or a secondary amine group of the formula NR1R2, where R1 and R2\t are alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or a cycloalkyl group or such groups which together with nitrogen atom of the amine form a heterocyclic ring. The aluminium hydride may be complexed with a Lewis' base. The polymerization is preferably effected in the presence of a hydrocarbon, or halogen-substituted hydrocarbon solvent. The cyclic compound may be methyl-ethyl-fulvene, dimethyl-or diethyl-fulvene, or methyl-phenyl-or diphenyl fulvene. Component (a) of the catalyst may be VCl4. Component (b) may be AlHCl2.O(C2H5)2, AlHCl2.N(CH5)3, AlH3.N(CH3)3, H2Al-N(CH3)2, AlH2Br.N(CH3)3, HBrAl-N(C6H5)2, H2Al-N-(CH2)5, or HBrAl-N(CH3)2. The catalyst may be preformed or formed "in situ." The terpolymers are cured in the examples using conventional sulphur-containing vulcanization mixes.