Alpha olefins manufacturing/processes

A.luminum Jilkyl Chain Growth. Ethyl, Chevron, and Mitsubishi Chemical manufacture higher, linear alpha olefins from ethylene via chain growth on triethyl aluminum (15). The linear products are then used as oxo feedstock for both plasticizer and detergent range alcohols and because the feedstocks are linear, the linearity of the alcohol product, which has an entirely odd number of carbons, is a function of the oxo process employed. Alcohols are manufactured from this type of olefin by Sterling, Exxon, ICI, BASE, Oxochemie, and Mitsubishi Chemical. 

Rhodium catalyst is used to convert linear alpha-olefins to heptanoic and pelargonic acids (see Carboxylic acids, manufacture). These acids can also be made from the ozonolysis of oleic acid, as done by the Henkel Corp. Emery Group, or by steam cracking methyl ricinoleate, a by-product of the manufacture of nylon-11, an Atochem process in France (4). Neoacids are derived from isobutylene and nonene (4) (see Carboxylic acids, trialkylacetic acids). 

Fig. 10.20. Flow scheme of a process for alpha-olefins from ethylene. (Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Kirk and Othmer, Web site ed., olefins, higher, manufacture, 2002. Copyright by John Wiley Sons, Inc. and reproduced by permission of the copyright owner.)...

Tra = 60-100 °C], and 70-30 wt% propylene-alpha-olefin random copolymer [with 88-100 mol% propylene]. The blends showed good processability, resistance to tearing, and tensile strength. They were useful for manufacturing packaging films,... 

When developing a specification for the supply of alpha-olefins the following guidelines may be applied, although it should be remembered that the distribution of alpha, internal and vinylidene olefins are supplier-specific depending upon the manufacturing process ... 

Linear Polyethyienes - Linear polyethylenes are polyolefins with linear carbon chains. They are prepared by copolymerization of ethylene with small amounts of higher alpha-olefins such as 1 -butene. Linear polyethylenes are stiff, tough and have good resistance to environmental cracking and low temperatures. Processed by extrusion and molding. Used to manufacture film, bags, containers, liners, profiles, and pipe. 

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