Appeal No. 1998-3232 Page 2
Application No. 08/738,920
Appellant's invention relates to a process for producing
copolymers of ethylene and a 1-olefin containing 4-10 carbon
atoms. According to appellant (specification, page 4), by
introducing a fresh supply of ethylene into a high pressure
separator, the concentration of 1-olefin in the light phase is
reduced as well as the solubility of the polymer product
therein. Consequently, any problem of plugging of downstream
equipment in which the light phase is handled is minimized.
An understanding of the invention can be derived from a
reading of claim 19, the sole independent claim on appeal.
Claim 19 is reproduced below.
19. A process for producing copolymers of ethylene
and a 1-olefin containing 4 to 10 carbon atoms,
comprising contacting an ethylene polymerization
catalyst with a feed stream in a polymerization
reaction zone maintained under catalytic
polymerization conditions comprising a pressure of
from 500 to 3500 bars and a temperature of at least
about 125 C;o
wherein the feed stream comprises ethylene and said
1-olefin;
producing a polymerization reaction mixture
comprising copolymer and unreacted 1-olefin, wherein
the unreacted 1-olefin is present in a percentage to
cause sufficient copolymer to dissolve in a light
phase defined below so as to give rise to plugging
of equipment downstream of a high pressure
separation;
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