A composition including polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing
agents and a process for the preparation of polyalphaolefins that function
as drag reducing agents are disclosed. The process includes contacting
alpha olefin monomers with a catalyst system, which includes a catalyst
and an activator (co-catalyst) in a reactant mixture. The catalyst is a
transition metal catalyst, preferably titanium trichloride, and the
co-catalyst may include an alkylaluminoxane, alone or in combination, with
a dialkylaluminum halide or a halohydrocarbon. The polymerization of the
alpha olefin monomers produces a non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular
weight polyalphaolefin having an inherent viscosity of at least 10 dL/g.
The addition of the alkylaluminoxane during the polymerization process
provides for a non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight
polyalphaolefin and a more uniform molecular weight distribution of the
resulting polyalphaolefin, thereby creating a drag reducing agent superior
to known drag reducing agents. A process for forming a drag reducing agent
comprising a non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyalphaolefin
having an inherent viscosity of about at least 10 dL/g and a process for
reducing drag in a conduit are also disclosed.