Processes for reducing the ultra high molecular weight polymeric material
content of a high density polyethylene produced with a bis-triarylsilyl
chromate catalyst system are provided. Processes for reducing the gel
content of articles produced from high density polyethylene are also
provided. The gel content of the articles is reduced by using the high
density polyethylene with reduced ultra high molecular weight polymeric
material content to produce the articles. The processes described reduce
the content of ultra high molecular weight polymeric material in
comparison to conventional high density polyethylene by introducing at
least one catalyst deactivator into a recycle gas line containing a
recycle gas stream associated with the fluidized bed reactor. The at
least one catalyst deactivator has a boiling point lower than the maximum
temperature within the recycle gas line. In certain embodiments, the at
least one catalyst deactivator is introduced in the portion of the
recycle gas line upstream of a recycle gas cooler at a ratio of 0.0075
mole of the at least one catalyst deactivator per 1 million moles of
make-up ethylene to about 0.12 mole of the at least one catalyst
deactivator per 1 million moles of make-up ethylene in the reaction
system. In certain embodiments, the at least one catalyst deactivator is
oxygen.