Kinetics and mechanism of metallocene‐catalyzed olefin polymerization: Comparison of ethylene,propylene homopolymerizations,and their copolymerization

A series of ethylene, propylene homopolymerizations, and ethylene/propylene copolymerization catalyzed with rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) were conducted under the same conditions for different duration ranging from 2.5 to 30 min, and quenched with 2‐thiophenecarbonyl chloride to label a 2‐thiophenecarbonyl on each propagation chain end. The change of active center ratio ([C^*]/[Zr]) with polymerization time in each polymerization system was determined. Changes of polymerization rate, molecular weight, isotacticity (for propylene homopolymerization) and copolymer composition with time were also studied. [C^*]/[Zr] strongly depended on type of monomer, with the propylene homopolymerization system presented much lower [C^*]/[Zr] (ca. 25%) than the ethylene homopolymerization and ethylene–propylene copolymerization systems. In the copolymerization system, [C^*]/[Zr] increased continuously in the reaction process until a maximum value of 98.7% was reached, which was much higher than the maximum [C^*]/[Zr] of ethylene homopolymerization (ca. 70%). The chain propagation rate constant (k_p) of propylene polymerization is very close to that of ethylene polymerization, but the propylene insertion rate constant is much smaller than the ethylene insertion rate constant in the copolymerization system, meaning that the active centers in the homopolymerization system are different from those in the copolymerization system. Ethylene insertion rate constant in the copolymerization system was much higher than that in the ethylene homopolymerization in the first 10 min of reaction. A mechanistic model was proposed to explain the observed activation of ethylene polymerization by propylene addition. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 867–875     

DEPENDENCE OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF ACTIVE CENTERS ON MONOMER IN SUPPORTED ZIEGLER-NATTA CATALYSTS

Distribution of active centers(ACD)of ethylene or 1-hexene homopolymerization and ethylene-1-hexene copolymerization with a MgCl_2/TiCl_4 type Z-N catalyst were studied by deconvolution of the polymer molecular weight distribution into multiple Flory components.Each Flory component is thought to be formed by a certain type of active center. ACD of ethylene-1-hexene copolymer with very low 1-hexene incorporation was compared with that of ethylene homopolymer to see the effect of introducingα-olefin on eth...     

Multicenter nature of titanium‐based Ziegler–Natta catalysts: Comparison of ethylene and propylene polymerization reactions

This article discusses the similarities and differences between active centers in propylene and ethylene polymerization reactions over the same Ti‐based catalysts. These correlations were examined by comparing the polymerization kinetics of both monomers over two different Ti‐based catalyst systems, δ‐TiCl₃‐AlEt₃ and TiCl₄/DBP/MgCl₂‐AlEt₃/PhSi(OEt)₃, by comparing the molecular weight distributions of respective polymers, in consecutive ethylene/propylene and propylene/ethylene homopolymerization reactions, and by examining the IR spectra of “impact‐resistant” polypropylene (a mixture of isotactic polypropylene and an ethylene/propylene copolymer). The results of these experiments indicated that Ti‐based catalysts contain two families of active centers. The centers of the first family, which are relatively unstable kinetically, are capable of polymerizing and copolymerizing all olefins. This family includes from four to six populations of centers that differ in their stereospecificity, average molecular weights of polymer molecules they produce, and in the values of reactivity ratios in olefin copolymerization reactions. The centers of the second family (two populations of centers) efficiently polymerize only ethylene. They do not homopolymerize α‐olefins and, if used in ethylene/α‐olefin copolymerization reactions, incorporate α‐olefin molecules very poorly. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1745–1758, 2003     

Radiation-induced emulsion copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with propylene. III. Polymerization mechanism

In the radiation-induced emulsion copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene with propylene, the dose rate dependence, the effect of emulsifier concentration, and the effect of monomer composition were studied. The rate of polymerization was proportional to the 0.90 power of the dose rate and the 0.26 power of the emulsifier concentration. The degree of polymerization was independent of the dose rate and the emulsifier concentration. Both the rate of polymerization and the degree of polymerization increased with tetrafluoroethylene content in the monomer mixture. The resulting copolymer was an alternating polymer over a wide range of monomer composition. It was concluded from the dose rate dependence of the rate of polymerization that the emulsion copolymerization is mainly terminated by degradative chain transfer of the propagating radical to propylene.     

Alternating copolymerization of ethylene with maleic anhydride

The copolymerization of ethylene with maleic anhydride was carried out with γ-radiation and a radical initiator, i.e., 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile and diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate under pressure at various reaction conditions. The homopolymerization of neither monomer was observed in this system. In the γ-ray-initiated copolymerization the G value (polymerized monomer molecules per 100 e.v.) was shown to be between 10³ and 10⁴. It was found that the dose rate exponent of the rate is approximately unity, and the rate is proportional to the amount of ethylene monomer. Apparent activation energies of 1.8 and 27.5 kcal./mole were obtained for γ-ray-initiated and AIBN-initiated copolymerization, respectively. Since the composition of copolymer is independent of monomer molar ratio and the molar ratio of ethylene to maleic anhydride in the polymer is approximately unity, the monomer reactivity ratios were obtained as r_E ? 0 and r_M ? 0 for γ-ray-initiated polymerization at 40°C. Alternating copolymerization was, therefore, concluded to occur. Infrared analysis of the copolymer is almost consistent with this. The copolymer in the solid state is amorphous. It is soluble in water, cyclohexane, and dimethylformamide and insoluble in lower alcohols, ether, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The aqueous solution of polymer gave a strong acid.     

Fluorinated monomer–styrene copolymer latex particles: I. kinetic studies in a soap-free aqueous medium

Soap-free emulsion copolymerization of 2, 2, 2-trifluoroethyl acrylate (3FEA) with styrene was carried out by using potassium persulfate as an initiator, and the effects of the weight fraction of 3FEA in the monomer feed on the kinetics and the particle size were investigated. Monomer conversions were followed by a gravimetric method, revealing that the overall polymerization rate increased exponentially with an increase in the weight fraction of 3FEA. According to dynamic light scattering measurement, the final particle size was found to decrease with an increase in the weight fraction of 3FEA. The number of particles for 3FEA homopolymerization was roughly twice as large as that at the fraction of 0.9, although both fractions had the almost same polymerization rates. These results indicate that soap-free emulsion homopolymerization of 3FEA would proceed not only inside the polymer particles but also in the aqueous phase throughout the polymerization.     

Solid-state polymerization of oxetanes. II. Investigation of the growth of the polymer phase as related to the mechanism of polymerization

The radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of 3,3-bischloromethyloxetane (BCMO) was investigated by direct observation of the development of the morphology of the growing polymer phase in single crystals of the monomer. Electron microscopy shows that the polymerization gives rise to amorphous polymer in the first step. The polymer forms irregular platelets which aggregate into larger units without reflecting the crystalline order of the monomer. Subsequent to polymerization, the amorphous polymer crystallizes to the β-modification of poly-BCMO. If the partially polymerized crystals are extracted by solvents of the monomer, crystallization of the polymer is enhanced, and morphological artifacts arise which were previously mistaken for the true morphology of the “as polymerized” polymer. The copolymerization behavior of solid solutions of 3-ethyl-3-chloromethyloxetane (ECMO) and BCMO does not differ from the liquid bulk copolymerization with respect to copolymer composition, which is different from the composition of the monomer mixture. It is concluded that the polymer chains grow in noncrystalline zones as in a polymerization in the liquid state by which amorphous polymer is formed. No lattice control was observable in this solid-state polymerization.     

Coordination polymerization in water affording amorphous polyethylenes

The coordination polymerization of ethylene in water as a reaction medium was studied. Rubbery amorphous branched polyethylene was obtained when a known cationic diimine-substituted methyl complex was employed as a catalyst precursor. High rates of up to 900 TOh(-1) (turnover frequency) were observed. In contrast to solution polymerization in an organic solvent, the rate of suspension polymerization in water increases greatly with ethylene pressure in the range up to 20 bar; this indicates control of the polymerization rate by the concentration of the olefin monomer at the catalytically active site. The effect and mode of mass transfer phenomena were studied. A high catalyst stability in the aqueous coordination polymerization was observed. It was found to be due to an "encapsulation" of the water-insoluble catalyst precursor in the hydrophobic amorphous polymer during the polymerization reaction, and this resulted in strongly restricted accessibility for the aqueous phase. Surprisingly, exposure of the water-stable catalyst precursor to ethylene monomer in solution in the presence of water resulted in immediate decomposition. Polymer microstructure, and thermal and mechanical properties were investigated. The different degree of branching, molecular weight, and corresponding macroscopic properties of the polymers obtained in water as a reaction medium versus solution polymerization in methylene chloride under the same conditions are due to the different phase behavior during polymerization (suspension vs. solution), as opposed to an effect of water on the catalytically active centers.     

Ethylene polymerization reactions with Ziegler–Natta catalysts. I. Ethylene polymerization kinetics and kinetic mechanism

Kinetics of ethylene homopolymerization reactions and ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization reactions using a supported Ziegler–Natta catalyst was carried out over a broad range of reaction conditions. The kinetic data were analyzed using a concept of multicenter catalysis with different centers that respond differently to changes in reaction parameters. The catalyst contains five types of active centers that differ in the molecular weights of material they produce and in their copolymerization ability. In ethylene homopolymerization reactions, each active center has a high reaction order with respect to ethylene concentration, close to the second order. In ethylene/α-olefin copolymerization reactions, the centers that have poor copolymerization ability retain this high reaction order, whereas the centers that have good copolymerization ability change the reaction order to the first order. Hydrogen depresses activity of each type of center in the homopolymerization reactions in a reversible manner; however, the centers that copolymerize ethylene and α-olefins well are not depressed if an α-olefin is present in the reaction medium. Introduction of an α-olefin significantly increases activity of those centers, which are effective in copolymerizing it with ethylene but does not affect the centers that copolymerize ethylene and α-olefins poorly. To explain these kinetic features, a new reaction scheme is proposed. It is based on a hypothesis that the Ti—C₂H₅ bond in active centers has low reactivity due to the equilibrium formation of a Ti—C₂H₅ species with the H atom in the methyl group β-agostically coordinated to the Ti atom in an active center. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4255–4272, 1999     

乙酰丙酮钇催化环氧氯丙烷的均聚合与共聚合

用过渡金属络合催化剂聚合环氧氯丙烷能获高分子量的聚合物。稀土络合催化剂对环氧乙烷,环氧丙烷及环硫丙烷的开环聚合具有明显效果。本文选用Y(acac)_3-H_2O-Al(i-Bu)_3催化剂,考察环氧氯丙烷的均聚合及其与环氧乙烷,环氧丙烷的共聚合,并用核     

双金属氰化络合物催化环氧丙烷和邻苯二甲酸酐共聚

采用双金属氰化络合物 (DMC)催化环氧丙烷 (PO)和邻苯二甲酸酐 (PA)共聚 ,探讨了共聚合特征 ,并用IR、1 H NMR和GPC对共聚物的结构和分子量进行了表征 .发现DMC催化剂对该共聚反应速度快 ,转化率高 ,是该反应的有效催化剂 ,催化剂浓度为 6 0mg kg时 ,90℃下 ,以THF作溶剂共聚反应 3h ,转化率可达94 0 % .聚合速度甚至比DMC催化PO均聚还快 .该共聚反应可在多种溶剂中进行 ,极性溶剂更有利于共聚合 ,溶液聚合温度比本体共聚低 ,合适的溶液共聚温度在 90～ 10 0℃之间 .共聚产物的分子量受催化剂用量、反应温度和体系中水份含量的影响 ,数均分子量在数百至数千之间 .考察该共聚体系的动力学表明 ,该共聚反应速率对单体浓度呈一级关系     

乙烯与丙烯在负载型钛系催化剂上的共聚合行为

乙烯与α-烯烃配位共聚速率明显高于乙烯均聚速率~[1～4],其原因可归结为化学促进作用或单体扩散的影响.本文通过考察乙烯-丙烯在负载型钛系催化剂上的共聚动力学行为、催化剂-聚合物颗粒形态及改变聚合中单体的组成,以期进一步了解乙丙共聚反应的特征. 1 实验部分 1.1 催化剂及聚合 载体催化剂由无水MgCl_2、TiCl_4和EB共研磨而成,使用前用     

Hybrid Copolymerization via the Combination of Proton Transfer and Ring-opening Polymerization

Phosphazene base,t-BuP2,was employed to catalyze the proton transfer polymerization(PTP)of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate(HEA),and PTP was further combined with ring-opening polymerization(ROP)to exploit a new type of hybrid copolymerization.The studies on homopolymerization showed that t-BuP2 was a particularly efficient catalyst for the polymerization of HEA at room temperature,giving an excellent monomer conversion.Throughout the polymerization,transesterification reactions were unavoidable,which increased the randomness in the structures of the resulting polymers.The studies on copolymerization showed that t-BuP2 could simultaneously catalyze the hybrid copolymerization via the combination of PTP and ROP at 25°C.During copolymerization,HEA not only provided hydroxyl groups to initiate the ROP ofε-caprolactone(CL)but also participated in the polymerization as a monomer for PTP.The copolymer composition was approximately equal to the feed ratio,demonstrating the possibility to adjust the polymeric structure by simply changing the monomer feed ratio.This copolymerization reaction provides a simple method for synthesizing degradable functional copolymers from commercially available materials.Hence,it is important not only in polymer chemistry but also in environmental and biomedical engineering.     

Active Centers for the Stereospecific Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate by Organomagnesium Compounds

New evidence on the polymerization kinetics of methyl methacrylate and molar mass distributions is presented which together with earlier work on the stereochemistry of the polymerization of α,β-dideuteroacrylates shows that these are not typical anionic polymerizations. The persistence and stability of the active centers, together with evidence that the α-carbon of the monomer assumes the tetrahedral configuration it takes in the polymer chain as it becomes the active chain end, suggests that the active centers are covalent magnesium-carbon bonds. Existing hypotheses about the mechanism of steric control in homogeneous polymerizations are examined. Kinetic evidence confirms that complexing of the monomer to the active center does occur. However, intramolecular complexing of the penultimate or antepenultimate chain carbonyl group to the metal is not a prerequisite for isotactic polymerization though it may be involved in controlling the in-chain configuration of the β-carbon. Gel-permeation chromatography shows that in some systems more than one active center operates independently. These centers are established in the initiation stages and persist. The proportions of active centers of different reactivity and stereo-specificity are determined by conditions prevailing during initiation and it is these that primarily determine the structure of the polymers formed. Evidence is reported that confirms this.     

茂钛化合物／改性MAO催化剂制备聚丙烯-b-间规聚苯乙烯嵌段共聚物

以五甲基环戊二烯基三苄氧基钛化合物 [Cp Ti(OBz) 3 ]为主催化剂 ,改性甲基铝氧烷作助催化剂 ,采用单体顺序投入法 ,合成了聚丙烯 b 间规聚苯乙烯嵌段共聚物 .外加三异丁基铝可以使活性中心的氧化态由Ti(Ⅳ )还原为Ti(Ⅲ ) ,从而提高苯乙烯共聚单体的转化率 .实验表明此催化体系对共聚物的合成具有较高活性 ,适宜的茂钛化合物浓度可阻止活性中心被丙烯预聚物包埋 .抽除残余丙烯气也可促进苯乙烯的共聚合 .对聚合产物进行溶剂连续萃取 ,可分离出嵌段共聚物 ,并用 13 CNMR和DSC进行结构表征     

红外光谱法研究苯胺和环氧丙烷的共聚机理及共聚物的表征

采用原位红外光谱技术对苯胺和环氧丙烷的电化学共聚机理进行了研究, 研究结果表明, 环氧丙烷能在苯胺及其低聚物阳离子自由基的催化作用下发生α位开环, 与苯胺发生电化学共聚, 生成了含有芳香-脂肪醚结构的共聚物. 采用显微红外成像技术研究苯胺和环氧丙烷共聚物在电极表面的生长特点发现, 该共聚物能在电极表面从中间向两侧有规律地生长.     

Anionic graft polymerization of propylene sulfide on cellulose. I

The anionic graft polymerization of propylene sulfide on cellulose membrane was studied. Alkali cellulosates were used to initiate graft polymerization, and graft polymers of high polypropylene sulfide content were obtained in good yields. The graft polymerization was accompanied by a certain extent of homopolymerization. The effects of reaction solvent, monomer concentration, cellulosate degree of substitution, and type of the alkali metal cellulosate on the graft polymer composition, yield, and on the molecular weight of the grafted side chains were investigated.     

Radical copolymerization of acrylic monomers. VI. Copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with methyl α-benzylacrylate

Free-radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and methyl α-benzylacrylate has been studied in benzene solutions at 40 and 60°C. A simple copolymerization model fits the composition data at both temperatures. However, considering that the ceiling temperature for the polymerization of methyl α-benzylacrylate in benzene solution (|M| = 5 mol/L) is 67°C and that the overall rate of copolymerization drastically decreases with respect to that of methyl methacrylate homopolymerization with an increase of the molar fraction of methyl α-benzylacrylate in the feed, the behavior of this system is analyzed from both simple and reversible copolymerization models.     

Homo-and copolymerization of vinylcyclohexane with α-olefins in the presence of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic systems

The polymerization and copolymerization of vinylcyclohexane with α-olefins in the presence of several heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic systems were studied. It was shown that, with respect to activity in the polymerization of vinylcyclohexane, the tested catalysts can be arranged in the following order: α-TiCl₃ < titanium-magnesium catalyst < metallocene catalyst. Poly(vinylcyclohexane) prepared with heterogeneous catalytic systems is a solid semicrystalline polymer. The properties of polymers synthesized with homogeneous systems differ substantially depending on the type of the metallocene used. In the presence of metallocenes with a C ₂ symmetry, crystalline powderlike products arise, while in the case of metallocenes with C ₁ and C _s symmetries, polymerization yields amorphous viscous products. Molecular-mass distributions of poly(vinylcyclohexane) samples prepared using both heterogeneous titanium-magnesium catalysts and homogeneous metallocene complexes show a bimodal pattern, indicating the heterogeneity of active centers of these catalysts. Upon introduction of a comonomer (ethylene, propylene, and 1-hexene) into the reaction mixture, the activity of all studied catalytic systems increases. When Me₂C(3-Me-Cp)(Flu)ZrCl₂ and rac-Me₂SiInd₂ZrCl₂ are used as catalysts, the degree of crystallinity of the copolymers grows owing to the presence of ethylene or propylene units in poly(vinylcyclohexane) chains.     

Kinetic elucidation of comonomer‐induced chemical and physical activation in heterogeneous ziegler‐natta propylene polymerization

We have kinetically elucidated the origins of activity enhancement because of the addition of comonomer in Ziegler‐Natta propylene polymerization, using stopped‐flow and continuously purged polymerization. Stopped‐flow polymerization (with the polymerization time of 0.1–0.2 s) enabled us to neglect contributions of physical phenomena to the activity, such as catalyst fragmentation and reagent diffusion through produced polymer. The propagation rate constant k_p and active‐site concentration [C*] were compared between homopolymerization and copolymerization in the absence of physical effects. k_p for propylene was increased by 30% because of the addition of a small amount of ethylene, whereas [C*] was constant. On the contrary, both k_p (for propylene) and [C*] remained unchanged by the addition of 1‐hexene. Thus, only ethylene could chemically activate propylene polymerization. However, continuously purged polymerization for 30 s resulted in much more significant activation by the addition of comonomer, clearly indicating that the activation phenomenon mainly arises from the physical effects. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011