SUPPORTED ZIEGLER-NATTA CATALYSTS FOR ETHYLENE SLURRY POLYMERIZATION AND CONTROL OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION OF POLYETHYLENE

The effect of chemical composition of highly active supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts with controlled morphology on the MWD of PE has been studied.It was shown the variation of transition metal compound in the MgCl_2-supported catalyst affect of MWD of PE produced in broad range:Vanadium-magnesium catalyst(VMC)produce PE with broad and bimodal MWD(M_w/M_n=14-21).MWD of PE,produced over titanium-magnesium catalyst(TMC)is narrow or medium depending on Ti content in the catalyst(M_w/M_n=3.1-4.8).The oxidati...     

Polymer-supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts. II. Ethylene homo- and copolymerization with TiCl4/MgR2/poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) catalyst

A novel polymer-supported titanium-based catalyst shows high activity and nondecaying kinetic profiles for ethylene polymerization. The presence of 1-hexene comonomer drastically increases the catalyst activity, exhibiting a similarity to the MgCl₂-supported catalysts. However, the nondecaying kinetic profiles of copolymerization distinguish this catalyst from the latter. Infrared analysis indicates that the transition metals were immobilized on the polymer support via functional groups. The effects of polymerization conditions on catalyst activity have been assessed. Characterization of the resulting polymer product by means of ¹³C-NMR, DSC, and SEM demonstrates a branch-free structure with high melting point, high crystallinity, and high molecular weight for the ethylene homopolymer. The reactivity ratios of ethylene-1-hexene copolymerization are evaluated from ¹³C-NMR analysis data. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

2,6-二异丙基苯酚改性负载型Ziegler-Natta催化剂及其乙烯-1-己烯共聚反应

研究了新型的改性负载型Ziegler-Natta催化剂,以期制备出组成分布较窄的乙烯-α-烯烃共聚物.通过2,6-iPr2C6H3-OH与TiCl4/ID/MgCl2型负载型钛催化剂在室温下的反应可将芳氧基接到催化剂表面,制得一种改性的烯烃聚合催化剂M-cat.改性催化剂对乙烯聚合及乙烯-1-己烯共聚反应的催化活性与未改性催化剂相近,但共单体效应较弱.前者共聚物的1-己烯含量低于未改性催化剂的产物,但组成分布较窄,分子量较高,且共聚物的沸腾正庚烷可溶级分的序列分布较接近无规分布.三异丁基铝为助催化剂所得聚合活性高于甲基铝氧烷活化的体系.改性催化体系的活性中心分布与未改性体系相比有明显的差别.     

Study of Multi-Site Nature of Supported Ziegler-Natta Catalysts in Ethylene-Hexene-1 Copolymerization

Summary: Heterogeneity of active centers (AC) of titanium-magnesium catalysts (TMC) and vanadium-magnesium catalyst (VMC) in ethylene-hexene-1 copolymerization has been studied on the base of data of polymer molecular weight distribution (MWD) deconvolution technique and copolymer fractionation onto narrow fractions. It was found that 3 and 4 Flory components (groups of active centers) are required to describe experimental MWD curves of copolymers produced over TMC with different Ti content. In the case of VMC MWD of homopolymer and copolymer are characterized by set of 5 Flory components (5 groups of AC). Different character of inter-relationship between MW and short chain branching (SCB) was found for ethylene-hexene-1 copolymers produced over different catalysts: heterogeneous type in the case of TMC and more uniform for copolymer prepared over VMC. The content of Ti affects on the slope of that profile in copolymers produced over TMC. The results indicated that TMC and VMC are different greatly on the heterogeneity of active centers to the formation of polymers with different molecular weights and to formation of copolymers with different inter-relationship between MW and short chain branching. TMC produces polymers with more narrow MWD but it contains highly heterogeneous centers regarding comonomer reactivity ratios. VMC produces polymers with broad and bimodal MWD but it contains more homogeneous centers regarding comonomer reactivity ratios.     

Effect of 1-Hexene Comonomer on Polyethylene Particle Growth and Kinetic Profiles

Summary: The polymer growth and the microstructure of the final polymer are greatly affected by mass transfer, especially in the early stages of polymerization. In the present work, the catalytic system (nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂/MAO immobilized over SiO₂-Al₂O₃ has been tested in ethylene-1-hexene copolymerizations using different amounts of comonomer. The catalytic activity shows a positive comonomer effect up to 1-hexene concentration of 0.724 mol/L since larger amounts of 1-hexene lead to a decrease in the activity. Copolymer properties analyzed by ¹³C NMR, GPC, CRYSTAF and DSC point to the presence of important amorphous regions in the growing polymer chains as the 1-hexene concentration increases. In order to study the incorporation of 1-hexene during ethylene polymerization, several experiments were performed with 0.194 mol/L of 1-hexene, 5 bar of ethylene pressure and different polymerization times. The incorporation of 1-hexene decreases slightly at polymerization times above 20 minutes. From cross-sectioned SEM images it can be concluded that the presence of 1-hexene helps catalyst fragmentation which could be related with the filter effect proposed by Fink.     

Application of Monte Carlo simulation method to polymerization kinetics over Ziegler–Natta catalysts

In the current work, the Monte Carlo simulation method was applied to ethylene polymerization over Ziegler–Natta catalysts. As expected, polymerization over each center of a Ziegler–Natta catalyst leads to a polymer having a Schultz–Flory molecular weight distribution. Notwithstanding, the total molecular weight distribution obtained by all catalyst centers together is at least twice as broad as that of each center. As another interesting finding, the introduction of hydrogen to the reaction deactivates the catalyst active centers and thereby reduces the catalyst activity. Nevertheless, it does not mainly affect the polymerization kinetics. In addition, the polymer molecular weight falls as hydrogen is added to the reaction since it acts as a strong transfer agent. The same effect is seen when cocatalyst concentration increases. Hydrogen also widens the polymer molecular weight distribution. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 45–56, 2009     

Tailoring MWD of Bimodal Polyethylene in the Presence of Ziegler-Natta Catalyst

Summary: Linear poly (ethylene-co-1-butene) was produced through two-step polymerization in one reactor using a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, where in the first step, low molecular weight homopolymer of ethylene in the presence of hydrogen and in the next step, high molecular weight copolymer of ethylene with 1-butene in the absence of hydrogen were produced. Molecular weight distribution of bimodal polyethylene was tailored through adjustment of polymerization time of each stage and hydrogen concentration of the first stage. Increasing hydrogen concentration shifted the molecular weight distribution curve to the lower molecular weights and broadened molecular weight distribution while interestingly increased high molecular weight incorporation of copolymer produced in the second stage due to increasing of reaction rate in the second step. To achieve bimodal molecular weight distribution, the polymerization times of the first and the second steps, which are highly dependent on the amount of hydrogen, were adjusted properly. The effects of the mentioned parameters on the processability as well as rheological properties of some samples were investigated. The rheological results showed shear thinning behavior of all specimens and confirmed the changes in molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. It was also demonstrated that the melt miscibility between low molecular weight and high molecular weight fractions improved with increasing of chains having very low molecular weight.     

EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL DONOR ON ACTIVE CENTER DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPORTED ZIEGLER-NATTA CATALYST

The composition distribution (CD) and microisotacticity distribution (ID) of propene/1-hexene copolymer synthesized by MgCl_2/DIBP/TiCl_4 (DIBP: diisobutyl phthalate) weredetermined by fractionating the copolymers according to crystallinity and characterizingthe fractions by ~(13)CNMR. The effects of two alkoxysilane donors, triethoxyphenylsilane(PTES) and dimethoxydi-tert-butylsilane (TBMS), on CD and ID of the copolymrs werecompared. Three main parts in the CD diagram of each copolymer were distinguished,which were correlated to active center distribution (ACD) based on three groupe of dif-ferent active centers. By studying the changes in 1-hexene content, microisotacticity andreactivity ratio product of three typical fractions, the effects of external donor on ACDwere better elucidated. It was found that TBMS shows much stronger effects on ACD thanPTES. In the former system, most fractions were produced on active centers with relativelylower r_1r_2, higher reactivity to 1-hexene, and higher stereospecificity as compared to thesystem without external donor. It is concluded that the observed very extensive changesin ACD are mainly resulted by the formation of new types of active centers, possibly bycoordination of external donor to certain positions on the catalyst.     

碳桥限制构型催化剂催化乙烯1-己烯共聚和共聚物结构表征

为了碳桥限制构型催化剂(CpCN-CGC)的工业应用,为模试提供工艺参数,我们考察了用这种催化剂,以正庚烷为溶剂,甲基铝氧烷(MAO)为助催化剂的乙烯与1-己烯共聚,考察因素包括聚合温度、乙烯压力、铝锆比、氢气压力和1-己烯浓度.研究发现聚合温度从100升高到140℃,共聚活性先升高再降低,聚合物分子量持续降低;氢气分压从0.1增加到0.8 MPa,共聚活性仍呈先升高再降低,聚合物分子量持续降低的趋势;乙烯压力从0.4升高到1.8 MPa,共聚活性先升高再降低,但聚合物分子量逐步增大;Al/Zr从500升高到1 000,共聚活性逐步增大,但聚合物分子量趋向减小.优化工艺条件为:催化剂用量为10μmol,Al/Zr=700,聚合温度为110~120℃,乙烯压力为1.2~1.4 MPa,1-己烯加入量为20 mL,聚合时间为30 min.此时共聚活性最高达到106g/(mol-Zr·h),共聚物中1-己烯插入率达到了8.34%;用13C-NMR、GPC、DSC表征了聚合产物,计算了二单元组和三段组序列分布,并发现有交替共聚片段HEHE存在.最后还讨论了在聚合物中发现的多种支链的形成机理.     

Main kinetic features of ethylene polymerization reactions with heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalysts in the light of a multicenter reaction mechanism

A previously developed kinetic scheme for ethylene polymerization reactions with heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalysts (see Y. V. Kissin, R. I. Mink, & T. E. Nowlin, J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 1999, 37, 4255 and Y. V. Kissin, R. I. Mink, T. E. Nowlin, & A. J. Brandolini, J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 1999, 37, 4273, 4281) states that the catalysts have several types of active centers that have different activities and different stabilities, produce different types of polymer materials, and respond differently to reaction conditions. Each type of center produces a single polymer component (Flory component), a material with a uniform structure (copolymer composition, isotacticity, etc.) and a narrow molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight = 2.0). This article examines several previously known features of ethylene polymerization and copolymerization reactions on the basis of this mechanism. The discussed subjects include temperature and cocatalyst effects on the polymerization kinetics and molecular weight distribution of polymers and reaction parameter effects (temperature, ethylene and hydrogen partial pressures, and α-olefin and cocatalyst concentrations) on the molecular weights of Flory components. The results show that the formulation of the multicenter kinetic scheme and the development of kinetic tools necessary for the application of this scheme significantly expand our understanding of the working of heterogeneous polymerization catalysts and provide additional means for their control. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1681–1695, 2001     

TiCl4/XROH/MgCl2/Et3Al催化剂合成宽分子量分布乙烯/1-己烯共聚物

采用MgCl₂负载TiCl₄及1,3-二氯-2-丙醇给电子体(XROH),与三乙基铝助催化剂组成的催化剂体系,合成了1-己烯共聚率高且宽分子量分布的乙烯/1-己烯共聚物。 讨论了催化体系的组成、配比和聚合条件对乙烯/1-己烯共聚合行为,共聚物结构、分子量及分子量分布的影响。 结果表明,n(Ti)∶n(Mg)=10∶1,n(XROH)∶n(MgCl₂)=2.6∶1,n(Al)∶n(Ti)=100∶1,乙烯压力0.45 MPa,聚合温度80 ℃,聚合时间2 h,共聚单体(1-hexene)浓度0.25 mol/L时,催化效率达23.2 kg/g cat。 采用¹³C NMR、X-ray、SEM、WAXD、DSC、GPC等测试技术对催化剂、共聚物的结构进行了表征。 结果表明,在Zieglar-Natta(Z-N)催化体系中,给电子体多卤代醇与TiCl4结合,载体MgCl2的晶体结构发生了变化。 结晶度降低,有利于催化剂负载量的提高(ω(Ti)=4.8%)和催化效率增大。 催化体系产生了多种活性中心,使聚烯烃分子量分布变宽(15~20)。 多卤代醇还可增强1-己烯与乙烯的共聚能力,在共聚物中1-己烯的摩尔分数达5.1%。     

MCM-41分子筛负载氯化铝催化丙烯酸甲酯与1-辛烯共聚

以MCM-41分子筛负载氯化铝为催化剂, 催化丙烯酸甲酯与1-辛烯共聚合反应, 利用称重法测定聚合物产率, 利用核磁共振氢谱分析共聚物组成, 利用凝胶渗透色谱分析共聚物相对数均分子质量, 研究了聚合物产率和共聚物组成随聚合反应时间的变化规律, 考察了溶剂、 催化剂组成和催化剂用量对共聚合结果的影响及催化剂的循环使用性能. 结果表明, 聚合物产率随时间呈S形增长, 而共聚物组成随时间保持恒定, 与氯化铝催化体系规律一致; 溶剂由二氯甲烷改变为乙醇或二甲苯主要影响聚合物组成, 对聚合物相对数均分子质量及其分布影响不大; 催化剂中活性组分的增加有利于增加共聚物中1-辛烯单元的含量, 但对聚合物分子量及分子量分布影响不大; 催化剂中活性组分含量一定时, 随催化剂与单体摩尔比从0.125增加到0.5, 共聚物中1-辛烯单元含量增加, 继续增大催化剂用量不利于提高共聚物中1-辛烯单元含量. 催化剂重复使用3次后仍具有良好的催化活性, 将烯烃单元引入共聚物中, 获得1-辛烯单元摩尔分数达30.1%的聚(丙烯酸甲酯-co-1-辛烯)共聚物.     

The influence of comonomer on ethylene/α-olefin copolymers prepared using [bis(N-(3-tert butylsalicylidene)anilinato)] titanium (IV) dichloride complex

We describe the synthesis of [bis(N-(3-tert-butylsalicylidene)anilinato)] titanium (IV) dichloride (Ti-FI complex) and examine the effects of comonomer (feed concentration and type) on its catalytic performance and properties of the resulting polymers. Ethylene/1-hexene and ethylene/1-octene copolymers were prepared through copolymerization using Ti-FI catalyst, activated by MAO cocatalyst at 323 K and 50 psi ethylene pressure at various initial comonomer concentrations. The obtained copolymers were characterized by DSC, GPC and 13C-NMR. The results indicate that Ti-FI complex performs as a high potential catalyst, as evidenced by high activity and high molecular weight and uniform molecular weight distribution of its products. Nevertheless, the bulky structure of FI catalyst seems to hinder the insertion of α-olefin comonomer, contributing to the pretty low comonomer incorporation into the polymer chain. The catalytic activity was enhanced with the comonomer feed concentration, but the molecular weight and melting temperature decreased. By comparison both sets of catalytic systems, namely ethylene/1-hexene and ethylene/1-octene copolymerization, the first one afforded better activity by reason of easier insertion of short chain comonomer. Although 1-hexene copolymers also exhibited higher molecular weight than 1-octene, no significant difference in both melting temperature and crystallinity can be noticed between these comonomers.     

The influence of mixed activators on ethylene polymerization and ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization with silica-supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst

This article reveals the effects of mixed activators on ethylene polymerization and ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization over MgCl?/SiO?-supported Ziegler-Natta (ZN) catalysts. First, the conventional ZN catalyst was prepared with SiO? addition. Then, the catalyst was tested for ethylene polymerization and ethylene/1-hexene (E/H) co-polymerization using different activators. Triethylaluminum (TEA), tri-n-hexyl aluminum (TnHA) and diethyl aluminum chloride (DEAC), TEA+DEAC, TEA+TnHA, TnHA+ DEAC, TEA+DEAC+TnHA mixtures, were used as activators in this study. It was found that in the case of ethylene polymerization with a sole activator, TnHA exhibited the highest activity among other activators due to increased size of the alkyl group. Further investigation was focused on the use of mixed activators. The activity can be enhanced by a factor of three when the mixed activators were employed and the activity of ethylene polymerization apparently increased in the order of TEA+ DEAC+TnHA > TEA+DEAC > TEA+TnHA. Both the copolymerization activity and crystallinity of the synthesized copolymers were strongly changed when the activators were changed from TEA to TEA+DEAC+TnHA mixtures or pure TnHA and pure DEAC. As for ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization the activity apparently increased in the order of TEA+DEAC+TnHA > TEA+TnHA > TEA+DEAC > TnHA+DEAC > TEA > TnHA > DEAC. Considering the properties of the copolymer obtained with the mixed TEA+DEAC+TnHA, its crystallinity decreased due to the presence of TnHA in the mixed activator. The activators thus exerted a strong influence on copolymer structure. An increased molecular weight distribution (MWD) was observed, without significant change in polymer morphology.     

Heterogeneous metallocene catalysts for ethylene polymerization

The catalyst precursor 9-fluorenylidene-1-cyclopentadienylidene-2-hex-5-enylidene zirconium dichloride proved to be highly active in the heterogeneously catalyzed polymerization of ethylene using silica gel/partially hydrolyzed trimethylaluminum (PHT) as cocatalyst. The substitution of position 4 of the fluorenylidene fragment and position 3 of the cyclopentadienylidene ring improves the catalyst activity. The introduction of a phenyl group into the bridge increases the catalyst activity and the molecular weight of the polymer. The prepolymerization of this catalyst system leads to a major change in catalyst and polymer properties. A significant increase in catalyst activity and a lower molecular weight of the produced polyethylene is observed. The presence of hydrogen during prepolymerization or polymerization of ethylene produces a broader molecular weight distribution indicating a higher number of different active centers.     

Synthesis, characterization, and marked polymerization selectivity characteristics of binuclear phenoxyiminato organozirconium catalysts

The new binuclear phenoxyiminato zirconium complex {1,7-(O)2C10H4-2,7-[CH=N(2,6-iPr2C6H3)]2}Zr2Cl6(THF)2 (FI2-Zr2) polymerizes ethylene with greater activity (approximately 8x) than the mononuclear analogue. Also, this catalyst produces high molecular weight ethylene + 1-hexene copolymers, while the mononuclear analogue yields only traces of copolymer under identical conditions. This ability to produce copolymers suggests cooperativity between the two Zr centers which promotes 1-hexene co-enchainment.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Chromium-Based Catalysts for Ethylene-1-hexene Copolymers Preparation via In-Situ Polymerization of Ethylene

The tandem catalysis system including the trimerization catalyst of CrCl₃/SNS (SNS = bis-(2-pentylsulfanyl-ethyl)-amine) (Cat 1) and the copolymerization catalyst Cat 2 of Cr/SiO₂ (Grace 643) has been prepared and used to the synthesis of branched polyethylene. The optimum polymerization conditions were found to be as follows: chromium concentration 0.2 wt %, ethylene pressure 23 bar, solvent hexane, polymerization temperature 90°C, co-catalyst triethylaluminum. The optimally prepared polyethylene was characterized thermally and morphologically. Appearance of α and γ hydrogens in ethylene-1-hexene copolymer confirms the presence of branches in polyethylene backbone.     

Polymer compositions based on polyethylene and poly(1-hexene)

PE-poly(hexene-1) compositions were synthesized via successive polymerization of the corresponding monomers in the presence of a titanium-magnesium catalyst. It was shown that a PE-poly(1-hexene) diblock copolymer is formed along with homopolymers of ethylene and 1-hexene during the polymerization. Nascent samples of these polymer blends are characterized by exceptionally high melting temperatures and heats of melting of the PE component (up to 149°C and 278 J/g, respectively).     

Multi‐center nature of heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalysts: TREF confirmation

A new approach to detailed Tref analysis of ethylene/α‐olefin copolymers prepared with multi‐center polymerization catalysts is developed. It is based on resolution of complex Tref curves into elemental components described with the Lorentz distribution function. This approach was applied to the study of a series of ethylene/1‐butene copolymers prepared with a supported Ti‐based catalyst. The analysis showed that the copolymers, which, on average, contain from 6.5 to 3.5 mol % of 1‐butene, consist of seven discrete components with different compositions, ranging from a completely amorphous material with a 1‐butene content of > 15–20 mol %, to two highly crystalline components with 1‐butene contents < 1 mol %. A comparison of these Tref results with the data on the molecular weight distribution of the copolymers (based on resolution of their GPC curves) shows that Tref and GPC data provide complimentary information on the properties of active centers in the catalysts in terms of the molecular weights of the material they produce and their ability to copolymerize α‐olefins with ethylene. Tref analysis of copolymers produced at different reaction times showed that the active centers responsible for the formation of various Tref components differ in the rates of their formation and in stability. The centers that produce copolymer molecules with a high 1‐butene content are formed rapidly but decay rapidly as well whereas the centers producing copolymer molecules with a low 1‐butene content are formed more slowly but are more stable. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4351–4362, 2005     

Ziegler-Natta催化乙烯/长链1-烯烃共聚合——长链1-烯烃的共聚活性

<正> 乙烯/1-烯烃共聚合是近年来活跃的研究课题之一,随1-烯烃种类不同及其在共聚物中含量的变化,共聚产物主要有橡胶弹性体(如乙丙胶)、线性低密度聚乙烯(LLDPE)等。研究结果表明,与短支链共聚单体相比,由长支链共聚单体获得的LLDPE具有更加优越的加工性能、整体韧性和抗撕裂性,由于侧基的位阻作用,长链1-烯烃参