Gas-phase polymerization of propylene: Reaction kinetics and molecular weight distribution

Gas-phase polymerizations have been executed at different temperatures, pressures, and hydrogen concentrations using Me₂Si[Ind]₂ZrCl₂ / methylaluminoxane / SiO₂(Pennsylvania Quarts) as a catalyst. The reaction rate curves have been described by a kinetic model, which takes into account the initially increasing polymerization rate. The monomer concentration in the polymer has been calculated with the Flory–Huggins equation. The kinetic parameters have been determined by fitting the reaction rate curves with the model. At high temperatures, pressures, and hydrogen concentrations a runaway on particle scale may occur leading to reduced polymer yields. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the polymer samples could be described by a “two-site model.” At constant temperature the chain-transfer probability of sites 1 and 2 depends only on the hydrogen concentration divided by the monomer concentration. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 500–513, 2001     

One-phase supported titanium-based catalysts for polymerization of ethylene. II. Effect of hydrogen

The relation between composition of the one-phase titanium-based silica supported catalysts for gas-phase ethylene polymerization, and the ability of these catalysts to control the molecular weight of polymer using hydrogen has been studied. Halogen containing alkylaluminium compounds and alkoxy groups on titanium promote the chain transfer process. A significant polymerization rate lowering effect is caused by hydrogen. However, catalyst activity fully revives after hydrogen removal from the polymerization system. The proportion of active titanium was found to be 18±4% in the presence of hydrogen, and the value of propagation rate constant (k_p) was calculated to be 190±45 L/mol.s. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Stereospecific polymerization with metallocenes: Macromolecular design via catalysis

Forty years after Natta's discoveries of stereospecific olefin polymerization with Ziegler catalysts, new catalysts are causing a renaissance in stereospecific olefin polymerization. Metallocene Ziegler-Natta catalysts are unprecedented in their ability to polymerize α-olefins to a variety of polymer microstructures.¹ Isotactic, syndiotactic, atactic and stereoblock poly(α-olefins) have been produced using catalysts derived from group 4 metallocene catalyst precursors.     

Kinetics of Ziegler propylene polymerization

Rate studies were done on the polymerization of propylene with the TiCl₃–diethyl aluminum chloride catalyst system. The polymerization is initially first-order with respect to propylene concentration. There is a rapid rate decline in the initial period, during which time the reaction becomes functionally second-order. A physical explanation for this behavior has been adapted from the Avrami equation for crystal growth kinetics. A yield equation was developed which fits experimental data closely. Rate correlations show that the initial rate is exponentially related to the TiCl₃/alkyl ratio. Water and other active hydrogen compounds reduce rate; hydrogen increases rate. A “bimetallic” mechanism is proposed which views catalyst activation as consisting of three equilibria, followed by a propagation step where an alkyl group is transferred to the growing chain, and a realkylation of the hydride that remains after the propagation step.     

Polymerization of ethylene using a high-activity Ziegler–Natta catalyst. II. Molecular weight regulation

This article describes studies on the variables that regulate the molecular weight in ethylene polymerization using a highly active Ziegler–Natta catalyst with hydrogen for molecular weight control. The dependence of the degree of polymerization on the concentration of catalyst, cocatalyst, monomer, partial pressure of hydrogen, and temperature has been established. The rate constant for chain transfer with cocatalyst has been evaluated. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ethylene polymerization kinetics with heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts

Ethylene polymerization kinetics was examined using a supported Ti-based catalyst activated by AlEt₃. A computer-based technique for deconvoluting the GPC curves into constituent Flory components was developed. The kinetic analysis showed that the catalyst contains five populations of active centers. Each population has different formation and deactivation rates, produces polymers of different molecular weights and is differently affected by hydrogen.     

The number of active centers and propagation rate constant in ethylene polymerization with a homogeneous catalyst based on cobalt 2,6-bis[imino]pyridyl complex with methylaluminoxane activator

The number of active centers C _p and propagation rate constant k _p upon ethylene polymerization with a homogeneous catalyst based on a cobalt complex with bis[imino]pyridyl ligands (LCoCl₂, where L is 2,6-(2,6-(Me)₂C₆H₃N=CMe)₂C₅H₃N) using methylaluminoxane as an activator was determined by quenching by radioactive carbon monoxide (¹⁴CO). It was found that the drop in activity during polymerization on the above catalyst is due to the decreasing number of active centers (from 0.23 to 0.14 mol/mol Co within 15 min of polymerization); the propagation rate constant remained unchanged, 3.5 × 10³ l/(mol s) at 35°C, which is substantially lower than for a catalyst based on an iron complex with analogous bis[imino]pyridyl ligands. It follows from the data on molecular mass characteristics of the produced polymer that the homogeneous catalyst LCoCl₂/methylaluminoxane is of monocenter type, and the obtained value of the propagation rate constant reflects the true reactivity of its active centers.     

Study of the chain transfer reaction by hydrogen in the initial stage of propene polymerization

The chain transfer reaction by hydrogen in the initial stage of propene polymerization with MgCl₂-supported Ziegler catalyst was studied by means of the stopped-flow polymerization. The yield and molecular weight of polypropene produced in the initial stage were not affected by hydrogen. Thus, the method was successfully applied to find the region in which hydrogen does not act as a chain transfer reagent. On the other hand, a chain transfer reaction proceeded in the initial stage of polymerization by using Zn(C₂H₅)₂. Furthermore, when the catalyst was treated with Al(C₂H₅)₃ before polymerization, the molecular weight of the produced polymer was decreased by using hydrogen, indicating that it acted as a chain transfer agent for the catalyst modified by pre-treatment.     

1‐Hexene Polymerization over Supported Titanium–Magnesium Catalyst: The Effect of Composition of the Catalytic System and Polymerization Conditions on Temperature Dependence of the Polymerization Rate

The effect of temperature on the rate of 1‐hexene polymerization over supported titanium–magnesium catalyst of composition TiCl₄/D₁/MgCl₂ + AlR₃/D₂ (D₁ is dibutyl phthalate, D₂ is propyltrimethoxysilane, and AlR₃ is an organoaluminum cocatalyst) is studied. The unusual data that the polymer rate decreases when temperature is increased from 30 to 70 °C are obtained. The 1‐hexene polymerization rate and the pattern of changes in polymerization rate with temperature depend on a combination of factors such as cocatalyst (AlEt₃ or Al(i‐Bu)₃) and presence/absence of hydrogen and an external donor in the reaction mixture. These factors differ in their effects on catalytic activity at different polymerization temperatures, so the temperature coefficient (E_eff) values calculated using the Arrhenius dependence of the polymerization rate on polymerization temperature vary greatly. The “normal” Arrhenius plot where polymerization rate increases with temperature is observed only for polymerization with the Al(i‐Bu)₃ cocatalyst in the presence of hydrogen and without an external donor. Formation of high‐molecular‐weight polyhexene at low polymerization temperatures results in catalyst particle fragmentation, which may additionally contribute to the increase in polymerization rate as polymerization temperature is reduced.     

Reduced titanium dioxide as support for Ziegler–Natta catalysts

Titanium tetrachloride heterogenized on reduced TiO₂ has been studied as a catalyst for ethylene polymerization. The catalyst has good storage stability and exhibits good activity for ethylene polymerization. The polymer chains grow linearly during ca. 1 h, giving an average molecular weight of up to 2.5 × 10⁶ which indicates that practically no β-elimination occurs. The activity of the catalyst at 50°C, based on Ti(III), is 7.6 × 10⁶ PE/mol Ti h bar and based on the quantity of polyethylene formed it is 1.25 × 10⁶ g PE/mol Ti h bar. The molecular weight of the polymer can be controlled with the addition of hydrogen, under 0.5 bar hydrogen, polyethylene with a molecular weight of 411,000 and a relatively low polydispersity index of 2.2 is obtained. The catalyst shows good thermal stability; the Arrhenius activation energy is 31.8 kJ/mol for the polymerization. The catalyst is also active for propylene polymerization, giving 3 × 10⁶ g PP/mol Ti h bar with the high isotacticity of 93%. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Active‐center equilibrium in Ziegler–Natta butadiene polymerization

The Ziegler–Natta‐catalyzed polymerization of 1,3‐butadiene was investigated at a low aluminum alkyl/cobalt (Al/Co) ratio using two different soluble catalyst systems: cobalt(II) octanoate/diethylaluminum chloride/water and cobalt(II) octanoate/methylaluminoxane/tert‐butyl chloride. When the active‐center concentration was determined by the number‐average molecular weight technique, it was found that the percentage of active cobalt depended on the Al/Co ratio. Subsequently, an equilibrium reaction was proposed to be Co + 2Al ? CoAl₂, where Co is cobalt(II) octanoate, Al is either of the aluminum alkyl‐activator species, and CoAl₂ is the active catalyst. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2256–2261, 2001     

Effects of hydrogen in ethylene polymerization and oligomerization with magnesium chloride‐supported bis(imino)pyridyl iron catalysts

The effects of hydrogen in ethylene polymerization and oligomerization with different bis(imino)pyridyl iron(II) complexes immobilized on supports of type MgCl₂/AlEt_n(OEt)_3–n have been investigated. Hydrogen has a significant activating effect on polymerization catalysts containing relatively bulky bis(imino)pyridyl ligands, but this is not the case in ethylene oligomerization with a catalyst containing relatively little steric bulk in the ligand. It was found that the presence of hydrogen in the latter system led to decreased activity and an overall increase rather than a decrease in product molecular weight, indicating deactivation of active species producing low molecular weight polymer and oligomer. Decreased formation of vinyl‐terminated oligomers in the presence of hydrogen can therefore contribute to the activating effect of hydrogen in ethylene polymerization with immobilized iron catalysts, if it is assumed that hydrogen activation is related to chain transfer after a 2,1‐insertion of a vinyl‐terminated oligomer into the growing polymer chain. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4054–4061, 2007     

Controlled ring‐opening polymerization of propylene oxide catalyzed by double metal‐cyanide complex

A double metal‐cyanide catalyst based on Zn₃[Co(CN)₆]₂ was prepared. This catalyst is very effective for the ring‐opening polymerization of propylene oxide. Polyether polyols of moderate molecular weight having low unsaturation (<0.015 meq/g) can be prepared under mild conditions. The molecular weight of polymer is entirely controlled by a reacted monomer‐to‐initiator ratio. The polymers prepared with stepwise addition of monomer exhibit a narrower molecular weight distribution as compared with those prepared with one‐step addition of monomer. Various compounds containing active hydrogen, except basic compounds and low‐carbon carboxylic acid, may be used as initiators. The reaction rate increases with increasing catalyst amount and decreases with rising initiator concentration. Polymerization involves a rapid exchange reaction between the active species and the dormant species. It was also proven that, to a certain extent, the chain termination of this catalytic system is reversible or temporary. ¹³C NMR analysis showed that the polymer has a random distribution of the configurational sequences and head‐to‐tail regiosequence. It is assumed that the polymerization proceeds via a cationic coordination mechanism. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1142–1150, 2002     

Branching kinetics of epoxy polymerization of 1, 4-butanediol diglycidyl ether with cis-1, 2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride

The copolymerization of an epoxy resin [1, 4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (DGEB) (Note a)] with an anhydride [cis-1, 2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride (CH)] in the presence of N, N-benzyldimethylamine (CA) as a catalyst produces a branched epoxy polymer. We show that the branching kinetics of the copolymerization reaction and the molecular weight distribution of the branched polymers can be approximated by using Smoluchowski's coagulation equation. In the simplest relevant application of this equation to our problem, the overall rate kernel w(u, v) that describes the branching probability in the equation turns out to be proportional to the sum of active sites on the two polymers with a time dependent coefficient. The molecular weight distribution (MWD) and the weight average molecular weight of the branched copolymers at different reaction stages before the gelation threshold are calculated theoretically. The calculated values are then compared with the experimental results obtained by using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), laser light scattering (LLS), and chemical analysis. Satisfactory agreement between experimental results and the use of the coagulation equation is attained when it is assumed that the distribution of epoxy polymer molecules is exponential in the number of branching points or, equivalently, active sites, at an early stage of the polymerization reaction.     

Hydrogen effects in propylene polymerization reactions with titanium‐based Ziegler–Natta catalysts. II. Mechanism of the chain‐transfer reaction

Hydrogen is a very effective chain‐transfer agent in propylene polymerization reactions with Ti‐based Ziegler–Natta catalysts. However, measurements of the hydrogen concentration effect on the molecular weight of polypropylene prepared with a supported TiCl₄/dibutyl phthalate/MgCl₂ catalyst show a peculiar effect: hydrogen efficiency in the chain transfer significantly decreases with concentration, and at very high concentrations, hydrogen no longer affects the molecular weight of polypropylene. A detailed analysis of kinetic features of chain‐transfer reactions for different types of active centers in the catalyst suggests that chain transfer with hydrogen is not merely the hydrogenolysis reaction of the Ti? C bond in an active center but proceeds with the participation of a coordinated propylene molecule. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1899–1911, 2002     

Mechanism of Ziegler-Natta polymerization of propylene and α-d-propylene

Rates of propylene homopolymerization and α-d-propylene-propylene copolymerization were determined by using constant-pressure polymerization conditions. It could be demonstrated that the rate of propylene homopolymerization was constant under the conditions used. However, the initial rate of copolymerization was faster and decreased with time to the rate obtained for propylene homopolymerizations. The higher initial copolymerization rate was attributed to the stabilization of potentially active centers in solution when the deuterated monomer was present. These active centers are assumed to be formed by reactions of tetravalent titanium with monomer. These active centers, which are formed in solution, are said to be destroyed by isotopically controlled reactions, i. e., abstraction of the hydrogen or the α-deuterium atom from these monomer-alkylated species in solution or at the interface. These active centers are believed to be adsorbed and/or chemisorbed onto the precipitated catalyst surface and to be responsible for a polymer of considerably lower steric order. This scheme predicts a stereoregular polymer of high molecular weight produced by polymerization on a Ti(III) surface and a largely amorphous polymer of lower molecular weight produced by adsorbed and/or chemisorbed species. This prediction was verified by fractionation of the deuterated polymers into crystalline and amorphous portions.     

Ethylene polymerization studies with supported cyclopentadienyl,arene, and allyl chromium catalysts

Highly active catalysts for low pressure ethylene polymerization are formed when chromocene, bis (benzene)- or bis (cumene)-chromium or tris- or bis (allyl)-chromium compounds are deposited on high surface area silica-alumina or silica supports. Each catalyst type shows its own unique behavior in preparation, polymerization, activity, isomerization, and response to hydrogen as a chain transfer agent. The arene chromium compounds require an acidic support (silicaalumina) or thermal aging with silica to form a highly active catalyst. At 90°C polymerization temperature arene chromium catalysts produced high molecular weight polyethylene and showed, in contrast to supported chromocene catalysts, a much lower response to hydrogen as a chain transfer agent. An increase in polymerization temperature caused a significant decrease in polymer molecular weight. Addition of cyclopentadiene to supported bis (cumene)-chromium catalyst led to a new catalyst which showed a chain transfer response to hydrogen typical of a supported chromocene catalyst. Polymerization activity with tris- or bis (allyl)-chromium appears to depend on the divalent chromium content in the catalyst. Changes in the silica dehydration temperature of supported allyl chromium catalyst have a significant effect on the resulting polymer molecular weight. High molecular weight polymers were formed with catalysts that were prepared using silica dehydration temperatures below about 400°C. Dimers, trimers, and oligomers of ethylene were usually formed with catalysts that were prepared on silica dehydrated much above 400°C. The order of activity of the different types of catalysts was chromocene/silica > chromocene/silica-alumina > bis (arene)-chromium/silica-alumina ? allyl chromium/silica.     

Solvent‐free ring‐opening polymerization of cyclohexene oxide catalyzed by palladium chloride

In this study, we have for the first time demonstrated that palladium chloride (PdCl₂) is an efficient catalyst for ring‐opening polymerization of cyclohexene oxide in a solvent‐free condition. The polymerization product was in atactic structure, and reaction conditions, such as reaction temperature, time, and catalyst amount, showed effects on polymerization conversion yield, turnover number, and number‐average molecular weight of the resulting poly(cyclohexene oxide). PdCl₂ catalysis follows a cationic ring‐opening mechanism. The polymerization result is highly determined by the chemical structure of the monomers.     

Thermal degradation of polystyrene in the presence of hydrogen by catalyst in solution

For the first time, low temperature degradation (170-240 °C) of polystyrene in benzene is carried out in the presence of hydrogen using iron(III) oxide catalyst. The effect of temperature, catalyst loading and polymer loading on degradation are studied in hydrogen atmosphere. Degradation is also carried out at different initial hydrogen partial pressure. The time dependent molecular weight is calculated using viscosity average method. It is found that the degradation is enhanced considerably in the presence of hydrogen and followed random degradation chain scission. A random degradation kinetic model of Kelen [Kelen T. Polymer degradation. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company; 1983.] is used to estimate the degradation rate constants. Empirical correlations are proposed to account for the effect of catalyst loading and initial hydrogen partial pressure on degradation. The true thermal degradation rate constants are calculated using these proposed correlations at given catalyst loading and initial hydrogen partial pressure with varying temperature. The frequency factor and activation energy are also determined using Arrhenius equation considering the true thermal degradation rate constants.     

环氧化物稀土络合催化开环聚合动力学研究

用膨胀计方法研究环氧丙烷、环氧氯丙烷在稀土络合催化剂 Nd(P_(204))_3-Al(i-Bu)_3-H_2O作用下的聚合反应动力学,表明聚合反应速度对催化剂浓度及单体浓度均呈一级关系。环氧丙烷、环氧氯丙烷开环聚合反应活化能分别为61.3kJ/mol和48.9kJ/mol。在同样的聚合反应条件下,环氧氯丙烷聚合反应速度大于环氧丙烷聚合反应速度。 研究还发现,催化剂组成摩尔比Al/Nd及H_2O/Al对聚合反应速度均有一定影响;各种稀土元素络合催化剂催化活性顺序为:Nd>La>Dy>Yb>Eu;稀土络合物中配体对活性的影响为:acac>P_(204)>P_(507)>naph;烷基铝的影响为:Al(i-Bu)_3>AlEt_3。