Copolymerization of propene with high-1-olefin using a MgCl2/TiCl4 catalyst

Copolymerization of propene and 1-olefins including 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, and 1-hexadecene were studied with the catalyst system MgCl₂/TiCl₄-Al(i-Bu)₃. It was found that the polymerization productivity and the consumption rate of propene are improved significantly in the presence of the comonomer. The total productivity of propene/1-olefin copolymerizations decreases as follows: 1-octene> 1-decene>1-dodecene>1-hexadecene>1-tetradecene. The reactivity ratios were estimated from the copolymerization results. ¹³C NMR was used to characterize the microstructures of propene/1-octene copolymer. Finally, the oxygen enrichment behavior of propene/1-octene copolymer was investigated.