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.