Ethylene1-hexene copolymerization using supported metallocene catalyst system

Abstract EN

This work involves the use of a new catalyst which was recently patented by SABIC.

Two catalysts based on bis cyclopentadienyl titanium dichloride (Cp2TiCl2) supported on PVC cat-E and cat-B were synthesized according to the patent teachings.

Both catalysts were prepared in the same manner and contained the same amount of titanium (iv) alkoxy, However, titanium (iv) ethoxide were used for cat-E whereas titanium (iv) n-butoxide were used for cat-B.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the prepared metallocene supported catalyst on ethylene and 1-hexene copolymerization.

Also will attempt to investigate the influence of the titanium (iv) alkoxy on the kinetic result of the copolymerization, the incorporation of 1-hexene in the copolymer and the molecular weight of the produced copolymer will also be studied.

This work shows that the presence of an -olefin such as 1-hexene was found to cause a rate enhancement for ethylene consumption during the copolymerization reaction when using both catalysts cat-E and cat-B.

Cat-E showed higher activity in comparison to cat-B in the copolymerization of ethylene and 1-hexene.

The SEM micrographs show that a great reduction in polymer particles took place with the use of 1-hexene in the polymerization as comonomer.

For both catalysts it was found that an increase in the concentration of 1-hexene causes a decrease in the copolymer molecular weight Mw, accompanied with an increase in the copolymer content of 1-hexene.