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Influence of copolymerization conditions on the structure and properties of polyethylene/polypropylene/poly(ethylene‐ co ‐propylene) in‐reactor alloys synthesized in gas‐phase with spherical ziegler‐natta catalyst
Author(s) -
Fan Zhiqiang,
Deng Jian,
Zuo YanMei,
Fu ZhiSheng
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.24589
Subject(s) - ethylene , ethylene propylene rubber , copolymer , polypropylene , materials science , polyethylene , polymer chemistry , catalysis , ziegler–natta catalyst , chemical engineering , polymer , organic chemistry , chemistry , composite material , engineering
A spherical TiCl 4 /MgCl 2 ‐based catalyst was used in the synthesis of polyethylene/polypropylene/poly (ethylene‐ co ‐propylene) in‐reactor alloys by sequential homopolymerization of ethylene, homopolymerization of propylene, and copolymerization of ethylene and propylene in gas‐phase. Different conditions in the third stage, such as the pressure of ethylene–propylene mixture and the feed ratio of ethylene, were investigated, and their influences on the compositions, structural distribution and properties of the in‐reactor alloys were studied. Increasing the feed ratio of ethylene is favorable for forming random ethylene–propylene copolymer and segmented ethylene–propylene copolymer, however, slightly influences the formation of ethylene‐ b ‐propylene block copolymer and homopolyethylene. Raising the pressure of ethylene–propylene mixture results in the increment of segmented ethylene–propylene copolymer, ethylene‐ b ‐propylene block copolymer, and PE fractions, but exerts a slight influence on both the random copolymer and PP fractions. The impact strength of PE/PP/EPR in‐reactor alloys can be markedly improved by increasing the feed ratio of ethylene in the ethylene–propylene mixture or increasing the pressure of ethylene–propylene mixture. However, the flexural modulus decreases as the feed ratio of ethylene in the ethylene–propylene mixture or the pressure of ethylene–propylene mixture increases. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 2481–2487, 2006