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Role of Silica Properties in the Polymerisation of Ethylene Using Supported Metallocene Catalysts
Author(s) -
Tisse Virginie F.,
Prades Floran,
Briquel Remi,
Boisson Christophe,
McKenna Timothy F. L.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200900311
Subject(s) - metallocene , catalysis , polymerization , porosity , chemical engineering , ethylene , polymer chemistry , diffusion , materials science , polymer , kinetics , particle (ecology) , particle size , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , physics , oceanography , quantum mechanics , engineering , thermodynamics , geology
Abstract The role of certain morphological properties of different silica used as supports for metallocene catalysts was investigated in order to quantify their eventual influence on the kinetics of ethylene polymerisation in heptane slurry, as well as on the polymer properties. It was shown that there is no clear link between porosity and observed activity with some highly porous silica producing relatively inactive supported catalysts. It was further shown that within a batch of silica, the particle size had a significant impact on observed kinetics. While it appears that there is possibly some diffusion resistance encountered in the larger particles, it was also shown that prolonged contact between the support and the alkylating agent could increase reaction rates in the larger particles.