Metallocene‐Catalyzed Solution Polymerization of Ethene at Elevated Pressure

The kinetic of ethene polymerization catalyzed by ( n BuCp) 2 ZrCl 2 /Al i Bu 3 /[Me 2 PhNH] + [B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] − has been investigated at 100 and 140 °C at pressures from 2 to 7 MPa. The initial polymerization rate R p0 increases linearly with increasing catalyst concentration, whereas a second‐order dependence of R p0 on the ethene concentration is found the number‐average molecular weight M n increases with increasing ethene pressure (ethene concentration). The relation between M n and ethene concentration can be explained by an equation based on a kinetic model involving a single center, two‐state catalyst system.Influence of the Zr concentration on the initial polymerization rate R p0 . p Ethene  = 7 MPa, solvent (toluene/ethene) = 275 mL.