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Catalytic Polymerization of Liquid Propylene: Effect of Low‐Yield Hexene Prepolymerization on Kinetics and Morphology
Author(s) -
Pimplapure Makarand S.,
Weickert Günter
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200500240
Subject(s) - catalysis , polymerization , yield (engineering) , materials science , particle (ecology) , particle size , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , polymer , hexane , slurry , ziegler–natta catalyst , natta , morphology (biology) , composite material , chemistry , chromatography , organic chemistry , biology , oceanography , engineering , genetics , geology
Summary: A Ziegler‐Natta‐catalyst was used in ultra low‐yield slurry prepolymerization followed by liquid propylene (main) polymerizations. Complete catalyst disintegration down to 1.5–2 µm particle size is observed at prepolymerization yields of 10 g per g cat. The initial (main) polymerization rate increased up to 55% and the final average particle diameter can be controlled between 50 and 1 500 µm at main polymerization yields of 20 kg PP per g cat · hr −1 . Tension generation within the particle and the absence of a polymer layer explains these results.Surface SEM. Top: Catalyst surface covered with polyhexene. Bottom: Cracks on catalyst surface after washing with hexane.