Premium
Morphology Evolution in the Early Stages of Olefin Polymerization
Author(s) -
Zheng Xuejing,
Loos Joachim
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200690063
Subject(s) - metallocene , comonomer , catalysis , polymerization , polymer , olefin fiber , materials science , scanning electron microscope , post metallocene catalyst , chemical engineering , morphology (biology) , polymer chemistry , particle (ecology) , fragmentation (computing) , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , oceanography , biology , engineering , genetics , geology , computer science , operating system
The olefin polymerizations were carried out by using silica supported metallocene/MAO catalysts and MgCl 2 supported Ziegler‐Natta catalysts under mild reaction conditions and stopped at very low yield. The surface and cross sectional morphology of the polymer particles were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A homogeneous distribution of (co)catalyst on the support material is a prerequisite condition to get a homogeneous fragmentation and uniform polymer particle morphology. In the present work the catalysts show two different fragmentation behaviors. They can gradually fragment from the outer to the inner surface of the catalyst particle, or instantaneously break up into a large amount of small sub‐particles at the beginning of the polymerization. The incorporation of comonomer does not change the general catalyst fragmentation scheme but delays the catalysts break‐up progress.