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Controlled Catalyst Dosing: An Elegant Approach in Molecular Weight Regulation for UHMWPE
Author(s) -
Padmanabhan Sudhakar,
Sarma Krishna R.,
Sharma Shashikant,
Patel Viral
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular reaction engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1862-8338
pISSN - 1862-832X
DOI - 10.1002/mren.200900001
Subject(s) - catalysis , ethylene , molar mass distribution , natta , polymerization , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , ziegler–natta catalyst , materials science , chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , engineering
Ethylene polymerization using Ziegler‐Natta catalysts comprising TiCl 4 supported on MgCl 2 with aluminum alkyls as co‐catalyst produce UHMWPE through a mediated proportional reduction of the Ti oxidation states. We observe the molecular weight regulation to be a combined function of hydrogen and the co‐catalyst through experimental evidences. The role of unavoidable chain transfer reactions for molecular weight regulation has been observed during the production of UHMWPE along with H 2 through controlled catalyst dosing. Process optimization studies at 7.5 atm ethylene pressure could absorb small deviations in the catalyst systems to maintain the desired molecular weights.