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Effect of Acid Treatment of Montmorillonite on “Support‐Activator” Performance to Support Metallocene for Propylene Polymerization Catalyst
Author(s) -
Tayano Takao,
Uchino Hideshi,
Sagae Takehiro,
Yokomizo Katsuyuki,
Nakayama Koji,
Ohta Shigeki,
Nakano Hiroshi,
Murata Masahide
Publication year - 2017
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.201600017
Subject(s) - montmorillonite , catalysis , polymerization , metallocene , materials science , polymer chemistry , chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , polymer , engineering
This work is focused on montmorillonite (MMT)‐based “support‐activators” (S‐As) for the metallocene‐catalyzed propylene polymerization. This catalyst was previously industrialized; however, for further technological advances, the activation mechanism is investigated. The chemical and morphological requirements of the S‐A are surveyed using both commercially available raw clay minerals (non‐acid‐treated) and acid‐treated clay minerals. The S‐A possessing strong‐acid sites (p K a < −8.2) gives a highly active catalyst. Acid treatment of MMT induces morphological changes as well as the formation of strong acid sites. Based on pore size distribution analysis and atomic force microscopy observations, it is concluded that the strong acid sites are located in the small pores around the edge of the clay mineral (not in the interlayer), where the structure is disordered by the acid treatment.