Polymer‐supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts. II. Ethylene homo‐ and copolymerization with TiCl₄/MgR₂/poly(ethylene‐<i>co</i>‐acrylic acid) catalyst

Abstract

Abstract A novel polymer‐supported titanium‐based catalyst shows high activity and nondecaying kinetic profiles for ethylene polymerization. The presence of 1‐hexene comonomer drastically increases the catalyst activity, exhibiting a similarity to the MgCl 2 ‐supported catalysts. However, the nondecaying kinetic profiles of copolymerization distinguish this catalyst from the latter. Infrared analysis indicates that the transition metals were immobilized on the polymer support via functional groups. The effects of polymerization conditions on catalyst activity have been assessed. Characterization of the resulting polymer product by means of 13 C‐NMR, DSC, and SEM demonstrates a branch‐free structure with high melting point, high crystallinity, and high molecular weight for the ethylene homopolymer. The reactivity ratios of ethylene‐1‐hexene copolymerization are evaluated from 13 C‐NMR analysis data. © 1994 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc.