Polymerization of a styrene and ethylene mixture with a trichloro(2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxy)titanium/methylaluminoxane catalyst system

Abstract

A homogeneous titanium halide catalyst containing one bulky phenoxy ligand was synthesized by the reaction of a lithium salt of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol and TiC1 4 • The complex was tested, with methylaluminoxane as cocatalyst, in the copolymerization of ethylene and styrene. The reaction product was not a copolymer but a mixture of polyethylene and atactic polystyrene. The formation of two fractions may indicate the presence of several active species in the catalyst or a different polymerization mechanism for the two monomers.

Classification of ethylene-styrene interpolymers based on comonomer content

“…The amorphous materials conformed well with the additivity rule. The density of the semicrystalline polymers lay above the linear relationship and was essentially independent of composition with a value of about 0.94 g/cm 3 . Apparently, as the styrene content decreased, the increasing crystallinity compensated for the decreasing density of the amorphous phase.…”

“…The relationship between density, after the talc contribution was removed, and total styrene content is shown in Figure 4. The solid line represents the linear relationship between density and composition based on a density of 1.065 g/cm 3 for atactic polystyrene and 0.855 g/cm 3 for amorphous polyethylene. The amorphous materials conformed well with the additivity rule.…”

“…Despite the scientific and commercial appeal offered by copolymers of ethylene and styrene, attempts to copolymerize these monomers by free radical methods or conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts have been generally unsuccessful, typically yielding mixtures of homopolymers. [1][2][3] Renewed interest in ethylene-styrene copolymerization has been generated by the development of metallocene and single site catalysts. 4 -6 Recently, polymerization of ethylene and styrene by the INSITE™ technology from Dow has achieved polymers with up to 80 wt % styrene.…”

Creep behavior of amorphous ethylene-styrene interpolymers in the glass transition region

“…[1][2][3] Renewed interest in ethylene-styrene copolymerization has been generated by the development of single site constrained geometry catalysts. 4 -6 Recently, polymerization of ethylene and styrene by the INSITE™ * technology from The Dow Chemical Company (Freeport, TX) has achieved copolymers with large amounts of styrene.…”

Ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization with supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts prepared by immobilizing TiCl3(OAr) onto MgCl2

“…In recent years, copolymerization of ethylene with α‐olefins with Ziegler–Natta catalysts have been intensively studied, with aims of understanding the mechanism that control the copolymer chain structure and active center distribution of the catalytic system . Meanwhile, various LTiCl 3 type organometallic complexes have been used to catalyze ethylene polymerization or its copolymerization with α‐olefins, where the organic ligand L is bonded to Ti through an oxo, amino, or iminato bond . Most of these complexes showed medium to high activity when activated by methyl aluminoxane (MAO), modified methyl aluminoxane (MMAO), or dried MAO, except ArOTiCl 3 type simple complexes .…”