The effect of aluminum alkyls and BHT‐H on reaction kinetics of silica supported metallocenes and polymer properties in slurry phase ethylene polymerization. Issue 2 (21st August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bashir, Muhammad Ahsan; Monteil, Vincent; Boisson, Christophe; McKenna, Timothy F. L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied polymer science. Volume 135:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-08-21
• Subjects: catalysts -- kinetics -- polyolefins; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/app.45670
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8995

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In slurry and gas phase catalytic ethylene polymerization processes, aluminum alkyl (AlR3 ) compounds are usually present inside the reactor and their role either as co‐catalyst or scavenger is of considerable importance. Silica supported metallocene/methyl aluminoxane (MAO) catalysts show specific interactions with AlR3 compounds. Therefore, this study shows an attempt to analyze and compare the effect of concentration as well as type of commonly used AlR3 on slurry phase ethylene homopolymerization kinetics of silica supported ( n ‐BuCp)2 ZrCl2 /MAO catalyst. The obtained results indicate that the lower the concentration of smaller AlR3 compounds, the higher the instantaneous catalytic activity. Concerning the polymer particle size distributions, a rise in fines generation has been observed with increasing AlR3 content inside the reactor. Finally, it has been shown that the addition of 2, 6‐di‐ tert ‐butyl‐4‐methylphenol (a substituted phenol) into the reactor containing AlR3 reduces the influence of AlR3 compounds on the reaction kinetics of silica supported metallocene/MAO catalysts. Polyethylene properties remain similar in all the studied scenarios. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2018, 135, 45670. Abstract :