POLYMERIZATION OF OLEFINS WITH ZIRCONOCENE CATALYSTS USING METHYLALUMINOXANE MODIFIED WITH HYDROQUINONE AS COCATALYST

Methylaluminoxane (MAO) was reacted with a small quantity of p-hydroqu inone to obtain a modified MAO insoluble in toluene. Ethylene and prop ylene homo- and copolymerization were conducted with zirconocene using the modified MAO as cocatalyst both in the presence and absence of tr iisobutylaluminium. It was found that the modified MAO alone cannot ac tivate the zirconocene catalyst, whereas polymers with high molecular weights are obtained when combined with triisobutylaluminium. The cata lytic activity is markedly dependent on the mole ratio of p-hydroquino ne to MAO as well as the amount of triisobutylaluminium.