SUPPORTED CATALYSTS FOR ETHYLENE POLYMERIZATION - STUDIES WITH THE MAGNESIUM DIETHOXIDE-TIN TETRACHLORIDE-TITANIUM TETRACHLORIDE TETRAISOBUTYLALUMOXANE CATALYST SYSTEM/

Supported titanium catalysts are prepared by the reaction of magnesium diethoxide with tin tetrachloride followed by treatment with titanium tetrachloride. The catalysts are characterized by compositional analy sis and measurements of the specific surface area. The performance of the catalysts is evaluated for the polymerization of ethylene using te traisobutylalumoxane as cocatalyst. The rate of polymerization decreas es with increasing reaction time indicating a decay-type kinetic profi le. Catalyst composition and concentration of cocatalyst govern the pe rformance of the system.