STUDY OF THE CHAIN TRANSFER-REACTION BY HYDROGEN IN THE INITIAL-STAGEOF PROPENE POLYMERIZATION

The chain transfer reaction by hydrogen in the initial stage of propen e polymerization with MgCl2-supported Ziegler catalyst was studied by means of the stopped-flow polymerization. The yield and molecular weig ht of polypropene produced in the initial stage were not affected by h ydrogen. Thus, the method was successfully applied to find the region in which hydrogen does not act as a chain transfer reagent. On the oth er hand, a chain transfer reaction proceeded in the initial stage of p olymerization by using Zn(C2H5)(2). Furthermore, when the catalyst was treated with Al(C2H5)(3) before polymerization, the molecular weight of the produced polymer was decreased by using hydrogen, indicating th at it acted as a chain transfer agent for the catalyst modified by pre -treatment.