CO-POLYMERIZATION AND TERPOLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE WITH 1-BUTENE AND1-DECENE BY USING CP2ZRCL2-METHYLALUMINOXANE CATALYST

Copolymerizations of ethylene/1-butene, and ethylene/1-decene and terp olymerization of ethylene/1-butene/1-decene were carried out in n-hept ane with various concentrations of comonomer in the feed. Cp2ZrCl2-met hylaluminoxane (MAO) was used as catalyst. When comonomers were added into the ethylene polymerization, the activity of the catalyst increas ed significantly and continued to do so as the concentration of the co monomer was increased. At the same time as the comonomer concentration and catalyst activity increased, the molecular weight and crystallini ty of the polymers decreased. An important reason for the activity enh ancement may, therefore, be that the comonomer takes part in the activ ation of catalytic centers, decreasing the activation energy required for monomer to insert into the active centers. Use of Cp2ZrCl2-MAO cat alyst allowed the preparation of ethylene/1-decene copolymers containi ng 20 wt % of 1-decene. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.