ETHENE POLYMERIZATION WITH A POLY(STYRENE-CO-DIVINYLBENZENE) BEADS SUPPORTED RAC-PH2SI(IND)(2)ZRCL2 CATALYST

Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) beads supported rac-Ph2Si(Ind)(2)ZrCl2 was prepared and tested as a catalyst for ethene polymerization using methylaluminoxane (MAO) as a cocatalyst. At a polymerization temperat ure below 100 degrees C, the catalyst showed pretty high activity to g ive polyethene beads replicating the shape of the carrier. With increa sing polymerization temperature up to 150 degrees C, the catalyst acti vity increased drastically but the spherical shape of polyethene disap peared due to the melting. From the plots of apparent activity against polymerization temperature, it was suggested that the polymerization below 100 degrees C is more or less controlled by monomer diffusion th rough the crystalline polyethene films.