APPLICATION OF A CATIONIC ACTIVATED METALLOCENE CATALYST SYSTEM IN THE COPOLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE AND 1-BUTENE UNDER HIGH-PRESSURE

The activation of metallocene catalyst by a cationic activator in the presence of triisobutylaluminium was examined in the copolymerization of ethylene and 1-butene under high pressure of 150 MPa and temperatur es of 463 to 473 K. A continuously operated micro-pilot plant unit equ ipped with a stirred autoclave was used. The catalyst productivity det ermined from the amount of polymer and the catalyst feed was in the ra nge of 100 to 300 kg polymer/g zirconium. The resulting copolymers wer e analyzed for their physical properties and the amount of 1-butene in corporated. The results of the polymerization with the metallocene/cat ionic activator system were compared to the data obtained earlier usin g methyl aluminoxane as the activator. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.