The effect of preparation conditions on the catalyst Nd(P-507)(3)/H2O/Al(i-Bu)(3) for the polymerization of styrene

The catalyst system neodymium phosphonate Nd(P-507)(3)/H2O/Al(i-Bu)(3) for the polymerization of styrene was examined. Effects of the addition order o f the catalyst components, catalyst aging time and aging temperature on the catalyst activity and the polymer characteristics were investigated. The c atalyst activity for isospecific polymerization of styrene increases with a ging time and reaches the maximum with a catalyst aged for 45 min at 70 deg rees C. The aging time that the catalyst needs to reach the highest activit y for isospecific polymerization decreases with increasing aging temperatur e. The preformed catalyst and the in situ catalyst were compared with respe ct to the kinetic behavior of the styrene polymerization and the polymer ch aracteristics.