STYRENE POLYMERIZATION USING TITANIUM-N-BUTOXIDE STERICALLY HINDERED ARYLOXY DERIVATIVE OF TRIMETHYLALUMINUM CATALYST SYSTEM

Styrene was polymerized using s(2,6-di-tert-butyl,4-methylphenoxy)meth ylaluminum as cocatalyst and titanium-n-butoxide, titanium phenoxide a nd Cp2ZrCl2 as catalysts. Both conversion and % of acetone insoluble f raction of poly(styrene) increased with an increase in polymerization temperature and time for titanium-n-butoxide-bis(2,6-tert butyl, 4-met hylphenoxy)methylaluminum catalyst-initiated polymerization. Conversio n was invariant With a change in Al/Ti ratio for the above catalyst-in itiated styrene polymerization. Poly(styrene) produced was found to be atactic in nature with mm, mr and rr triad concentrations 33.8, 51.9 and 14.2%, respectively. Poly(styrene) produced was characterized by C -13 NMR, DSC, solubility in boiling acetone and intrinsic viscosity me asurements. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.