Titanasilsesquioxane-Alkylaluminum Catalyst System for Ethylene Polymerization

Akshay Mehta, Gopal Tembe, Parimal Parikh, Girish Mehta

Applied Chemistry Department, S. V. National Institute of Technology, Surat, India.
Chemical Engineering Department, S. V. National Institute of Technology, Surat, India.
Reliance Technology Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Vadodara Manufacturing Division, Vadodara, India.

DOI: 10.4236/mrc.2012.13005                

Abstract

Homogeneous Ti(IV) complexes covalently anchored to Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) have been synthesized by the stoichiometric reaction between titanium(IV)alkoxide and (iso-Octyl)₇Si₇O₉(OH)₃. These catalyst precursors formulated as [Ti(OR)(iso-Octyl)₇Si₇O₁₂] were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. These supported catalysts are found to be active in polymerization of ethylene at high temperatures in presence of ethylaluminum sesquichloride (Et3Al2Cl3, EASC) as co-catalyst. The polyethylene obtained are generally linear, crystalline and display low molecular weight distribution. The microstructure of the polymer was analyzed by NMR and FT-IR spectroscopic methods which indicated a chain transfer reaction to aluminum. The unique molecular properties of PE formed has been compared with commercial micronized PE wax which find industrial applications in surface coating and ink formulations. The effect of reaction conditions on catalytic behaviour is described.

Keywords

POSS; Titanasilsesquioxane; Polyethylene; Ethylaluminum Sesquichloride; Polymer Microstructure

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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