130 MAO-Free new olefin polymerization catalyst systems based on FI catalysts

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter investigates methylalumoxane (MAO)-free new olefin polymerization catalyst systems based on FI Catalysts. The chapter investigates MgCl2 as a cocatalyst for the bis(phenoxy-imine) complexes to develop high performance catalysts based on the complexes. Ethylene polymerizations were performed using the resulting mixture of the dealcoholysis product as an activator. The resulting aluminum species of the dealcoholysis product probably work as in situ alkylating reagents for complexes as well as scavengers in a polymerization system. To confirm the chemically homogeneous catalysis of the systems, copolymerization of ethylene with propylene was performed and the comonomer composition distribution of the resulting copolymer was investigated. Gel permeation chromatography–infrared (GPC–IR) analysis revealed that the copolymer possesses narrow propylene composition distribution, showing that the system is single-site catalyst. GPC analyses indicate that the polyethylenes (PEs) formed with catalyst systems possess narrow molecular weight distributions of 2.66 and 2.67, suggesting that the polymers are produced by single active species.