Chromic titanate catalysts for high‐melt‐index polyethylene by the particle‐form process

Abstract

AbstractA novel thermal activation procedure for ethylene polymerization catalysts made from silica, a chromium compound, and a titanium ester greatly increases the melt index of the polyethylene product under commericla polymerization conditions in comparison with conventional air activation. The novel activation has two steps. The first is heating under a reducing gas atmosphere (N2 + CO). The second step is partial oxidation at a lower temperature for a shorter time. The size of the melt index increase is related to the average oxidation number of the chromium, but oxidized chromium can be reduced and the effect persists with less intensity. Additionally, the magnitude of the effect is dependent upon gas flow rates during activation and prior chemical and thermal history of the chromium–silica combination. Since titanium is required for the two‐step activation to be effective in increasing melt index, titanium atoms have a critical influence on the catalyst active sites. An experiment with tetraethoxysilane added to the catalyst shows that titanium and chromium atoms must be next nearest neighbors (separated by oxygen atoms).