Experimental Evaluation of a Catalyst Fragmentation Model for Olefin Polymerization

Abstract

AbstractFragmentation of supported catalysts plays an important role on olefin polymerization, which has motivated several studies on this topic in recent years. This work aims to obtain experimental data to compare with the predictions of a theoretical model previously developed in the research group, which uses only kinetic constants and the catalyst physical properties as input parameters. Three zirconocene catalysts supported on silica are used to produce polyethylene. The reaction products are calcined and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Good qualitative agreement is observed between the model predictions for radial extent of fragmentation and the experimentally observed fragmentation patterns. This includes the transition of a pattern of total fragmentation to one of partial fragmentation at the external layers of the catalyst as its pore volume decreases.