In situ synthesis of novel trans‐1, 4‐polyisoprene/isotactic polybutene reactor blends with multi‐component structure

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, a series of novel trans‐1, 4‐polyisoprene/isotactic polybutene (TPI/iPB) in‐reactor blends were synthesized by isoprene and butene sequential two‐stage polymerization technology with spherical TiCl4/MgCl2 type Ziegler‐Natta catalyst. The components, structures, and properties of the as‐obtained TPI/iPB reactor blends were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The active trans‐1, 4‐polyisoprene (TPI) particles obtained in the initial isoprene polymerization by the Z‐N catalyst can be acted as microreactors to initiate butene polymerization subsequently. The TPI/iPB reactor blends with varied components were in situ synthesized within the reactor. The preparative‐temperature rising elution fractionation (p‐TREF) technique was used to fractionate the TPI/iPB reactor blends based on the elution temperature ranged from −40°C to 90°C. The weight distribution and microstructure of each fraction were investigated. The reactor blends are composed of crystallizable high trans‐1, 4‐uint polyisoprene obtained from the first‐stage isoprene polymerization, high isotactic polybutene obtained from the second‐stage butene polymerization and TPI‐b‐iPB block copolymer with different sequence structure obtained from the initial time of the second stage. This work is expected to propose the possible polymerizations of a‐olefins and conjugated dienes by using heterogeneous Ziegler‐Natta catalyst and provide a kind of novel rubber/plastic reactor blend materials.Highlights The first synthesis of the trans‐1, 4‐polyisoprene/isotactic polybutene reactor blends. p‐TREF technique was used to analyze the composition of TPI/iPB reactor blends. Detailed structure characterization of the fractions including GPC and NMR TPI‐b‐iPB block copolymer can be obtained through the sequential polymerization. Rubber/plastic reactor blend materials were fabricated by the Z‐N catalyst.