Simulation of Propylene Polymerization in Industrial Reactors Using Ziegler‐Natta Catalysts in the Presence of Electron Donors

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

AbstractHeterogeneous Ziegler‐Natta catalysts are still the most important catalysts for the industrial production of polyolefins, despite the discovery of high‐activity metallocene systems in the eighties. Despite of their huge commercial importance, several aspects of Ziegler‐Natta catalysts are still poorly understood from both qualitative and quantitative points of view. Especially for polypropylene, a very important factor controlling product quality is the effect of the electron donor used to modify the catalyst. In this manuscript we present, for the first time, a quantitative mathematical model that describes the effect of electron donors on the tacticity of polypropylene made with multiple‐site type catalysts.