ScienceAsia 28 (2002) : 377-383 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2002.28.377

Ethylene Polymerization by Cp₂ZrC_l2-B(C₆F₅)₃-Tea Catalyst System Using Low Al/Zr Ratio

Nattaya Punrattanasin^a, Nantaya Yanumet^{a ,*}, Pramote Chaiyavech^b and Erdogan Gulari^c

ABSTRACT: Ethylene polymerization by Cp₂ZrC_l2-B(C₆F₅)₃-TEA catalyst system using low Al/Zr ratio has been studied with varying ethylene pressure, catalyst concentration, Al/Zr ratio, and reaction temperature. The study showed that there was an optimum condition for each variable at which maximum productivity was obtained. It was proposed that there were two competing reactions, the catalyst activation and deactivation, taking place simultaneously. The maximum productivity of 3133 kgPE/mole-Zr.atm.h was obtained using 3 mmol each of zirconocene and borane, and a Al/Zr ratio of 300 at 30 ^oC. The crystallinity of the product was obtained using DSC and its morphology was studied by SEM.

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a The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, THAILAND.
b National Petrochemical Public Company Limited, Bangkok, THAILAND.
c Chemical Engineering Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136, USA.

*Corresponding author, E-mail: ynantaya@chula.ac.th

Received 18 Jan 2002, Accepted 21 May 2002