Ziegler Natta catalysts molecular weight

In polymerizations with Ziegler-Natta catalysts, molecular hydrogen is the preferred regulation agent for controlling the molecular weight. 

Am columns. However, for typical polyethylenes produced using Ziegler-Natta catalysts, which do not have a high molecular weight tail, shear degradation was not a concern. 

Polymers manufactured via single site catalyst technologies, because of the unique chemical catalytic environment, exhibit a more controlled molecular weight distribution and tacticity than seen with Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems. 

A small number of companies use metal oxide catalysts, such as the example shown in Fig. 18.6, to make high density polyethylene. The polyethylene made with this catalyst generally has a narrower molecular weight distribution than high density polyethylene made with Ziegler-Natta catalysts. 

Polypropylene grades manufactured using Ziegler-Natta catalysts are predominandy isotactic, with a comparatively broad molecular weight distribution (Afw/Mn 3.5). Ziegler-Natta catalyzed polypropylene comprises the majority of commodity grade resins. 

Ziegler-Natta catalysts are used commercially for the production of stereoregular polymers, especially isotactic polypropylene and high-density linear polyethylene. The resultant polymers have number and weight average molecular weights (Mn and Mw, respectively) that are defined as... 

Ziegler-Natta catalysts are not active at all in polymerization of disubstituted acetylenes.415 Mo- and W-based systems (for alkynes with small substituents) and Nb- and Ta-based catalysts (for alkynes with bulky groups), in turn, are very effective catalysts used to convert disubstituted acetylenes into polymers with very high molecular weight.414 415 A polymerization mechanism similar to that of metathesis polymerization of cycloalkenes are supported by most experimental observations.414 423 424... 

Figure 9.5-1. Molecular-weight distribution and incorporation of co-monomers, a, Ziegler-Natta catalyst b, metallocene catalyst.

Heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts composed of titanium trichloride and alkylaluminum have been used to prepare block copolymers of ethylene with a-olefins 44-46), even though there is no known example of such a catalyst meeting the requirement for a living polymerization. The produced block copolymers have broad molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn = 4 20) and are present in small concentrations... 

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