Gas phase polymerization of ethylene towards UHMWPE

Authors : Gözde Geçim, Ertuğrul Erkoç

Pages : 695-711

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Publication Date : 9999-12-31

Article Type : Makaleler

Abstract :For the first time, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene UHMWPE was produced in gas phase process with a new fluidized bed concept where the solids are dispersed phase and the gas is bulk phase as opposed to conventional fluidized bed reactors FBRs . With this concept, UHMWPE with average molecular weights about 1-6,9$\, \times \, $10$^{6}$ g moles$^{-1}$ were produced with a commercial supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst by using a gas phase mini semibatch reactor system. Additionally, optimum conditions of gas phase polymerization for the best results of productivity, catalyst activity, molecular weight and crystallinity were determined by Taguchi experimental design and catalyst stability at the optimum condition was tested by video microscopy polymerization. The characterization of products was carried out experimentally by TGA, DSC, FTIR, and NMR.
Keywords : Gas phase polymerization, Taguchi experimental design, UHMWPE, Ziegler-Natta catalysts