• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.461-467
• /
• 2018

In this study, $(n-BuCp)_2ZrCl_2$, was supported on $SiO_2/MgCl_2$ binary support. Before supporting the catalyst, the $SiO_2/MgCl_2$ binary support was surface treated with three different alkyl aluminum compound, namely trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, and ethylaluminum sesquichloride. The synthesized surface-treated $SiO_2/MgCl_2$ supported metallocene catalysts were used for the copolymerization of ethylene and 1-hexene. Their catalytic properties and performances were analyzed through BET, XPS analysis, ICP-AES analysis, and FE-SEM. While the resulting copolymers were analyzed through DSC analysis, GPC analysis, 13C-NMR analysis, and FE-SEM. The analysis of synthesized surface-treated $SiO_2/MgCl_2$ supported metallocene catalysts showed that the Zr content of these catalysts is relatively lower compared to that of the catalyst supported on $SiO_2$. This could be attributed to the reduction in the surface area of $SiO_2$ due to the presence of recrystallized $MgCl_2$ and alkyl aluminum. Furthermore, they exhibited a better copolymerization activity compared to that of $SiO_2$ supported catalyst, particularly the EASC-surface treated binary support, which has the highest activity of 1.9 kg PE/($mmol-Zr^*hr$) because EASC acts as a strong Lewis acid. It could also be observed that the larger the ligand of alkyl aluminum used, the rougher the particle surface of the resulting polymer.