The catalyst {[(2-ArN=C(Me))2C5H3N]FeCl3} (Ar = 2-C6H4(i-Pr)) with methylaluminoxane (MAO) as co-catalyst was intercalated between layers of montmorillonite (MMT) for ethylene oligomerization. Metallocene catalyst Me2Si(Ind)2ZrCl2 and MAO was then added to form a dual functional catalytic system. A PE/MMT nanocomposite was prepared by copolymerization of ethylene with α-olefins produced in situ from ethylene over the dual functional catalytic system. The catalytic system was of high polymeric activity. The resultant PE/MMT nanocomposites were stable and got increases in tensile strength and temperature of maximum weight loss (Tonset).
An unsymmetric 2,6-bis(imino)pyridine iron(Ⅱ) complex 1' was synthesized. The relationship between catalyst structure and its activity in ethylene polymerization is discussed. The kinetic behavior of ethylene polymerization and the effects of polymerization conditions such as temperature, aluminum/iron molar ratio on the activity of catalyst and the characteristics of polyethylene were reported. The unsymmetric catalyst 1' has a good catalytic performance of 3.47 ×106 gPE @ mol-1 @ Fe @ h-1 at 40℃ with aluminum/iron molar ratio = 2500. A dependence of catalyst activity on the methylaluminoxane (MAO) concentration and reaction temperature was found. The molecular weight (MW) of polyethylene with broad dispersity is about 104-105 g/mol. The melting temperature and branching of polyethylenes vary with changing reaction temperature and aluminum/iron molar ratio.
