Molecular Weight Distribution and Kinetics of Low-temperature Propene Polymerization with Soluble Vanadium-based Ziegler Catalysts

Abstract
A kinetic study has been carried out on the low-temperature polymerization of propene with the soluble catalyst system, VCl4 and alkylaluminium (AlEt2Cl, AlEt2Br, or AlEt3). The rate coefficients of the elementary reactions were evaluated at −78 °C. The molecular weight distribution function was derived on the basis of the polymerization mechanism. The theoretical distribution curves and experimental distribution curves obtained by use of a gel permeation chromatography agree, supporting the mechanism proposed for the coordination polymerization.