PREPARATION OF NOVEL POLYETHYLENE-graft- POLY(4-VINYLPYRIDINE)-SUPPORTED METALLOCENE CATALYSTS FOR E

Polyethylene (PE) grafting 4-vinylpyridine copolymers has been produced as powders of different rushes by the irradiation method. After treatment with methylaluminoxane (MAO), the copolymers were used as supports for Cp2ZrCl2 catalyst. Results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope measurements show that the catalytic sites have been linked through MAO on the PE-graft-4-vinylpyridine (PEVP). The percentages of grafting 4-vinylpyridine and supported Cp2ZrCl2 depend on the size of polyethylene powder. The smaller the polyethylene powder, the more percent of 4-vinylpyridine groups and Cp2ZrCl2 exist on the polyethylene chains, and the PEVP-supported catalyst has a relatively high activity for ethylene polymerization.