AVS 47th International Symposium
    Material Characterization Thursday Sessions
       Session MC-ThM

Paper MC-ThM9
Morphology of Catalytically Formed Polyethylene on a Planar Model System for the Phillips (CrOx / SiO2) Catalyst

Thursday, October 5, 2000, 11:00 am, Room 207

Session: Polymer Characterization
Presenter: J.W. Niemantsverdriet, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
Authors: P.C. Thuene, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
J. Loos, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
P.J. Lemstra, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
J.W. Niemantsverdriet, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
Correspondent: Click to Email
One of the neglected topics of polymerization catalysis is the so called nascent morphology of polyolefins which is the result of polymer formation below the melting temperature and simultaneous crystallization. Nascent polyolefins have special physical properties, which might be controlled and manipulated to enhance the processability of certain high performance polyolefins. Using a planar model system for the chromium on silica catalyst for ethylene polymerization we have obtained AFM images of polyethylene in the state of nascent morphology. By diluting the number of catalytically active sites on the model, individual islands of polymer, produced by single sites have been observed.