Video Microscopic Studies of Growth and Morphology of Single Catalyst Particles during Olefin Polymerization

摘要

Video microscopy is presented as a simple, fast, and sensitive technique for the direct observation of individual growth of catalyst panicles during olefin polymerization. It is shown that video microscopy can provide detailed information concerning the activity characteristics of a given catalyst system, as well as the morphology of the polymer particles formed. Additional complimentary techniques such as absorption measurements of olefin in polymer particles and scanning electron microscopy were employed to relate growth of individual catalyst particles to overall catalyst activities as well as polymer properties, with respect to diffusion behavior. A new video microscopy system is presented. Studies were performed utilizing the above mentioned techniques with propylene or ethylene polymerization and Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalysts, respectively.