A Protons Exchanged Montmorillonite Clay as an Efficient Catalyst for the Reaction of Isobutylene Polymerization

Maghnite a montmorillonite sheet silicate clay, exchanged with protons to produce "H-Maghnite" is an efficient catalyst for cationic polymerization of many vinylic and heterocyclic monomers (Belbachir, M. U. S. Patent. 066969.0101 -2001). The structure compositions of both "Maghnite" and "H-Maghnite" have been developed. Isobutylene monomer, wich is polymerizable only by cationic process (Odian, G. La Polymerisation : principes et Applications; Ed. Technica: New York, 1994; pp 222-226), was used to elucidate the cationic character of polymerization. The polymerization was performed under suitable conditions at isobutylene vaporization temperature (-7 degrees C). Experiments revealed that polymerization induced by "H-Maghnite" proceed in bulk and in solution. In contrast to findings with methylene chloride CH2Cl2 as a polar solvent, polymerization yields with hexane C6H14 non-polar solvent is very significant. In bulk polymerization, Isobutylene conversion increases with increasing " H-Maghnite" proportion.