Partially hydrolyzed trimethylaluminum (PHT) as heterogeneous cocatalyst for the polymerization of olefins with metallocene complexes

A method for the preparation of a novel heterogeneous cocatalyst, partially hydrolyzed trimethylaluminum (PHT), has been developed and optimized for ethylene polymerization reactions. It is possible to generate PHT on nearly any support without much loss of catalyst activity. The carrier material can be SiO2, AlF3, B2O3, starch, cellulose, active carbon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc. This new type of partially hydrolyzed trimethylaluminum (PHT) is synthesized by reacting such a carrier material with trimethylaluminum (TMA) in toluene to block all surface Lewis basic centers that could poison a cationic metallocene polymerization center. The subsequent addition of a calculated amount of water gives a heterogeneous PHT that is different from the common methylalumoxane (MAO). Various PHT cocatalysts were studied by C-13 and Al-27 MAS NMR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy (IR). and compared with solid MAO. Surface areas and porosities were determined according to the BET method. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.