The Effect of Comonomer Type and Content on the Properties of Ziegler-Natta Bimodal High-Density Polyethylene

Bimodal high-density polyethylenes with different comonomer type and content were synthesized by polymerization of ethylene using Ziegler-Natta catalyst. Their structure and properties were studied using GPC, NMR, DSC and tensile test. It was found that ethylene/1-hexene copolymer exhibits higher tensile strength and elongation at break than that of ethylene/1-butylene copolymer with similar comonomer content. The molecular weight decreases as the comonomer content of the polymer increases. Short chain branching affects the crystallinity and thus the morphology and consequently the mechanical properties of the corresponding bimodal high-density polyethylenes. After SSA treated, the multiple endothermic peaks were observed. Multiple endothermic peaks are mainly attributed to the heterogeneity of ethylene sequence length and lamellar thickness. The difference of broadness index indicates that SCB distribution of polyethylene containing higher comonomer content has improved uniformity.