Morphology control of ethylene/CO copolymer with a novel inverse suspension polymerization

• Morphology controlled PK particles were obtained by inverse suspension process.
• This polymerization carried in aqueous methanol droplets dispersed in cyclohexane.
• The obtained PK particles have a high bulk density of 0.19 g/cm3.
• The reactor fouling suppressed by the application of this novel process

To control the morphology of polymer particles produced by ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymerization, we have implemented a strategy involving the inverse suspension polymerization. The inverse suspension polymerization carried by using a palladium catalyst system (BDOMPP/Pd(AcO)2 with TFA) in aqueous methanol droplets dispersed in cyclohexane. The effects of the polymerization conditions and the composition of reaction mediums on the activity and morphology of polyketone (PK) particles were examined. The obtained PK afforded well-controlled particles with a high bulk density of 0.19 g/cm3. The molecular weight of PK obtained by inverse suspension polymerization was almost identical to that observed in a conventional slurry-type process. Moreover, reactor fouling was dramatically suppressed by the application of this novel polymerization process.

In this article, controlling the morphology of polymer particles produced by ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymerization, we have implemented a strategy involving the inverse suspension polymerization. The inverse suspension polymerization carried by using a palladium catalyst system (BDOMPP/Pd(AcO)2 with TFA) in aqueous methanol droplets dispersed in cyclohexane. The obtained PK afforded well-controlled particles with a high bulk density of 0.19 g/cm3. The molecular weight of PK obtained by inverse suspension polymerization was almost identical to that observed in a conventional slurry-type process. Moreover, reactor fouling was dramatically suppressed by the application of this novel polymerization process.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide