MS-6-P-5817 A New Perspective for Morphologies Observation in Ziegler-Natta Based Polymerization Processes

     In the field of heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta polymerization, morphological studies applied to industrial processes have allowed, in the last years, a good control of the forming polymer particles inside the reactors [1,2 ].

In the present study, using ESEM-LV and AFM microscopy techniques, applied to the samples chain formed by support → catalyst → polymer, a comprehensive evaluation of the replica phenomena of the internal morphology has been obtained. A proper sample preparation procedure for microscopy observation, consolidated in a previous work [3], has allowed to preserve the true internal morphology of each sample step, connecting the obtained final polymer porosity to the original support and evidencing differences presence due to the typical micro globules network formed during the reaction process [4,5].

The obtained images could be interpolated by image analysis software, connecting results with  compositional information of the studied system in order to create semi-quantitative models for morphological behavior of different support and catalyst types during the polymerization process.

Some examples of the typical internal morphologies are reported in Figures 1-3.

1.       P. Blais, R. St. J. Manley, Journal of Polymer Science. Part A-1(1968),6  p.291-334

2.       A. Munoz-Escalona, C. Villamizar and P. Frias , Polymer Science and Technology (1982), p. 95-113

3.       R. Selleri and M. Casinelli, MC2013 Regensburg,MS.1.P010

4.       G. Cecchin, E. Marchetti and G.Baruzzi, Macromol.Chem.Phys.(2001),202 p.1987-1994

5.       J. Kosek, B. Horackova Basell Symposium, (2006), p.65-81