Kinetic study of heterogeneous polymerizations of styrene and/or β,β‐d₂‐styrene by Ziegler‐Natta catalysis

Substantial concentrations of tetravalent titanium have been shown to exist in a TiCl 4 —Al(C 2 H 5 ) 3 —benzene catalytic system for catalyst aging times ≥ 20 min. at 60°C. Substitution of β,β‐ d 2 ‐styrene for styrene with the above catalysic system appears to have no effect on either rate of polymerization or product intrinsic viscosities. These phenomena support a mechanism of chain propagation and termination as suggested earlier.