Copolymers of ethylene with butene‐1 and long chain α‐olefins. I. Decene‐1 as long chain α‐olefin

The possibility was studied of using decene‐1 as comonomer with ethylene in a slurry type polymerization with Ziegler–Natta catalysts. Under the reaction conditions used decene contents remained at the 2 wt% level in ethylene/decene‐1 copolymers. When additionally butene‐1 was present in the polymerization, decene‐1 contents were significantly higher. A synergistic effect was identified in the reactivities of butene‐1 and decene‐1 in terpolymerization with ethylene. The comonomer reactions were determined and comonomer contents measured by 13C‐NMR spectroscopy. Decene‐1 content had an effect on the polymer density and crystallinity, but virtually no effect on melting temperature. With high comonomer contents an additional melting range was identified in DSC curves at about 100°C.