Synthesis and Characterization of Long‐Chain‐Branched Polyolefins with Metallocene Catalysts: Copolymerization of Ethylene with Poly(ethylene‐co‐propylene) Macromonomer

Poly(ethylene‐co‐propylene) macromonomer (EPM) was synthesized in a high‐temperature continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with [C5Me4(SiMe2NtBu)]TiMe2 (CGC‐Ti) as the catalyst system. PE samples with EPM long chain branching (LCB) were produced by semi‐batch copolymerization of ethylene and EPM with CGC‐Ti. The LCB frequencies were up to 21.8 EPM side chains per PE backbone. The effects of temperature and ethylene pressure on the degree of EPM grafting and catalyst activity were examined. Incorporation of EPM into a growing PE chain forming an LCB polymer. magnified image Incorporation of EPM into a growing PE chain forming an LCB polymer.