GAS-PHASE POLYMERIZATION OF 1,3-BUTADIENE WITH PS-DVB–SUPPORTED RARE EARTH CATALYST AND AN INVESTIGATION ON EFFECTS OF DISPERSANTS

Organic supporter poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB) was synthesized, and gas-phase polymerization of 1,3-butadiene was performed with PS-DVB–supported Nd(vers) 3 /Al 2 Et 3 Cl 3 /Al(i-Bu) 3 catalysts. Millimeter-sized granules of high cis -1,4 content (>98%) polybutadiene with an M n of 5.3–5.5 × 10 5 were obtained. Dispersants used in gas-phase polymerization of 1,3-butadiene have a significant influence on apparent activities of catalysts and appearance of products. The morphology of polybutadiene granules was also investigated by scanning electron microscopy.