How Chain Transfer Leads to a Uniform Polymer Particle Morphology and Prevents Reactor Fouling

ABSTRACT: The effect of adding diethyl zinc as a chain transfer agent during the polymerization propylene in heptane performed at 80 °C was studied. Although it expected that the transfer would stop after precipitation polymer, the polymer molecular weight continued to increase throughout the whole polymerization. presence had an additional that polymerizations were devoid reactor fouling. To unravel this phenomenon, polymer particle morphology Under conditions applied, surprisingly, uniform platelet-shaped particles formed. At high content, these aggregate into microfibrillar structures consisting nematic columnar strands same uniform platelets. particle morphology, result controlled crystallization, is believed play crucial role in preventing reactor fouling.