Comparative characterization of MgCl2/ethyl benzoate/TiCl4 and MgCl2/2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine/TiCl4 Ziegler-Natta precatalysts

In this article we present the results of the preparation and characterization of two Ziegler–Natta precatalysts: MgCl2/Ethyl benzoate (EB)/TiCl4 and MgCl2/2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine (TMPiP)/TiCl4 by means of FTIR, X‐ray diffraction, SEM, BET surface area measurements, and other techniques applied at different steps of their preparation procedures. The precatalysts were prepared by impregnating with TiCl4 a given amount of MgCl2, which was previously ball‐milled with the electron donor chosen. Prior to impregnation, the ball‐milled material presented different surface compounds depending on the electron donor used: [(MgCl2)2] · 2EB, MgCl2 · EB, or a salt of the amine. The solid milled with EB is more homogeneous than the one milled with the TMPiP. Titanium is better retained in the solid milled with EB. This precatalyst has better morphological properties and larger BET surface area. By means of FTIR, we found evidences that an adequate surface structure for the formation of stereospecific sites in MgCl2/TMPiP/TiCl4 was formed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.