Fully tuneable ethylene-propylene elastomers using a supported permethylindenyl-phenoxy (PHENI) catalyst

Using a highly active supported permethylindenyl-phenoxy (PHENI*) titanium catalyst, high molecular weight ethylene-propylene (EPM) and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) elastomers are prepared using slurry-phase catalysis. Final copolymer composition was found to reflect the monomer feed ratio in a linear fashion, to access a continuum of material properties with a single catalyst. Post-polymerisation crosslinking of EPDM was also demonstrated in a model sulfur vulcanisation system. Using a highly active supported permethylindenyl-phenoxy (PHENI*) titanium catalyst, high molecular weight ethylene-propylene (EPM) and and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) elastomers are prepared with tuneable compositions using slurry-phase catalysis.