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

Collins Rice CG, Morris LJ, Buffet J-C, Turner ZR, O'Hare D

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.