Hybrid catalysts formed by a heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst (MgCl2.TiCl4) and a metallocene (CpTiCl3) were prepared in this work. The formation of a new catalytic species CpTi(iBu)Cl2 on the (100) MgCl2 face has been proposed. These catalyst systems were applied to synthesize high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), using only triethyl aluminium (TEA) as a cocatalyst. The influence of Al/Ti molar ratio, temperature and time of polymerization on the catalyst activity and on the polymer properties were evaluated. The catalyst activities were about 5.0 kgPol/g cat.h for ethylene polymerization and 7.0 kgPol/g cat.h for ethylene-1-butene coplymerization.
Hybrid catalyst; HDPE; LLDPE; Ziegler-Natta catalyst; metallocene catalyst
