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Polypropylene
Polybutylene
Properties
Manufacturing of LDPE & HDPE
Differentiate LDPE & HDPE
Part of The Ethylene Chain
Natural Gas Liquids (Ethane, Propane)
or Naphtha (from Crude Oil)
Steam Cracking
Ethylene, Propylene
POLYETHYLENE
Ethylene, the interesting molecule
Ethylene, because of its double bond, is more reactive
than ethane. Double bonded carbons make molecule
more susceptible to bonding with other molecules.
When approached by another molecule, the double
bond splits; the carbons are joined by a single bond,
leaving the the molecule free to bond with both
carbons.
Ethylene is used in the ripening of fruit; it stimulates
the metabolic processes of the fruit by dissolving into
the cell membrane, therefore increasing its
permeability
27 April 2001 Jamila Richardson 3
Formation and Structure
Ethylene-Ethylene
bond yields
polyethylene
(CH2CH2)n
polyethylene
Poylethylene is a solvent
for fats, oils, and grease.
Dissolving occurs slowly.
Electrons are tightly
trapped in their C-C and
C-H bonds, which results
in an inability of electrical Thin film of polyethylene photographed
current to flow. using polarized light. The pattern arises
Also results in inability for form the presence of spherulites, or
regions where the polymer molecules
water and ions to have aggregated into spheres.
penetrate interior of solid. Picture and caption from Molecules
Polyethylene is a
thermoplastic. That is, it
becomes soft and
malleable when heated,
and hard and solid when
cooled. (So, basically, its a plastic. Wow.)
Polyethylene is an
addition polymer. The
double bonds allow for
splitting and bonding
with other molecules.
O O
O
C-OH O
O O O
O
O O O
LDPE (0.915-0.930)
High Pressure Copolymers
Low Density
(AA, VA, MA, EA)
Classification of PE by Polymerization Chemistry
H H
CH2 . + C=C CH2-CH2-CH2 .
H H
CH CH2 CH CH2
.
H CH2 CH3
.
Butyl branch
.
CH2 . + R-CH2-R CH3 + R-CH-R
Purge to LHC
High pressure recycle
CTA
Reactor HPS
(16-39,000 psi)
Compressor
LPS
Secondary or Extruder
Ethylene
Hypercompressor
Peroxide
Peroxide
Peroxide
Peroxide
To HPS
Three major coordination catalyst types
Chromium oxide types so-called Phillips type
restricted to slurry and gas phase
dominant type in conventional slurry HDPE
can be used for LLDPE
Ziegler-Natta conventional LLDPE
discovered in 1950s for HDPE and PP
effectively commercialized in 1970s for LLDPE
still predominant type for LLDPE
density limited to ca. 0.900 and above
Single site catalysts
constrained geometry and metallocene types (mLLDPE)
both can be used as homogeneous (soluble) or supported for
particle-form processes (gas, slurry)
relatively recent innovation, commercialized in 1992
enables densities all the way down to that of amorphous
enabling rapid growth in specialty polyolefins
Your class notes illustrate the catalyst chemistry and polymerization mechansims.
Classification of PE by Polymerization Chemistry
C C
CH3 H
n
C C C C C C C C C C
C C C C C C C C C C
CH3 H H H H H CH3 H H H
H H H CH3 H H H CH3 H H
C C C C C C C C C C
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Disadvantages of Polypropylene
Disadvantages
High thermal expansion
UV degradation
Poor weathering resistance
Subject to attack by chlorinated solvents and
aromatics
Difficulty to bond or paint
Oxidizes readily
flammable
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Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene
Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene
Polypropylene LDPE HDPE
(For Comparison) (For Comparison)
Density 0.90 0.91- 0.925 0.959-0.965
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