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Stereoblock polypropylenes comprising of iPP and sPP segments are synthesized by polymerization of the following binary system of metallocenes: the Cs-symmetric [2,7-t-Bu2(Flu)2Ph2C(Cp)ZrCl2] and the C2-symmetric rac-Me2Si(2-Me-4-Ph-Ind)2ZrCl2. Blends of samples made either by each catalyst individually (solution blend) with materials obtained with the mixed catalyst system (reactor blend) are compared. The simultaneous presence of MAO and DEZ, enhancing fast and reversible transfer of the growing chains between the two active centers, leads to the formation of a stereoblock microstructure. In this case, low molecular weight polymers are obtained. The junction between the blocks is qualitatively observed in 13C NMR. When made in toluene, the stereoblock material consists of a majority of syndiotactic sequences, whereas the ratio is more equilibrated when the polymerization was conducted in the more polar chlorobenzene. This is confirmed by the results obtained with 13C NMR, CRYSTAF, HT HPLC, DSC, SSA, WAXD, and optical microscopy.

Linear polyethylene and isotactic polypropylene samples were dissolved in 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane or 1,2,3-trichloropropane and injected at 135 degrees C into columns packed with porous particles of hydroxyapatite, aluminium oxide, zirconium oxide, Florisil, or silica gel. Both polymers were retained, to different extents, within the columns. It is hypothesized that the polymers interact with the surfaces of the adsorbents and are adsorbed. Retention of isotactic polypropylene from 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane was in the order aluminium oxide GT hydroxyapatite approximate to zirconium oxide approximate to Florisil approximate to silica gel. Recovery of polyethylene from 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane was almost the same on aluminium oxide, hydroxyapatite, zirconium oxide, and Florisil; it was more retained by silica gel. Polyethylene was usually more retained than polypropylene. Recovery of polyethylene from both chlorinated solvents was similar whereas recovery of polypropylene was better from 1,2,3-trichloropropane than from 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane. Both chlorinated solvents are toxic and may attack seals in a Waters 150C chromatograph. Moreover, the polymers may be chlorinated in these solvents. For these reasons they are not optimum solvents for routine analysis. This is the first time polyethylene and polypropylene have been found to be retained by adsorbents with pore diameters in the range 60-300 angstrom. Desorption of the retained polymers is possible with some polar solvents.