MgO/MgCl_2/TiCl_4 Core-Shell Catalyst for Establishing Structure-Performance Relationship in Ziegler-Natta Olefin Polymerization

Recently we successfully established the first structure–performance relationships between the catalyst surface area and propylene polymerization activity using novel MgO/MgCl2/TiCl4 core–shell catalysts with non-porous and non-fragmentable features. In the present paper, we have addressed the physical and chemical natures of these novel model catalysts in comparison with typical Ziegler–Natta catalysts, by means of comprehensive characterization and analyses. It was clarified that the MgO/MgCl2/TiCl4 core–shell catalysts offer an ideal and powerful tool to address relationships between the support architectures and polymerization performance, which had been long un-clarified. Unique structure of MgO/MgCl2/TiCl4 core–shell catalysts but yet identical surface chemistry with typical Ziegler–Natta catalyst offers an ideal and powerful tool to address relationships between the support architectures and polymerization performance.