Effect of polymerization temperature on the microtacticity of isotactic poly(propylene) prepared using heterogeneous (MgCl2-supported) Ziegler-Natta catalysts

A study of the effect of polymerization temperature on the microtacticity of poly(propylene) prepared using various MgCl2-supported catalysts has shown that, in almost all cases, an increase in temperature leads not only to higher proportions of isotactic polymer but also to increased stereoregularity of the isotactic fraction. The results indicate a greater relative increase in productivity, with increasing temperature, for highly isospecific as opposed to moderately isospecific centres. It is suggested that easier propagation after the occasional regioirregular (2,1-) insertion may contribute to this effect.