Multiple Traces of Families of Epoxy Derivatives as New Inhibitors of the Industrial Polymerization Reaction of Propylene
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Date
2024-07-21
Authors
Hernandez Fernandez, Joaquin
Ortega-Toro, Rodrigo
Castro-Suarez, John R.
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Abstract
In this study, the impact of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, 1,2-butene oxide, and 1,2-
pentene oxide on the polymerization of propylene at an industrial level was investigated, focusing on
their influence on the catalytic efficiency and the properties of polypropylene (PP) without additives.
The results show that concentrations between 0 and 1.24 ppm of these epoxides negatively affect the
reaction’s productivity, the PP’s mechanical properties, the polymer’s fluidity index, and the PP’s
thermal properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed bands for the Ti-O bond
and the Cl-Ti-O-CH2 bonds at 430 to 475 cm−1 and 957 to 1037 cm−1, respectively, indicating the
interaction between the epoxides and the Ziegler–Natta catalyst. The thermal degradation of PP
in the presence of these epoxides showed a similar trend, varying in magnitude depending on the
concentration of the inhibitor. Sample M7, with 0.021 ppm propylene oxide, exhibited significant
mass loss at both 540 ◦C and 600 ◦C, suggesting that even small concentrations of this epoxide can
markedly increase the thermal degradation of PP. This pattern is repeated in samples with 1,2-butene
oxide and 1,2-pentene oxide. These results highlight the need to strictly control the presence of
impurities in PP production to optimize both the final product’s quality and the polymerization
process’s efficiency.
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Citation
Fernandez, J.H.; Ortega-Toro, R.; Castro-Suarez, J.R. Multiple Traces of Families of Epoxy Derivatives as New Inhibitors of the Industrial Polymerization Reaction of Propylene. Polymers 2024, 16, 2080. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16142080