Relative reactivities of branched α-olefins in their copolymerization with ethylene in the presence of Ziegler-Natta catalysts

For a series of branched α-olefins, the reactivity ratios in copolymerization with ethylene initiated by Ziegler-Natta catalysts were determined. The relative copolymerizing ability of the used catalysts as dependent on their nature was estimated. It was shown that the simplified copolymer composition equation may be employed to evaluate the relative reactivities of comonomers which significantly differ in this parameter. Suggestions made on the structure of copolymers based on the values of reactivity ratios agree well with the data obtained for the synthesized polymers by independent methods.