An Atmosphere-Switching Polymerization Process: A Novel Strategy to Advanced Polyolefin Materials

SignificanceWe report on a novel atmosphere-switching polymerization process (ASPP) that produces advanced polyolefin materials with high performance in a single polymerization reactor through unique monomer feeding policies. In the ASPP, each polymer particle is exposed to atmosphere A and atmosphere B in an alternating manner and time and again. As a result, polymer A and polymer B are formed within the polymer particle in an alternating manner and time and again too. Two types of polypropylene (PP) in-reactor alloys are prepared: impact polypropylene copolymers (IPCs) with an exceptional stiffness-toughness balance and soft polypropylene alloys (SPPs) with well-defined, high-rubber content sticking-free particles.