Synthesis of long-chain branched polymers has been a
crucial concern
in the polyolefin industry. In this study, a method to produce long-chain
branches (LCBs) in coordinative chain transfer copolymerization (CCTcoP)
is suggested. A dialkylzinc compound bearing vinyl groups ((9-decenyl)2Zn) is prepared, which works well not only as a chain transfer
agent but also as a comonomer in CCTcoP, resulting in the generation
of LCBs. The generation of LCBs is confirmed by gel permeation chromatography
studies and through the analysis of rheology data. The formation of
LCBs by connecting the two growing polyolefin chains can facilitate
the generation of polymers with molecular weights higher than that
expected. Owing to the presence of LCBs, considerable shear thinning
behavior is observed. Ethylene/1-octene copolymers can be prepared
facilely to show almost the same shear thinning behavior with the
commercial grade of low-density polyethylene, which is known to have
a substantial amount of LCBs.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.