Kinetics of deactivation in the BuOTiCl₃/AlEt₂Cl initiated polymerization of styrene

Abstract

The deactivation of the catalytic activity of the BuOTiCI, /AlEt&I initiated polymerization of styrene in heptane was found to follow a second-order rate law. The varying slopes in the second-order plots observed with varying catalyst concentrations are due to the heterogeneous nature of these colloidally dispersed catalysts. Site poisoning by reversible adsorption of the m t C l z formed, is proposed as the probable reason for the deactivation.