Effect of cationic and anionic clays as supports for styrene polymerization initiated by metallocenes/MAO catalytic system

This contribution relates to the study of the comparative behavior of cationic and anionic fillers used as supports for metallocenes-based catalytic systems on styrene polymerization. We report our investigations about the preparation of stereoregular polystyrene using an Algerian clay (montmorillonite type) and layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanofillers as cationic or anionic supports, respectively. The effect of the nature support on the performance of catalytic systems was evaluated. The conversion and the stereoregularity of the obtained polystyrene were discussed according to the used catalyst biscyclopentadienyl zirconium dichloride (Cp₂ZrCl₂) or biscyclopentadienyl titanium dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) and support OMMT or LDH. The structure of prepared supports and obtained polymers was examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray scanning and scanning electronic microscopy. Thermal properties were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Interestingly, the obtained results show that the presence of filler has an important effect on the polystyrene tacticity and thermal properties.