Samples of ethylene 1-butene copolymer, produced in laboratory by different processes using Ziegler-Natta catalysts, ethylene-1-hexene and metallocene catalysts, were fractionated according to molecular size by direct extraction by different solvents and at different temperatures. These samples were also fractionated by differences on crystallinity using a DSC calorimeter. The obtained fractions were characterized by 13C-NMR , FTIR, GPC and DSC. The polyethylene copolymers produced by Ziegler-Natta catalyst were found more heterogeneous when compared with the one produced by metallocene catalysts. The commercial resin produced by UCC process with Ziegler-Natta catalysts showed a more homogeneous incorporation of comonomer compared with the one obtained by the Spherilene process. The supported metallocene catalyst gave a more homogeneous product than the homogeneous metallocene one.
Ethylene copolymers; microstructure; fractionation; 13C-NMR; DSC; SEC; FTIR
