Synthesizing polyisoprene on titaniumium catalysts modified in turbulent flows

Abstract

Microheterogeneous titanium catalyst is now widely used in the production of stereoregular polyisoprene, one of the highest-volume products in the current production of synthetic caoutchouc. This work considers the principles of the formation of titanium catalyst at temperatures from −10 to −15°C and isoprene polymerization in a medium of aliphatic solvent (isopentane) under conditions of altered hydrodynamic movement of a catalytically active particle suspension. Agitation is intensified via turbulization of the suspension flow in the external circulation contour during the process of active site formation and their collection for polymerization. A small tube turbulent apparatus of diffuser-confuser design is used at this stage for the first time. Isoprene polymerization proceeds on one type of sites that form polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (polydispersity coefficient 2.1–2.8). More reactive macromolecule growth sites can be obtained as a result of the hydrodynamic impact on the industrial microheterogenic titanium catalyst during its preliminary formation, due to circulation in the tubular apparatus. This ensures the synthesis of high-molecular polyisoprene that has a more stable Mooney viscosity parameter. Modifying the titanium catalyst through the hydrodynamic impact on a suspension of catalytically active particles during the formation of a catalytic system is an effective method for improving the corresponding stage of the industrial production of polyisoprene.