Catalyst for the reaction of polyethylene (1 Viewer)

[barbernator]

When a catalyst activates a polyethylene monomer it bonds with it, and this causes a continual chain of ethylene monomers. the reaction is complete when 2 of these chains react together, yet how is the catalyst broken from each end of the chain? because in my textbook it shows the reaction finishing as Z-(CH2-CH2)x-Z, yet as it is a catalyst it should not be used up in the reaction, what happens to the catalyst and how is it removed from the final product of polyethylene???

 

[study-freak]

The (organic peroxide) initiator is not a catalyst.

 

[Manroop]

Its not a catalyst its an initiator molecule which is decomposed by heat producing a free radical. e.g benzoyl peroxide

 

[someth1ng]

There isn't really a catalyst in the production of polyethene. Well, the catalyst is the Zeigler-Natta mixture for HDPE only.
There are conditions such as higher pressures and temperatures.

What you are talking about is the LDPE - it is not a catalyst but an initiator radical.

 

[barbernator]

There isn't really a catalyst in the production of polyethene. Well, the catalyst is the Zeigler-Natta mixture for HDPE only.
There are conditions such as higher pressures and temperatures.

What you are talking about is the LDPE - it is not a catalyst but an initiator radical.

Yeh im talking about with HDPE, how is the catalyst removed. Guys i understand the INITIATOR in LDPE, but how does the catalyst in HDPE get removed from the end of the polymer chain?

 

[study-freak]

HDPE reaction doesn't even need an initiator. The Zeigler-Natta catalyst also doesn't participate in the reaction.
It's a heterogeneous (surface) catalyst.

 

[barbernator]

HDPE reaction doesn't even need an initiator. The Zeigler-Natta catalyst also doesn't participate in the reaction.
It's a heterogeneous (surface) catalyst.

OHHH ok, well my textbook is shit then, CONQUERING CHEMISTRY shows the reaction wrong.. thanks