Philips Catalyst
The Phillips catalyst, or the Phillips supported chromium catalyst, is the catalyst used to produce approximately half of the world's polyethylene. A heterogeneous catalyst, it consists of a chromium oxide catalyst support, supported on silica gel. Polyethylene, the most-produced synthetic polymer, is produced industrially by the polymerization of ethylene: :n C2H4 → (C2H4)n Although exergonic (i.e., thermodynamically favorable), the reaction requires catalysts. Three main catalysts are employed commercially: the Phillips catalyst, Ziegler–Natta catalysts (based on titanium trichloride), and, for specialty polymers, metallocene-based catalysts. Preparation and mechanism of action The Phillips catalyst is prepared by impregnating high surface area silica gel with chromium trioxide or related chromium compounds. The solid precatalyst is then calcined in air to give the active catalyst. Only a fraction of the chromium is catalytically active, a fact that interferes with el ...
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