Tandem catalysis: A prospective method for producing ethylene/α-olefin copolymers from ethylene stock

• The trial of preparing 1-hexene based LLDPE via tandem polymerization of SNS and supported Z-N catalyst appears promising. • Metallocenes cooperate well with SNS complexes in the presence of MAO as co-catalyst, under 75 °C and atmospheric pressure. • Ethylene-1-hexene copolymers with comonomer content up to 14.9 mol% was obtained by the tandem polymerization of SNS and CGC. • Above 110°C, the resulting copolymers having comparable mechanical properties with commercial POE. • The above results indicate the tandem polymerization carried out in CSTR under high-temperature high-pressure will be inspiring. • According to the simulation result, higher Cr/Ti ratio and shorter residence time should be considered when applied in CSTR system under high-temperature high-pressure.