Campos, João M.Ribeiro, M. R.Lourenço, J. P.Fernandes, A.2013-01-072013-01-072007Campos, J. M.; Ribeiro, M. R.; Lourenço, J. P.; Fernandes, A. Ethylene polymerisation with zirconocene supported in Al-modified MCM-41: catalytic behaviour and polymer properties, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 277, 93-101, 2007.1381-1169AUT: JLO01215;http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/2061Heterogeneous olefin polymerisation catalysts were prepared by combining zirconocene with a series of purely siliceous and Al-containingMCM- 41 supports with different Si/Al ratios, using simplified and improved versions of the well-known direct impregnation and “MAO pre-treatment” methods. The catalysts were tested in ethylene polymerisation. Analysis of polymerisation activities and kinetic profiles led to a rationalisation on the effect of support Si/Al ratios and methods used for catalyst preparation over the catalytic behaviour for ethylene polymerisations. Polymers were characterised by scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. A mechanism is proposed to associate the formation or absence of fibrous morphology with polymerisation activities.engZirconoceneNanofibresEthylene polimerisationSupported catalystMCM-41journal article2013-01-03