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Heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta, metallocene, and post-metallocene catalysis: Successes and challenges in industrial application

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2013

Markus Gahleitner ,
Luigi Resconi  and
Petar Doshev
Markus Gahleitner
Affiliation:
Borealis Polyolefine GmbH, Linz, Austria; markus.gahleitner@borealisgroup.com
Luigi Resconi
Affiliation:
Borealis Polyolefine GmbH, Linz, Austria; luigi.resconi@borealis.com
Petar Doshev
Affiliation:
Borealis Polyolefine GmbH, Linz, Austria; petar.doshev@borealis.com
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Abstract

The success of polyolefins is governed to a large extent by the development of robust and versatile catalysts offering excellent morphology control. This review highlights the major evolution steps made in the polyolefin catalyst systems in terms of productivity and possibilities to control the molecular architecture of both polypropylene and polyethylene. Starting from the initial TiCl3-types, the continuous improvement of the Ziegler-Natta catalysts in terms of performance and cost is the major factor behind their wide market penetration. On the other hand, metallocene and the other “single-site” catalysts enable an unprecedented fine-tuning of chain microstructure by ligand design. In this article, special emphasis is placed on the influence of catalyst type on polymer structure characteristics such as molecular weight distribution, stereoregularity, and comonomer distribution and, ultimately, on the end-use properties of polyolefins. It is the excellent balance among price, performance, and processability that will further strengthen the position of polyolefins as a dominant class of materials in the polymer industry.

Keywords

Morphologyorganiccatalytic

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Bulletin , Volume 38 , Issue 3: Ziegler-Natta catalysis: 50 years after the Nobel Prize , March 2013 , pp. 229 - 233
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013

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