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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
R. Mühlhaupt, Macromol. Chem. Phys. 204, 289 (2003).
K. Ziegler, H. Breil, E. Holzkamp, H. Martin, DE Patent 973626 (November 18, 1953).
L.L. Böhm, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 42, 5010 (2003).
H.C. Welborn, J.A. Ewen, US Patent 5,324,800 to Exxon (August 18, 1991).
J.C. Stevens, Stud. Surf. Sci. Catal. 11, 101 (1996).
D. Stephan, Organometallics 24, 2548 (2005).
G. Natta, G. Mazzanti, G. Boschi, DE Patent 1293453 (December 22, 1956).
P. Galli, G. Veccellio, Prog. Polym. Sci. 26, 1287 (2001).
K. Soga, T. Shiono, Prog. Polym. Sci. 22, 1503 (1997).
M. Bartke, M. Oksman, M. Mustonen, P. Denifl, Macromol. Mater. Eng. 290, 250 (2005).
L. Resconi, L. Cavallo, J. Chadwick, in Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry, 3rd ed., R.H. Crabtree, D.P. Mingos, Eds. (Elsevier, Oxford, 2006), vol. 4, pp. 1005 – 1166.
J. Severn, J.C. Chadwick, R. Duchateau, N. Friederichs, Chem. Rev. 105 (11), 4073 (2005).
www.exxonmobilchemical.com/Chem-English/brands/exact-plastomers.aspx?ln=productsservices.
C. Stephens, B. Poon, P. Ansems, S. Chum, A. Hiltner, E. Baer, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 100, 1651 (2006).
T. Boussie, G. Diamond, C. Goh, K. Hall, A. LaPointe, M. Leclerc, M. Vince, J. Shoemaker, H. Turner, R. Rosen, J. Stevens, F. Alfano, V. Busico, R. Cipullo, G. Talarico, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 45, 3278 (2006); see also www.dow.com/versify.
P.S. Chum, K.W. Swogger, Prog. Polym. Sci. 33, 797 (2008).
J. Seppälä, M. Härkonen, L. Luciani, Makromol. Chem. 190, 2535 (1989).
P. Jerschow, H. Janeschitz-Kriegl, Int. Polym. Proc. 12, 72 (1997).
R. Pantani, L. Balzano, G.W.M. Peters, Macromol. Mater. Eng. 296, 740 (2011).
V. Busico, R. Cipullo, Prog. Polym. Sci. 26, 443 (2001).
M. Gahleitner, C. Bachner, E. Ratajski, G. Rohaczek, W. Neißl, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 73, 2507 (1999).
A. Andoni, J.C. Chadwick, H.J.W. Niemantsverdriet, P.C. Thüne, J. Catal. 257, 81 (2008).
T. Garoff, V. Virkkunen, P. Jääskeläinen, T. Vestberg, Eur. Polym. J. 39, 1679 (2003).
J.C. Chadwick, F.P.T.J. van der Burgt, S. Rastogi, V. Busico, R. Cipullo, G. Talarico, J.J.R. Heere, Macromolecules 37, 9722 (2004).
A. Schöbel, E. Herdtweck, M. Parkinson, B. Rieger, Chem. Eur. J. 18, 4174 (2012).
M. Gahleitner, P. Jääskeläinen, E. Ratajski, C. Paulik, J. Reussner, J. Wolfschwenger, W. Neißl, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 95, 1073 (2005).
C. De Rosa, F. Auriemma, P. Vollaro, L. Resconi, S. Guidotti, I. Camurati, Macromolecules 44, 540 (2011).
H. Schwager, Kunststoffe 82, 499 (1992).
G. Cecchin, G. Morini, G. Pelliconi, Macromol. Symp. 173, 195 (2001).
F. Ramsteiner, G. Kanig, W. Heckmann, W. Gruber, Polymer 24, 365 (1983).
C. Grein, K. Bernreitner, A. Hauer, M. Gahleitner, W. Neißl, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 87, 1702 (2003).
P. Doshev, R. Lach, G. Lohse, A. Heuvelsland, W. Grellmann, H.-J. Radusch, Polymer 46, 9411 (2005).
D. Bouzid, T.F.L. McKenna, Macromol. Chem. Phys. 207, 13 (2006).
W. Kaminsky, A. Funck, K. Wiemann, Macromol. Symp. 239, 1 (2006)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gahleitner, M., Resconi, L. & Doshev, P. Heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta, metallocene, and post-metallocene catalysis: Successes and challenges in industrial application. MRS Bulletin 38, 229–233 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2013.47
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2013.47