Introduction
1
Polyolefins are the most important and most widely used synthetic polymers; their
annual production exceeds 130 million metric tons. Polyolefin production continues
to grow rapidly and new polyolefin grades are constantly being introduced in the
market [1]. One of the most widely investigated areas of industrial and academic
polymer research continues to be the polymerization of olefins to polymers with
different microstructures and properties. The interest in polyolefins continues to
grow due to the fact that polyolefins are made from simple, cheap and easily
accessible monomers. Polyolefins contain only carbon and hydrogen, and can be
reused after recycling or degraded by thermal processes to oil and monomers
[2]. Incorporation of new monomers in a copolymer system or use of modern
catalysts results in new and improved properties. Polyolefins have superior
properties, including excellent chemical inertness, high crystallinity resulting in
excellent mechanical strength, high thermal stability and high stability against
thermo-oxidative degradation.
The metallorganic-catalysed polymerization of olefins by Ziegler and the stereospecific polymerization of propene and α-olefins by Natta [3], as well as the use
of metallocene catalysts [4], illustrate the potential of olefin polymerization and the
properties of resulting polymers. The development of new and improved analytical
techniques and approaches are vital for the analysis of new ‘tailor-made’
polyolefins. Information on the molecular heterogeneity of new products as well
as the monitoring of the polymerization process are necessary for the development
of structure–property relationships. Suitable methods to obtain information on
molar mass distribution (MMD), chemical composition, tacticity, and molecular
topology (branching) are imperative for proper evaluation of a polyolefin material,
irrespective of the mechanism of the polymerization.
In the early days of polyolefin development, the main focus was on the characterization and evaluation of the polymerization catalyst and on the polymerization
process itself. Materials were characterized by their bulk properties and much effort
was directed at elucidating physical properties and crystal structures. With the
development of new materials and new polymerization processes, polyolefin
# Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
H. Pasch, M.I. Malik, Advanced Separation Techniques for Polyolefins, Springer
Laboratory, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-08632-3_1
1
1
Polyolefins are the most important and most widely used synthetic polymers; their
annual production exceeds 130 million metric tons. Polyolefin production continues
to grow rapidly and new polyolefin grades are constantly being introduced in the
market [1]. One of the most widely investigated areas of industrial and academic
polymer research continues to be the polymerization of olefins to polymers with
different microstructures and properties. The interest in polyolefins continues to
grow due to the fact that polyolefins are made from simple, cheap and easily
accessible monomers. Polyolefins contain only carbon and hydrogen, and can be
reused after recycling or degraded by thermal processes to oil and monomers
[2]. Incorporation of new monomers in a copolymer system or use of modern
catalysts results in new and improved properties. Polyolefins have superior
properties, including excellent chemical inertness, high crystallinity resulting in
excellent mechanical strength, high thermal stability and high stability against
thermo-oxidative degradation.
The metallorganic-catalysed polymerization of olefins by Ziegler and the stereospecific polymerization of propene and α-olefins by Natta [3], as well as the use
of metallocene catalysts [4], illustrate the potential of olefin polymerization and the
properties of resulting polymers. The development of new and improved analytical
techniques and approaches are vital for the analysis of new ‘tailor-made’
polyolefins. Information on the molecular heterogeneity of new products as well
as the monitoring of the polymerization process are necessary for the development
of structure–property relationships. Suitable methods to obtain information on
molar mass distribution (MMD), chemical composition, tacticity, and molecular
topology (branching) are imperative for proper evaluation of a polyolefin material,
irrespective of the mechanism of the polymerization.
In the early days of polyolefin development, the main focus was on the characterization and evaluation of the polymerization catalyst and on the polymerization
process itself. Materials were characterized by their bulk properties and much effort
was directed at elucidating physical properties and crystal structures. With the
development of new materials and new polymerization processes, polyolefin
# Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
H. Pasch, M.I. Malik, Advanced Separation Techniques for Polyolefins, Springer
Laboratory, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-08632-3_1
1