675
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65021-6_21
Evolution of Ziegler-Natta Catalysts
for Polymerization of Olefins
Akhoury Sudhir Kumar Sinha and Umaprasana Ojha
Abstract This chapter provides a brief account of the discovery and gradual evolution of Ziegler-Natta catalysts for polymerization of various olefins, α-olefins, and
functional olefins. The structure of first and second generation catalysts is introduced, and the different mechanisms proposed by the scientists for the polymerization of ethylene using this catalyst is discussed. Subsequently, the control of
branching and mechanism to produce stereospecific poly-α-olefins is elaborated.
Development of catalysts for synthesis of stereo-controlled polyolefins is discussed
along with methods to determine the stereospecificity of the polymers. The evolution of metallocene-based Ziegler-Natta catalysts and the mechanism of polymerization based on these catalysts are briefed. The following section discusses about
the catalyst compositions useful for polymerization of functional olefin monomers
and their copolymerization with propylene. Development of catalyst compositions
based on Pd, Ni, Cu, and Fe is discussed, and subsequent polymerization mechanism is included. A series of catalysts synthesized using vanadium and various chelated ligands are discussed in context of their catalytic activity and the structure of
polymer formed. The last chapter unveils some of the recent advances in these categories of catalysts and future scope of the catalyst.
Keywords Ziegler-Natta catalysts · Polymerization mechanism · Stereospecific
polyolefins · Tridentate ligands · Vanadium-based complexes · Polyolefins synthesis
1 Introduction
Polyethylene (PE) was a serendipitous invention by Reginald O. Gibson and Eric
W. Fawcett of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in 1933. The above two organic
chemists, while performing a reaction between ethylene and benzaldehyde in an
A. S. K. Sinha (*)
Department of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sciences,
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Amethi, UP, India
e-mail: asksinha@rgipt.ac.in
U. Ojha
Department of Basic Sciences & Humanities,
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Amethi, UP, India
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65021-6_21
Evolution of Ziegler-Natta Catalysts
for Polymerization of Olefins
Akhoury Sudhir Kumar Sinha and Umaprasana Ojha
Abstract This chapter provides a brief account of the discovery and gradual evolution of Ziegler-Natta catalysts for polymerization of various olefins, α-olefins, and
functional olefins. The structure of first and second generation catalysts is introduced, and the different mechanisms proposed by the scientists for the polymerization of ethylene using this catalyst is discussed. Subsequently, the control of
branching and mechanism to produce stereospecific poly-α-olefins is elaborated.
Development of catalysts for synthesis of stereo-controlled polyolefins is discussed
along with methods to determine the stereospecificity of the polymers. The evolution of metallocene-based Ziegler-Natta catalysts and the mechanism of polymerization based on these catalysts are briefed. The following section discusses about
the catalyst compositions useful for polymerization of functional olefin monomers
and their copolymerization with propylene. Development of catalyst compositions
based on Pd, Ni, Cu, and Fe is discussed, and subsequent polymerization mechanism is included. A series of catalysts synthesized using vanadium and various chelated ligands are discussed in context of their catalytic activity and the structure of
polymer formed. The last chapter unveils some of the recent advances in these categories of catalysts and future scope of the catalyst.
Keywords Ziegler-Natta catalysts · Polymerization mechanism · Stereospecific
polyolefins · Tridentate ligands · Vanadium-based complexes · Polyolefins synthesis
1 Introduction
Polyethylene (PE) was a serendipitous invention by Reginald O. Gibson and Eric
W. Fawcett of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in 1933. The above two organic
chemists, while performing a reaction between ethylene and benzaldehyde in an
A. S. K. Sinha (*)
Department of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sciences,
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Amethi, UP, India
e-mail: asksinha@rgipt.ac.in
U. Ojha
Department of Basic Sciences & Humanities,
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Amethi, UP, India