Abbreviations
CNT
Carbon nanotube
Cr-1
2,6-Bis-[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino) ethyl]pyridine chromium(III)
chloride
Cr-3
η
5 -[3,4,5-Trimethyl-1-(8-quinolyl)-2-trimethyl-silylcyclopentadienyl]
chromium(III) chloride
EMI
Electromagnetic interference
Fe-2
2,6-Bis-[1-(2,6-dimethylphenyliminio)ethyl]pyridine iron(II) chloride
FG
Functionalized graphene
FI
Terunori Fujita-invented catalyst
GNP
Graphene nanoplatelets
GO
Graphite oxide
HDPE
High density polyethylene
LDPE
Low density polyethylene
LLDPE
Linear low density polyethylene
MAO
Methylaluminoxane
MLG
Multilayer graphene
MWCNT Multi-walled carbon nanotubes
POSS
Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane
iPP
Isotactic polypropylene
SWCNT
Single-walled carbon nanotubes
TEM
Transmission electron microscopy
TMA
Trimethylaluminum
UHMW
Ultrahigh molecular weight
1 Introduction
Since the pioneering advances of Ziegler and Natta during the 1950s, remarkable
innovations in catalyst and process development stimulate the extraordinary
commercial success of polyolefin materials, as reflected by the rapidly increasing
growth of polyolefin production [1–3]. Today, polyolefin materials account for
more than 40% of the 300 million tons of annual world plastics consumption. In
an ideal way, polyolefins meet the demands of sustainable development and green
chemistry. Produced in highly energy-, cost-, and resource-effective catalytic
processes, free of solvents and problematic byproduct formation, polyolefins have
a low carbon footprint and exhibit outstanding versatility in terms of the ability to
tailor property profiles, processing, applications, and recycling. As hydrocarbon
resins with high oil-like energy content, polyolefin wastes represent a valuable
source of energy and of “renewable oil and gas,” recovered from wastes by thermal
cleavage of polyolefin chains [4]. In view of expanding their application in lightweight engineering and packaging, which is essential for reducing both fuel
consumption and carbon dioxide emission in transportation, it is highly desirable
280
M. Stu ¨rzel et al.
CNT
Carbon nanotube
Cr-1
2,6-Bis-[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino) ethyl]pyridine chromium(III)
chloride
Cr-3
η
5 -[3,4,5-Trimethyl-1-(8-quinolyl)-2-trimethyl-silylcyclopentadienyl]
chromium(III) chloride
EMI
Electromagnetic interference
Fe-2
2,6-Bis-[1-(2,6-dimethylphenyliminio)ethyl]pyridine iron(II) chloride
FG
Functionalized graphene
FI
Terunori Fujita-invented catalyst
GNP
Graphene nanoplatelets
GO
Graphite oxide
HDPE
High density polyethylene
LDPE
Low density polyethylene
LLDPE
Linear low density polyethylene
MAO
Methylaluminoxane
MLG
Multilayer graphene
MWCNT Multi-walled carbon nanotubes
POSS
Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane
iPP
Isotactic polypropylene
SWCNT
Single-walled carbon nanotubes
TEM
Transmission electron microscopy
TMA
Trimethylaluminum
UHMW
Ultrahigh molecular weight
1 Introduction
Since the pioneering advances of Ziegler and Natta during the 1950s, remarkable
innovations in catalyst and process development stimulate the extraordinary
commercial success of polyolefin materials, as reflected by the rapidly increasing
growth of polyolefin production [1–3]. Today, polyolefin materials account for
more than 40% of the 300 million tons of annual world plastics consumption. In
an ideal way, polyolefins meet the demands of sustainable development and green
chemistry. Produced in highly energy-, cost-, and resource-effective catalytic
processes, free of solvents and problematic byproduct formation, polyolefins have
a low carbon footprint and exhibit outstanding versatility in terms of the ability to
tailor property profiles, processing, applications, and recycling. As hydrocarbon
resins with high oil-like energy content, polyolefin wastes represent a valuable
source of energy and of “renewable oil and gas,” recovered from wastes by thermal
cleavage of polyolefin chains [4]. In view of expanding their application in lightweight engineering and packaging, which is essential for reducing both fuel
consumption and carbon dioxide emission in transportation, it is highly desirable
280
M. Stu ¨rzel et al.