are up to 10 times more active than Ziegler–Natta catalysts, are soluble in hydrocarbons, show only one type of active site (single site catalysts), and can easily be
modified in their chemical structure. These properties make it possible to predict the
properties of the resulting polyolefins very accurately from the knowledge of the
structure of the catalyst, and thus to control molecular weight and distribution,
comonomer content, and tacticity by careful selection of the appropriate reactor
conditions. The single site character of metallocene-based catalysts leads to a better
understanding of the mechanism of olefin polymerization and to the introduction of
other bulky cocatalysts.
The different chapters in this book deal with the development of olefin polymerization 50 years after the pioneering work of Ziegler and Natta. Academic and
industrial developments of ethene and propene polymerizations are presented,
including short biographies of Ziegler and Natta, research on Phillips catalysts,
kinetic and active site measurements, and polyolefin characterization. Review
chapters also describe the latest results of olefin homo-, living-, and copolymerizations by metallocene and other single site catalysts, such as the synthesis of ansa
metallocenes, supported iron catalysts, syndiotactic polypropylene, long chain
branched polyolefins, and cyclic and functional copolymers. Remarkable progress
has been achieved in the synthesis of polyolefin nanocomposites by an in-situ
polymerization process using clay, layered silicates, carbon fibers, and carbon
nanotubes as fillers.
I thank all the authors very much for giving their time to write these exciting
chapters.
Hamburg, Germany
Walter Kaminsky
vi
Preface
modified in their chemical structure. These properties make it possible to predict the
properties of the resulting polyolefins very accurately from the knowledge of the
structure of the catalyst, and thus to control molecular weight and distribution,
comonomer content, and tacticity by careful selection of the appropriate reactor
conditions. The single site character of metallocene-based catalysts leads to a better
understanding of the mechanism of olefin polymerization and to the introduction of
other bulky cocatalysts.
The different chapters in this book deal with the development of olefin polymerization 50 years after the pioneering work of Ziegler and Natta. Academic and
industrial developments of ethene and propene polymerizations are presented,
including short biographies of Ziegler and Natta, research on Phillips catalysts,
kinetic and active site measurements, and polyolefin characterization. Review
chapters also describe the latest results of olefin homo-, living-, and copolymerizations by metallocene and other single site catalysts, such as the synthesis of ansa
metallocenes, supported iron catalysts, syndiotactic polypropylene, long chain
branched polyolefins, and cyclic and functional copolymers. Remarkable progress
has been achieved in the synthesis of polyolefin nanocomposites by an in-situ
polymerization process using clay, layered silicates, carbon fibers, and carbon
nanotubes as fillers.
I thank all the authors very much for giving their time to write these exciting
chapters.
Hamburg, Germany
Walter Kaminsky
vi
Preface