Forty years after Ziegler's discovery of the "Aufbaureaktion" and low-pressure ethene polymerization, transition metal catalyzed olefin and diolefin polymerization continues to represent one of the most active and exciting areas. Since the 1980s, outstanding scientific innovations and process improvements have revolutionized polyolefin technology and greatly simplified polymerization processes. Well-defined catalyst systems are now at hand and facilitate the understanding of basic reaction mechanisms and correlations between catalyst structures, polymer microstructures, and polymer properties. This book reviews some of the modern approaches in organometallic chemistry, Ziegler-Natta catalysis, polymerization processes, design of novel materials, and the modelling in catalyst and process development.

The general features of ring-opening polymerisation, for example the dependence of polymerisability upon ring-strain, the significance of ring-chain equilibria, and the potential for formation of cyclic oligomers are outlined. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database provides useful references for further reading.

Recent development of olefin polymerization catalysts has caused marked changes in both industrial and academic research. Industrial use of homogeneous metallocene catalysts has already begun in the fields of high density polyethylene and syndiotactic polypropylene. Moreover, important data have been obtained from academic investigations which have proved useful for understanding conventional heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts. From the industrial viewpoint, however, heterogeneous high-yield catalysts seem to be more important.The present volume contains invited lectures and contributed papers. The following topics are covered: (1) Heterogeneous Catalysts, (2) Metallocene Catalysts and (3) New Trends in the Polyolefin Industry.

Written by a team of internationally recognized experts, this book addresses the most important types of catalytic reactions and catalysts as used in industrial practice. Both applied aspects and the essential scientific principles are described. The main topics can be summarized as follows: heterogeneous, homogeneous and biocatalysis, catalyst preparation and characterization, catalytic reaction engineering and kinetics, catalyst deactivation and industrial perspective.

A handbook on polyolefins. This second edition includes new material on the structure, morphology and properties of polyolefin (PO) synthesis. It focuses on synthetic advances, the use of additives, special coverage of PO blends, composites and fibres, and surface treatments. It also addresses the problem of interfacial and superficial phenomena.