New application for metallocene catalysts in olefin polymerization.
Metallocenes and other transition metal complexes, activated by methylaluminoxane allow the synthesis of polyolefins with a highly defined microstructure, tacticity, and stereoregularity. New copolymers, long chain branched polymers, and polyolefin nanocomposites are produced by these highly active catalysts. A better understanding of the structure of active sites for the olefin polymerization will lead to findings of new and simpler co-catalysts. Ethene or propene can be copolymerized with 1-olefin macromers with chain lengths up to 12,000 g mol(-1) as well as with cyclic olefins. Polypropenes of high molecular weight and filled with multi-walled carbon nanotubes show exciting new physical and mechanical properties and are prepared by in situ polymerization. These, and other polyolefin specialities, will be new future materials in a wide range of applications.
Kaminsky
Walter
W
Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Bundesstr. 45, D-20146, Hamburg, Germany. kaminsky@chemie.uni-hamburg.de
Funck
Andreas
A
Hähnsen
Heinrich
H
D000475:Alkenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
D000475:Alkenes; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011108:Polymers; C013108:metallocene