Abstract
This paper reports the principal discoveries which have played a major role in the polyolefin field and have positioned polyolefins as the most produced plastics. The early development of polyolefins covering the production of LDPE (Low density polyethylene) at ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) and the discovery of Phillips or Ziegler-Natta catalysts are highlighted in the first section. In the second part, the impact of the implementation of molecular catalysts on the research in polyolefins is discussed together with the most recent advances leading to high-performance tailor-made resins.
Highlights
Polyolefins, in particular polyethylene (PE) and isotactic polypropylene (i-PP), are widely used in our everyday life for an extremely wide range of applications; they account for more than 50% in weight of the produced polymers
From the point of view of cost, PE and i-PP rank as the least expensive polymers to produce, and stand out because they are far less toxic compared to many other commodity plastics [5]
The development of solvent-free catalytic processes, the design of lightweight engineering plastics, the recyclability and the low carbon footprint of polyolefins are the main arguments for this statement
Summary
Polyolefins, in particular polyethylene (PE) and isotactic polypropylene (i-PP), are widely used in our everyday life for an extremely wide range of applications; they account for more than 50% in weight of the produced polymers. During troubled period, Fischer for the army This slowed down his advances in polyolefin catalysis, butnew hisof wasfuel asked to refocus his considerably research in order to participate in the war effort by developing types was considerably patented in 1953, ten years its discovery [18]. It was in the early 1950s that two major breakthroughs happened in the field of catalytic polymerization of olefins These discoveries enabled to run polymerization under milder temperature and pressure conditions than those previously used for LDPE production. Ziegler filed a patent application just 3 days after repeating the experiment This patent application claimed “a process for the production of a high molar mass polyethylene useful as a plastic” involving the association of triethylaluminum with several complexes involving metals from group 4 (Ti, Zr, Hf), 5 (V, Nb, Ta) and 6 (Cr, Mo) [33]. A US court decision of 1967 proved them wrong and maintained Ziegler’s protection [43]
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