Ziegler Catalysts: Recent Scientific Innovations and Technological Improvements

Forty years ago Karl Ziegler discovered the catalysts for low-pressure ethene polymerization. In 1963 he received the Nobel price for chemistry. This book reviews the outstanding scientific innovations in organometallic chemistry, Ziegler-Natta catalysis, polymerization processes, and design of novel polymeric materials which were achieved during the last 10 years. It will thus be of great value for all polymer and organo-metallic chemists as well as polymer and process engineers.

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.